Behind the music
List of News Articles
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Making a splash: water music beyond Handel
6 January 2025
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.![]()
The trumpet concerto
23 December 2024
Our series on the concerto finally turns its attention to the brass family, and there are many more for trumpet than you might expect.![]()
The waltz goes international
25 November 2024
We look at what happened when composers outside Austria turned their hands to the waltz ...![]()
The story behind Silent Night and other carols
18 November 2024
The history of Christmas carols is long and surprisingly varied - we look at a few of them.![]()
The search for Beethoven's successor
4 November 2024
Beethoven died in 1827. Who would be worthy to take on his mantle?![]()
Why is there so little classical Christmas music?
28 October 2024
Where are all the Christmas classics from the great composers?![Three Swedish composers: Bellman (in the middle, in 18th century dress) is playing the cittern, with formal photographs of Berwald to his left and Atterberg to his right]()
Not just Eurovision: an introduction to Swedish music
7 October 2024
Wherein we challenge you to think past 'Waterloo' and 'Mamma mia' ...![Max Mandel plays the viola, concentrating hard on the sheet music. He wears a black suit and tie.]()
The viola concerto
23 September 2024
Our examination of the concerto continues with the viola, whose potential as a solo instrument was long unrecognised.![Three pictures: a man leans forward, his elbows on some sheet music; a man with a large belly, wearing a black carnival mask; a caricature sketch of a man in a wig]()
Pulcinella and the dangers of (mis)attribution
16 September 2024
Stravinsky's ballet Pulcinella is based on music by Pergolesi. Or is it?![Two Black men (the first an 18th century gentleman, the second in a formal Edwardian suit) and a black woman in profile]()
The first Black composers
9 September 2024
To celebrate Black History Month, we look at the early history of Black composers, from Joseph Boulogne to Samuel Taylor-Coleridge.![Three women: one in a high wig and flowers in her hair, another sitting in profile, and (in a drawing) standing in a group as part of a stage production]()
Mozart and the Weber sisters
2 September 2024
We look at Mozart's close relationship with the children of the Weber family.![A man plays the cello, his bow on the string]()
The cello concerto
26 August 2024
In a new series for 2024/25, who better than the SCO players to guide us through the best concertos for their instrument?











