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International Women’s Day in Music: Overcoming Obstacles and Taking Career Control

It’s International Women’s Day 2018 and the 2017/2018 news cycle has contained a lot of bleak headlines. There’ve been increasingly tense international political conflicts, massive natural disasters, and the threat of rolling back rights for women and the LGBTQIA community. With the rise of the #MeToo movement, vast numbers of women and men have come forward, exposing systemic sexual harassment and discrimination, causing entire industries to be re-evaluated for how they conduct business. So, to celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day, we discuss obstacles that women face in creating music and tell some fascinating stories from the lives of women … Read more

Romeo and Juliet in Classical Music: Prokofiev’s Ballet in Four Acts (1936)

Sergei Prokofiev’s rendition of the love story is a ballet, performed by an orchestra and dancers. The history and first performances of the work connect music to its context, in this case the ideology and state control. Born in 1891, Sergei Prokofiev moved to the United States in 1918 and then Germany and France. He started visiting the Soviet Union in 1927, 1929, and 1932. In 1932 he rented a flat in Moscow but still main resided in Paris. In the summer of 1936 he moved back to the Soviet Union with his wife and two sons. Romeo and Juliet … Read more

Romeo and Juliet in Classical Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet was a fantasy-overture, as the composer himself called it. It was first completed and premiered in 1870. The lukewarm reception made Tchaikovsky take up the suggestions of Balakirev, who suggested the composition and revise the work. The second version was premiered in 1872 and published in Germany. Balakirev, however, was not satisfied with the version, and Tchaikovsky continued to revise it. In 1880, the version that became what we know today was finished, but it was not until 1886 when this final version was premiered. Similar to Berlioz’s use of motives, Tchaikovsky used themes to symbolize … Read more

Romeo and Juliet in Classical Music: Hector Berlioz’s Roméo et Juliette

Valentine’s Day is coming. What is your favorite love story? While not necessarily the most memorable one, Romeo and Juliet is definitely one of the most well-known love stories. The story itself originated from an Italian tale, and many literary versions appeared in the sixteenth century, among which was Shakespeare’s tragedy. The story has been adapted by novels, movies, and musical works. In this article, we’ll take a look at three musical works based on Romeo and Juliet by Hector Berlioz, Sergei Prokofiev, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, as listed in the table below. Table 1: Dates, Genres, Instrumentations, Movements, and … Read more

Top 5 Classical Music Attractions in Berlin, Germany

The founding of Germany’s capital city dates back to the 13th century. Surrounded by significant landmarks that remind you of the city’s turbulent history, including the Holocaust and the fall of the Berlin Wall, you’ll also find classical music treasures waiting to be discovered in this beautiful city. These five musical attractions are not to be missed in Berlin. If you are a classical music fan, scroll down and watch our video for some highlights.   1. Komische Oper Berlin Built between 1891 and 1892, the Komische Oper Berlin theatre was used primarily for operetta, a light form of opera, … Read more

Top 5 Classical Music Attractions in Florence, Italy

Christmas is around the corner, and aside from hearing the jingling of bells, you may find yourself wanting to immerse yourself into the rich musical culture of the city of Florence. Amid the nativity scenes, Christmas lights, decorations, the huge crowds of shoppers, and the brisk winter air, take time to catch an Italian opera or learn about medieval singing at one of these incredible venues. These five musical attractions are just minutes away from well-known landmarks in Florence, so be sure to check them out on your visit.   1. Museo dell’Opera The name of this museum sounds deceptively as … Read more

Top 5 Classical Music Attractions in Paris

This Christmas season, lovers, friends, or adventurers may flock to Paris to enjoy their holiday. Celebrating the season with a classical concert adds a layer of joy to the trip, so here are our top 5 picks for classical music venues for your ultimate pleasure. These places are minutes away from well-known landmarks in Paris, check out the video to be sure where, and scout them as part of your travel itinerary! 1. Radio France Founded in in 1975, Radio France is a public service radio broadcaster. It has multiple media companies with a landmark that hosts a variety of … Read more

Scary Movie Music: Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells in The Exorcist

In the month of October, Liberty Park Music presents you the 2nd episode of theme music analysis in our annual Halloween Horror Movie reviews. For our first video, we dissected John Carpenter’s revolutionary film Halloween. This time round, our very own movie junkie Nick Vaky selected an all-time horror film: The Exorcist. He evaluated the melodies used in the film and how each element work its way to get under your skin – or not! The Exorcist, adapted from a novel with the exact title, turned into a cult classic when it rolled out in 1973. The accompanying music became … Read more

Practicing as a Collaborative Pianist: An Interview with Dr Minjung Seo

At Liberty Park Music, we believe in bringing you music related perspectives from all over the world. In the coming weeks, we’re going to focus on practicing music and we’ll be interviewing accomplished musicians from all around the world on their thoughts and experiences with practice. These musicians hail from different countries and cultures, play different styles and instruments, and have varied professional experiences. Though diverse in their thoughts, they all share the common belief that practice is essential to any budding (and professional) musician. Through this interview series, we hope that you can glean some tips for better music … Read more

Baby Driver – When Your Music Syncs In With Your Work

Baby Driver is a masterpiece. For us at LPM, it’s what a modern day musical should be like. An audio delight for music nerds, genius director Edgar Wright managed to choreograph every movement in the movie beat by beat to the killer soundtrack. The scenes and music play exactly in sync, as the protagonist, Baby, absolutely needs to listen to the right song on his iPod for everything he does. Can you imagine speeding away in a getaway van after a bank heist listening to one of Chopin’s Nocturnes? Quite preposterous, if you ask me. For music fans, listening to … Read more