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Articles & Books From David Pogue
Classical music was never meant to be an art for snobs! In the 1700s and 1800s, classical music was popular music. People went to concerts with their friends, they brought snacks and drinks, and cheered right in the middle of the concert. Well, guess what? Three hundred years later, that music is just as catchy, thrilling, and emotional.
Cheat Sheet / Updated 02-23-2022
The world of classical music becomes quite a bit less mysterious when you know the names and functions of all the musical instruments, and a basic timeline of the music itself. This Cheat Sheet will help you discuss classical music with confidence.Meet the classical orchestraLet’s meet the Classical orchestra.
Cheat Sheet / Updated 12-21-2021
Learning and practicing magic is fun and challenging and to keep it as stress-free as possible be prepared to coolly answer questions about your tricks and make a quick recovery when a trick goes wrong. Know the different types of people in your audience so you can deal with their sometimes offbeat behavior and study some key words you will use repeatedly as you continue on your magic career.
Article / Updated 03-26-2016
You may think that nobody writes classical music anymore — but they do! New “classical music” is being written all the time. Here are some of the most famous pieces of orchestral music, along with rough guides to the stylistic periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Modern) into which they fall.
Article / Updated 03-26-2016
In classical music, a ballet is a story that’s told in music and dance, with no speaking and no singing. In the old days of ballet, the dance was the only important thing. The composer’s job was to write music that let the dancers show off.
Musical considerations such as drama, pacing, and even beauty of sound were secondary to the spectacle of the dance: young men and women with great legs.
Article / Updated 03-26-2016
What’s the difference between a violin and a viola in classical music? Size — the viola’s slightly bigger. But from the audience, seeing this subtle size difference isn’t easy. The sound of the viola is distinctive, however. Compared to the violin, the sound is breathier and throatier. The high notes on a viola sound less effortless than on a violin, and the low notes are powerful and rich.
Article / Updated 03-26-2016
Most musicians count Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) among the handful of greatest classical musicians who ever lived. And some would nominate him as The Greatest of Them All. Not just because every one of his compositions is a knockout, but also because every subsequent composer owes a great debt to him.
Credit: Source: Creative CommonsJohann Sebastian Bach, master of the organ.
Article / Updated 03-26-2016
No classical music discussion is complete without the Lieder. In German, the word Lied (pronounced “leed”) means song; Lieder means songs or art songs. In the 1800s especially, Lieder came to great prominence, particularly in private salon concerts.
In classical-music discussions, salon doesn’t refer to hairstyling emporiums.
Article / Updated 03-26-2016
The best Russian composer made significant contributions to classical music. He was a self-absorbed, neurotic, vulnerable, intense guy whose entire life consisted of suffering. So that’s gotta count for something. His name was Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (“chai-KOFF-skee”; 1840–1893).
Credit: Source: Creative CommonsPeter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the best of the Russian Romantic composers.
Article / Updated 09-28-2023
Despite stereotypes of old, long-haired, dead composers (and an even older audience), the art of creating classical music is still very much alive. Composers continue to write for soloists, chamber ensembles, and orchestras, and their works continue to carve new paths in the cultural landscape.But classical music in the 21st century differs from classical music of the 20th century in one important respect: It sounds less modern than the older music did.