THE ULTIMATE
On this day, 7th May 1840, Russian composer Pyotyr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born.
Tchaikovsky originally trained to become a Civil Servant, took music classes in St. Petersberg, and joined the newly opened St. Petersberg Conservatory. Here he learned the Western musical style, that he was able to mix with his native Russian musical culture that he knew since childhood. The result of this merging of cultures was compositions such as the 1812 Overture, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker Suite including the Dance of the Sugar PLum Fairy and Romeo & Juliet. Thus, symphonies, overtures, operas and ballets were all in his repertoire, Tchaikovsky's personal life as been the subject of censorship by Soviet and Russian governments, due to his homosexuality. Tchaikovsky found fame both internationally, being a guest conductor in Europe and the United States, and at home being honoured by Tsar Alexnder III. So much so, So much so, he is seen as the first Russian composer to gain international recognition.
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On this day, April 29th 1899, Edward Kennedy 'Duke' Ellington was born,
Born in Washington D.C. Duke became a pianist, composer and leader of his own jazz orchestra. His band toured Europ and operated out of New York City from the 1920s, though his music may have been termed he preferred 'beyond category' transcending genre to take its place in American Music. In a career spannning six decades Duke Ellington composed over a thousand pieces, particularly for 78 rpm records lasting three minutes. In 1999 he received a posthumous Pulitzer Prize Special Award for his music. His classics include 'It don't mean a thing, If it ain't got that swing' and 'Take the A Train'. He appeared in a number of films and composed stage musicals. |
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