Depending on whom you ask, death can be comforting or inspire holy terror, including in composers writing a Mass for the Dead.

The oboe: refined, yes, but cheeky or melancholic? Join us as we look at the concertos exploring this instrument's wide-ranging moods.

We take a look at musical depictions of water, from trickling burns to the wide expanse of the ocean, to see what lurks below the surface.

Our series on the concerto finally turns its attention to the brass family, and there are many more for trumpet than you might expect.

We look at what happened when composers outside Austria turned their hands to the waltz ...

The history of Christmas carols is long and surprisingly varied - we look at a few of them.

Beethoven died in 1827. Who would be worthy to take on his mantle?

Where are all the Christmas classics from the great composers?

Wherein we challenge you to think past 'Waterloo' and 'Mamma mia' ...

Our examination of the concerto continues with the viola, whose potential as a solo instrument was long unrecognised.

Stravinsky's ballet Pulcinella is based on music by Pergolesi. Or is it?

To celebrate Black History Month, we look at the early history of Black composers, from Joseph Boulogne to Samuel Taylor-Coleridge.