Wolfgang Birtel

Anyone who hears the name of Scott Joplin immediately thinks of the ragtime which is inseparably connected with this composer, particularly since the film The Sting has triggered a real renaissance of...

Anyone who hears the name of Scott Joplin immediately thinks of the ragtime which is inseparably connected with this composer, particularly since the film The Sting has triggered a real renaissance of...

The Hindemith pupil Harald Genzmer (1909-2007) worked with virtually all music genres and composed works for many, even unusual instruments (such as the trautonium). He also wrote compositions for the...

Harald Genzmer has done a lot for the work with young musicians, and many a string player can recall school orchestra days when Sinfonietta was on the programme quite often. But the probably best-know...

The number of well-known clarinet quintets is quite small. The only major composers whose clarinet quintets are relatively widespread are Mozart, Brahms, Weber and Reger.The composer Johanna Senfter (...

The Air by Johann Sebastian Bach at best can rival his setting Jesus bleibet meine Freude for popularity: the final chorus from the cantata BWV 147 Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life is very catchy due...

The Air by Johann Sebastian Bach at best can rival his setting Jesus bleibet meine Freude for popularity: The final chorus from the cantata BWV 147 Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life is really catchy d...

At most, the 'Air' by Johann Sebastian Bach can rival the popularity of his movement 'Jesus bleibet meine Freude': In its simplicity and perfection at the same time, the final chorus from the cantata...

Finally, you can vent your bad mood musically: The Duetto buffo di due gatti (Comic Duet for Two Cats) by Gioachino Rossini provides excellent opportunity to do just that by means of music and mime. I...

The Violinissimo series attempts to make the rich repertoire of five centuries of violin music accessible for lessons, concerts and private music-making. The anthology Serenade contains a selection of...