The celeste has gone in unexpected directions since Tchaikovsky encapsulated its sound in his ballet The Nutcracker ...

Dishonesty among classical composers? Surely not!

Our series on the symphony takes a slight detour to look at those works which don't quite make the grade.

Can you tell the difference between a vibraphone and a xylophone?

In the latest in our series looking at the symphony, what makes Haydn so significant in its development?

Some sections of the Mass are more popular than others ...

Beethoven's Fifth has a nickname? Well, it does according to some people ...

Our examination of the concerto now turns to percussion. Expect the unexpected!

It's the clarinet's turn to step centre-stage for a look at their concerto repertoire. It's possible Mozart is mentioned!

Ahead of the SCO's performances of two key opera seria in this year's Edinburgh International Festival, we look at the history of the genre.

How does the west's fascination with the wider Arab world come across in music? We look at a few examples ...

For the last article in our concerto series (for now), we turn to an instrument too often dismissed as the orchestra's resident joker.