Thanks for all the positive feedback to my first vlog post. You'll definitely be seeing more vids in the near future. Meanwhile, to answer those who've requested CD/mp3 recommendations: a good place to start is the complete recordings of all Bach's solo violin sonatas and partitas. I have several different recordings made by a number of violinists, but my very favorite is Gidon Kremer's most recent (he's recorded them more than once.) You can sample all the tracks on... READ ON

Everyone knows that Beethoven wrote some of his most famous music after he'd already gone deaf. But guess what? He wasn't the only one. Here are 5 others you should know: Like Bach, William Boyce (1711-1779) made his living as a church keyboardist, but was also a master composer—one of the best to come out of England during the 18th century. Boyce went deaf and had to quit his job as an organist, but went on editing works by well-known composers like William Byrd and Henry Purcell. A... READ ON

I've always been fascinated by orchestras and how each one has its own personality. It's impossible, for example, to mistake the Philadelphia Orchestra for the Russian National Orchestra, especially if they're both playing a Shostakovich symphony. This is partly due to traditions and customs, but also has a lot to do with the conductors that helped bring each orchestra to prominence. Philadelphia has always been known for its lush string section and, at least in the past, would... READ ON

You think you don't know the brilliant jazz musician, pianist and songwriter, Bob Dorough, but you're wrong. Remember all those funky School House Rock songs? Well guess who wrote about 50 of them? Born in Cherry Hill, Arkansas, Bob was a product of the G.I. Bill and wound up in NYC taking classes at Columbia and soaking in the jazz scene. Eventually he was approached by School House creator David B. McCall, who came up with the idea for the TV show when he noted that his son couldn't... READ ON