by Doug Hanvey | January 17, 2021 | Music Appreciation & Analysis
James P. Johnson (1894-1955) was the leading pioneer of the exciting and influential stride piano style. Born in New Jersey, his proximity to New York allowed a young Johnson the …Share...
by Doug Hanvey | July 18, 2020 | Music Appreciation & Analysis
The Piano Sonata No. 14 in C# Minor is one of Ludwig van Beethoven’s most famous compositions, and arguably his single most well-known work for piano (Fur Elise notwithstanding). Indeed, …Share...
by Doug Hanvey | June 4, 2016 | Music Appreciation & Analysis
Any pianist who wants to play 20th century pop music and/or jazz needs to know the music of George Gershwin. Gershwin is probably most people’s favorite American composer – he …Share...
by Doug Hanvey | January 2, 2016 | Music Appreciation & Analysis
I’ve always enjoyed stories from music history. In today’s post, I’ll tell you a good one, and introduce you to the music of a ragtime master you may not know …Share...
by Doug Hanvey | November 14, 2015 | Music Appreciation & Analysis
The melting pot of a small, timeless city on the southern coast of the US is home to one of the original all-American musical styles, a style which synthesizes blues, …Share...
by Doug Hanvey | September 12, 2015 | Music Appreciation & Analysis
A theme and variations is a common form in classical music. The form is simple, with an initial statement of the theme (a fundamental musical idea) followed by the same …Share...