Born in Paris in 1899, Francis Poulenc soon became a notable composer and pianist. His Serenade, originally composed in 1925-1926 for Voice and Piano, met much success as part of his Bawdy Songs. Therefore, it was well-received when Maurice Gendron transcribed it for Cello and Piano. Poulenc, as a member of Les Six, composed music in a style contrary to that of Richard Wagner and impressionists C…

Par HILLBORG ANDERS. An intense reflection on romantic passion and loss, Anders Hillborg’s …lontana in sonno… for voice (mezzo-soprano/soprano) and orchestra sets sonnets by Petrarch. Originally written for Anne Sofie von Otter, this 15-minute work unfolds slowly, the voice floating over a gleaming, unearthly soundscape lit from within by glass harmonica. / Instrumental Music, Vocal Music / Réper…

Par FREEMAN ALEX. Alex Freeman found initial inspiration for his string quartet (2015) in a series of photographs a geologist friend showed him of en échelon veins in rock formations. The open strings punctuated with pizzicato unisons that begin the single-movement work call to mind something crystalline and shimmering, which is immediately infused with tumbling lyrical lines in something of a rap…

The new RSL Classical Piano syllabus aims to reflect the widening tastes of young people, positioning itself at the forefront of the vast array of music available to pianists, encompassing the rich heritage of music from the Baroque right through to the modern day and emerging composers. The repertoire strikes a balance between a radical redesign and maintaining a recognisable structure, and stick…

Par DVORAK ANTONIN. The Dvoràk symphonies represent a milestone in symphonic literature and encompass the composer's creative period from 1865 to 1893. They reflect the impact of Czech, and with the 9th Symphony, the impact of American folk music on Dvoràk. Each study score contains a short history of the Dvoràk Edition as well as valuable information on each of the works by the Dvoràk scholar Jar…

Par COURT DOUGLAS. Watching a storm approaching is always an exciting experience. The power and majesty of the wind and rain as they surge through the trees and sweep across the land is an amazing sight and a reminder of the power of nature. An eerie calm happens after the storm that causes us to reflect on the nobility and power of this event. The music seeks to portray both the power and the nob…

Par KNOCKAERT PETER. Micantia is the Latin word for ?things that are twinkling/shimmering/shining/sparkling, ...?.. The inspiration for this piece is found in many sudden observations of beautiful sceneries like sunbeams shining through clouds, snow crystals in winter time or icy landscapes. In a way too hasty world, the piece is meant to slow down a little and give you a moment of reflection on h…

Symphony for Winds, Percussion and Pre-recorded Soundscape. Par SHAPIRO ALEX. IMMERSION brings listeners on a sonic journey into a private, aquatic realm. Beneath the surface of the ocean is a world of liquid beauty and grace hidden from our eyes and from our imagination. Follow your ears and your heart to the deepest unseen places we often neglect to consider. Shapiro's electroacoustic wind symph…

Par GRIEG EDVARD. Grieg’s Haugtussa Song Cycle Op. 67 is one of the masterpieces of his song oeuvre. It is 8 settings from the epic self-titled poem by Arne Garborg, about a shepherd girl. Known as ‘Haugtussa’ (‘hill troll girl’) due to her clairvoyance and deep connection to nature and mythical beings, she must overcome societal exclusion through courage and self-reflection. Grieg was not only fa…

Par CASABLANCAS BENET. Albumblatt für Arriaga, commissioned by the Trio Arriaga and lasting some 7:30 minutes, is the composer's fourth contribution to the classical violin, cello and piano ensemble, for which he has a special esteem. The work was written in homage to the composer Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga, and at the same time as a token of gratitude and admiration for the Trio Arriaga, to whose me…