Do all classical pieces have to be long? Apparently not. Are there some brief classical hits? Yes indeed. Stephen and Joanna also discuss whether composers ever write music for their own funerals. Plus, a listener is distracted by a dog riding a horse. Seriously.
Got questions for Joanna and Stephen? Drop them a line hello@joannaandthemaestro.com
Feb 2024
The Piano Tuner
This week Joanna and Stephen are joined by a very special guest, Stephen's personal piano tuner, David Widdicombe. From concert grands, upright 'domestics' and honkytonks, David has tuned them all. Having worked with the world's most prestigious piano makers, Steinway, for 3 deca ... Show More
19 m
Feb 2024
The Bohemians: Martinů & Janáček
This week we’re diving into two 'bohemian' heroes of classical music, Bohuslav Martinů and Leoš Janáček. Stephen remembers encountering the music of Martinů at Cambridge, and being confronted by ‘pure simple joy’ of it. From the lyricism of Martinů, we work back towards Janáček – ... Show More
34m 46s
Oct 2022
The Knights reimagine the ideas of Beethoven and Tolstoy
The Knights — The Kreutzer Project (Avie) New Classical Tracks - The Knights by “Aren’t we all obsessed with time travel? Aren’t we all wanting to have dinner with that person that’s not alive anymore,” conductor of the Knights, Eric Jacobsen, asked when he fired up the time mach ... Show More
41m 16s
Dec 2022
Relaxing Piano Playlist Series 3 Episode 9
Feeling tired? Need to unwind? Then how about some gentle, soothing piano music? Welcome to the Episode 9 of the third Series of Relaxing Piano Playlist! In this themed episode, I perform for you a number of piano arrangements from original works by composers including Bach, Moza ... Show More
35m 59s
Apr 2024
Fast, Furious, Fortissimo
Very often, when I tell people that I’m a classical musician, I am told, “wow, I love classical music! It’s so relaxing!” I think almost all classical musicians have heard that before, and you know what? Sometimes, it’s true! Classical music can be relaxing! But sometimes, and ac ... Show More
46m 31s
Apr 2023
My Top 25 Favorite Moments in Classical Music (Part 1)
What MAKES a moment in a piece of classical music? Sometimes it’s the result of careful pacing from a composer, the slow build to a powerful release. Sometimes it’s about surprise, a sudden explosion, or even a sudden extinguishing of sound. Sometimes it’s about a harmonic transi ... Show More
52m 28s
Sep 2023
Relaxing Piano Playlist Series 1 Episode 7
Feeling stressed? Need to unwind? Then how about some gentle relaxing music for you to ease into. Come and join me as your host, James Quinn as I take you through some wonderful music as I play for you on my own piano ranging from Bach, Mozart, Chopin and more. In this episode I ... Show More
37m 6s
Jul 2023
Relaxing Piano Playlist Series 1 Episode 4
Feeling stressed? Need to unwind? Then how about some gentle relaxing music for you to ease into. Come and join me as your host, James Quinn as I take you through some wonderful music as I play for you on my own piano ranging from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and early 20th C ... Show More
27m 28s
Oct 2023
Relaxing Piano Playlist Series 1 Episode 8
Feeling stressed? Need to unwind? Then how about some gentle relaxing music for you to ease into. Come and join me as your host, James Quinn as I take you through some wonderful music as I play for you on my own piano ranging from Bach, Mozart, Chopin and more.
In this episode I ... Show More
25m 40s
Sep 2020
THE 5TH — MOVEMENT IV, What Beethoven Would Have Wanted
When we listen closely to the Fifth, we hear a testament to self-expression and determination. Which means that we get to decide how to honor this symphony today, whether that means taking a break from Beethoven to commission new works from underrepresented composers, bringing ne ... Show More
31m 23s