Daily Hit of Music

On this day in 1931, the internationally renowned opera singer and concert recitalist, Shirley Verrett was born. Listen to her perform Minué Cantado ( Sung Minuet ) by the cuban composer Joaquin Nin live from her Carnegie Hall Recital in 1965 with Charles Wadsworth: DHM YouTube Playlist Verrett was raised by her recently converted Adventist parents in New Orleans. Her father, Leon Verrett wished that his daughter become a recitalist in the tradition of Marian Anderon or Dorothy Maynor. In an effort to escape the overt racism in the south, the Verrett family packed up their lives and moved to Oxnard, California in 1943.  In 1948, at her father's encouragement, Verrett entered and won a preliminary round of the Atwater Kent Vocal Competition. She was heard by the celebrated baritone John Charles Thomas who offered her the opportunity to study voice with the celebrated soprano Lotte Lehman at the Music Academy of the West, but Verrett turned down the offer. From 1951 Verrett sold rea

Lay a Garland "Lay a garland" is a popular English poem from the play The Maid's Tragedy , written in 1608-11. The song is sung by Aspasia where her betrothed is forced into a marriage of convenience to the king's mistress. Listen to it here: DHM YouTube Playlist Text: Lay a garland on her hearse of dismal yew.  Maidens, willow branches wear, says she died true. Her love was false, but she was firm Upon her buried body lie lightly, thou gentle earth.  Robert Lucas Pearsall (14 March 1795 - 5 August 1856), English composer of mainly vocal music Pearsall was born at Clifton in Bristol into a wealthy family. His father, Richard Pearsall was an army officer and an amateur musician.   Pearsall married Harriet Eliza Hobday in 1817 and they had four children together. In their early years of marriage, Pearsall practised as a barrister in Bristol, but in 1825 he took his family to live abroad: first to Mainz, then to Karlsruhe. In 1842, evidently after a long period of strain

On this day in 1997, while awaiting the arrival of his band in New York, the american singer, songwriter and guitarist, Jeff Buckley drowned during a spontaneous evening swim, fully clothed, in the Mississippi River.  Listen to 'Grace' here, from his only studio album which was released 3 years before his tragic death: DHM YouTube Playlist Jeff Buckley (November 17, 1966 - May 29, 1997) Text:  There's the moon asking to stay Long enough for the clouds to fly me away Well it's my time coming, I'm not afraid to die My fading voice sings of love, But she cries to the clicking of time Of time Wait in the fire... And she weeps on my arm Walking to the bright lights in sorrow Oh drink a bit of wine we both might go tomorrow Oh my love And the rain is falling and i believe My time has come It reminds me of the pain I might leave Leave behind Sources: Wikipedia

Dmitry Shostakovich took three years to complete the Ninth Quartet (having burnt the initial version), finishing it on the 28th of May in 1964. On this date in 1966 his 11th string quartet was premiered in Leningrad and in 1967, he completed his second violin concerto on this very date. He dedicated the Ninth Quartet to his third wife, Irina Antonovna Shostakovich, a young editor he married in 1962. Listen to it here performed by the Borodin Quartet: DHM YouTube Playlist "...in an attack of healthy self-criticism, I burnt [the first version of the Ninth Quartet] in the stove. This is the second such case in my creative practice. I once did a similar trick of burning my manuscripts in 1926..." - Shostakovich Dmitry Shostakovich, Russian composer (September 25 1906 - August 9 1975) Shostakovich was the son of an engineer. He entered the Petrograd (now St. Petersburg) Conservatory in 1919, where he studied piano and composition (with Glazunov). He participated in the Chopin Inte

This very day in 1840, marks the day that the life of the great violin virtuoso and composer, Niccolo Paganini came to an end. Listen to his most famous work, Caprice No.24 performed by Maxim Vengerov: DHM YouTube Playlist October 27, 1782, Genoa [Italy] - May 27, 1840, Nice, France) After initial study with his father, Paganini studied with a local violinist, G. Servetto, and then with the celebrated Giacomo Costa. At the age of 11, the young Paganini made his first appearance and the studied with Alessandro Rolla and Gaspare Ghiretti in Parma (where Paganini's tomb can be found). In 1797, in his mid-teens, Paganini toured Lombardy, where with each concert, his reputation grew. Gaining his independence soon after, Niccolo indulged excessively in gambling and romantic love affairs, so much so that at one point he pawned his valuable Amati violin due to gambling debts. Fortunately, a French merchant lent him a Guarneri violin to play a concert and, after hearing him, gave him the in

On this day in 1926 the great jazz trumpeter, bandleader and composer Miles Davis was born in Alton, Illinois, U.S.  Have a listen to "So What" from one of his most celebrated albums Kind of Blue : DHM YouTube Playlist Miles Davis (May 26 1926 - September 28 1991) Davis grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois, where his father was a prosperous dental surgeon - in later years he highlighted his comfortable upbringing to rebuke statements which claimed that a background of poverty and suffering was common to all great jazz artists. He began studying the trumpet in his early teens and played with jazz bands in the St. Louis area before moving to New York City in 1944 to study at the Institute of Musical Art (now the Julliard School). Davis would often skip classes and was instead schooled through jam sessions with masters such as Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, the latter of whom he would record with in the future.  In the summer of 1948, Davis formed a nonet that included renow

Toccata in B-flat Major, Op.11 No.2: Prestissimo, Muzio Clementi Clementi was an Italian-born, British pianist and composer whose studies and sonatas developed the techniques of the early piano to such an extent that he was called the "father of the piano". Listen to his Toccata (from the Italian toccare meaning, literally 'to touch' - a piece intended to show off the performer's 'touch') performed virtuosically by Costantino Mastroprimiano: DHM YouTube Playlist A 'fortepiano' is an early version of what we now simply call the 'piano'. Most typically it is used to refer to the late-18th early-19th century and it is the instrument for which composers such as Mozart, Beethoven and Clementi composed their piano oeuvres for.  Muzio Clementi (1752 - 1832) As a young prodigy, Clementi came to the attention of Peter Beckford (twelve years Clementi's senior), who persuaded Clementi's father that Muzio come to England. From 1766, Clementi

Duke Ellington On this day in 1974, the world lost Duke Ellington - one of the greatest jazz band leaders of his time.  Listen to this awesome live performance of 'Perdido': DHM YouTube Playlist Ellington was one of the originators of big-band jazz, leading his own band for more than half a century. He composed thousands of scores and created on of the most distinctive ensemble sounds in all of Western music.  Ellington grew up in Washington, D.C. where his family encouraged his interests in the fine arts and he began studying the piano aged seven. Inspired by ragtime performers, he began to perform professionally at age 17.  Not limiting himself to jazz innovation, Ellington also wrote popular songs as "Don't Get Around Much Any More" and " Sophisticated Lady ". He also became intrigued with the possibilities of composing jazz within classical forms and his output includes a recomposed, re-orchestrated version of Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker Suite&

'Libertango' by Astor Piazzolla 'Libertango' is a composition by Piazzolla recorded and published in 1974 in Milan. The title merges two words 'Libertad' (Spanish for liberty) and 'Tango', the latter being a style of music in 2/4 or 4/4 time that originated among European immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay. The title 'Libertango' symbolised Piazzolla's break from the 'classical tango' to the 'tango nuevo' style, which he pioneered.  Listen to two versions of 'Libertango': DHM YouTube Playlist - Original, performed by Astor Piazzolla himself DHM YouTube Playlist - Swingle Singers version Astor Pantaleón Piazzolla (March 11 1921 - July 4,1992) Piazzolla was also a bandoneon player (pictured above) and arranger as well as tango composer. He revolutionised the traditional tango into a new style termed nuevo tango , incorporating elements from jazz and classical music. A virtuoso bandoneonist, he regularly perf

'Tannhäuser' Overture by Richard Wagner On this day in 1813, one of the most remarkable men of the 19th century was born. Listen to the following overture from his opera Tannhäuser , which is one of the most uplifting, powerful and emotional pieces of music ever written: DHM YouTube Playlist  - performance under the direction of Georg Solti Wilhelm Richard Wagner (May 22 1813, Leipzig - February 13 1883, Venice). Six months after the premiere of 'Parsifal', Wagner took an extended holiday with Cosima and their children to Venice. Whilst there, he suffered a massive heart attack. His body was brought back to Bayreuth for burial in a vault in the garden of his villa. After his death, Cosima became the guardian of the Wagner shrine until her death in 1930.  "I am being used as the instrument for something higher than my own being warrants...I am in the hands of the immortal genius I serve for the span of my life and that intends me to complete only what I can achieve.

Ascendens Christus in altum: Tomas Luis de Victoria The Feast of the Ascension of Jesus commemorates the Christian belief of the bodily Ascension of Jesus into heaven. Listen to this beautiful performance of 'Ascendens Christus in altum/ Christ is risen into heaven'  by St. Clement's Choir, Philadelphia: DHM YouTube playlist Christi Himmelfahrt  by Gebhard Fugel Text: Ascendens Christus in altum, alleluia. Captivam duxit captivitatem, alleluia. Dedit dona hominibus, alleluia. Ascendit Deus in jubilatione, et Dominus in voce tubae, alleluia. Dedit dona hominibus, alleluia. English translation: Christ is risen into heaven, alleluja. And he took captivity as his prisoner, alleluja. He gave many gifts to his people, alleluja. God rose in jubilation, And the Lord rose with the sound of the trumpet, alleluja. He gave gifts to his people, alleluja. Translation by Matthew Smith Tomas Luis de Victoria Victoria was born c.1548 near Avila, Spain and died August 27, 1611, Madrid, altho

Nocturne in F major, Clara Schumann This day in 1896, marks the death of the pianist and composer, Clara Schumann. Listen to this beautiful nocturne, performed by Lucy Parham: DHM - YouTube A musical 'nocturne' is a composition which is inspired by or evocative of the night. The form originated with the Irish composer John Field, who published the first set of nocturnes in 1814.  Clara Schumann Encouraged by her father, Clara studied piano from the age of five and by 1835 (aged 16), she had established a reputation throughout Europe as a child prodigy. In 1838 (aged 19), she was honoured by the Austrian court and was elected to the prestigious Society of the Friends of Music (Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde) in Vienna.  Despite strong objections from her father, she married Robert Schumann in 1840 in 1840 (aged 21), and they had eight children between 1841 and 1854. Though family responsibilities curtailed her career, she taught at the Leipzig Conservatory, composed and toured fr

Johann Sebastian Bach - Violin Sonata No.3 for Solo Violin J.S. Bach's cycle of three sonatas and three partitas for unaccompanied violin set new standards both in instrumental performance and compositional technique - standards that have lost none of their currency over the years. They were composed no later than 1720, meaning Bach would have been around the age of 35 when he completed these works.  By reducing his compositional resources to the barest minimum, Bach set himself the extraordinary task of displaying full harmonic and contrapuntal riches, with no noticeable loss, on a melody instrument with a limited capacity for rendering choral and contrapuntal textures. The violin has a mere four strings and yet Bach had such an astonishing vision for what could be achieved on this one, small instrument.  Listen to the last of his solo sonatas for violin, No.3 (C major), performed by Hilary Hahn: DHM - YouTube J.S. Bach (1685 - 1750) Bach was essentially a self-taught musician and

The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's: The Bride Confesses her Love  Osculetur Me by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Text: Osculetur me osculo oris sui, quia meliora sunt uber tua vino, fragrantia unguentis optimis. Oleum euffusum nomen tuum, ideo adulescentulae dilexerunt te.  English translation: [She]: Let him kiss me with the kiss of his mouth: for thy love is sweeter than wine, Smelling sweet of the best ointments. Thy name is as oil poured: therefore young maidens have loved thee.  Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina  Palestrina was born c. 1525 in Palestrina near Rome (Italy) and died on February 2, 1594 in Rome. He composed more than 105 masses and 250 motets and is considered to be  the master of contrapuntal composition. In 1537, Palestrina was a choirboy at the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he also studied music between 1537 and 1539. In 1544, Palestrina was engaged as organist and singer in the cathedral of his native town. His duties included playing the orga

"Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz On this day 120 years ago (1900), L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was first published, later becoming a classic of children's literature. The 1939 film adaptation is among the most beloved movies in American cinema. The song "Over the Rainbow", originally sung by Judy Garland was written by Harold Arlen (music) and E.Y. Harburg (lyrics). Listen: YouTube - Original version sung by Judy Garland YouTube - Cover version performed by Eva Cassidy "Over the Rainbow" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, but its future success did not feel so secure during the creative process.  By the time all the other songs for the film had been written, Arlen was feeling the pressure to produce a song for the Kansas scene. Arlen would often carry blank pieces of music manuscript in his pockets to jot down melodic ideas. Arlen described how the inspiration for the melody to "Over the Rainbow" came to

Isabella Leonarda - Sonata Duodecima Deriving from the Italian word 'sonare', meaning 'to sound', the term 'sonata' refers to a musical composition either for a solo instrument or a small group of instruments that typically consists of a few movements (or sections), each in a related key, but with a unique musical character.  Listen to Leonarda's 'Twelfth Sonata': YouTube  - performed by baroque violinist Rachel Podger and theorbo player Daniele Caminiti YouTube  - performed by Bizzarrie Armoniche Isabella Leonarda 6 September 1620 - 25 February 1704, Novara Image source Isabella Leonarda was an Ursuline nun and a remarkable figure in the history of Western music. It was not unheard of for women to compose music in times gone by, but in virtually all such cases, the music is vocal. This was likely because most female composers in earlier times were nuns. Therefore it is unusual to find a seventeenth-century Italian woman composing textless instrument

Rumi Poetry - Selected Ghazal texts  Women playing the Ney, Tanbur (the long-necked lute) and Santur   The ghazal is a form of amatory poem, originating in Arabic poetry. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. Listen to these selected Rumi (13th C Persian poet) ghazal texts interpreted beautifully in musical form by Sohrab Pournazeri (tanboor player) and Homayoun Shajarian (singer): YouTube A page of a copy c. 150 3 of the  Diwan-e Shams-e Tabriz-i 

The Hebrides Overture, "Fingal's Cave" by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Inspired by Mendelssohn's visit to the Hebrides islands off the west coast of Scotland, this overture (an independent, one-movement work) was revised many times by its composer and was premiered as Overture to the Isles of Fingal in London on May 14, 1832, when Mendelssohn was aged 24. Listen here: YouTube The Hebrides, Scotland - the source of much Scottish Gaelic literature and music.  In 1829, the 20-year-old Mendelssohn visited Scotland with a childhood friend, Carl Klingemann. The two roved among the lakes and moors of the Scottish Highlands. Mendelssohn wrote colourful letters home about their adventures. He described the "comfortless, inhospitable solitude," which stood in stark contrast to the beauty and wilderness of the countryside. Here was a place very different from Berlin, where the young composer had grown up.  Fingal's Cave (Basalt Sea Cave), Staffa Island, Scotland Men

Don Quixote, Symphonic Engravings by Gara Garayev The prominent Soviet Azerbaijani composer Gara Garayev (also spelled as Qara Qarayev or Kara Karayev) died on May 13, 1982, at the age of 64. He left the world nearly 110 musical works including ballets, operas, symphonic and chamber pieces, solo works for piano, cantatas, songs and marches, and rose to prominence not only in Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, but also in the rest of the Soviet Union and worldwide. Have a listen to his inventive and beautiful 'Don Quixote, Symphonic Engravings': YouTube Spotify The story of Don Quixote: 'Don Quixote' is a novel, published in two parts by Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes and is one of the most widely read classics in Western literature. It describes what happens to an ageing knight, who loses his mind by reading romances and sets out with Sancho Panza to seek adventure. It is considered to be the prototype of the modern novel. For a more detailed synopsis, click here

The Lord is my Shepherd - Lennox Berkeley On this day in 1903, the British composer, Sir Lennox Berkeley was born. Listen to this performance of Berkeley's setting of Psalm 23, 'The Lord is my Shepherd' sung by The Choir of St. John's College Cambridge:  YouTube Spotify Sir Lennox Berkeley (12 May, 1903, Oxford - 26, December, 1989, London) Berkeley studied at Merton College, Oxford, and then studied in Paris under the renowned teacher Nadia Boulanger. While in Paris, he met Igor Stravinsky and Francis Poulenc, the latter of whom remained a lifelong friend. Berkeley returned to Britain in 1935 and in '36, met the composer Benjamin Britten. The two composers maintained a strong professional, as well as personal, association, although Berkeley seemed wary of entering into a romantic relationship with Britten saying, "we have come to an agreement on that subject." Nevertheless, the two composers shared a house for a year, living in Suffolk. He worked for the

Irving Berlin - "It's A Lovely Day Today" On this day in 1888, the songwriter Irving Berlin was born in Russia, Tyumen. He was one of the most prolific and popular songwriters of the 20th century, counting among his many hits "White Christmas" and "Cheek to Cheek". Listen to this lovely song from the musical "Call Me Madam" with lyrics and music by Berlin: YouTube Irving Berlin 11 May 1888 - 22 September 1989 Born in Russia, Irving Berlin arrived in the United States at the age of five. He published his first song, "Marie from Sunny Italy" in 1907, receiving 33 cents for the publishing rights, and had his first major international hit, "Alexander's Ragtime Band" in 1911. It is commonly believed that Berlin could not read sheet music, and was such a limited piano player that he could only play in the key of F-sharp using his custom piano equipped with a transposing lever. See him demonstrate:  YouTube

Il Dolce Suono/The Diva Dance Watch this scene from the film 'The Fifth Element' which begins with 'Il Dolce Suono' (a.k.a. the mad scene) from Gaetano Donizetti's opera 'Lucia di Lammermoor' and then morphs into 'The Diva Dance' by Éric Serra: YouTube Éric Serra, French musician and composer The voice behind the 'Diva Plavalaguna' is the Albanian opera singer, Inva Mulva.  Italian text: Il dolce suono mi colpì di sua voce! Ah, quella voce m'è qui nel cor discesa! Edgardo! io ti son resa. Edgardo! Ah! Edgardo, mio! Si', ti son resa! fuggita io son da' tuoi nemici. Un gelo me serpeggia nel sen! trema ogni fibra! vacilla il piè! Presso la fonte meco t'assidi alquanto! Si', Presso la fonte meco t'assidi. English translation: The sweet sound of his voice struck me! Ah, that voice has entered my heart! Edgardo! I surrender to you, oh my Edgardo! I have escaped from your enemies. A

Катюша ( Katyusha) Victory Day is a holiday that commemorates the surrender of Germany in 1945. It was first inaugurated in the republics of the Soviet Union, following the signing of the German Instrument of Surrender late in the evening on 8 May 1945 (after midnight, thus on 9 May, Moscow Time). The Soviet government announced the victory early on 9 May after the signing ceremony in Berlin. The Russian Federation considers the 9th of May to be a non-working day even if it falls on a weekend (in which case any following Monday will be non-working).  Listen to the song «Катюша» ( Katyusha) with music by Матвей Блентар ( Matthew Blentar ) and words by Михаил Исаковский (Michael Isakovsy): YouTube День Победы  (Victory Day) celebrations in Moscow, 9 May 2005 Расцветали яблони и груши, Поплыли туманы над рекой. Выходила на берег катюша, На высокий берег на крутой. Выходила, песню заводила Про степного сизого орла, Про того, которого любила, Про тог