Portal:Music

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The Music Portal

Musicis the arrangement ofsoundto create some combination ofform,harmony,melody,rhythm,or otherwiseexpressive content.Music is generally agreed to be acultural universalthat is present in all human societies.Definitions of musicvary widely in substance and approach. While scholars agree that music is defined by a small number ofspecific elements,there is no consensus as to what these necessary elements are. Music is often characterized as a highly versatile medium for expressing humancreativity.Diverse activities are involved in the creation of music, and are often divided into categories ofcomposition,improvisation,andperformance.Music may be performed using a wide variety ofmusical instruments,including thehuman voice.It can also be composed, sequenced, or otherwise produced to be indirectly played mechanically or electronically, such as via amusic box,barrel organ,ordigital audio workstationsoftware on a computer.

Music often plays a key role in social events andreligious ceremony.The techniques of making music are often transmitted as part of a cultural tradition. Music is played in public and private contexts, highlighted at events such asfestivalsand concerts for various different types of ensembles. Music is used in the production of other media, such as insoundtracksto films, TV shows, operas, and video games.

Listening to music is a common means ofentertainment.The culture surrounding music extends into areas ofacademic study,journalism,philosophy,psychology,andtherapy.Themusic industryincludes songwriters, performers,sound engineers,producers, tour organizers, distributors of instruments, accessories, and publishers ofsheet musicandrecordings.Technology facilitating therecording and reproduction of musichas historically includedsheet music,microphones,phonographs,andtape machines,with playback ofdigital musicsbeing a common use forMP3 players,CD players,andsmartphones.(Full article...)

General images -load new batch

The following are images from various music-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1A studio engineer working with anaudio mixerin a recording studio (fromMusic industry)
Image 2Guillaume Du Fay(left), withGilles Binchois(right) in ac. 1440Illuminated manuscriptcopy ofMartin le Franc'sLe champion des dames(fromHistory of music)
Image 3Two musicians of theEastern Han Dynasty(25–220 CE),Shanghai Museum(fromHistory of music)
Image 4J. S. Bach(fromHistory of music)
Image 5Alleluia nativitasbyPerotinfrom the Codex Guelf.1099 (fromHistory of music)
Image 6Circular definitionof "musicality" (fromElements of music)
Image 7As LPs fell out of favor to CDs,hip hop producersrepurposed them assamplingsources, contributing to the development ofrecord collecting.(fromAlbum era)
Image 8ARhodes Collegestudent listening to the 1969YesLP on campus,c. 1970(fromAlbum era)
Image 9Stevie Wonder,among the era's innovative artists (fromAlbum era)
Image 10An audience watching aconcert(fromMusic industry)
Image 11Terracotta statue of a Parthian lute player (fromHistory of music)
Image 12Frank Sinatra(c. 1955), an early pop album artist (fromAlbum era)
Image 13A live musical performance atCologne Pride,2013 (fromMusic industry)
Image 14The Rolling Stonesin 1967 (fromAlbum era)
Image 15A radio broadcasting system from 1906 (fromMusic industry)
Image 16A young couple listening to music on aniPod Mini,2006 (fromAlbum era)
Image 17Beyoncé(2016) popularized thesurprise-albumstrategy of the 2010s. (fromAlbum era)
Image 18The Beatles(1964) have been credited by music historians for heralding the album era. (fromAlbum era)
Image 19The monumentalBianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng,c. 5th centuryBCE, fromHubei(fromHistory of music)
Image 20Platinum recordsbyElvis Presley,Prince,Madonna,Lynyrd Skynyrd,andBruce Springsteen,atJulien's Auctions(fromAlbum era)
Image 21A smartphone displaying playlists onSpotify,2010. Thestreamingservice became a dominant and redefining platform for music consumption through the decade. (fromAlbum era)
Image 22Taylor Swift,a longtime adherent to album-era rollouts,surprise-releasedher albums instead in 2020. (fromAlbum era)
Image 23Pink Floyd(1973) performingThe Dark Side of the Moon,a leading commercial success of the LP era (fromAlbum era)
Image 24Sheet music for part of theMissa Papae MarcellibyGiovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina(fromHistory of music)
Image 25The Japanese boy bandArashi,who had the world's best-selling album (5x20 All the Best!!) in 2019 (fromAlbum era)
Image 26A young man browsing through arecord storeinBonn, West Germany,June 1988 (fromAlbum era)
Image 27The logo forApple Inc.'s onlineiTunes store,which sells digital files of songs and musical pieces–along with a range of other content, such as digital files ofTV showsandmovies(fromMusic industry)
Image 28The portableDiscmanCD player, which was released in 1984 and precipitated the displacement of LPs (fromAlbum era)
Image 29An example of mechanically printed sheet music (fromMusic industry)
Image 30US vinyl sales in units, 1995–2020; while album sales overall declined, those in thevinyl format rosetoward the end of the 2010s. (fromAlbum era)
Image 31AnHMVrecord shop inWakefield,England closing its operation in 2013 (fromAlbum era)
Image 32ClaraandRobert Schumann(fromHistory of music)
Image 33Notation indicating differing pitch, dynamics, articulation, and instrumentation (fromElements of music)
Image 34Kanye West(2007) emerged during the decade as an important hip-hop producer and album artist. (fromAlbum era)
Image 35Musicians working in arecording studio(fromMusic industry)
Image 36TheBull Headed Lyre of Ur,found in theRoyal Cemetery at Ur,is the best known of the ancientLyres of Ur(fromHistory of music)
Image 37AnLP recordon a phonograph (fromAlbum era)
Image 38Drawing of the tablet with the Hymn toNikkal(c. 1400BCE), the oldest of theHurrian songs(fromHistory of music)
Image 39Frances Densmoreat theSmithsonian Institutionin 1916 where she was recordingBlackfootchiefMountain Chieffor theBureau of American Ethnology.In this picture, Mountain Chief is listening to a recording. (fromMusic industry)
Image 40c. 379 CEBas reliefofSassanidwomen playing thechanginTaq-e Bostan,Iran (fromHistory of music)
Image 41A musician in a recording studio (fromMusic industry)

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Featured articles -load new batch

Featured articlesare displayed here, which represent some of the best content on English Wikipedia.

Image 1

ThePortrait of a Musicianis anunfinished paintingby theItalian RenaissanceartistLeonardo da Vinci,dated toc. 1483–1487.Produced while Leonardo was inMilan,the work is painted inoils,and perhapstempera,on a small panel ofwalnut wood.It is his only known maleportrait painting,and the identity of its sitter has been closely debated among scholars.

Perhaps influenced byAntonello da Messina's introduction of theEarly Netherlandishstyle of portrait painting to Italy, the work marks a dramatic shift from theprofile portraiturethat predominated in 15th-century Milan. It shares many similarities with other paintings Leonardo executed there, such as the LouvreVirgin of the Rocksand theLady with an Ermine,but thePortrait of a Musicianis his onlypanel paintingremaining in the city, where it has been in thePinacoteca Ambrosianasince at least 1672. One of Leonardo's best preserved paintings, there are no extant contemporary records of thecommission.Based on stylistic resemblances toother works by Leonardo,virtually all current scholarship attributes at least the sitter's face to him. Uncertainty over the rest of the painting arises from the stiff and rigid qualities of the body, which are uncharacteristic of Leonardo's work. While this may be explained by the painting's unfinished state, some scholars believe that Leonardo was assisted by one ofhis students.(Full article...)
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In Uterois the third and finalstudio albumby the AmericanrockbandNirvana,released on September 21, 1993, byDGC Records.After breaking into the mainstream with their second album,Nevermind(1991), Nirvana hiredSteve Albinito recordIn Utero,seeking a more complex, abrasive sound that was reminiscent of their work prior toNevermind.Although the singer and primary songwriterKurt Cobainclaimed that the album was "very impersonal", many of its songs contain heavy allusions to his personal life and struggles, expressing feelings of angst that were common on the band's previous album.

The album was recorded over two weeks in February 1993 atPachyderm StudioinCannon Falls, Minnesota.After recording finished, rumors circulated that DGC might not release the album due to Albini's abrasive and uncommercial sound. The album was mastered byBob Ludwigto achieve a more desirable sound for both Nirvana and their label. The band later hired the producerScott Littto remix the singles "All Apologies","Heart-Shaped Box"and"Pennyroyal Tea".(Full article...)
Image 3
Heaven Upside Downis the tenth studio album by AmericanrockbandMarilyn Manson.It was released on October 6, 2017, byLoma Vista RecordingsandCaroline International.The record had theworking titleSay10and was initially due to be issued onValentine's Day.However, the release was delayed by numerous events, most notably the death of Marilyn Manson's father, Hugh Warner, who died during production and to whom the album was later dedicated. The record has many of the musicians who performed on the band's previous album,The Pale Emperor(2015), including the producerTyler Batesand the drummerGil Sharone.Despite Manson's early implications, long-time bass guitaristTwiggy Ramirezdid not participate on the album. He left the group following a sexual assault allegation by a former girlfriend.

"We Know Where You Fucking Live"was released as a single in September, shortly followed by"Kill4Me",which became the band's highest-peaking entry onBillboard'sMainstream Rock Chart.The music videos for the album had celebrities includingJohnny Depp,Courtney LoveandLisa Marie Presley.The single "Tattooed in Reverse"also entered the mainstream rock chart, makingHeaven Upside Downthe band's first album sinceMechanical Animalsin 1998 to chart more than one song there. (Full article...)
Image 4
Pinkertonis the secondstudio albumby the American rock bandWeezer,released on September 24, 1996, byDGC Records.The guitarist and vocalistRivers Cuomowrote most ofPinkertonwhile studying atHarvard University,after abandoning plans for arock opera,Songs from the Black Hole.It was the last Weezeralbumto feature the bassistMatt Sharp,who left in 1998.

To better capture their live sound, Weezer self-producedPinkerton,creating a darker, more abrasive album than theirself-titled 1994 debut.Cuomo's lyrics express loneliness and disillusionment with the rock lifestyle. The title comes from the character BF Pinkerton fromGiacomo Puccini's 1904 operaMadama Butterfly,whom Cuomo described as an "asshole American sailor similar to a touring rock star". Like the opera, the album contains references toJapanese culture.(Full article...)
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Ride the Lightningis the second studio album by the Americanheavy metalbandMetallica,released on July 27, 1984, by the independent record labelMegaforce Records.The album was recorded in three weeks with producerFlemming RasmussenatSweet Silence StudiosinCopenhagen,Denmark. The artwork, based on a concept by the band, depicts anelectric chairbeing struck by lightning flowing from the band logo. The title was taken from a passage inStephen King's novelThe Stand,in which a character uses the phrase to refer to execution by electric chair.

Although rooted in thethrash metalgenre, the album showcased the band's musical growth and lyrical sophistication. BassistCliff Burtonintroduced the basics of music theory to the band and had more input in the songwriting. Beyond the fast tempos of its debutKill 'Em All,Metallica broadened its approach by employing acoustic guitars, extended instrumentals, and more complex harmonies. The overall recording costs were paid by Metallica's European labelMusic for Nationsbecause Megaforce was unable to cover it. It is the last album to feature songwriting contributions from former lead guitaristDave Mustaine,and the first to feature contributions from successorKirk Hammett.(Full article...)
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"Under the Bridge"is a song by AmericanrockbandRed Hot Chili Peppersand the eleventh track on their fifth studio album,Blood Sugar Sex Magik(1991). It was released in March 1992 byWarner Bros. Records.VocalistAnthony Kiediswrote the lyrics while reflecting on loneliness and the struggles of being clean from drugs, and almost did not share it with the band.

"Under the Bridge" was praised by critics and fans for its emotional weight. The song was a commercial success and the band's highest-charting single, peaking at number two on theBillboardHot 100,number one on theCash BoxTop 100and certified platinum. It was also a success in other countries, mostly charting within the top 10.Gus Van Santdirected the song's music video, which was filmed inLos Angeles.(Full article...)
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4is the fourth solo studio album by American singer-songwriterBeyoncé.It was released on June 24, 2011, byParkwood EntertainmentandColumbia Records.

Following a career hiatus which reignited her creativity, Beyoncé was inspired to create a record with a basis in traditionalrhythm and bluesthat stood apart from contemporarypop.Her collaborations with songwriters and record producersThe-Dream,Tricky StewartandShea Taylorproduced a mellower tone, developing diverse vocal styles and influences fromfunk,hip hop,andsoul music.André 3000is the sole guest performer. (Full article...)
Image 8
Smetana,c. 1878

Bedřich Smetana(/ˌbɛdərʒɪxˈsmɛtənə/BED-ər-zhikhSMET-ə-nə;Czech:[ˈbɛdr̝ɪxˈsmɛtana];2 March 1824 – 12 May 1884) was a Czech composer who pioneered the development of a musical style that became closely identified with his people's aspirations to a cultural and political "revival". He has been regarded in his homeland as the father ofCzech music.Internationally he is best known for his 1866 operaThe Bartered Brideand for the symphonic cycleMá vlast( "My Fatherland" ), which portrays the history, legends and landscape of the composer's nativeBohemia.It contains the famoussymphonic poem"Vltava",also popularly known by its German name" Die Moldau "(in English," The Moldau ").

Smetana was naturally gifted as a composer, and gave his first public performance at the age of six. After conventional schooling, he studied music underJosef ProkschinPrague.His first nationalistic music was written during the1848 Prague uprising,in which he briefly participated. After failing to establish his career in Prague, he left for Sweden, where he set up as a teacher and choirmaster inGothenburg,and began to write large-scale orchestral works. (Full article...)
Image 9
Kalais the second studio album by British recording artistM.I.A.It was released on 8 August 2007 throughXL Recordings.M.I.A. named the album after her mother and has stated that her mother's struggles in life are a major theme of the album. It was mainly written and produced by M.I.A. andSwitch,and features contributions fromTimbaland,Diplo,Afrikan BoyandThe Wilcannia Mob.

Initially planning to work with American producer Timbaland for the bulk of the album, M.I.A. was unable to gain a long-term workvisato enter the US. Therefore, she recordedKalain numerous countries around the world, includingIndia,Angola,Trinidad,Liberia,JamaicaandAustralia.M.I.A. and Switch relied heavily on the digital audio workstationLogic Proand recorded additional vocals and background sounds outside the studio environment.Kalaincorporates prominent influences fromSouth Asianmusic, featuring samples ofBollywoodandTamil cinema.The album draws on various styles, fromfunk cariocatoAfricanfolk. The songs are about political themes related to theThird World,includingillegal immigration,povertyandcapitalism.(Full article...)
Image 10
"Love Story"is a song by the American singer-songwriterTaylor Swift.It was released as thelead singlefrom her second studio album,Fearless,on September 15, 2008, byBig Machine Records.Inspired by a boy who was unpopular with her family and friends, Swift wrote the song usingWilliam Shakespeare's tragedyRomeo and Julietas a reference point. The lyrics narrate a troubled romance that ends with a marriage proposal, contrary to Shakespeare's tragic conclusion. Produced by Swift andNathan Chapman,themidtempo country popsong includes akey changeafter thebridgeand uses acoustic instruments including banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and guitar.

At the time of the song's release, music critics praised the production but deemed the literary references ineffective. In retrospect, critics have considered it one of Swift's best singles. "Love Story" peaked atop the chart in Australia, where it wascertifiedfourteen-times platinum by theAustralian Recording Industry Association(ARIA), and reached the top five on charts in Canada, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the single peaked at number four on theBillboardHot 100and was the first country song to reach number one onPop Songs.TheRecording Industry Association of America(RIAA) certified iteight-times platinum."Love Story" has sold over six million copies in the United States and 18 million copies worldwide. (Full article...)
Image 11

The composer at the piano,c. 1910

Der 100. Psalm(The 100th Psalm),Op.106, is a composition in four movements byMax RegerinD majorfor mixed choir and orchestra, alate Romanticsetting ofPsalm 100.Reger began composing the work in 1908 for the 350th anniversary ofJena University.The occasion was celebrated that year with the premiere of PartI, conducted byFritz Steinon 31July. Reger completed the composition in 1909. It was published that year and premiered simultaneously on 23February 1910 inChemnitz,conducted by the composer, and inBreslau,conducted byGeorg Dohrn.

Reger structured the text in four movements, as achoral symphony.He scored it for afour-part choirwith often divided voices, a largesymphony orchestra,andorgan.He requested additional brass players for the climax in the last movement when four trumpets and four trombones play the melody of Luther'schorale"Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott".Reger used bothlate-Romanticfeatures ofharmonyanddynamics,andpolyphonyin theBaroque tradition,culminating in the final movement, adouble fuguewith the added instrumentalcantus firmus.(Full article...)
Image 12
Portrait byErnest Walter Histed,c. 1906
Sir Henry Joseph Wood(3 March 1869 – 19 August 1944) was an English conductor best known for his association with London's annual series ofpromenade concerts,known as theProms.He conducted them for nearly half a century, introducing hundreds of new works to British audiences. After his death, the concerts were officially renamed in his honour as the "Henry Wood Promenade Concerts", although they continued to be generally referred to as "the Proms".

Born in modest circumstances to parents who encouraged his musical talent, Wood started his career as an organist. During his studies at theRoyal Academy of Music,he came under the influence of the voice teacherManuel Garcíaand became his accompanist. After similar work forRichard D'Oyly Carte's opera companies on the works ofArthur Sullivanand others, Wood became the conductor of a small operatic touring company. He was soon engaged by the largerCarl Rosa Opera Company.One notable event in his operatic career was conducting the British premiere ofTchaikovsky'sEugene Oneginin 1892. (Full article...)
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"Mindful"is ahip-hopandR&Bsong by American singerK. Michellefrom her third studio albumMore Issues Than Vogue(2016).T-Painwrote and produced the song, whichAtlantic Recordsreleased as the album's third single on February 19, 2016. Throughout the track, Michellerapsthe lyrics and warns critics to be "mindful" of her. Some reviewers noted that its uptempo production differed from Michelle's previous singles, and she stated that it was one of the first times she recorded a more light-hearted song.

Critics praised Michelle's rapping in "Mindful", and referred to it as a highlight of her singles. The song'smusic video,which was released on March 10, 2016, portrays Michelle arguing with women in atrailer park.In their coverage of the video, reviewers described it as colorful. Michelle further promoted "Mindful" through live performances. (Full article...)
Image 14

Harrison at theWhite Housein 1974

George Harrison(25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) was an English musician, singer and songwriter who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist ofthe Beatles.Sometimes called "the quiet Beatle", Harrison embracedIndian cultureand helped broaden the scope ofpopular musicthrough his incorporation of Indian instrumentation andHindu-aligned spirituality in the Beatles' work.

Although most of the band's songs were written byJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney,most Beatles albums from 1965 onwards contained at least two Harrison compositions. His songs for the group include "Taxman","Within You Without You","While My Guitar Gently Weeps","Here Comes the Sun"and"Something".Harrison's earliest musical influences includedGeorge FormbyandDjango Reinhardt;subsequent influences wereCarl Perkins,Chet AtkinsandChuck Berry.By 1965, he had begun to lead the Beatles intofolk rockthrough his interest inBob Dylanandthe Byrds,and towardsIndian classical musicthrough his use of Indian instruments, such as thesitar,which he had become acquainted with on the set of the filmHelp!He played sitar on numerous Beatles songs, starting with "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)".Having initiated the band's embrace ofTranscendental Meditationin 1967, he subsequently developed an association with theHare Krishna movement.(Full article...)
Image 15
"Blindfold Me"is ahip hopsong by American singerKelisfrom her fourth studio album,Kelis Was Here(2006). It was written and produced bySean GarrettandPolow da Don.Aremix,featuring American rapperNas,was released as the album's second single in the United States on October 3, 2006. Althoughthe Neptuneswere long-time collaborators of Kelis,Kelis Was Herewas her first album without their involvement as she opted for a more diverse team ofrecord producers,which included Garrett and Polow da Don.

The song's lyrics focus onsex talk.Along with hip hop, music critics associated the track's style withpop rapandclub music.Upon its release, "Blindfold Me" received a mixed response. While some critics cited it as a highlight fromKelis Was Hereand enjoyed Kelis's sexual personality, others criticized its placement on the album's track listing as resulting in a jarring tonal shift. (Full article...)

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Selected pictures

Image 1
Nicholas Lanier
Painting credit:Anthony van Dyck
Nicholas Lanier(baptised 10 September 1588 – buried 24 February 1666) was an English composer and musician; the first to hold the title ofMaster of the King's Music,in the service ofCharles IandCharles II.He was one of the first composers to introducemonodyandrecitativeto England.

After this oil-on-canvas portrait was painted by the Flemish painterAnthony van Dyckin Antwerp, Lanier convinced the king to bring van Dyck to England, where he became the leading court painter. The portrait displays an attitude of studied carelessness, often termedsprezzatura,defined as "a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it". The painting now hangs in theKunsthistorisches Museumin Vienna.
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Thomas Linley the elder
Painting:Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Linley the elder(17 January 1733 – 19 November 1795) was an Englishbass singerand musician. He began his musical career at age 11 inBath,becoming apprentice to the organistThomas Chilcot.Linley married in 1752 and fathered eight children, supporting the family by working as a music teacher. As his children grew he developed their musical talent and was able to draw an increasing amount of income from their concerts. When theBath Assembly Roomsopened in 1771, Linley became musical director and continued to promote his children's careers. He was eventually able to move to London with the thousands of pounds which he had amassed from their concerts. In addition to his children Linley taught tenorCharles Dignum,singer and actressAnna Maria Crouch,and novelistFrances Sheridan.He collaborated with his sonThomas Linley the youngerin penning the comic operaThe Duenna,withlibrettoby his son-in-lawRichard Brinsley Sheridan.

This picture is anoil-on-canvaspainting created around 1770 byThomas Gainsborough,showing Linley holding his "Elegies for Three Voices". It hangs in theDulwich Picture Gallery,London.
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Bessie Smith
Photograph credit:Carl Van Vechten;restored byAdam Cuerden
Bessie Smith(April 15, 1894 – September 26, 1937) was an Americanbluessinger widely renowned during theJazz Age.She is often regarded as one of the greatest singers of her era and was a major influence on fellow blues singers, as well as jazz vocalists.

Born inChattanooga, Tennessee,her parents died when Smith was young, and she and her sister survived by performing on the streets ofChattanooga, Tennessee.She began touring and performed in a group that includedMa Rainey,and then went out on her own. Her successful recording career began in the 1920s, until an automobile accident ended her life at age 43.
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Le mage
Poster credit:Alfredo Leonardo Edel;restored byAdam Cuerden
Le mageis anoperain five acts byJules Massenetto a FrenchlibrettobyJean Richepin.First performed at theParis Operain 1891, it has rarely been performed since its premiere run of 31 performances, and is one of Massenet's least-known operas. A rare complete concert performance took place at theMassenet FestivalinSaint-Étiennein 2012. This poster byAlfredo Edelwas produced for the opera's premiere on 16 March 1891.
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Image 5
Vexi Salmi
Photo:Teemu Rajala
Vexi Salmiis a popular Finnishlyricistwho has become popular through the successes of theplatinum-sellingmusic artists for whom he writes. During his prolific career, he has written the lyrics for over 4,000 songs, more than 2,400 of which have been recorded by prominent artists such asIrwin Goodman,Jari Sillanpää,andKatri Helena.A music writer's award, the Vexi Salmi Award, is named after him.
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Ariadne auf Naxos
Illustration credit: unknown
Ariadne auf Naxos('AriadneonNaxos'),Op.60, is an opera byRichard Strausswith a GermanlibrettobyHugo von Hofmannsthal.Combining slapstick comedy and consummately beautiful music, the opera's theme is the competition between high and low art for the public's attention. The opera was originally conceived as a 30-minutedivertissementto be performed at the end of Hofmannsthal's adaptation ofMolière's playLe Bourgeois gentilhomme.Besides the opera, Strauss providedincidental musicto be performed during the play. In the end, the opera was ninety minutes long, and the performance of the play and opera together totalled over six hours. It was first performed at theStaatsoper Stuttgarton 25 October 1912, directed byMax Reinhardt.The combination of the play and opera proved to be unsatisfactory to the audience: those who had come to hear the opera resented having to wait until the play finished. The work was revised in 1916, with the play being replaced by a prologue, and first performed at theVienna State Operaon 4 October of that year.

This picture is the cover of avocal scoreof the revised edition ofAriadne auf Naxos,published in 1916.
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Image 7
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Photograph credit: unknown; restored byAdam Cuerden
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor(15 August 1875 – 1 September 1912) was an English composer and conductor. His greatest success was hiscantataHiawatha's Wedding Feast.This set the epic poemThe Song of HiawathabyHenry Wadsworth Longfellowto music, and was widely performed by choral groups in England and the United States. Composers were not well paid; the work sold hundreds of thousands of copies, but he had sold the music outright for the sum of 15guineas,so did not benefit directly. He learned to retain his rights and earned royalties for other compositions after achieving wide renown, but always struggled financially. This photograph of Coleridge-Taylor was taken around 1905.
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Image 8
Hayley Williams
Photograph:Sven-Sebastian Sajak
Hayley Williams(born December 27, 1988) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and businesswoman. She serves as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter and occasional keyboardist of therockbandParamore.Born in Meridian, Mississippi, Williams moved to Franklin, Tennessee, at the age of fifteen after her parents divorced. In 2004, she formed Paramore alongsideJosh Farro,Zac Farro,andJeremy Davis.The band currently consists of Williams, Farro and Taylor York. They have released five studio albums:All We Know Is Falling(2005),Riot!(2007),Brand New Eyes(2009),Paramore(2013) andAfter Laughter(2017).
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Hera Hjartardóttir
Photo:Kyle Cassidy
Herais an Icelandicsinger-songwriterwho emigrated to New Zealand as a teenager. She is known for her facial art, which is "inspired bymokoand also byCeltic warrior paint"and intended to represent both her Icelandic and New Zealand heritage. In 2002 she was named Best Female Singer at the Icelandic Music Awards.
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Image 10
Frédéric Chopin
Photo credit:Louis-Auguste Bisson
The only knownphotographofFrédéric Chopin,often incorrectly described as adaguerreotype.It is believed to have been taken in 1849 during the degenerative stages of histuberculosis,shortly before his death. Chopin, aPolish pianistandcomposerof theRomanticera, is widely regarded as one of the most famous, influential, admired and prolific composers for the piano. He moved toParisat the age of twenty, adopting theFrenchvariant of his name, "Frédéric-François", by which he is now known.
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Image 11
Griselda (A. Scarlatti)
Manuscript:Alessandro Scarlatti
Griseldais anopera seriain three acts by the Italian composerAlessandro Scarlatti.First performed in 1721, it is based on the story ofPatient GriseldafromGiovanni Boccaccio'sDecameron.Thelibrettois byApostolo Zeno,with revisions by an anonymous author. This manuscript copy by Scarlatti, held at theBritish Library,is of act one, scene one.
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Image 12
Franz Lehár
Photograph:Bain News Service;restoration:Adam Cuerden
Franz Lehár(1870–1948) was an Austro-Hungarian composer mainly known for hisoperettas,the most successful and best known beingThe Merry Widow.He also wrotesonatas,symphonic poemsandmarches.
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Image 13
Ludwig van Beethoven
Photo: W. J. Mayer; Restoration:Lise Broer
Abustof the GermancomposerandpianistLudwig van Beethoven(1770–1827), made from hisdeath mask.He was a crucial figure in the transitional period between theClassicalandRomanticeras inWestern classical music,and remains one of the most acclaimed and influential composers of all time. Born inBonn,of theElectorate of Cologneand a part of theHoly Roman Empire of the German Nationin present-dayGermany,he moved toViennain his early twenties and settled there, studying withJoseph Haydnand quickly gaining a reputation as avirtuosopianist. Hishearingbegan todeterioratein the late 1790s, yet he continued to compose,conduct,and perform, even after becomingcompletely deaf.
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Image 14
Simon Neil
Photograph:Achim Raschka
Simon Neil(b. 1979) is aScottish vocalist,guitarist,andsongwriter.Born inIrvine,he established the bandBiffy Clyroin 1995 withJamesandBen Johnston.He has also played with JP Reid ofSucioperroinMarmaduke Duke,using thepseudonym"The Atmosphere", and started a solo career.
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Image 15
Alexz Johnson
Photo:Epitome Pictures
Alexz Johnson(b. 1986) is a Canadiansinger-songwriterand actress, best known for roles as Jude Harrison in theCTVseriesInstant Star(character shown here), Annie Thelan in theDisney ChannelseriesSo Weird,and as Erin Ulmer in the 2006 horror filmFinal Destination 3.Her albumVoodoowas released in 2010.
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... thatFelipe Lara'sPulitzer finalistDouble Concertoturns its soloists into a "many-tentacled creature"?

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Today's Birthdays

Birthdays in Music:November 1

Lou Donaldson,American alto saxophonist, turns 98.
Roger Kellaway,Americanarranger,turns 85.
Lani Hall,American pop & jazz singer, and lead vocalist withSérgio Mendes& Brasil '66, turns 79.
Carmen Lundy,Americanactress,painter,andpost bopvocalist, turns 70.
Lyle Lovett,Americansinger-songwriter,turns 67.
Anthony Kiedis,American vocalist forRed Hot Chili Peppers,turns 62.
Magne Furuholmen,Norwegian keyboardist ofa-hafame, turns 62.
Big Kenny,Americancountry musicsinger withBig & Rich,turns 61.
Willie D,(born William James Dennis) AmericanrapperwithGeto Boys,turns 58.
Tina Arena,Australianpop musicsinger, turns 57.
Sophie B. Hawkins,American singer,songwriter,and painter, turns 57.
Darren Partington,Brit keyboardist of808 State,turns 55.
Bo Bice,Americanrockvocalist and formerAmerican Idolcontestant, turns 49.
LaTavia Roberson,AmericanR&Bvocalist withDestiny's Child,turns 43.
Dizzee Rascal,British rapper andRoll Deepalum, turns 39.