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Violin Image

Music Theory

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The Mystery Behind Scriabin’s Mystic Chord

Explore the life of Russian composer Alexander Scriabin, his obsession with the occult, and his creation of the "mystic chord" used in his compositions.

11/17/2025
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Saturday Morning Car Tunes: The Celesta

Today, the celestially-inspired keyboard instrument called the Celesta

06/22/2024
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Stormy C Minor

Explore the unique personalities of musical keys, specifically C minor, through identifying famous compositions in this key by renowned composers.

03/06/2020
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Obstinate Ostinatos…

Explore the concept of Ostinato in music, its intensity and usage, with examples from Carl Orff's "O Fortuna" and Gustav Holst's "Mars, the Bringer of War".

03/06/2020
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The Power of E Major

Explore the power and brilliance of E Major through renowned pieces by composers like Rossini, Mendelssohn, and Tchaikovsky, despite Beethoven's absence.

01/08/2020
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The Musical Quest for Perpetual Motion

Explore the concept of Perpetual Motion in music, as seen in works by composers like Niccolò Paganini and Johann Strauss II, defying the laws of thermodynamics.

11/07/2019
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A Brief History of Composers Sneaking Their Names into Their Music

Explore the intriguing world of musical cryptograms, where composers like Bach and Shostakovich cleverly embed their names into their compositions using note sequences.

10/15/2019

Shows

Violin Image

The Symphony

A symphony is like an enormous musical mural that wraps all the way around you. Each instrument plays its own colors and patterns until they all create something magnificent together.

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colors

What if I told you that music and colors are more connected than you think? Let’s listen to some colorful pictures!

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The Violin

Whether a particular violin is worth a fortune or not, its true value isn't in its price tag—it's in the way the violin whispers, soars, and tell stories that stir our souls.

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A fond farewell from San Francisco Classical California President, Bill Lueth.

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The Sounds of Sunrise

Explore the beauty of sunrise through music with this list of compositions inspired by dawn, from Haydn's "Sunrise" Symphony to Ravel's "Daphnis and Chloe".

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LA Philharmonic is Soaring with Daniel Harding

Conductor and commercial airline pilot Daniel Harding is announced as the 12th music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

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A Hometown Tribute to Michael Tilson Thomas

This article celebrates the career of conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, highlighting his 25-year tenure with the San Francisco Symphony, his early years in LA, and his contributions to classical music.

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Celebrating Gustavo!

Classical California's Brian Lauritzen reflects on Gustavo Dudamel's career at the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

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Virtuosity and Nostalgia: Teresa Carreño and Chopin

Explore the life and music of Teresa Carreño, a South American composer and pianist, and her significant influence from Frédéric Chopin.

03/13/2026