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Explore every episode of the podcast The Classical Music Minute

Dive into the complete episode list for The Classical Music Minute. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
The Musician’s Life in the Romantic Era17 Nov 202500:01:00

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Description
The Musician’s Life in the Romantic Era in 60 Seconds. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Franz Liszt was the 19th-century equivalent of a rock star. Fans reportedly fought over his discarded gloves and hair strands, a frenzy dubbed Lisztomania. While his performances caused swooning in concert halls, his income often relied more on teaching and touring than on the sale of his compositions.

About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.

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Mozart’s Piano: The Enlightenment’s Favourite Sound Machine10 Nov 202500:01:00

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Description
Mozart’s Piano: The Enlightenment’s Favourite Sound Machine in 60 Seconds. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Mozart loved his personal fortepiano so much he took it on tour. It still survives today in Salzburg. Unlike modern pianos, its keys are wood-topped, not ivory, and its sound is surprisingly intimate—more like a lively conversation than a thunderous recital. You could almost imagine it gossiping in Viennese.

About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.

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Showtime with Strings Attached: The Romantic Concerto08 Sep 202500:01:00

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Showtime with Strings Attached: The Romantic Concerto in 60 Seconds. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Franz Liszt’s piano concertos were so demanding that critics sometimes accused him of showing off. He didn’t mind—he once said performing should “transport the listener.” Paganini caused similar uproar: audiences whispered he’d sold his soul to the devil to master the violin. Marketing hype, 19th-century style.

About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.

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Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, A Holiday Season Bombshell25 Dec 202300:01:00

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Bach’s Christmas Oratorio was a huge hit at the time. But did you know that most of it was cobbled together from previous writings? Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
The Christmas Oratorio is in six parts, each of them being intended for performance on one of the major feast days of the Christmas period. The first part - for Christmas Day - describes the Birth of Jesus, the second - for 26 December - the annunciation to the shepherds, the third - 27 December - the adoration of the shepherds, the fourth - New Year's Day - the circumcision and naming of Jesus, the fifth - for the first Sunday after New Year - the journey of the Magi, and the sixth - for Epiphany - the adoration of the Magi.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

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Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️
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Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com 🤔

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Handel’s Messiah, ‘Tis The Season 18 Dec 202300:01:00

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Description
‘Tis the season for some great music, including Handel’s Messiah! What were the origins of this fantastic work? Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Handel composed Messiah in just 24 days without getting much sleep and or eating much food. While writing the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus Handel’s servant discovered him with tears in his eyes, and he exclaimed, “I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself seated on His throne, with His company of Angels.”
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

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Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️
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Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com 🤔

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The Chevalier de Saint-George: Musical Creativity & Equality11 Dec 202300:01:00

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Description
Have you heard of the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, one of the first classical composers of African heritage to attain widespread acclaim in European music? Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
In early 1776, the financially troubled Paris Opéra considered Chevalier de Saint-Georges as its new director. Despite his merit as the creator of the first disciplined French orchestra, opposition led to Antoine Dauvergne being appointed instead. It is likely this was fuelled by racial bias.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

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Marie Antoinette & Her Passion For The Harp04 Dec 202300:01:00

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Did you know that Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France, was truly passionate about the harp? Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
When Marie Antoinette arrived in Paris in 1770, the harp was already a relatively widespread instrument in Paris. However, her unwavering passion for the instrument was partially responsible for inspiring a veritable harp craze.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

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Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️
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Musicians Of The Titanic Who Played Until The End27 Nov 202300:01:00

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Description
The musicians of the Titanic all died when the ship sank in 1912. They played music, intending to calm the passengers, for as long as they possibly could. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
There are no indications that the Titanic’s band members ever attempted to save themselves, and all of them died in the sinking. Most people regard them as musical heroes, who helped to bring comfort and beauty to passengers’ final moments and avoid panic.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com 🤔

Join me on Substack

Franz and Richard Strauss: Like Father, Like Son20 Nov 202300:01:00

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Did you know that Richard Strauss came from a very musical family, his father being both a composer and horn player. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Strauss's first horn concerto was premiered, with the composer playing the horn part, in 1865 and he remained greatly in demand as a soloist. The conductor Hans von Bülow called him "the Joachim of the horn".
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com 🤔

Join me on Substack

Swan Lake: Raising The Bar For Ballet Music13 Nov 202300:01:00

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Description
Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky is now one of the most popular ballets of all time. It’s remarkable, then, that when Swan Lake premiered in 1877, the reception was lukewarm at best. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
When most of us think about Tchaikovsky, we think of his ballets — Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, the latter as ubiquitous at Christmastime as Handel’s Messiah. Between the 1877 premiere of Swan Lake in Moscow and the debut of The Nutcracker in St. Petersburg in 1892.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com 🤔

Join me on Substack

Ludwika Chopin: Beloved Sister, Composer & Writer06 Nov 202300:01:00

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Description
Did you know that Chopin also had a talented older sister who not only composed, but was a professional writer, too? Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Frédéric’s health had never been good, and it deteriorated especially markedly in the late 1840s. For two months, she nursed her beloved brother in his final illness, a task that must have been overwhelmingly difficult, both physically and emotionally. Frédéric continued to deteriorate, and he died on 17 October.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com 🤔

Join me on Substack

Danse macabre by Saint-Saëns | Boo!30 Oct 202300:01:00

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Description
Well, it’s nearly Halloween 🎃 and there are many works of music that depict the spookiness, darkness and morbidity of this annual tradition. 😱 But one jumps out at me, Danse macabre by Camille Saint-Saëns. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Like all great music, this work was imitated by many over the years. The re-tuning of the violin for the tri-tone interval was used by many composers, with my personal favorites being Béla Bartók’s Contrasts for violin, clarinet, and piano, and James Newton Howard’s chilling score to the 2002 film, Signs. But notable occurrences include Symphonie fantastique by Hector Berlioz, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninoff, “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd” from Sweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim, and “Into the Unknown” by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez from Frozen II. Rachmaninoff actually quoted the “Dies Irae” theme in a dozen of his works.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com 🤔

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Maria Anna [Nannerl] Mozart: The First Prodigy23 Oct 202300:01:00

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Description
The young virtuoso, Maria Anna Mozart, nicknamed Nannerl, was quickly overshadowed by her brother, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, five years her junior. But she was nonetheless a child prodigy. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
As a trusted friend, family member and intimate music-making partner, Nannerl could have been exactly what Wolfgang needed to make the leap from sonatas to symphonies. As one scholar put it, “They probably had lots of discussion about what he was doing. I’ll bet she not only reminded him about the horns but also suggested some things for the horns and for other parts of the composition as well.”
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com 🤔

Join me on Substack

Bigger, Louder, Wilder: The Romantic Orchestra Arrives01 Sep 202500:01:00

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Description
Bigger, Louder, Wilder: The Romantic Orchestra Arrives in 60 Seconds. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Wagner was so ambitious he built his own opera house in Bayreuth just to fit the expanded orchestra he envisioned. His pit design hid the musicians from the audience—so all you saw was drama on stage while an enormous, unseen orchestra unleashed waves of sound beneath.

About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️

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Mozart’s Oboe Concerto: Lost & Found16 Oct 202300:01:00

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Description
Mozart's Oboe Concerto in C major was composed in the summer of 1777, for his colleague the oboist Giuseppe Ferlendis. But shortly after that, went missing. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Composed when Mozart was twenty-one, this oboe concerto is a delightful, untroubled, and relatively straightforward composition, cast in the usual three movements. The solo oboe throughout the movement entertains with a delightful variety of virtuosic figurations, and after a brief, almost perfunctory, middle "developmental" section, regales us with a cadenza. After which the movement quickly moves through familiar themes to the end.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com 🤔

Join me on Substack

Martha Argerich: The Dazzling Pianist From Argentina09 Oct 202300:01:00

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Description
Martha Argerich was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1941. She is a pianist [and one of my favourites] known for her recordings and performances of chamber music, particularly works by Messiaen, Prokofiev, and Rachmaninoff. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Prokofiev, Piano Concerto No 1, Martha Argerich
Filmed at the La Roque d'Anthéron festival on July 29th, 2005.

Fun Fact
Martha Argerich made her first recording in 1960, aged just 19. The recording featured works by Chopin, Brahms, Ravel, Prokofiev, and Liszt, and was a critical success. Over the decades since, Martha Argerich has recorded works by a wide range of composers, with the Romantic era a speciality. Indeed, her recordings of the piano works of Robert Schumann, such as the Kinderszenen, Kreisleriana and Fantasia, arguably represent the pianist at her expressive, emotional and virtuosic peak.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com 🤔

Join me on Substack

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street02 Oct 202300:01:00

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With the passing of Dame Angela Lansbury in 2022, it reminded me of one of my favourite Sondeim musicals, Sweeney Todd. She played the first Mrs Lovett in 1979. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Dame Angela Lansbury singing The Worst Pies in London.

Fun Fact
The original production of Sweeney Todd opened on Broadway March 1, 1979, at the Uris Theatre (now the Gershwin). The show, featuring music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by Wheeler, was directed by Harold Prince and starred Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury. The production received eight Tony Awards in 1979—including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score—as well as 11 Drama Desk Awards and the Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Musical. It went on to be revived twice on Broadway and adapted into a 2007 film, in addition to the recent Off-Broadway production.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com 🤔

Join me on Substack

Ryuichi Sakamoto (坂本龍一) & Japanese Contemporary Music25 Sep 202300:01:00

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Description
Ryuichi Sakamoto passed away on March 28, 2023. He was a Japanese composer, pianist, record producer, and actor who pursued a diverse range of styles as a solo artist and as a member of Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO). Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Ryuichi Sakamoto was born on January 17, 1952, in Tokyo. His father, Kazuki Sakamoto, was a well-known literary editor, and his mother, Keiko (Shimomura) Sakamoto, designed women’s hats. He began piano lessons at age 6, and started to compose soon after. His early influences included Johann Sebastian Bach and Claude Debussy — whom he once called “the door to all 20th century music”.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com 🤔

Join me on Substack

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | The Child Prodigy 18 Sep 202300:01:00

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Description
There is little doubt that Mozart was a genius. But what was extraordinary was his abilities from such a young age. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
While Wolfgang was young, his family made several European journeys in which he and his sister Nannerl performed as child prodigies. These began with an exhibition in 1762 at the court of Prince-elector Maximilian III of Bavaria in Munich, and at the Imperial Courts in Vienna and Prague.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com 🤔

Join me on Substack

“Mental Illness & Music” Interview with Acclaimed Canadian Composer & Pianist, Frank Horvat13 Sep 202300:38:49

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It was my privilege to be joined for this episode by acclaimed Canadian Composer and Pianist, Frank Horvat to discuss his own journey with mental illness; the effects it's had on him personally, as well as professionally; and now his advocacy work reaching out to young musicians to discuss their own struggles.

Over the centuries, many of the composers that we know all too well, were also battling mental health issues. It’s only recently that the stigma surrounding this is beginning to lift and people can have an open dialogue without being judged. But what is the link between creativity and mental health? How does it affect a composer's output or a performer’s interpretation of music? Please join me for this very special episode.


Frank's Bio

Frank explores a wide array of themes in his music from love to the environment, mental health and social justice issues. He gives his audiences time and space to reflect in this fast-paced world. Frank’s compositions tell deeply personal stories while permitting audiences to ponder their own.

His works have been featured on over twenty albums on labels including ATMA Classique, Really Records, and Centrediscs. With composition premieres on four continents, his music has been showcased internationally in theatre, feature films, and radio/TV networks including BBC Radio 3, Bravo, CBC, CBS, Discovery, HBO, Vice, and featured in publications such as Gramophone, The Strad, BBC Music Magazine, Toronto Star and Vancouver Sun.

Frank’s 2021 album, Music for Self-Isolation, was listed in the top 5 classical albums of the year by CBC Classical, plus, Frank’s other 2021 album, Project Dovetail, was included in CBC Music’s ‘must hear’ Fall albums.

For more with Frank, please check out his linktree: https://linktr.ee/frankhorvat

Piano Therapy Virtual Tour: https://frankhorvat.com/ptvt
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

Join me on Substack

“Finlandia” by Sibelius & The Finnish People’s Struggle 11 Sep 202300:01:00

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Jean Sibelius was thought to be a hero of Finland, as his music reflected the struggle of the people against the Russian Empire. This is most evident in his work, Finlandia.  Take a minute to get the scoop!

An incredible performance of Finlandia, op. 26 with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Herbert von Karajan. c/o YouTube

Fun Fact
Sibelius later reworked the Finlandia Hymn into a stand-alone piece. This hymn, with words written in 1941 by Veikko Antero Koskenniemi, is one of the most important national songs of Finland. It has been repeatedly suggested to be the official national anthem of Finland. Today, during modern performances of the full-length Finlandia, a choir is sometimes involved, singing the Finnish lyrics with the hymn section.

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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

Join me on Substack

A Quick Note From Me 🤓16 Aug 202300:00:17

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Description
Rather than just disappearing for a few weeks—I thought I'd let you know that I am taking a rest until mid-September.  Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Fun Fact
When Steven isn't recording podcast episodes, he is auditioning for tv commercials and series/film or feeding his cats milk. 🐱
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

Join me on Substack

The Barber of Seville: A Comic Masterpiece By Rossini14 Aug 202300:01:00

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Description
The Barber of Seville is an opera by Rossini and ‘perhaps the greatest of all comic operas’.  Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Rossini's Barber of Seville is considered to be one of the greatest masterpieces of comedy within music, and has been described as the opera buffa of all "opere buffe".
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

Join me on Substack

Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann | The Bad Luck Opera07 Aug 202300:01:00

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Description
The Tales of Hoffmann by Jacques Offenbach certainly got off to a rocky start—with the death of the composer before its premiere and then disaster striking its first Vienna performance. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
The Royal Family of Austria arrived at the theatre as the disaster was ending and immediately began collecting relief funds for the victims and their families. Crown Prince Rudolf was particularly emotional, crying upon seeing the hundreds of lifeless bodies.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
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It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
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Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

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Berlioz & the Program Symphony: When Music Told the Whole Story25 Aug 202500:01:00

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Description
Berlioz & the Program Symphony: When Music Told the Whole Story in 60 Seconds. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Berlioz claimed Symphonie fantastique was inspired by his infatuation with Irish actress Harriet Smithson, whom he later married—briefly. She didn’t attend the premiere, but when she finally heard it, she was impressed… and a little alarmed. Courtship tip: maybe don’t include a beheading scene when wooing your future spouse.

About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.

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"The Real Mozart: The Original King Of Pop" | Announcing Our Book Draw Winner!02 Aug 202300:00:39

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I am so pleased to announce the winner of our draw to receive a copy of "The Real Mozart: The Original King Of Pop". If you didn't catch my interview with author Judith Grohmann, please check it out HERE.

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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

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Bach's Brandenburg Concertos31 Jul 202300:01:00

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Description
Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, originally titled ‘Six concertos for several instruments’, were composed for the Margrave Christian Ludwig of Brandenburg—yet were never performed in Brandenburg. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Each concerto was written for a different combination of instruments and demonstrates a musical style that was popular in Bach’s lifetime. It’s thought that this variation was intended to show off the instrumental strength of the Cöthen Court Orchestra, giving each musician a chance to demonstrate their virtuosity.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

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The Mystery Of Schubert’s ‘Unfinished’ Symphony25 Jul 202300:01:00

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Description
Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 8, known as the Unfinished Symphony, has always been mired in mystery as to why it was never completed by the composer. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Third & fourth movements: The fragment of the scherzo intended as the third movement returns to the tonic B minor, with a G major trio. The first 30 measures are preserved in full score, but the entire rest of the scherzo proper (both strains) only in short score. Only the first strain of the trio exists, and that as a mere unadorned, unharmonized single melodic line. The second strain is entirely absent.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

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Bruckner's Third Symphony & First Performance Debacle 17 Jul 202300:01:00

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Description
Bruckner’s third symphony did not make the splash that he had hoped. Many factors came into play to cause a complete flop of a premier. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Stunned by this debacle, Bruckner made several revisions of his work, leaving out significant amounts of music including most quotations from Wagner's Tristan und Isolde and Die Walküre. The original 1873 score was not published until 1977.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

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Mahler’s Ninth Symphony & The Longing To Live10 Jul 202300:01:00

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Description
Gustav Mahler’s Ninth Symphony is one where the composer began to contemplate his own mortality. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Bruno Walter, who conducted the work’s posthumous premiere on June 26, 1912, with the Vienna Philharmonic, had never seen the score of the Ninth during Mahler’s lifetime; he only received it when Mahler’s widow Alma approached him about giving the premiere. He went on to become one of the work’s most eloquent exponents.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

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"The Real Mozart: The Original King Of Pop" by Judith Grohmann (Bonus Interview Ep)05 Jul 202300:44:08

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Recently, I chatted with author Judith Grohmann about her book, "The Real Mozart: The Original King Of Pop". This biography dives headfirst into the psychological workings of Mozart, as he navigates the explosive times of Viennese society during the enlightenment; his romantic and familial relationships, especially with his father Leopold; as well as, balancing the mundane task of earning money versus musical experimentation and expression.

If you'd like to order the book, please visit Pen & Sword Books.

I will also holding a draw for a free copy of the book. Just give the podcast a rating or review on Apple Podcasts and send a screenshot to TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com and you will be entered into the draw to win.

I will announce the winner at the end of July.
__________________________________________________________________

About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.


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The Sensuous Soundscape Of Maurice Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé03 Jul 202300:01:00

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Daphnis et Chloé by Maurice Ravel is considered by many to be a true masterpiece.  Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Diaghilev had originally intended Daphnis et Chloé to form the centrepiece of the 1910 season, and although the first piano draft was ready by the beginning of May, this was already far too late, leaving the door wide open for Igor Stravinsky to score his first great success with The Firebird. This seems to have inspired Ravel to get a move on and by the end of the summer he was hard at work on the orchestration.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

Join me on Substack

Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring (Madman or Genius?)26 Jun 202300:01:00

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The Rite of Spring composed by Igor Stravinsky premiered at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris on May 29, 1913—it created quite an uproar with the audience claiming that Stravinsky was no composer but a madman. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Like Stravinsky’s earlier works for the Ballet Russes, The Rite of Spring was inspired by Russian culture, but, unlike them, The Rite of Spring challenged the audience with its chaotic percussive momentum.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

Join me on Substack

Schoenberg's Five Pieces for Orchestra (Breaking The Tonal Norm)19 Jun 202300:01:00

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Description
Five Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 16, were composed by Arnold Schoenberg in 1909 much to the dismay of British audiences of the time. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Even Arnold Schoenberg admitted in his letters to Richard Strauss: “The greatest difficulty in performing these pieces is that...it is really impossible to read the score. It would be almost imperative to perform them through blind faith. I can promise you something really colossal, especially in sound and mood. For that is what they are all about – completely unsymphonic, devoid of architecture or construction, just an uninterrupted changing of colours, rhythms, and moods.”
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

Join me on Substack

Gustav Holst: A Holiday, Astrology, & “The Planets”12 Jun 202300:01:00

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Description
The Planets, Op. 32, by Gustav Holst, was written after a holiday in Spain that sparked an acute interest in astrology. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
The first movement of The Planets to be written was Mars in mid-1914, followed by Venus and Jupiter in the latter part of the year, Saturn and Uranus in mid-1915, Neptune later in 1915 and Mercury in early 1916. Holst completed the orchestration during 1917.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

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Small Rooms, Big Genius: Mozart’s Chamber Music18 Aug 202500:01:00

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Small Rooms, Big Genius: Mozart’s Chamber Music in 60 Seconds. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet was written for his friend Anton Stadler, whose extended-range clarinet could play lower notes than normal. Mozart adored the instrument’s warm tone—so much so that he later wrote his famous Clarinet Concerto for Stadler. Friendship goals: writing one of the most beautiful pieces in the repertoire just for you.

About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.

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“Mozart In Motion” Reveals A Musician In Dialogue With Culture At Its Most Sweepingly Progressive07 Jun 202300:52:12

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Join me as I chat with author Patrick Mackie about his book, “Mozart In Motion: His Work And His World In Pieces”. This biography is a fabulous deep-dive into Mozart—his inner psychology as both performer and composer and how he interacts with external forces such as society and family.

To order a copy of the book please visit the publisher.

Patrick Mackie is a poet whose work has appeared in The White Review, New Statesman, and The Paris Review. A former visiting fellow at Harvard, he is the author of Excerpts from the Memoirs of a Fool.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

Please Buy Me A Coffee 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

Join me on Substack

Prokofiev's Peter & The Wolf, A "Symphonic Fairy Tale For Children"05 Jun 202300:01:00

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Description
Peter and the Wolf Op. 67, a "symphonic fairy tale for children", was written by Sergei Prokofiev in 1936, as a means of introducing children to the instruments of the orchestra.  Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Typically, prior to a performance of Peter and the Wolf, the instruments are shown to the children in the audience, so that they may become familiar. They learn not only the themes presented in the work but learn to distinguish the sounds of each the instruments.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

On a personal note, please consider a coffee donation. 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

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Saint-Saëns' The Carnival of the Animals (Not just a piece of fun!)29 May 202300:01:00

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The Carnival of the Animals (Le Carnaval des animaux) is a humorous musical suite of fourteen movements by Camille Saint-Saëns. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
The first public performance of The Carnival of the Animals was given on 25 February 1922 by the Concerts Colonne, conducted by Gabriel Pierné. It was rapturously received. Le Figaro reported: “We cannot describe the cries of admiring joy let loose by an enthusiastic public. In the immense oeuvre of Camille Saint-Saëns, The Carnival of the Animals is certainly one of his magnificent masterpieces…”
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

On a personal note, please consider a coffee donation. 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

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The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra by Benjamin Britten22 May 202300:01:00

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Description
The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, aka The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra: Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Henry Purcell, Op. 34, was written by British composer Benjamin Britten. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
In the last portion of the work, Britten combines all the sections of the orchestra in an intricate fugue on a new, dancelike theme derived from the original. Thus, the piece not only allows listeners to hear the contrasting voices of the instruments but also offers a peek into musical techniques of earlier centuries, showing how a melody can bounce from one instrument to another in sequence while other melodic ideas occupy the background.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

On a personal note, please consider a coffee donation. 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

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Chopin Nocturne, Op. 9, No.2 (Press 2 for Chopin! )15 May 202300:01:00

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Description
Chopin’s Nocturnes were brief piano works that were inspired by the night. The Nocturne in E flat major, Op. 9, No. 2, was written when Chopin was only 20. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Listen to: Nocturne, Op. 9: No. 2 in E Major, Andante
Transcr. for Violin and Piano by A. Schulz
Alessandro Clerici, violin
Elena Brunello, piano

Fun Fact
The Nocturnes, Op. 9 are a set of three nocturnes for solo piano written by Frédéric Chopin between 1831 and 1832, published in 1832, and dedicated to Madame Marie Pleyel. These were Chopin's first published set of nocturnes. The second nocturne of the work is often regarded as Chopin's most famous piece.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

On a personal note, please consider a coffee donation. 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

Join me on Substack

Samuel Barber: Adagio for Strings08 May 202300:01:00

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Samuel Osmond Barber II was an American composer, pianist, conductor, baritone, and music educator. He’s also considered one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century. One of his best known works is Adagio for Strings. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Listen to: The Dover Quartet plays the masterpiece by Samuel Barber in its original form, from the composer's String Quartet Op. 11 c/o YouTube

Fun Fact
The music critic Donal Henahan said of Barber, "Probably no other American composer has ever enjoyed such early, such persistent and such long-lasting acclaim."
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

On a personal note, please consider a coffee donation. 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

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Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt, The (Not So) Incidental Music 01 May 202300:01:00

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Description
Grieg was first approached by the playwright Henrik Ibsen in Italy, 1866. Ibsen asked if Grieg could write incidental music for his drama Peer Gynt. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Grieg’s music for Peer Gynt is usually heard in the form of two orchestral suites (Op. 46 and Op. 55), each featuring four movements selected from his score. The best-known movements include “Morning Mood,” in which a serene melody for flute and oboe depicts a calm dawn; “Anitra’s Dance,” a nimble and seductive dance for strings; and “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” in which a short, mysterious theme gains speed and volume as it is repeated, building toward a frenetic climax.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
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It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
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Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

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Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, A Truly Original Creation24 Apr 202300:01:00

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What was the genesis of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, one of the most frequently performed choral work of the 21st century? Take a minute to get the scoop!

Listen to: Carl Orff - Carmina Burana | Cristian Măcelaru | WDR Symphony Orchestra | WDR Radio Choir

Fun Fact
Of the 315 profane songs contained in the Codex Buranus, Orff chose just 24, organising them into five sections in what he called a “scenic cantata”. They covered themes such as the joys and pains of love, the beauty of nature in springtime, and drinking’s guilty pleasures.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
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You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

On a personal note, please consider a coffee donation. 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
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Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

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The Birth Of The Trombone17 Apr 202300:01:00

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The trombone has a long history, said to have been created in the middle of the 15th century. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Listen to: Giovanni Gabrieli in Venice: 'Beata es virgo' a6 - English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble ℅ YouTube

Fun Fact
The sackbut was used extensively across Europe, from its appearance in the 15th century to a decline in most places by the mid-late 17th century. It was used in outdoor events, in concert, and in liturgical settings. With trumpeters, trombonists in German city-states were employed as civil officials.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

On a personal note, please consider a coffee donation. 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

Join me on Substack

Elgar’s Enigma Variations: Dedicated “...to my friends pictured within.”10 Apr 202300:01:00

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On 21 October 1898, Edward Elgar returned to his wife and their home in Malvern after a long day teaching. He finished dinner, lit a cigar and sat down at the piano to doodle.  Hence his Enigma Variations was born. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Listen to: Edward Elgar - Enigma Variations, Op.36: IX. (Nimrod)
Queensland Symphony Orchestra ℅ YouTube

Fun Fact
The first performance, conducted in London by Hans Richter, took place on 19 June 1899 in a concert that concluded with Mozart’s ‘Prague’ Symphony. It was not until 13 September in Worcester, however, that the Variations were heard in their final form after Elgar had added a further 100 bars to the end of “E.D.U.” to make a more powerful conclusion.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

On a personal note, please consider a coffee donation. 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
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Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

Join me on Substack

Lutes, Lyrics, and Life on the Road: Meet the Medieval Minstrels11 Aug 202500:01:00

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Lutes, Lyrics, and Life on the Road: Meet the Medieval Minstrels in 60 Seconds. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Minstrels had to pass on their songs by memory, since music printing wouldn’t arrive until the 15th century. That meant performances changed over time—sometimes intentionally, sometimes forgetfully. A tale sung in France might sound very different once it reached England… with a new punchline and an extra verse or two.

About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.

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Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance" March No. 1 03 Apr 202300:01:00

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Elgar composed the Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in 1901 as part of a series of five marches. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
At its publication the march was dedicated to English conductor A.E. Rodewald and the Liverpool Orchestral Society, who gave the first performance. The piece was an immediate success; at the London premiere later that year the audience demanded two encores of it.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

On a personal note, please consider a coffee donation. 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

Join me on Substack

Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata: Breaking The Mould 27 Mar 202300:01:00

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Moonlight Sonata aka Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, was completed in 1801, published the following year, and premiered by the composer himself, whose hearing was still adequate but already deteriorating at the time. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
The subtitle—“Sonata in the manner of a fantasia”—reminds listeners that the piece, although technically a sonata, is suggestive of a free-flowing, improvised fantasia. Indeed, arpeggios—playing of the notes of a chord sequentially, which remains a common improvisational device in the 21st century—permeate all three movements of the Moonlight Sonata and ultimately generate the themes and motifs that form the foundation of the work.
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

On a personal note, please consider a coffee donation. 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

Join me on Substack

Ravel's Boléro: A Simple Tune On Repeat20 Mar 202300:01:00

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Description
Ravel had long toyed with the idea of building a composition from a single theme which would grow simply through harmonic and instrumental ingenuity. And thus was born, Boléro. Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Boléro was given its first performance at the Paris Opéra on November 20, 1928. The premiere was acclaimed by a shouting, stamping, cheering audience in the midst of which a woman was heard screaming: “Au fou, au fou!” (“The madman! The madman!”). When Ravel was told of this, he reportedly replied: “That lady… she understood.”
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About Steven, Host
Steven is a Canadian composer & actor living in Toronto. Through his music, he creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his music website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.
__________________________________________________________________

You can FOLLOW ME on Instagram. 👋

On a personal note, please consider a coffee donation. 🤓☕️

It's thirsty work creating content for TCMM. Many sleepless nights spent crafting that perfect one-minute episode or editing my latest fab interview as a bonus episode for your listening pleasure. 🎙🤔📚 But a cup of coffee is always welcome to keep my creativity flowing. 🎼☕️✍🏽🙏
__________________________________________________________________

Got a topic? Pop me an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

Join me on Substack

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