Francisco tárrega lágrima

When we think of all things Italian, in general terms, what do we think of? And how does that translate into music? As a musician, one might think of the heightened emotions of the Romantic era – spec

When you’re speaking to someone devastatingly fluent in four tongues (Italian, German, French and English) the subject of language naturally leads to some curiosity. Especially from a somewhat green-e

Ask if national schools of piano really do exist, and one might be tempted to reply that there are only as many schools as there are pianists. Yet, the idea of a distinctive musical heritage, preserve

Manchester quartet hit heavy and soft with radiant prog sound.

The 1960s are widely regarded as the decade that produced the best ever popular music. This is why BBC Radio 2’s Sounds of the Sixties has been running since 1983, why any pub quiz worth its while inc

There are many highs to cruising around the Adriatic in high summer and getting paid for the pleasure but somehow it’s the shuddering lows that stick in the mind. Given that it is a very human trait t