Introducing the second product in our Classical Sessions series: Classical Sessions for... Calm! We're passionate about helping you integrate classical music into your life, and we also believe that classical music can be a great tool for learning about other topics. For this reason, we have created Classical Sessions, where you will learn about a specific subject (in this case, the science/theory of calm) and about carefully selected classical music works. So, what is this topic all about? Classical music is often considered to be "calm", "soothing", "relaxing", and so on, and as such is often used for ambience, for study or work, or to reduce stress. Though "calm" is certainly not a descriptor which is representative of all classical music (just listen to Verdi's "Dies Irae" from his Requiem if in doubt!), some works can definitely have this effect. In the workbook, you will be learning about different aspects of what promotes calm in our bodies/minds, accompanied by relevant classical music works. The Classical Sessions workbook is comprised of ten "sessions" - you choose the duration of focused time you will spend on each one. For each session, you will find: information about the topic and about the accompanying classical music work. prompts/questions/activities to work through. On the "About" page of the product, you will find a link to sign up to a 10-week email reminder series as well as a link back to this post. On the "Extend" page, you will find recommendations on how you can further explore and extend your sessions. Also included are a set of templates to use as you continue on your journey. This product is currently available as a digital download. How it works: Purchase the product. You will receive a link to download. Print and go! Return to this blog post to listen to the musical excerpts. Ready to buy? We would love to hear your stories and see your pictures of our workbook in action! Click here to get in contact! Playlist Bought the product, or just want to listen to to some calm classical music? Here's our playlist with all the referenced works! Note that some larger works are found here as multiple tracks (in most cases we have selected a shorter movement to listen to). Holst: The Planets: 2. Venus, the Bringer of Peace Pärt: Für Alina Satie: Trois Gymnopédies Kats-Chernin: Wild Swans: 8. Darkness in the forest Beethoven: Symphony No. 9: III. Adagio molto e cantabile Dvořák: Rusalka: Act I: Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém "Song to the moon" Mahler: Symphony No. 2: IV. Urlicht Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil: VI. Bogoroditse Devo Max Richter: Sleep Learn more about Sound Garden Click here to browse the site!

Get to know composers - their lives and works - with our pack of 100 classical composer profile templates: Listen and learn as you fill them out! Perfect for: Music teachers ✔️ Home-schoolers/home educators ✔️ Nannies/carers ✔️ Families ✔️ Individuals - adults, teens, or kids! ✔️ What you get: 89 templates with pre-filled composer names. 1 template for you to fill out with the name of any composer not included in this pack. 10 templates for you to fill out with the names of living composers (see our Living Composers features on our blog for some ideas!). You can print out each template as needed, or all at once. Punch holes to place in a binder, or stick them on a suitable surface...or maybe you have better ideas than us (tag us on social media @soundgardenclassical or contact us)! Each template includes spaces for you to fill out: Picture box - paste on/design/draw a picture of the composer! Year of birth - ...and death where applicable. Country of birth - may not have been known as the country it is now! Famous for... - what each composer is known for. 3 facts - what interesting facts can you find out? 3 compositions - let's get listening! Ready to buy? Scroll down for some listening ideas...! Playlist Bought the templates, or just want to listen to some music? Here's a playlist with works by some of the included composers! Learn more about Sound Garden

UPDATED with new course links 27.04.23 Introduction to Classical Music: Online Course Want to learn about classical music? Don't know where to start? We have the course for you! Our "Introduction to Classical Music" course is for you if you: Are interested in music Are interested in history Are interested in culture Are simply curious! Parts I and II are available now, guiding you through the history of classical music from the Middle Ages through to the end of the Romantic Era (approximately the end of the 19th Century)! Info About Part I: "Early music" contributed to the development of classical music as we know it today. From monophony to polyphony, from motets to madrigals, you'll finish this course with plenty of knowledge about the history of Medieval and Renaissance Europe and the music that developed from this context. You will also have much more music to add to your playlists! About Part II: During the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic Eras, classical music as we know it today really began to take shape. From Bach to Beethoven and many more, learn about the great composers of these eras, the contexts in which they lived and worked, and the ground-breaking music they created - much of which is still performed today! Reviews Here is some of the feedback we've had from the course: "I loved so much of the course!" "Easy to read and understand" "I loved the music examples...many types of music and history from different cultures" "I felt like I’d learned lots and felt good about what I’d learned" FAQs Who is this course for? Anyone who is interested in: History - How did the people of the past see the world? Music - What kinds of music did people of the past write and enjoy? Culture - What did the lives of people of the past look like? (you don't need to know much about any of the above!) What will I learn? In Part I of the course, you'll learn about Early Music - the music of the Medieval and Renaissance Eras. In Part II, you'll learn about the music and music creators of the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic Eras. You'll listen to a range of celebrated masterworks and lesser-known-but-hugely-important pieces of music from these eras - we're sure you'll find yourself tapping your toes and swaying along to some great tunes! How is the content laid out? Each lesson has an attractive, easy-to-understand PDF text-and-images document with everything you need to know (well, to get you started on your learning and listening journey!)! Below the main content, you'll find carefully selected musical excerpts to listen to, with a brief description. At the end of each section, you'll take a quiz - how much can you remember about each era? Note: We may add in video elements, as we know many people will benefit from this! Good news: Purchasing this course (or individual parts) gives you lifetime access, so you can come back at any time and see any changes we have made! If you purchased the course prior to changing course hosts, please get in contact. How long does this course take to complete? Well, that all depends! We recommend an optimum timeline of one to two weeks per part to really reap the benefits, completing 1-2 lessons per day and taking time to explore and listen to more music beyond what is included in this course. Of course, it is entirely up to you! You could complete it in a day, a month, a year... Ready to get started? Learn more about Sound Garden

Those who write music often have very insightful things to say about it! Check out some of our favourites, in no particular order! This list will be updated occasionally! Quotes "I give bird songs to those who dwell in cities and have never heard them, make rhythms for those who know only military marches or jazz, and paint colours for those who see none." - Olivier Messiaen "I wish you music to help with the burdens of life, and to help you release your happiness to others." - Ludwig van Beethoven "In music, things don't get better or worse: they evolve and transform themselves." - Luciano Berio "Nothing is better than music; when it takes us out of time, it has done more for us than we have the right to hope for: it has broadened the limits of our sorrowful life, it has lit up the sweetness of our hours of happiness by effacing the pettinesses that diminish us, bringing us back pure and new to what was, what will be, what music has created for us." - Nadia Boulanger "Music embodies feeling without forcing it to contend and combine with thought." - Franz Liszt "There are so many beautiful things to be said in C Major." - Sergei Prokofiev "So long as the human spirit thrives on this planet, music in some living form will accompany and sustain it." - Aaron Copland "To send light into the darkness of men’s hearts – such is the duty of the artist." - Robert Schumann "The key to the mystery of a great artist is that for reasons unknown, he will give away his energies and his life just make sure that one note follows another…and leaves us with the feeling that something is right in the world." - Leonard Bernstein "There is nothing that surpasses the joy of creation, if only because through it one wins hours of self-forgetfulness, when one lives in a world of sound." - Clara Schumann "For me there is no White music or Black music - there is only music by individual men that is important if it attempts to dignify all men." - William Grant Still "People are allowed to find in my musical works anything what they want - I can't give any recommendations, my task is just to compose. There is only one thing I expect from listeners or critics and that's critical openness." - Unsuk Chin Learn more about Sound Garden

The blog has been a little quiet so far this year... for good reason! Now that we have been in business for a full year, we've learned a lot about what resonates, what doesn't, and have a clearer idea of what is needed most. Our main focus this year is on products and resources for children, particularly within the home school/home education/small group learning communities. With many families having (unexpectedly) experienced the benefits of home/small group learning over the past two years, we've had a lot of interest for more content for this context. However, our mission ultimately is to be a hub for ALL demographics to find classical music learning resources, so there will be more to come for adults and teens in the future, too! With this 2022 mission comes plenty of work to meet the needs of our focus group. Behind the scenes, work is in progress for our next product: a learning curriculum for under-6s. More info to come closer to the launch date! Interested in knowing more? While you wait for the next product launch, head to the shop page: see what we currently offer, and make classical music a part of your daily life! Learn more about Sound Garden

'Tis the season...for Christmas classical music! Of course, there are many great classical settings of well-known, beloved Christmas songs and carols. However, this list focuses primarily on lesser-known carols and arrangements, and other kinds of Christmas classical works! Sound Garden Products At Sound Garden, we currently offer the following products: Classical Sessions for adults and teens Classical Inspirations for ages 6-12 Composer Activity Guides for parents/carers of ages 0-6 Online courses ...and more! Learn more about Sound Garden

Joe Wiedemann is an American composer, who has been composing music (particularly for television) for over 40 years. He has been nominated for three Emmy awards for composing/arranging, as well as receiving eight awards for broadcast journalism! He has received other high-level recognition, including a Telly Award, three Silver AXEIM awards, won the American Idol Underground Inaugural Classical Competition, was Keyboard Magazine's Unsigned Artist of the Month, and was listed as Best Keyboards in Garage Band's Pop category. As a child, he wrote music and experimented with a home movie camera, which led to him developing an interest in audio and visual production components. He went on to complete a double major in Music and Radio/TV/Film, and began a career in broadcasting. He was passionate about creating synth music, and made use of the technology (and developments!) available to him in order to create a new sound world. Joe's works are, of course, available in digital formats, and have also been performed live by ensembles around the world. With a particular interest in the use of the synth in classical music, Joe developed the Orchestronics project, releasing his first album in 1999. "Bulls & Bears" contained 11 tracks, and was the result of Joe's experimentation with the possibilities of the synth in an orchestral context. As of 2021, he is up to album number 6: "Painted Variations". This album is about variations - in melody, orchestration, and more, so that each piece is different from the last. Visit the site at the link below, or keep scrolling to listen to some of Joe's works! Joe's compositions: Painted Variations on a Theme of Paganini Evolve Synth Concerto No. 2: I. Andante con moto Sound Garden Products (article continues below) At Sound Garden, we currently offer the following products: Classical Sessions for adults and teens Classical Inspirations for ages 6-12 Composer Activity Guides for parents/carers of ages 0-6 Online courses ...and more! Joe's Top 5 Classical Music Works: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 Rachmaninoff: Vocalise (arranged for orchestra) Haydn: Cello Concerto No. 1 Anything by Bach... (so we selected the Magnificat BWV 243) Interested in being featured in a future Living Composer post? Download the form below! Learn more about Sound Garden

Earth and nature have been inspiring composers for centuries. Have a listen to five examples of classical music works inspired by Planet Earth! Claude Debussy - La mer: III. Dialogue du vent et de la mer When Debussy was eight-years-old, he saw the Mediterranean Sea for the first time. Later, he also became fond of the Atlantic Ocean. His father, a sailor, told him many stories about his life on the ocean, and hoped his son would follow the same career path (spoiler alert: that didn't happen). However, Debussy's strong connection to great bodies of water inspired "La mer". The original cover image on the score uses "The Wave" by Japanese engraver Hokusai; this was at Debussy's request. The third and final movement of the work - "Dialogue du vent et de la mer" (Dialogue of the wind and the sea) - portrays a stormy conflict between the wind and sea. Philip Glass - Koyaanisqatsi: Koyaanisqatsi This piece was originally composed for the 1982 cult film "Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance". The film has been considered to be about the complex relationship between man-made technologies and nature, though the creators encouraged viewers to decide for themselves what it all means! The trimmed-down soundtrack by Philip Glass was released in 1983, following the initial release of the film. In 1998, a longer version of the album was recorded as a stand-alone work, rather than as a film soundtrack. The complete original soundtrack recording was released in 2009. The music is in a minimalist style, with many repeated motifs and simple structures and harmonies. The opening track uses the same name as the work in its entirety. The definition of the word "koyaanisqatsi" (from the language of the Hopi people of northeastern Arizona, United States) is along the lines of "life of moral corruption and turmoil" or "life out of balance". In Glass' music, the word is chanted by a bass singer (Albert de Ruiter) over a solemn organ accompaniment. Franz Liszt - Ce qu'on entend sur la montagne "Ce qu'on entend sur la montagne" ("What We Hear On The Mountain") is the first of thirteen symphonic poems by Liszt. A symphonic poem is a narrative piece of music for orchestra, without any spoken or sung words. The work is inspired by a poem by Victor Hugo, in which an unnamed protagonist climbs to the top of a mountain and hears an intense, troubled, musical voice which swirls around them. The protagonist soon realises that there are actually two voices: - one powerful and joyful, representing nature. - one full of sadness and fear, representing humanity. The voices mingle together, separate, cross over, and melt into one another, until the protagonist cannot hear them anymore. Sound Garden Products (article continues below) Engagement with classical music through activities for ages 0-6: Composer Activity Guide: Franz Liszt Learn about our other products! Gustav Mahler - Das Lied von der Erde: VI. Der Abschied "Das Lied von der Erde" (The Song of the Earth) is a composition (described by Mahler as a symphony) for two voices (tenor and alto (or baritone)) and orchestra. It consists of six songs, with the two voices alternating movements. The texts are based on Hans Bethge's "Die chinesische Flöte" poems, themselves adaptations of classical Chinese poetry in German and French translations. The sixth song is a setting of "Der Abschied" (The Farewell). Bethge's text combines poems by Tang Dynasty poets Meng Haoran and Wang Wei, and Mahler added in several of his own lines for the musical setting. An English translation can be found below the embedded video. Translation The sun separates behind the mountains. The evening descends into all the valleys With its shadows, which are full of cooling. O look! Like a silver boat floats The moon up on the blue sky-lake. I feel a fine wind blowing Behind the dark spruces! The brook sings full of melodious sound through the darkness. The flowers pale in the twilight. The earth breathes full of rest and sleep. All longing now wants to dream, The tired people go home, To learn again in their sleep forgotten happiness And youth to rediscover! The birds perch quietly in their branches. The world falls asleep! It blows cooly in the shade of my spruces. I stand here and wait for my friend; I wait for his last farewell. I long, O friend, by your side To enjoy the beauty of this evening. Where are you? You leave me long alone! I walk up and down with my lute On paths that swell with soft grass. O beauty! O eternal love - life - drunk'n world! He dismounted from his horse and offered him the drink. Of farewell. He asked him where he was going And also why it must be. He spoke, his voice was fluttered. You, my friend, Happiness has not been kind to me in this world! Where am I going? I go, I wander in the mountains. I seek rest for my lonely heart. I walk to my homeland, my place. I will never wander into the distance. Still is my heart awaiting its hour! The dear earth everywhere Blossoms in spring and grows green anew! Everywhere and eternal blue light the distance! Forever... forever... Ralph Vaughan Williams - Sinfonia antartica: I. Prelude Vaughan Williams composed music for the 1948 film Scott of the Antarctic. He was so inspired that he reworked much of the music into what became his seventh symphony. This symphony is scored for a full orchestra, with a solo soprano and three-part women's chorus who sing in the first and last (fifth) movements. At the start of each movement there is a (written) literary quotation; these quotations are sometimes recited in performances and recordings of the works. The first movement of the work is introduced with the following quotation: "To suffer woes which hope thinks infinite, /To forgive wrongs darker than death or night, /To defy power which seems omnipotent, /... /Neither to change, nor falter, nor repent: /This ... is to be /Good, great and joyous, beautiful and free, /This is alone Life, Joy, Empire and Victory. - Percy Bysshe Shelley, "Prometheus Unbound" Learn more about Sound Garden

Looking for spooky classical music? We've got your needs sorted - whether for Halloween, another spooky occasion, or just because! Sound Garden Products At Sound Garden, we currently offer the following products: Classical Sessions for adults and teens Classical Inspirations for ages 6-12 Composer Activity Guides for parents/carers of ages 0-6 Online courses ...and more! Learn more about Sound Garden

Ludwig van Beethoven composed 32 main piano sonatas (plus 3 as a 13-year-old). These sonatas are one of the most important collections of repertoire (though they were not designed as a collection) for the piano, and for classical music as a genre. We're going to take a look at 5 of them! So, what is a piano sonata, anyway? Piano sonatas A sonata is a composition for a solo instrument, and a piano sonata is a sonata for the piano. The word "sonata" comes from the Latin word "sonare" - "to sound"; a "cantata" (from the word "cantare") is a piece to be sung, and a "sonata" is a piece to be played. A sonata is usually in several movements (stand-alone sections) - most commonly three or four. At least one of the movements is usually in "sonata form" - a musical structure with three main sections: an exposition (introduction of musical themes) a development (development of musical themes, where the themes are altered) a recapitulation (a "recap" of the musical themes from the exposition, usually with some variation). (Sonata form can be found in many different types of musical composition, not only in sonata compositions). Beethoven FAQ We thought we would answer a few common questions about Beethoven before we get into the list: Was Beethoven deaf? - Yes - but he was not born deaf; his deafness developed over time. He first noticed difficulties with his hearing as he neared 30. By his mid-40s, he was completely deaf and had to write and read notes in order to communicate. Amazingly, he continued to compose (and created some of his best work), though he was forced to retire as a conductor and pianist. Was Beethoven black? - Probably not. This theory is based on descriptions of Beethoven's appearance, which have some similarities with descriptions of people with African descent. However, his genealogical records show that he had Flemish heritage. Some people argue that perhaps one of his ancestors had an affair with someone of African ancestry, but this theory is unlikely. There were other black composers and musicians working in Europe around Beethoven's time, however, such as George Bridgetower and Joseph Bologne (the "Chevalier de Saint-Georges"). Was Beethoven blind? - No. He became deaf, but his eyesight was fine. Was Beethoven rich? - He lived comfortably, earing 4000 florins per year from 1809 on the condition that he remained in Vienna for the rest of his life. This was more than the average middle class citizen at the time would have earned. Was Beethoven married? - No, he never married. He did, however, have romantic interests - most notably his "Immortal Beloved", to whom he wrote (but never sent) a ten-page love letter. We don't know who the intended recipient was, but candidates include Antonie Brentano, Julie Guicciardi, Therese Malfatti, and Josephine Brunsvik; all of these women had been considered romantically by Beethoven. It is possible the Beethoven had an affair with Brentano in 1811-1812. After this point, there is no evidence of any relationships (but he did meet up with prostitutes). Now that we've answered those important questions, on to the list! We're going to go in numerical order (we'll let you decide which sonata is the best!), so settle in and let's get listening! Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 "Pathétique" The "Pathétique" sonata was composed in 1798 when Beethoven was 27 years old. It is dedicated Prince Karl von Lichnowsky - a friend of the composer. The nickname "pathétique" ("Grande sonate pathétique" in full: "grand emotion-inducing sonata") was given to the work by Beethoven's publisher (and Beethoven approved!). The three movements are: I. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio (Solemn - Very quickly and with vigour) II. Adagio cantabile (Slow, in a sung style) III. Rondo: Allegro (Rondo form: fast) Piano Sonata No. 14 in C# minor, Op. 27, No. 2 "Moonlight" The "Moonlight" sonata was completed in 1801, and dedicated to his student Countess Giulietta Guicciardi. It is marked "Quasi una fantasia" ("almost a fantasy" (musical form)). The "moonlight" nickname came from a remark by German music critic and poet Ludwig Rellstab after Beethoven's death; the first movement of the work reminded him of moonlight shining upon Lake Lucerne. This sonata is one of Beethoven's most popular piano works The three movements are: I. Adagio sostenuto (Slow and sustained) II. Allegretto (Moderately fast) III. Presto agitato (Very fast and agitated) Sound Garden Products (article continues below) At Sound Garden, we currently offer the following products: Classical Sessions for adults and teens Classical Inspirations for ages 6-12 Composer Activity Guides for parents/carers of ages 0-6 Online courses ...and more! Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31, No. 2 "Tempest" The "Tempest" sonata was composed in 1801-1802; this nickname was given after Beethoven's death. It is a reference to Shakespeare's play "The Tempest"; Beethoven supposedly suggested that his associate Anton Schindler should read it. However, he may have actually been referring to a different "Tempest": preacher and author C. C. Sturm (Storm/Tempest), who was greatly admired by Beethoven. The three movements: I. Largo - Allegro (Slow, broad - Fast) II. Adagio (Slow) III. Allegretto (Moderately fast) Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 "Waldstein" The "Waldstein" sonata was composed in 1804. It marked a new phase in Beethoven's evolution as a composer. The work was dedicated to Beethoven's friend and patron Count Ferdinand Ernst Gabriel von Waldstein (hence the nickname) of Vienna. It also has a second, less-frequently-utilised nickname: "L'Aurora (The Dawn)", as the opening of the third movement has been associated with daybreak imagery. The three movements: I. Allegro con brio (Fast, with liveliness) II. Introduzione: Adagio molto (Introduction: Very slow) III. Rondo. Allegretto moderato — Prestissimo (Rondo (form). Moderate - Very, very fast) Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 "Appassionata" The "Appassionata" ("passionate") sonata was composed in 1804-1805~, and was dedicated to Count Franz von Brunswick. This work received its nickname by the publisher of an arrangement for four hands (two pianists) in 1838. Beethoven considered "Appassionata" to be one of his most tempestuous piano sonatas. The three movements: I. Allegro assai (Very fast) II. Andante con moto (Walking pace, with movement) III. Allegro ma non troppo – Presto (Fast, but not too much - Very fast) Learn more about Sound Garden

In many cultures, particularly those with a Christian heritage, Easter weekend is very important. Many classical music works are inspired by both religious and secular aspects of different holidays, and this one is no exception! Here are FOUR Easter-themed works for you to listen to! Bach: St Matthew Passion The "St Matthew Passion" (German: Matthäus-Passion) is a Passion - a musical work which explores the final period in the life of Christ, designed to be performed during the Christian Holy Week. The "St Matthew Passion" sets chapters 26 and 27 of the Gospel of Matthew to music, with interspersed chorales and arias. One of the most stunning Bach arias is found in this work: the alto aria "Erbarme dich, mein Gott", also featuring violin obbligato (an instrumental part which is integral to a piece of music). One of the greatest violinists of the 20th century, Yehudi Menuhin, called it “the most beautiful piece of music ever written for the violin". The text reflects the apostle Peter’s heartache after he denies knowing Jesus three times. Translation: Have mercy, my God, For the sake of my tears! Look here, heart and eye Weep bitterly before thee. Have mercy, my God. Excerpt recommendations: 1. Chorus I & II, Kommt, ihr Töchter 6. Aria (Alt). Buß und Reu 8. Aria (Sopran), Blute nur, du liebes Herz 27. Aria a doi Cori So ist mein Jesus 29. Choral, O Mensch, bewein' dein Sünde 39. Aria (Alt), Erbarme dich 49. Aria (Sopran), Aus Liebe will mein Heiland 65. Aria (Baß), Mache dich, mein Herze,rein 68. Chorus I & II, Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder Wagner: Parsifal "Parsifal" is a work in three acts by German composer Richard Wagner. It is an Arthurian (as in King Arthur) tale, based on the 13th-century epic poem "Parzival" about the knight Parzival's search for the Holy Grail. Wagner came up with the idea of "Parsifal" on Good Friday in 1857, but did not finish it until 25 years later. He described the work as "Ein Bühnenweihfestspiel" ("A Festival Play for the Consecration of the Stage"), rather than an opera (but most people call it an opera). It is "through-composed" - there are no stand-alone arias or excerpts, though some sections were arranged by Wagner for concert performances. One such section is the "Good Friday Music" from Act III, Scene 1. A fun fact: At Bayreuth Festspielhaus (a venue built by Wagner and dedicated solely to the performance of his works), audiences do not applaud at the end of the first act of "Parsifal". At the first performance, there was much applause after the first and second acts. Wagner told the audience that the cast would not be giving curtain calls (bows, acknowledgement of applause) until the end of the performance. The audience misinterpreted this, and thought they were not to applaud at all. Over time, the tradition developed that no applause would be heard after the first act. Want the full opera? Here it is! Be aware that it is over 4 hours long in its entirety (the music is gorgeous - totally worth it). Make sure you have plenty of snacks! Click here for the libretto (text) in German and English. Sound Garden Products (article continues below) At Sound Garden, we currently offer the following products: Classical Sessions for adults and teens Classical Inspirations for ages 6-12 Composer Activity Guides for parents/carers of ages 0-6 Online courses ...and more! Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana "Cavalleria rusticana" ("Rustic chivalry") is an opera in one act by Pietro Mascagni (Italian libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci). The story was adapted from a short story and play of the same name. It is considered to be a "verismo" (realism) opera. It is often double-billed (performed together with) another short opera, "Pagliacci" by Ruggero Leoncavallo, and together the two are called "Cav and Pag". "Cav" was entered as part of a competition for young Italian composers who were yet to have an opera performed on stage. Mascagni heard about the competition two months before the closing date, and quickly got to work. The librettists (text writers) sent fragments of their text to Mascagni, sometimes on the back of a postcard. The opera was submitted to the competition on the last day that entries would be accepted. Out of 73 operas, three were chosen as winners, including "Cavalleria rusticana". Its first performance was a great success, with Mascagni taking 40 curtain calls! The action takes place on Easter Sunday. The back story: The young villager Turiddu, has returned from military service. He finds out that his fiancée Lola was married to the carter Alfio in his absence. In revenge, he seduces a young woman named Santuzza. Lola is jealous, and begins an affair with Turiddu. The plot: Lots of drama between the four parties! Alfio and Turiddu end up dueling to the death. Who wins? You'll have to watch the opera to find out (this link is a film version, by Zeffirelli, with English subtitles)! One well-known excerpt of "Cav" is the "Easter Hymn", sung by a church choir, the villagers, and Santuzza. The villagers enter the church, while Santuzza and Lucia remain outside. Mahler: Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection" Mahler's second symphony is known as the Resurrection Symphony. Though the composer had some religious background, he did not convert to Catholicism until a few years after the completion of this symphony. Its purpose was to explore the human concepts of life and death, rather than exploring religious doctrines. The entire work is around 1.5h long, and is often included among the greatest symphonies of all time. Mahler had some difficulties deciding on a text for the final (fifth) movement, which he had decided would feature a choir. Inspiration came to him in the form of Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock's "Die Auferstehung" (The Resurrection). He wrote to conductor Anton Seidl: "It struck me like lightning, this thing, and everything was revealed to me clear and plain". The fourth movement, "Urlicht" (Primal Light), serves as a bridge between the orchestral movements and the choral movement. It is a song Mahler had already used in his "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" set of songs, and is sung by an alto (mezzo-soprano or contralto) soloist. It illustrates the longing for heavenly relief from earthly challenges. Translation: O red rose, Man lies in greatest distress, Man lies in the greatest pain, I would rather be in heaven. Then I came to a wide path, There came an angel who wanted to turn me away, Oh, no, I would not be turned away. I am from God and want to go to God again, The good Lord will grant me a little light, Which will light me into eternally blessed life. Learn more about Sound Garden

Looking for dark, melancholic classical music? We've put together a playlist featuring some of our favourite examples of dark classical music - from the sad to the beautiful to the desperate to the haunting to the tragic...and more! What else would you add to our list? Sound Garden Products At Sound Garden, we currently offer the following products: Classical Sessions for adults and teens Classical Inspirations for ages 6-12 Composer Activity Guides for parents/carers of ages 0-6 Online courses ...and more! Learn more about Sound Garden