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As the Seasons Change
By: JJ Sechan Have you ever listened to a piece of music that struck you as so off-putting that you had to leave the room, or worse, so overstimulating that you were ready to scream? You wouldn’t be alone! As Parisian audiences flooded into the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées on May 29, 1913, to hear Stravinsky’s…
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Brilliance, Brevity and Wit: The genius of Germaine Tailleferre
By: Pam DeVier Either music happens naturally or it should not happen at all. Germaine Tailleferre in an interview with the New York Times at the age of 90, May 23, 1982 Germaine Tailleferre was born Marcelle Germaine Taillefesse on April 19, 1892, in the outskirts of Paris. She showed an early affinity for music,…
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A Little Stephen Sondheim
By: Dave Carty The master of musical theater, Stephen Sondheim, once stated that his original ambition was to become a mathematician, and that he became a composer largely by chance. A big influence was that famed lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II (of Rodgers and Hammerstein) was a neighbor when Sondheim was a boy. When he wrote…
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Stravinsky and Neoclassicism
By: JJ Sechan From Impressionist works to Tone Poems and Serial pieces, there are a lot of nitpicky words used to describe classical music, and today we dive into the nitpicky-est one, Neoclassicism. As with many 20th century musical innovations, we have Igor Stravinsky to thank for this multi-syllabic monstrosity. After attaining celebrity status with the…
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Charles Tomlinson Griffes
By: Keith Simon American composer Charles Tomlinson Griffes lived only a short time, 35 years, but left behind a significant musical legacy. He’s recognized for blending European Impressionism with his own distinct voice while adding elements of American modernism. Griffes’s music often features beautiful harmonies, rich textures, and exotic scales, and his contributions to the…
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Colorado Springs Welcomes New Music Director, Chloé Dufresne
On Tuesday, July 29 of 2025, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic officially announced the appointment of Chloé Dufresne as the new music director of our fabulous orchestra, which is entering its 99th season this year. After an international search that drew 255 applicants, the acclaimed French conductor will be stepping into her new role on Saturday,…
