The Classical Music Minute

What Were the Apollonian Principles in Stravinsky’s Music? | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail Stravinsky wasn't always the revolutionary behind The Rite of Spring. Discover how the ancient Greek ideal of Apollo—order, clarity, balance, and r

What Were Rescue Operas? | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail Prisoners, secret identities, political oppression—and a daring rescue just in time. Discover how the revolutionary spirit of Europe inspired the rescue

What Is the Circle of Fifths? | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail It looks like a musical clock, but the Circle of Fifths is actually a map of how musical keys relate to one another. Discover how this ingenious diagram

Why Can a Piano Play in Every Key? The Secret of Equal Temperament | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail What if making music sound in tune actually requires making it slightly out of tune? Discover the ingenious compromise of equal temperament and how divi

What Were Goethe's Rules for Actors? | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail Long before modern acting schools, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote a remarkable guide for performers. Discover why his advice on clarity, discipline, a

How Did We Start Writing Music? | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail Music wasn't always written down. Discover how a medieval monk named Guido of Arezzo helped revolutionize music with a system of notation that stil

What Happened to Classical Music in the Early 20th Century? | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail The early twentieth century was a time of enormous musical change. Discover how composers responded to a changing world by breaking traditions, experime

Drama Meets Music with Monteverdi | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail Opera didn't appear overnight. Meet Claudio Monteverdi, the composer who transformed music into powerful drama and helped create one of the world&a

Who Was the First Female Composer? (That We Know Of…) | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail Let's travel back more than 1,100 years to meet Kassia of Constantinople, the earliest known female composer whose music still survives today. In j

Who Was the First Great Composer? | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail Join me as I introduce you to Pérotin, one of the earliest known composers whose music still survives today. In just sixty seconds, you'll discover

Why Is Wagner So Controversial? | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail Why does Richard Wagner remain one of the most debated figures in classical music? In this episode of The Classical Music Minute, we explore the comple

Why Do Symphony Orchestras Have So Many Violins? | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail Why are there so many violins in a symphony orchestra? In this episode of The Classical Music Minute, we explore the role of the violin section and why

How Do Opera Singers Sing So Loud Without Microphones? | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail How can opera singers be heard over an entire orchestra without any electronic amplification? In this episode of The Classical Music Minute, we explore

Why Is Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony So Important? | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail Why is Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony considered one of the most important works in classical music? In this episode of The Classical Music Minute, we expl

What Is the Difference Between Opera and Operetta? | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail What is the difference between opera and operetta? In this episode of The Classical Music Minute, we explore two closely related forms of musical theat

Why Did Beethoven Go Deaf? | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail Why did Beethoven lose his hearing? In this episode of The Classical Music Minute, we explore one of the most famous mysteries in music history. Ludwig

Why Is Pachelbel’s Canon Played at So Many Weddings? | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail Why has Pachelbel’s Canon in D become one of the most popular wedding pieces of all time? In this episode of The Classical Music Minute, we explore how

Why Is Vivaldi’s Four Seasons So Popular? | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail Why has The Four Seasons remained one of the world’s most recognizable pieces of classical music? In this episode of The Classical Music Minute, we exp

Why Is Bach Called the Father of Classical Music? | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail Why Is Bach Called the Father of Classical Music? Why is Johann Sebastian Bach often referred to as the “Father of Classical Music”? In this episode o

What Does “Opus” Mean in Classical Music? | The Classical Music Minute

Send us Fan Mail What Does “Opus” Mean in Classical Music? What does “opus” mean when you see it in a classical music title? In this episode of The Classical Music Min