As we close out the year, we celebrate the birth of a famous Hispanic composer, remember one of the greatest concerts of all time, and reflect on the life of a great American composer!
December 8 – Birth of Manuel Ponce
Born on December 8, 1882 in Fresnillo, Mexico, Manuel Ponce was one of the most famous Mexican composers of his generation. Although he wrote music for a variety of genres and instrumental forces, he is especially well known for his guitar and piano music. His piano music spans a wide range of forms including works in European genres such as the sonata, intermezzo, scherzo, and ballade.
Looking to add more works by Latin American composers into your studio? Check out our online course, Exploring Latin American Piano Music: A Cultural Journey with Elementary through Early-Advanced Pieces. The course includes pianist Desireé González-Miller’s writing about Ponce and her teaching videos for his Intermezzo No. 1 and the 20 Piezas faciles sobre temas mexicanos. Learn more and enroll here:
December 22 – A Celebration of Beethoven
Imagine listening to a concert full of premieres of Beethoven’s music including his fifth and sixth symphonies, the Piano Concerto No. 4, and his Choral Fantasy. This is exactly what occurred in the evening of December 22, 1808 at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, Austria. The concert, which lasted several hours long, included some of Beethoven’s finest compositions and featured Beethoven as the soloist in the performance of his piano concerto.
Are you interested in teaching or learning more about the advanced piano sonatas of Beethoven? Watch this video by pianist and professor Andrew Cooperstock who shares tips about working on Beethoven’s Piano Sonata in F Minor, Op. 2, No. 1.
December 27 – Death of Amy Beach
The American composer Amy Beach died on December 27, 1944. Beach was the first American woman to have her symphony performed by a major orchestra. Also a phenomenal pianist, Beach performed in the United States and Europe during her life. She composed a variety of piano music including works for developing pianists and others meant to display remarkable technical facility and musical imagination.
One of Beach’s late works is her Improvisations, Op. 148. The five movements evoke different moods in a late Romantic style. Learn more about all five of the movements in this article by Asher Armstrong or discover teaching and practicing tips about the first improvisation in this video by Leonidas Lagrimas.
OTHER RESOURCES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
- MAGAZINE ARTICLE: An American Composer’s Last Thoughts: The Five Improvisations of Amy Beach by Asher Armstrong
- REPERTOIRE VIDEO SERIES: Beethoven: Sonata in F Minor, Op. 2 No. 1 by Andrew Cooperstock
- REPERTOIRE VIDEO SERIES: Beethoven: Sonatina in G Major by Suzanne Newcomb
- MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Amy Beach: Celebrating 150 years by Gail Smith
- REPERTOIRE VIDEO SERIES: Beach: “Improvisation No. 1” from Five Improvisations, Op. 148 by Leonidas Lagrimas
- DISCOVERY POST: 5 Things to Discover about Hispanic Composers
- VIDEO: Demystifying Tempo: Beethoven’s Slow Movements by Carol Leone
- REPERTOIRE VIDEO SERIES: Ponce: 20 Piezas fáciles sobre temas mexicanos by Desireé González-Miller
- REPERTOIRE VIDEO SERIES: Ponce: Intermezzo No. 1 by Ricardo de la Torre
- COURSE: Exploring Latin American Piano Music: A Cultural Journey with Elementary through Early-Advanced Pieces
- Use our search feature to discover more!
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