classical music
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Fratres – Good Friday
Every year, I listen to Arvo Pärt’s Fratres on Good Friday. Pärt, an Orthodox Christian, conveys in this piece a sense of horror and beauty that seems to me so fitting for this holy day. This is the first time I’ve heard it on piano. The more familiar, frantic violin & strings arrangement leads me Continue reading
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Lucia di Lammermoor – A Classical Cousin
For today’s classical (music) cousin, here is a favorite scene from Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, or what I have previously called “Romeo and Juliet in Scotland.” The hapless Edgardo shows up just as his beloved Lucia (under her brother’s manipulation) has signed an arranged marriage contract. Fun fact: this opera holds a direct link to Continue reading
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Tchaikovsky’s Piano Trio – A Classical Cousin
Every so often a melody from my past will just pop into my head, unannounced and unprompted. Today it was the opening of Tchaikovsky’s piano trio, a piece I fell in love with as a teenager. There is something about this piece and its constant battle between major and minor keys that especially appeals to Continue reading
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Sherlock Holmes and Korngold’s Violin Concerto – A Classical Cousin
Warning: Contains Sherlock Holmes series spoilers and extreme geekery I am feeling nostalgic this evening, so I thought I would write a post about something dear to me, and exceedingly trivial, that I don’t think I’ve told anyone before. 😆 Simply this—the connection between the Korngold violin concerto and the Sherlock Holmes series. Yes, these Continue reading
About Me
Hi, I’m Marian—I talk about classics, history, and other books on this blog, as well as on YouTube.
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Recent Posts
- What I’m Reading – Morning Coffee Edition
- Oddly Specific Things I Love in Books (and a Few Movies)
- The Tenant of Wildfell Hall – A Long Overdue Review
- My Favorite Films and Music of 2025
- Ten Books I’d Like to Read (and Possibly Own)
Classics Considered 