by Simon Critchlow Following a trip to the see the English National Opera's current production of Verdi's Aida, I was reminded of a famous musical device that occurs in Act II's Grand March. The Grand March, featuring onstage trumpets, heralds the arrival of the conquering hero Radamès, fresh from his quashing of Egypt's arch enemies, … Continue reading Verdi Invented This Weird Musical Trick Used In Many Pop Songs
by Simon Critchlow Sick of the 'Monster Mash?' Here are 10 spooky classical music pieces to listen to for Halloween. 1. 'La Danse Macabre' by Camille Saint-Sans Right from the solo violin entry at the very start, it is clear the devil is leading this dance. Saint-Sans’ clever use of the interval of the tritone … Continue reading Top 10 Classical Music Pieces for Halloween
After seeing Julia Jones conduct Mozart’s The Magic Flute (or Die Zauberflöte) at The Royal Opera in London, here is a reflection on the important elements of the opera and its translation to a modern audience. by Simon Critchlow It's 1791 and all is well for W. A. Mozart. He’s off to the theatre to see his mates, doubtless … Continue reading Analysis of Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute’ for a Modern Audience
by Liam Kenney Josh Ritter is a must listen for any lover of literature. Ritter is not only a world-class lyricist but is a master of allusions and allegories. Each time I listen to his music (and I’ve listened to it a lot)- I hear new reasons why he is my favorite artist. Josh Ritter Utilizes Allusions … Continue reading Why Literature-Lovers Should Listen To Josh Ritter
Literati Pulp 