Author Archive
You’re Still a Grand Old Flag
George M. Cohan’s encounter with a Civil War veteran inspired a song that became a Broadway hit. From there it became a household name.
That song was, and is, “You’re a Grand Old Flag”. This song celebrates Old Glory and all that it stands for. The song is a patriotic march with a catchy lilt and […]
The Yankee Doodle Boy says, “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy”
Written by George Michael Cohan, “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy” was ‘Broadway Composer Cohan’ at his best. Today, the wit of the lyrics and the song’s tempo and temperament continue to elicit applause in theaters nationwide.
George Cohan was born at Providence, Rhode Island in 1878. He started out in show business in Vaudeville, traveling with […]
The Story Of “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”
Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore wrote a song during the Civil War that continues to march its way through the years. This song, a yearning for loved ones to return safely from war, is “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”. Today this song endures, and it is part of many players’ piano repertoires of American Classics.
Gilmore was a […]
The Mambo: The Cuban Rhythm That Makes Feet Dance
The mambo is a Cuban genre of music and dance that combines traditional Cuban music with the highly Americanized forms of swing and big band.
It’s a very syncopated type of music, a style that finds its footing in rhythm as opposed to melody (though melody, of course, plays its role). Mambo is always played […]
The William Tell Overture (The Lone Ranger Theme)
Mention the song title “William Tell Overture,” and a lot of people might scratch their heads in confusion. But hum a few bars, and there are few people who don’t recognize this classic tune. It’s so famous that it’s been covered by literally hundreds of artists since its composition in the early 1800s. […]
The Story of Franz Liszt’s “Liebestraum”
Franz Liszt was born in 1811 in the Kingdom of Hungary, which was then a part of the Hapsburg Empire. His nationality is often disputed, since many records were destroyed by the Ottoman Turks. Usually he is claimed as either Hungarian or German, though a small group recognizes him as a Slovak. Adding to the […]
Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’ Still a Joy to Hear!
Between 1817 and 1823, Ludwig van Beethoven composed Symphony No.9 in D Minor, Opus 125 “Choral.” Nestled in the fourth movement of this classical masterpiece is ‘Ode to Joy.’ It’s a composition of exquisite beauty, which to this day continues to give pleasure to listeners of fine music.
Beethoven finalized this masterwork of symphonic construction in […]
