Clara Schumann - Female Famous Composers - Listen and Learn.

Life and work of Clara Josephine Schumann born Clara Wieck. Learn about the life of one of the most famous Female composers in the Romantic Era.

Isata Kanneh-Mason | Clara Schumann's Scherzo No.2 in C Minor

Pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason performs Clara Schumann's fiery Scherzo No.2 in C Minor, Op. 14. The session was filmed at Air Studios in London as part of Classic FM's Live Music Month. Isata recorded Clara Schumann's Scherzo for her debut album, 'Romance - the Music of Clara Schumann' which was released on Decca earlier this year.

Isata Kanneh-Mason visits Clara Schumann's birthplace

Isata's debut album: https://decca.lnk.to/IsataRomanceID Isata Kanneh-Mason visits Leipzig ahead of the release of her debut album, to learn more about the amazing life and career of Clara Schumann in her 200th anniversary year.

Joshua Bell and Jeremy Denk Perform Clara Schumann's Romance, Op 22, No 1'

Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell and acclaimed pianist Jeremy Denk, a MacArthur Fellow, performed works by Schumann and Brahms in The Greene Space at WQXR.

Prelude and Fugue in B flat by Clara Schumann (with sheet music)

This piece of music by Clara Schumann was on the Grade 8 piano syllabus last year. If you are studying to do a Grade exam now, this is what Grade 8 piano music looks and sounds like!

Ballade op. 6 no. 4 (1836)

A beautiful ballad in D minor from 'Soirées Musicales' (op. 6, 1834-1836).

4 Pieces caracteristiques, Op. 5: No. 3. Romance

Homeless (from The Concert in Hyde Park)

Ladysmith Black Mambazo & Paul Simon

Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes

Famous American singer and songwriter Paul Simon travelled to the capital of South Africa (Johannesburg) to play and record music with African musicians. It was very difficult due to Apartheid. He invited Ladysmith Black Mambazo to record with him in London. The album they produced, called Graceland, is seen by many as
one of the best modern albums of all time. It won a Grammy Award in 1987 and has sold over 14
million copies! This song and 'Homeless' are both from this album.

Long Walk to Freedom Music Video

This song is from the album 'Long Walk to Freedom, released on 24 January 2006.

Oliver Mtukudzi Ft Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Neria

The song was written for the soundtrack of the movie ‘Neria‘ which is about the struggles of a woman in rural Zimbabwe who lost her husband through an accident. Oliver Mtukudzi’s very emotional song is about the strength of women and how they succeed in facing live challenges. In the lyrics, Mtukudzi tries to console and encourage the woman: “Don’t be disheartened Neria, God is with you (Mwari anewe). May your heart be strong, be strong, God is with you. Death is jealous, it separates those in love.Don’t be disheartened my sister, God is with you.”

Nomathemba

Ladysmith Black Mambazo perform Nomathemba (Mother of Hope) on the Arts Show.

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain (Live on KEXP)

Recorded February 1, 2016.

Everything's So Stupid!

A funny song about how hard it is to be a kid sometimes!

Big Yellow Taxi

This is the 2018 official lyric video for Joni Mitchell's classic "Big Yellow Taxi" from the album 'Ladies Of The Canyon' (1970)The song was a hit in her native Canada as well as Australia and the UK. “Big Yellow Taxi” is Joni Mitchell’s call to action to prevent the damage we are doing to the environment. It refers to lack of human awareness; only too late we recognise the profligate destruction done to the environment. We value what we have in retrospect.

Chelsea Morning

Joni Mitchell singing Chelsea morning from a television concert sometime in the seventies. Released in 1969, it is a folk song about living freely. Previous American president, Bill Clinton, named his daughter Chelsea after hearing this song!

The Circle Game

In this song (1969) Joni Mitchell tells the story of a child's journey to adulthood. We can look back but we can’t return.

'California' (LIVE) - Joni Mitchell (BBC In Concert, 1970) - Joni playing dulcimer.

Although Joni was mostly known for her singing voice and guitar playing, she also played the piano, oboe and dulcimer.

Night In the City - 1967

Possibly the only Joni Mitchell song with no sad lyrics or melodies. Miss Wright can't find any others but maybe you can?!

Woodstock (Live In-Studio 1970)

Before the music starts, Joni tells the story of why she wrote this song. Enjoy her beautiful piano playing.

Both Sides Now (2000 Version) Joni Mitchell with lyrics

A heart-breaking but beautiful song about ambition and failure..

The quick story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Take a peek at this giant of classical music! Get an idea of his early life, hear a handful of his best-known tunes and remember why he's considered one of the all-time greats.

Mozart - Minuet in G Major, KV 1

Mozart's first documented composition is a Minuet and Trio in G major. He was only five years old when he wrote it! All Mozart's compositions were given a listing beginning with KV and then a number. This piece is KV1 and his final piece was KV626 - Requiem.

Queen of the Night Aria from The Magic Flute

The Magic Flute is one of Mozart's most well known operas. In this scene, filmed at The Royal Opera House, the Queen of The Night is full of vengeance and rage. The melody is very colourful and very high so only skilled, soprano singers can perform it.

Why Mozart's Magic Flute is a masterpiece - an introduction (The Royal Opera)

The cast and creative team of The Royal Opera's Magic Flute explore what makes Mozart's The Magic Flute a classic.

Mozart: Clarinet Concerto

Miss Wright performed this at a recital many, many years ago!

Eine kleine nachtmusik : 1st movement

Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525, is a 1787 composition for a chamber ensemble by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The German title means "a little night music". The work is written for an ensemble of two violins, viola, cello and double bass, but is often performed by string orchestras

Rondo from the Horn Concerto Nr 4KV495

Mozart's Rondo from the Horn Concerto Nr 4 KV 495 in this trio arrangement by Joshua Davis. Played by Sarah Willis - horn, Tamás Velenczei - trumpet and Jesper Busk Sorensen - euphonium Recorded in the Berlin Chamber Music Hall for the Pacific Music Festival 2021 as a virtual chamber music concert.

Mozart Symphony No. 40 from memory: Aurora Orchestra at the BBC Proms

As part of its performance at the BBC Proms in August 2014, Aurora Orchestra performed Mozart's Symphony No. 40 from memory.

The Marriage of Figaro - Overture

The Marriage of Figaro is another of Mozart's operas. An overture is a piece of music for the orchestra to play at the beginning of an opera or ballet. The word comes from the French word for "opening" because it "opens" the show. Overtures usually have tunes which are going to be heard during the opera or ballet. In this way it prepares the audience for what is to come.

Aretha Franklin - Respect [1967] (Aretha's Original Version)

Aretha Franklin - Think [1968] (Original Version)

Aretha Franklin - Think
Song written by Aretha Franklin & Ted White
Album: Aretha Now (1968)

Aretha Franklin - Think (feat. The Blues Brothers)

Aretha Franklin had a small acting part in the film 'The Blues Brothers' in 1980. However, she stole the show with her rendition of the song Think!

Respect (Aretha Franklin) | Blues Brothers 2000

Following her success in the original Blues Brothers film, Aretha performed RESPECT in the film sequel in Blues Brothers 2000.

I Say A Little Prayer For You

Aretha Franklin performs "I Say A Little Prayer," October 9, 1970.

Aretha Franklin and George Michael - I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) (Official Video)

Aretha Franklin "Let It Be"

This song was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney in 1970. They wanted Aretha to record her own version of it so they sent it to her record company. Aretha released her version before the Beatles released it themselves but the Beatles version became much more well known.

Aretha Franklin, Marvis Staples - Oh Happy Day (Official Music Video)

"Oh Happy Day" by Aretha Franklin and Mavis Staples

Aretha Franklin Brings President Obama To Tears Performing At Kennedy Center Honors

Aretha Franklin performed at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors this year, paying tribute to Carole King, who helped co-write the song she performed "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman."

Aretha's Epic Obama Inauguration Performance

(16 Aug 2018) Aretha Franklin brought down the house at President Barack Obama's first inauguration in 2009. Her performance was as memorable for her hat as it was for her rendition of "My country 'tis of thee." (Aug.

Sigur Rós - Hoppípolla

"Hoppípolla" is a song by Sigur Rós from their 2005 album Takk. The song title means "hopping into puddles", and the lyrics are mainly in Icelandic, with some nonsensical phrases, a "language" the band calls Vonlenska ("Hopelandic"). This song has been featured on the BBC's 'Planet Earth' and 'Blue Planet'..

Sigur Rós - Stendur æva w/ Steindór Andersen, Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson & María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir

Sigur Ros released Stendur æva in 202. It is a song from their orchestral album Odin's Raven Magic. Stendur Aeva means 'Stands Alive'. The instruments in this piece are a really unusual combination of sounds. Look out for the marimbas made from rough pieces of stone at the start of the pice. There are also two very different solo voices, a choir a brass section, as sting sections, keyboards....what else can you spot?

Sigur Ros - Olsen Olsen

This video includes footage of Sigur Ros performing at an open air concert in 2006. Look out for the lead singer & guitarist, Jónsi, playing his electric guitar with a cello bow and singing in his falsetto voice.

Sigur Ros - Glósóli

This song was taken from the album "Takk" which means 'thanks'. Roughly translated the title of the song (Glósóli) means 'glowing sun'. The video consists of children dressed in old-fashioned Icelandic clothing, migrating towards a very characteristic cliff which is to be found in Reykjanes Peninsula in the SW of Iceland. The song culminates at the end when the children reach a large hill and the leader starts beating his drum rapidly. When the song climaxes, the children start to run full speed up the hill. It is then shown that the hill is in fact a cliff, ending at the ocean. When the children reach the edge, they jump off and swim through the air. NB LONGFLEET - DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME - YOU CANNOT FLY!

Jonsi's "Sticks and Stones" Music Video

OK, so strictly speaking this isn't by Sigur Ros! Jonsi is Sigur Ros' front man and has also released solo music. He wrote and performed two songs for the How To Train Your Dragon films - this one and 'Where No One Goes' from HTTYD2.

Iceland: land of Fire and Ice

The physical geography of Iceland is incredibly dramatic and has influenced the music of Sigur Ros. Iceland is largely an arctic desert punctuated by mountains, glaciers, geysers, hot springs, volcanoes and waterfalls. Most of the vegetation and agricultural areas are in the lowlands close to the coastline. Iceland's most distinctive features are the glaciers that cover over 4,600 square miles. (The music in this video is not Sigur Ros - it is just on here to help you understand why the Icelandic landscapes inspire their music!)

John Lewis' Christmas Ad 2018, with Elton John

For their traditional Christmas advert 2018, John Lewis & Partners worked with musical legend Elton John. He sings his power ballad "Your Song". The emotional two-minute video tracks John's road to stardom - from playing in pubs to sold out stadium shows.

Elton John - Rocket Man (Royal Festival Hall, London 1972)

Elton's second concert at London's Royal Festival Hall was an opportunity for him and his band to perform their newly-recorded album Honky Château in its entirety. This live debut of 'Rocket Man' two months before its release as the album's first single is striking in its freshness and its ability to nearly replicate the studio arrangement on stage.

George Michael & Elton John - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (Live)

Elton John - Candle In The Wind

"Candle in the Wind" came from the Live In Australia With The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra album. The video is from Elton's 1986 concert at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. The sound of applause is the audience responding to the orchestra lighting candles, unbeknownst to Elton.

Elton John - Circle of Life (From "The Lion King"/Official Video)

"Circle of Life" is performed and composed by Elton John, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The song features in the iconic opening sequence of Walt Disney's The Lion King and this music video features alternative lyrics from the soundtrack version. It was also nominated for Best Song at the 1994 Academy Awards.

ETHEL SMYTH (1858 - 1944)

"The March of the Women"

As well as being a musician, Smyth was also a suffragette who devoted herself to the cause for women's rights for two years, giving up her music in order to focus on it completely. In 1911, her piece, "The March of The Women" became the anthem of the women's suffragette movement. The piece became a symbol of the movement and was sung not only at rallies but also in prisons where the women were on hunger strike. The Votes For Women newspaper described the song as 'at once a hymn and a call to battle'.

How the suffragettes won British women the vote | 100 Years of the Women's Movement | BBC Teach

Radio 1 DJ Gemma Cairney traces the history of the women's movement in Britain and discovers how women won the vote. **Please note, this series was originally broadcast in 2013 and all information was correct at the time of recording.

Ethel Smyth - Concerto For Violin and Horn

The "Concerto for Violin and Horn" by Ethel Smyth, performed by concertmaster Juraj Cizmarovic and solo hornist Marcel Sobol with the WDR Funkhausorchester under the baton of its principal conductor Frank Strobel. Recorded live at the WDR Funkhaus Wallrafplatz on September 10, 2021.

Mass in D for soloists, chorus, orchestra and organ: Kyrie

Ethel Smyth - Serenade in D Major - BBC Philharmonic

This orchestral piece is in four movements. A movement in a piece of music s a bit like a chapter in a book.
00:00 - I. Allegro non troppo
14:27 - II. Scherzo: Allegro vivace - Allegro molto
20:37 - III. Allegretto grazioso - Molto vivace grazioso
26:21 - IV - Allegretto grazioso

Ethel Smyth - The Wreckers (Overture) (1906)

Ethel Smyth's opera, "The Wreckers" was considered the most important English opera of the time. However, it was not until her 75th birthday in 1934, hat her work was celebrated at the Royal Albert Hall in front of the Queen. Heartbreakingly, at the moment of long-overdue recognition, Smyth was completely deaf and could hear neither her own music nor the cheering of the crowds.

Yo-Yo Ma, Kathryn Stott - Lullaby (Brahms)

Smyth's greatest influence was Johannes Brahms, a German romantic composer. In 1878, she was lucky enough to see him when he arrived in Leipzig to conduct his new symphony. The became friends and he greatly admired Smyth's compositions. She was forever inspired by his music. You may recognise the very famous melody of this piece by Brahms.

Feeling Good - Nina Simone (1965)

This is most definitely in Miss Wright's top 5 songs! Enjoy the beautiful acapella vocal at the beginning and then the full, rich sounds of the band when they play their iconic opening notes. How many different instruments can you hear? Originally written for the 1964 musical "The Roar Of The Greasepaint-The Smell Of The Crowd" it has since been covered by many artists, including Muse, Sammy Davis Jr., Bobby Darin, Traffic, Michael Bublé, The Pussycat Dolls, George Michael, John Barrowman, John Coltrane, Toše Proeski, Frank Sinatra Jr., and Adam Lambert. ENJOY THIS!

Nina Simone - "My Baby Just Cares For Me" - with '87 animation

Originally recorded by Nina Simone in 1957, this song made a big come back in 1987 when it was used in an advert. This wonderful animation was also made in 1987. While you're enjoying the two cool cats, keep an eye out for the footage of the piano the snare drum and the double bass.

Nina Simone "Love Me Or Leave Me" on The Ed Sullivan Show

Nina Simone's greatest influence was classical composer, Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach was a German composer who lived from 1685 - 1750. Nina's musical style fused gospel and pop with classical music along with her expressive vocals. "Once I understood Bach's music, I wanted to be a concert pianist. Bach made me dedicate my life to music." In this song, you can see the evidence of her training as a classical pianist. She was a truly talented and wonderful musician!

Young, gifted and black - Lyrics - Nina Simone

Here Comes the Sun - Nina Simone

You might recognise this song because it was written by George Harrison! This is Nina Simone's version - how do you think it compares to the Beatle's original?

Ain't Got No, I Got Life - Nina Simone

Nina Simone playing live in London, 1968. ‘I Got Life’ is a real celebration - there are always reasons to choose the positive side of life, no matter how bad things seem or how difficult the way ahead looks. Nina Simone’s exuberant response to adversity brings to mind the words of poet Maya Angelou, another civil rights activist:
‘My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour, and some style.’

Nina Simone - Mississippi Goddam

This song reminds us that music has the power to do so much more than just entertain us. This is a powerful protest song about all the acts of violence and oppression against Black communities in the segregated South of America. “It was my first civil rights song,” she later recalled, “and it erupted out of me quicker than I could write it down.”

The Beatles - I Want To Hold Your Hand - Performed Live On The Ed Sullivan Show 2/9/64

'I Want to Hold Your Hand' was the first Beatles' record to top both the UK and the US charts. It was also their first to be recorded on a 4-track, as opposed to the usual 2-track, tape machine.

The Beatles - Yellow Submarine

Let It Be

All You Need Is Love

How many different instruments can you hear in this one?

Help!

We all need a little bit of help sometimes!

Here Comes The Sun

You might recognise this song from 'Bee Movie'. Quite a few musicians have covered it. Miss Wright's favourite cover version is by Nina Simone.

Hey Jude

Hey Jude topped the charts in Britain for two weeks and for 9 weeks in America, where it became The Beatles longest-running No.1 in the US singles chart as well as the single with the longest running time. I think the Beatles were being a little bit silly at the start of this video but it is nice to see them doing a live performance with an audience.

With A Little Help From My Friends

Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney of The Beatles perform "With A Little Help From My Friends" with special guests at the 2015 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony. You can find other recordings of the original Beatles version on youtube but it's nice to see the two surviving Beatles performing together and also to see all the instruments that were in this song!