Cynthia YoungFeb 63 minFingering: A trigger of imagination?For the uninitiated, "fingering" refers to the numbers written above or below notes corresponding to the fingers of the hand with thumbs...
Cynthia YoungNov 1, 20212 minMy Pandemic RepertoireDmitri Kabalevsky (1904-1987) was a contemporary of the notorious "Russian Five", composers Shostakovitch, Prokofiev, Rimsky-Korsakov,...
Cynthia YoungSep 9, 20212 minAlexander Glazunov: the most influential composer you may never have heard ofAlexander Glazunov was born in Russia in 1865. He grew up steeped in the late romantic tradition of Russian music. The music of...
B.Sallans, QSCM (Chair) Sep 7, 20211 min"A Story, A Song, A Dance and A Party!" The four movements of Haydn's "Lark Quartet" are aptly described by composer and musicologist, Paul Epstein, in these words: "a story,...
Tamara BestSep 7, 20212 minMusic (and History!) at the MillThis coming Saturday I will be welcoming visitors to one of my favourite places: the historic O’Hara’s Mill & Homestead just north of...
Cynthia YoungJun 18, 20214 minPage Turners:A necessary evil or unsung heroes of chamber music?The piano is a prominent instrument in the genre of chamber music, either as a collaborative instrument accompanying a soloist or as a...
Cynthia YoungMay 19, 20212 minPiano Lessons in a PandemicFor the past few years I have been taking weekly piano lessons at the Royal Conservatory of Music in downtown Toronto. March 12, 2020 was...
Cynthia YoungApr 30, 20213 minThe Three B'sMusic historians often refer to the three B's of classical music: Bach, Beethoven and, Brahms. Their compositional lives cover 250 years...
Tamara BestApr 8, 20211 minOur trip to the Stirling MILLHello everyone, The “kids” of QSCM’s new Kid’s Page went on a field trip to the Stirling Musical Instrument Lending Library (Stirling...
B.Sallans, QSCM (Chair) Feb 19, 20218 minA Career in the Making! Petya Stavreva, PianistA QSCM interview with pianist, Petya Stavreva. Feb.13,2021 Pianist Petya Stavreva is currently completing the final requirements towards...
Tamara BestFeb 10, 20213 minA Talk with AmahlThree years ago, my youngest and I went to a children’s concert in Stirling, Ontario. This was our first experience with QSCM and his...
Tamara BestJan 8, 20213 minOn Inspiring the Next Generation… When my eldest was born there was a a popular craze marketing classical music for babies and children. These products boasted hyperbolic...
Cynthia YoungDec 21, 20202 minHappy Birthday Ludwig!Beethoven was an urban guy. He was born in the city of Bonn, Germany and spent his professional career in Vienna. However, he loved...
B.Sallans, QSCM (Chair) Dec 17, 20201 minBeethoven, More Beethoven!Celebrating the birthday of a great composer is always a joy if only because we all find ourselves playing or listening to great music!...
B.Sallans, QSCM (Chair) Nov 28, 20201 minMusic: Daily BreadRead here to discover Gregorian Chant in all its aspects. An excellent introduction to a timeless and timely art form....
Cynthia YoungNov 18, 20203 minMusic as CrimeA few years ago, as part of my Master's degree, I took a course entitled "Art and Crime". Besides the obvious connotations of theft and...
B.Sallans, QSCM (Chair) Nov 11, 20201 min Beethoven was hard to listen to once too....Listen to this excellent talk by the great musicologist and critic Charles Rosen to discover why modern music is challenging, and well...
B.Sallans, QSCM (Chair) Sep 25, 20201 minString Quartets play String Quartets! Who knew? Yes. It's true: the string quartet (violin 1, violin 2, viola, cello) plays string quartets (usually multi movement works scored for...
B.Sallans, QSCM (Chair) Sep 19, 20202 min 4 Days!Jacques Marhand's work, Quatre Jours dans la vie d'un homme , newly scored for String Quartet, is about exactly that: four days in the...
Cynthia YoungSep 15, 20202 minThinking outside the box...A few months ago, during our initial lock down, live musical concerts ceased to exist. Performers still wanted to perform, audiences...