Welcome to the October 2026 issue of BBC Music Magazine!
And a very Happy 250th Birthday to the United States of America. An occasion which, of course, we are marking in our own particular way. From heroic drinking songs and Handel Hallelujahs to legendary recitals, devastating movie scores and a famous moment of silence, we celebrate 250 years of American independence with highlights from the US’s rich musical history.
'Nothing,’ wrote George Washington in June 1777, ‘is more agreeable, and ornamental, than good music.’ In this instance, the first president of the US was actually having a gripe about the ropey standard of army fifers and drummers, but his general point was spot on. And his newly independent country clearly took his words to heart.
In the two-and-a-half centuries since, America has enjoyed a wealth of major musical landmarks, many home-grown but many others brought about from overseas. It’s time to tune the strings, warm up the vocal cords and turn the clock back…
Elsewhere this issue...
For centuries, Greek myths have inspired great composers – but, asks Rebecca Franks, how do female characters fare in these heroic tales? Conductor-cellist Tabita Berglund selects the best modern works by Scandinavian composers, and for our travel feature we're off to Andermatt. The Swiss resort town has undergone a remarkable rebirth, and can now boast its very own resident orchestra, reports Charlotte Smith.
Our Composer of the Month is that matchless Romantic, Frédéric Chopin. For all his mastery of the piano, one of the Polish composer’s most ardent passions was the human voice, as Jessica Duchen explains. And for Building a Library we take to the waves with Debussy's maritime masterpiece, La mer. Miranda Bardsley takes a deep breath and plunges into the finest recordings of the great French composer's vivid orchestral depiction of the ocean waves.
Inside the back cover, the musical maestro telling us about the music that shaped them is countertenor Iestyn Davies. From Bach and Handel to Shostakovich and The Beatles, Davies shares the music that has followed him along his life's path.
On this month's cover CD
In keeping with our American theme, this month's cover CD features performances of two great American works. The BBC Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Orchestra and BBC National Orchestra of Wales provide stunning performances of Copland's Appalachian Spring and Ives's Three Places in New England.
Click here or on the image below to see the track details for this month's cover CD.
