BBC Music Magazine
Recent articles by BBC Music Magazine
A guide to Beethoven's Symphony No. 9
We delve into the revolutionary genius and lasting impact of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance Marches: what they are, when he composed them and their place in history
A guide to Elgar's rousing set of marches, which have been at the centre of many grand and state events including several coronations
How Queen Elizabeth II inspired Britten to start composing again after he almost died
When Benjamin Britten was at his lowest ebb, the encouragement to start composing again came from no lesser person than Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as John Bridcut reveals
A guide to Copland's Appalachian Spring and its best recordings
The 1940s ballet Appalachian Spring has become one of Copland’s most popular works. And its true American spirit has inspired many great recordings, finds Anthony Burton
The best recordings of Mahler's Rückert-Lieder
Whether reflecting on the scents of spring or the darkness of night, Mahler’s five settings of Rückert poems inspire Hilary Finch as she chooses the best recordings
The best works by Samuel Barber
We choose some of the finest works by the last great American Romantic, Samuel Barber
A guide to Vaughan Williams's Symphony No. 9
We explore what influenced Vaughan Williams's Symphony No. 9, one of the British composer's finest orchestral works
The best Independence Day songs and music
We celebrate Independence Day this 4th July with some of the best USA patriotic music ever written
Cornet vs trumpet: what's the difference?
Despite looking similar the cornet and trumpet are actually two very different instruments as we explain
Famous trumpet players: 5 of the most influential trumpeters from the modern era
From Wynton Marsalis to Håkan Hardenberger, we look at 5 leading trumpeters from modern times
Six of the best examples of classical music on film
We choose six of the most unexpected and imaginative uses of classical music on the silver screen
Disney's Fantasia: all the pieces of classical music featured in the animated film
It's not just The Sorcerer's Apprentice that makes an appearance in Fantasia. We name all the works – by the likes of Beethoven, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky – that appear in the original 1940 film
Who was Kathleen Ferrier, Britain's greatest contralto?
From entering a competition as a bet, Kathleen Ferrier became one of Britain’s foremost singers in the mid-20th century. Fiona Clampin takes a look at her life and asks why, since Ferrier's death, have contraltos fallen out of fashion?
Best child piano prodigies of all time
From Mozart to Lang Lang, we celebrate musicians who displayed a phenomenal gift for piano playing from their early childhood
Terrible treatments of the piano
We present 4 truly unpleasant ways in which pianos have been treated over the years, which have been, alas, filmed for posterity. Here they are...
Pianola: what is it and how does it differ to the 'reproducing piano'
All you need to know about the pianola, which was hugely popular in the early 20th century
What were the first piano recordings?
Did you know the first piano recordings took place in the late 19th century? And featured a 12 year-old who went on to be one of the greatest pianists ever?
The 50 greatest recordings of all time
Our round-up of the best must-have performances of classical music. Update your collection with the great symphonies, choral works, operas, chamber and instrumental works
10 piano concertos you might not know
Today's top performers recommend piano concertos that have been undeservedly overlooked
What is a contralto?
Discover what a contralto is and the range they sing
Nicola Stame: the Italian tenor and war hero who fought fascism and was murdered by the Nazis
Opera tenor Nicola Ugo Stame took on many roles – but proved himself a true hero during World War II in his defiance against fascism, says Christopher Gillett
Ada Lovelace: how the maths genius saw the future of music
The 19th-century mathematician and musician Ada Lovelace was the first to spot computers’ creative potential. David De Roure tells her intriguing story and explores the impact of her legacy
What is a sonata? From definition to examples, we dive into the world of sonatas
You may have spotted the word 'sonata' in the title of many famous pieces of classical music, but what does 'sonata' actually mean? We explain
The most successful BBC Young Musician runners-up: what happens when you don't win?
We investigate the fates of previous BBC Young Musician runners-up. Does it matter if you don't win? Seemingly not...