Poetry, stories and strange odds and ends from the desk of a writer
Two Steps From Hell Two Steps from Hell Founded by Thomas Bergersen and Nick Phoenix in 2006 Two Steps from Hell is a production music company based in California, USA. Predominantly know for movie and trailer music the company has supplied musical soundtracks to films including Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the X-Men … Continue reading Heart of Courage by Two Steps from Hell
https://youtu.be/608zsOVzUic Taurus II1982New Age Mike Oldfield Mike OldfieldNew AgeBorn: 15 May 1953, Reading, Berkshire, UKNationality: British Oldfield is a musician, composer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, best known for his debut album Tubular Bells in 1973. Primarily a guitarist Oldfield also plays a range of instruments including keyboards and percussion, as well as doing vocals. Throughout his … Continue reading Taurus II by Mike Oldfield
https://youtu.be/90gyxHWr7Rk Emilia di Liverpool1824Opera Gaetano Donizetti Gaetano DonizettiOperaBorn: 29 November 1797, Bergamo, ItalyNationality: ItalianDied: 8 April 1848, Bergamo, Italy Donizetti was a composer best known for almost 70 operas. He was one of the leading composers of the bel canto opera style, along with Vincenzo Bellini and Gioachino Rossini, during the first half of the … Continue reading Emilia di Liverpool by Gaetano Donizetti
https://youtu.be/xxCNTyw8SQA Beatrice and Bénédict1862Opera Hector Berlioz Hector BerliozRomanticBorn: 11 December 1803, La Côte-Saint-André, FranceNationality: FrenchDied: 8 March 1869, Paris, France Berlioz was a composer and conductor of the Romantic era. His works include orchestral works, choral pieces, three operas and compositions of hybrid genres. As the eldest son of a provincial doctor, Berlioz was expected … Continue reading Beatrice and Bénédict by Hector Berlioz
https://youtu.be/WjdgsUByFPE Not While I'm Around1979Musicals Stephen Sondheim Stephen SondheimMusicalsBorn: 22 March 1930, New York, USANationality: American Sondheim is a composer and lyricist known for his musical theatre work. He is recognised for recreating the American musical with shows that tackle unusual and unexpected themes .Sondheim’s shows have been acclaimed for addressing darker and more harrowing … Continue reading Not While I’m Around by Stephen Sondheim
https://youtu.be/YgpS6dQVHbg Sailing2014New Age Mike Oldfield Mike OldfieldNew AgeBorn: 15 May 1953, Reading, Berkshire, UKNationality: British Oldfield is a musician, composer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, best known for his debut album Tubular Bells in 1973. Primarily a guitarist Oldfield also plays a range of instruments including keyboards and percussion, as well as doing vocals. Throughout his career … Continue reading Sailing by Mike Oldfield
https://youtu.be/l1C8NFDdFYg O Mio Babbino Caro1965Opera Maria Callas Maria CallasOperaBorn: 2 December 1923, New York, USANationality: AmericanDied: 16 September 1977, Paris, France Callas was a soprano and one of the most influential opera singers of the 20th century. Critics acclaimed her bel canto technique, dramatic interpretations, and wide-ranging vocals. Ranging from classical opera toto bel canto … Continue reading O Mio Babbino Caro by Maria Callas
https://youtu.be/SJqLgL8oUPs Dies Irae1683Baroque Jean-Baptiste Lully Jean-Baptiste LullyBaroqueBorn: 28 November 1632, Florence, ItalyNationality: FrenchDied: 22 March 1687, Paris, France Lully was a composer, instrumentalist, and dancer. He is considered a master of the French Baroque best known for his operas, Lully spent most of his career working in the French court of Louis XIV and became … Continue reading Dies Irae by Jean-Baptiste Lully
https://youtu.be/1lKUYAnqxjU Riders of Doom1982Film and TV Basil PoledourisFilm and TVBorn: 21 August 1945, Missouri, USANationality: Greek-AmericanDied: 8 November 2006, California, USA Poledouris was a composer, conductor, and orchestrator of film and television scores, best known for his collaborative work John Milius and Paul Verhoeven. Among his best-known scores are Conan the Barbarian, Red Dawn, Robocop, … Continue reading Riders of Doom by Basil Poledouris
https://youtu.be/wLqLwhsHFTM A Quiet Place1983Opera Leonard Bernstein Leonard BernsteinMusicals, OperaBorn: 25 August 1918, Massachusetts, USANationality: AmericanDied: 4 October 1990, New York, USA Bernstein was a composer, conductor, pianist, educator, author, and humanitarian. Consider among the most important conductors of his time Bernstein was the first American conductor to receive international acclaim. Best known for the musical … Continue reading A Quiet Place by Leonard Bernstein
https://youtu.be/2Dce8DhrTsY Man in the Rain1998New Age Mike Oldfield Mike OldfieldNew AgeBorn: 15 May 1953, Reading, Berkshire, UKNationality: British Oldfield is a musician, composer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, best known for his debut album Tubular Bells in 1973. Primarily a guitarist Oldfield also plays a range of instruments including keyboards and percussion, as well as doing vocals. … Continue reading Man in the Rain by Mike Oldfield
https://youtu.be/422-yb8TXj8 Candide1956Opera Leonard Bernstein Leonard BernsteinMusicals, OperaBorn: 25 August 1918, Massachusetts, USANationality: AmericanDied: 4 October 1990, New York, USA Bernstein was a composer, conductor, pianist, educator, author, and humanitarian. Consider among the most important conductors of his time Bernstein was the first American conductor to receive international acclaim. Best known for the musical West Side … Continue reading Candide by Leonard Bernstein
https://youtu.be/l4NG_NSXfIw The Damnation of Faust1846Opera Hector Berlioz Hector BerliozRomanticBorn: 11 December 1803, La Côte-Saint-André, FranceNationality: FrenchDied: 8 March 1869, Paris, France Berlioz was a composer and conductor of the Romantic era. His works include orchestral works, choral pieces, three operas and compositions of hybrid genres. As the eldest son of a provincial doctor, Berlioz was … Continue reading The Damnation of Faust by Hector Berlioz
https://youtu.be/5oZi2fovnZQ La Mamma Morta1896Opera Maria Callas Maria CallasOperaBorn: 2 December 1923, New York, USANationality: AmericanDied: 16 September 1977, Paris, France Callas was a soprano and one of the most influential opera singers of the 20th century. Critics acclaimed her bel canto technique, dramatic interpretations, and wide-ranging vocals. Ranging from classical opera toto bel canto operas … Continue reading La Mamma Morta by Maria Callas
https://youtu.be/MHAxjxJaw-g Wonderful Land1982New Age Mike Oldfield Mike OldfieldNew AgeBorn: 15 May 1953, Reading, Berkshire, UKNationality: British Oldfield is a musician, composer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, best know for his debut album Tubular Bells in 1973. Primarily a guitarist Oldfield also plays a range of instruments including keyboards and percussion, as well as doing vocals. Throughout his … Continue reading Wonderful Land by Mike Oldfield
https://youtu.be/CH_eGH0ImXg Partita1961Modernism Kees van Baaren Kees van BaarenModernismBorn: 22 October 1906, Enschede, NetherlandsNationality: DutchDied: 2 September 1970, Oegstgeest, Netherlands Van Baaren was a composer and teacher. He studied with Rudolph Breithaupt and Friedrich Koch at the Stern conservatory in Berlin from 1924-29, followed by Willem Piiper in the Netherlands from 1929. From 1934, Van Baaren … Continue reading Partita by Kees van Baaren
https://youtu.be/5C5FOW2ekHo Bridal Chorus1850Opera Richard Wagner Richard WagnerOperaBorn: 22 May 1813, Leizig, GermanyNationality: GermanDied: 13 February 1883, Venice, Italy Wagner was a composer, polemicist, theatre director, and conductor best known for his operas . He wrote both the libretto and the music for his stage works and established his reputation in the romantic vein of Carl … Continue reading Bridal Chorus by Richard Wagner
https://youtu.be/r9LMFdzb4AU O Don Falale1962Opera Maria CallasOperaBorn: 2 December 1923, New York, USANationality: AmericanDied: 16 September 1977, Paris, France Callas was a soprano and one of the most influential opera singers of the 20th century. Critics acclaimed her bel canto technique, dramatic interpretations, and wide-ranging vocals. Ranging from classical opera toto bel canto operas Callas’ musical … Continue reading O Don Falale by Maria Callas
https://youtu.be/82rKR9MJm7g Salve ReginaSacred Choral Jean-Baptiste Lully Jean-Baptiste LullyBaroqueBorn: 28 November 1632, Florence, ItalyNationality: FrenchDied: 22 March 1687, Paris, France Lully was a composer, instrumentalist, and dancer. He is considered a master of the French Baroque best known for his operas, Lully spent most of his career working in the French court of Louis XIV and … Continue reading Salve Regina by Jean-Baptiste Lully
https://youtu.be/-NqaupGcCpw Jurassic Park Theme1993Film and TV John WilliamsFilm and TVBorn: 8 February 1932, New York, United StatesNationality: American Williams is a composer, pianist, and conductor regarded as the greatest film score composer of all time. He has composed some of the most popular, critically acclaimed, and most recognizable film scores in cinematic history and won … Continue reading Jurassic Park Theme by John Williams
https://youtu.be/GrFkgyOOY30 A Boy Like That1957Musicals Leonard Bernstein Leonard BernsteinMusicalsBorn: 25 August 1918, Massachusetts, USANationality: AmericanDied: 4 October 1990, New York, USA Bernstein was a composer, conductor, pianist, educator, author, and humanitarian. Consider among the most important conductors of his time Bernstein was the first American conductor to receive international acclaim. Best known for the musical … Continue reading A Boy Like That by Leonard Bernstein
https://youtu.be/RdTBml4oOZ8 Nessun DormaOpera Luciano Pavarotti Luciano PavarottiOperaBorn: 12 October 1935, Modena, ItalyNationality: ItalianDied: 6 September 2007, Modena, Italy Pavarotti was an operatic tenor who crossed over into popular music late in his career. He became one of the most loved and acclaimed tenors of all time. He gained international fame for the quality of his … Continue reading Nessun Dorma by Luciano Pavarotti
https://youtu.be/ypwUqsD6qCw Frère Jacques1750Nursery Rhyme Jean-Philippe Rameau Jean-Philippe RameauOperaBorn: 25 September 1683, Dijon, FranceNationality: FrenchDied: 12 September 1764, Paris, France Rameau was an important composer and music theorist of 18th century French music. He succeeded Jean-Baptiste Lully as the dominant composer of French opera and is considered a leading composer of his time for the harpsichord
https://youtu.be/Hgq3DzPg1hI The Creation1797/98Oratorio Joseph HaydnClassicalBorn: 31 March 1732, Rohrau, AustriaNationality: AustrianDied: 31 May 1809, Vienna, Austria Haydn was a composer of the Classical era and instrumental in the development of chamber music. He spent much of his career as a court musician for the remote estate of the Esterházy family. This isolated him from other … Continue reading The Creation by Joseph Haydn
https://youtu.be/otAu5twqDpk I Hate You Then I Love YouPop1997 Luciano Pavarotti Luciano PavarottiOperaBorn: 12 October 1935, Modena, ItalyNationality: ItalianDied: 6 September 2007, Modena, Italy Pavarotti was an operatic tenor who crossed over into popular music late in his career. He became one of the most loved and acclaimed tenors of all time. He gained international fame … Continue reading I Hate You Then I Love You by Luciano Pavarotti and Celine Dion
https://youtu.be/rkjbuZ4R0VU Zoraida di Granata1824Opera Gaetano Donizetti Gaetano DonizettiOperaBorn: 29 November 1797, Bergamo, ItalyNationality: ItalianDied: 8 April 1848, Bergamo, Italy Donizetti was a composer best known for almost 70 operas. He was one of the leading composers of the bel canto opera style, along with Vincenzo Bellini and Gioachino Rossini, during the first half of the … Continue reading Zoraida di Granata by Gaetano Donizetti
https://youtu.be/8zWSrT2TfBc Gremlins Theme1984Film and TV Jerry Goldsmith Jerry GoldsmithFilm and TVBorn: 10 February 1929, California, USANationality: AmericanDied: 21 July 2004, California, USA Goldsmith was a composer and conductor best known for his work in film and television scoring. His scores include Star Trek, Logan’s Run, Planet of the Apes, The Omen, Capricorn One Gremlins and … Continue reading Gremlins Theme by Jerry Goldsmith
https://youtu.be/4E7XHOotTX0 Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini1934Romantic Sergei Rachmaninoff Sergei RachmaninoffRomanticBorn: 1 April 1873, Starorussky Uyezd, RussiaNationality: RussianDied: 28 February 1943, California, USA Rachmaninoff was a virtuoso pianist, composer, and conductor of the late Romantic era. His early work, influenced by Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky, and other Russian composers developed into his personal style which was … Continue reading Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninoff
https://youtu.be/KG7Bs_BCC5w Mea Culpa1990New Age EnigmaNew Age1990Nationality: German Formed in 1990 by Romanian-German musician and producer Michael Cretu, Enigma is a new-age, worldbeat project. The creation of the project is inspired by the desire to make a kind of music that did not adhere to the old habits and rules whilst presenting a new form of … Continue reading Mea Culpa by Enigma
https://youtu.be/FOCucJw7iT8 La Mer1905Orchestral Claude Debussy Claude DebussyRomantic, Classical, ImpressionistBorn: 22 August 1862, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, FranceNationality: FrenchDied: 25 March 1918, Paris France Debussy was a composer. He is seen as the first impressionist composer, although he himself rejected the term. Among the first influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries he was born to … Continue reading La Mer by Claude Debussy
https://youtu.be/sFuJjVru75A Sea Pictures1899Orchestral Edward Elgar Edward ElgarClassical, OrchestralBorn: 2 June 1857, Worcestershire, UKNationality: EnglishDied: 23 February 1934, Worcestershire, UK Elgar was a composer known for his works that have entered many English and International classical repertoires. Amongst his most famous compositions are orchestral works such as the Enigma Variations, Pomp and Circumstance Marches, and concertos … Continue reading Sea Pictures by Edward Elgar
https://youtu.be/njs-aQy_89c Otello1887Opera Giuseppe Verdi Giuseppe VerdiOperaBorn: 10 October 1813, Le Roncole, ItalyNationality: ItalianDied: 27 January 1901, Milan, Italy Verdi was an opera composer; born to a provincial family of moderate means he developed a musical education with help of a local patron. He dominated the Italian opera scene after the era of Vincenzo Bellini, Gioachino, … Continue reading Otello by Giuseppe Verdi
https://youtu.be/QRjllL-MP0U Rêverie1890Classical Claude Debussy Claude DebussyRomantic, Classical, ImpressionistBorn: 22 August 1862, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, FranceNationality: FrenchDied: 25 March 1918, Paris France Debussy was a composer. He is seen as the first impressionist composer, although he himself rejected the term. Among the first influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries he was born to a … Continue reading Rêverie by Claude Debussy
https://youtu.be/GVNkx_620GA Elvida1826Opera Gaetano Donizetti Gaetano DonizettiOperaBorn: 29 November 1797, Bergamo, ItalyNationality: ItalianDied: 8 April 1848, Bergamo, Italy Donizetti was a composer best known for almost 70 operas. He was one of the leading composers of the bel canto opera style, along with Vincenzo Bellini and Gioachino Rossini, during the first half of the 19th century. … Continue reading Elvida by Gaetano Donizetti
https://youtu.be/44AYsTp3wp8 Johanna1984Musicals Stephen Sondheim Stephen SondheimMusicalsBorn: 22 March 1930, New York, USANationality: American Sondheim is a composer and lyricist known for his musical theatre work. He is recognised for recreating the American musical with shows that tackle unusual and unexpected themes .Sondheim’s shows have been acclaimed for addressing darker and more harrowing issues of the … Continue reading Johanna by Stephen Sondheim
https://youtu.be/Ap_p_oQtqec Die Walküre: Act 31852Opera Richard Wagner Richard WagnerOperaBorn: 22 May 1813, Leipzig, GermanyNationality: GermanDied: 13 February 1883, Venice, Italy Wagner was a composer, polemicist, theatre director, and conductor best known for his operas . He wrote both the libretto and the music for his stage works and established his reputation in the romantic vein … Continue reading Die Walküre Act 3 by Richard Wagner
https://youtu.be/NhnMd1Jl7SA Nimrod1899Orchestral Edward ElgarClassical, OrchestralBorn: 2 June 1857, Worcestershire, UKNationality: EnglishDied: 23 February 1934, Worcestershire, UK Elgar was a composer known for his works that have entered many English and International classical repertoires. Amongst his most famous compositions are orchestral works such as the Enigma Variations, Pomp and Circumstance Marches, and concertos for violin and … Continue reading Nimrod by Edward Elgar
https://youtu.be/-BNKmVmfdAo In the Bleak Midwinter1906Classical Gustav HolstOrchestralBorn: 21 September 1874, Cheltenham, EnglandNationality: EnglishDied: 25 May 1934, London, England Holst was a composer, arranger, and teacher best known for his orchestral suite The Planets. He composed many other works across a range of genres. The product of many influences his distinctive compositional style is an example … Continue reading In the Bleak Midwinter by Gustav Holst
https://youtu.be/qMTrVgpDwPk Psycho Theme1960Film and TV Bernard Herrmann Bernard HerrmannFilm and TVBorn: 29 June 1911, New York, USANationality: AmericanDied: 24 December 1975, California, USA Herrmann was a composer and conductor, best known for his work composing movie scores, including his collaborations with director Alfred Hitchcock such as Psycho, North by Northwest and Vertigo. As a conductor, … Continue reading Psycho Theme by Bernard Herrmann
https://youtu.be/FW5XtnYdw7Q Masques1904Romantic Claude Debussy Claude DebussyRomantic, Classical, ImpressionistBorn: 22 August 1862, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, FranceNationality: FrenchDied: 25 March 1918, Paris France Debussy was a composer. He is seen as the first impressionist composer, although he himself rejected the term. Among the first influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries he was born to a … Continue reading Masques by Claude Debussy
https://youtu.be/kUSjDtgQoDI Gabriella di Vergy1826Opera Gaetano Donizetti Gaetano DonizettiOperaBorn: 29 November 1797, Bergamo, ItalyNationality: ItalianDied: 8 April 1848, Bergamo, Italy Donizetti was a composer best know for almost 70 operas. He was one of the leading composers of the bel canto opera style, along with Vincenzo Bellini and Gioachino Rossini, during the first half of the … Continue reading Gabriella di Vergy by Gaetano Donizetti
https://youtu.be/xI5HmmizYwY Chevaliers De Sangreal2006Film and TV Hans ZimmerFilm and TVBorn: 12 September 1957, Frankfurt, GermanyNationality: German Zimmer is a film score composer and record producer. His work is noted for integrating electronic musical sound with traditional orchestral arrangements. Since the 1980s he has composed music for over 150 films including Pirates of the Caribbean, Gladiator, … Continue reading Chevaliers De Sangreal by Hans Zimmer
https://youtu.be/gHSKXZpZWCk Pelléas et Mélisande1902Opera Claude Debussy Claude DebussyRomantic, Classical, ImpressionistBorn: 22 August 1862, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, FranceNationality: FrenchDied: 25 March 1918, Paris France Debussy was a composer. He is seen as the first impressionist composer, although he himself rejected the term. Among the first influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries he was born … Continue reading Pelléas et Mélisande by Claude Debussy
https://youtu.be/9E6b3swbnWg Nocturness Op. 91832Romantic Frederic Chopin Frederic ChopinRomanticBorn: 1 March 1810, Żelazowa Wola, PolandNationality: PolishDied: 17 October 1849, Paris, France Chopin was a composer. His first published composition at aged 7 which was followed a year later as he began his performing career. He moved to Paris in 1832 and mixed with high society and … Continue reading Nocturness Op. 9 by Frederic Chopin
https://youtu.be/JAVyKDDsM3s La cathédrale engloutie1910Impressionism Claude Debussy Claude DebussyRomantic, Classical, ImpressionistBorn: 22 August 1862, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, FranceNationality: FrenchDied: 25 March 1918, Paris France Debussy was a composer. He is seen as the first impressionist composer, although he himself rejected the term. Among the first influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries he was born … Continue reading La cathédrale engloutie by Claude Debussy
https://youtu.be/7W2HCCAxUfA French follies dominoes1722Baroque François Couperin François CouperinBaroqueBorn: 10 November 1668, Paris, FranceNationality: FrenchDied: 11 September 1733, Paris, France Couperin was a composer, organist, and harpsichordist of the Baroque era. He was known as Couperin le Grand to distinguish him from the other members of his musically talented Family.
https://youtu.be/obv33I2Kf10 Nocturnes1899Impressionist Claude Debussy Claude DebussyRomantic, Classical, ImpressionistBorn: 22 August 1862, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, FranceNationality: FrenchDied: 25 March 1918, Paris, France Debussy was a composer. He is seen as the first impressionist composer, although he himself rejected the term. Among the first influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries he was born to a … Continue reading Nocturnes by Claude Debussy
https://youtu.be/fKjcK_Tg8Ts Te Deum1849Romantic Hector Berlioz Hector BerliozRomanticBorn: 11 December 1803, La Côte-Saint-André, FranceNationality: FrenchDied: 8 March 1869, Paris, France Berlioz was a composer and conductor of the Romantic era. His works include orchestral works, choral pieces, three operas and compositions of hybrid genres. As the eldest son of a provincial doctor, Berlioz was expected to … Continue reading Te Deum by Hector Berlioz
https://youtu.be/P1ufu247fHg Air pour les Sauvages1735Opera Jean-Philippe RameauOperaBorn: 25 September 1683, Dijon, FranceNationality: FrenchDied: 12 September 1764, Paris, France Rameau was an important composer and music theorist of 18th century French music. He succeeded Jean-Baptiste Lully as the dominant composer of French opera and is considered a leading composer of his time for the harpsichord
https://youtu.be/i7MLT4MmAK8 May It Be2001Film and TV Enya EnyaNew Age, Film and TVBorn: 17 May 1961, Gweedore, IrelandNationality: IrishDied: 27 November 1474, Cambrai, France Enya is a singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. She was born into a musical family and raised in the Irish-speaking area of Gweedore in County Donegal. She began her music career … Continue reading May It Be by Enya
