Music of the World

There is a distinct magic to Snape Maltings in June. The Suffolk reed beds shimmer, the North Sea breeze carries a quiet creative energy, and the legacy of Benjamin Britten feels entirely alive. But this June, the 77th Aldeburgh Festival carries an even deeper resonance. Marking 50 years since Britten’s passing, the festival is honouring its founder’s vision of the "complete musician”, and they have found the perfect modern embodiment in Ryan Wigglesworth.

Sebastian Hilli, one of Finland’s most promising young composers, discusses two of his recent works, the emotions surrounding a world premiere, what drives his creative process, and his collaboration with Schott Music.

It’s the day of your wedding. You’ve spent months, or perhaps even years, planning this.

Your favourite people have travelled from far and wide to come celebrate with you. Dressed in their Sunday best, they quietly admire the venue and the decorations you and your partner have chosen. There is so much love and excitement in the room as everyone waits for the wedding ceremony to begin. And then the music starts playing… What song do they hear?

Choosing the first song can feel near impossible – how do you pick a piece that might possibly shape the mood of the whole ceremony! Luckily for you, we’ve done the hard work and have compiled some of the best wedding songs so that you aren’t overwhelmed when it comes to planning your wedding. From timeless classics to hidden gems waiting to be discovered, there’s so much to explore!

Once a year, Europeans descend on a major city to showcase some of the very best of their musical talent on a continental stage, to sing songs, share a little unity, and have an all-around good time. But what makes the Eurovision Song Contest so important?

We’re going to take a quick look at the competition: where it started, where it’s been as we approach its 70^th anniversary on Saturday 16^th May, and what’s going on for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026!

The ii-V-I chord progression is an ever-pervasive sequence found throughout much of music history, though it came to true prominence with the rise of jazz. Since then, these chords have been improvised over by countless instrumental soloists, establishing the progression as an essential building block for anyone learning to perform within the genre.

In this post, we'll dive into the inner workings of the ii-V-I chord progression and its origins. Plus, an extended excerpt from David Detweiler’s fantastic book, The II-V-I Progression: 80 Patterns from the Masters of the Saxophone, is featured, exploring a number of improvised solos over the sequence from renowned icons of jazz!

As a piano teacher I frequently ask new students who are their favourite jazz pianists, or even just to name a jazz musician they enjoy listening to. It's noticeable that many of the revered jazz players of the past (and present) are very often men. 

It can seem that either there weren’t very many women jazz musicians, or that they have been side-lined or ignored. This is a situation that was very familiar in the 19th century art world, when the profession of artist was not considered suitable for a woman, with female painters being denied admission to academies and prevented from exhibiting their work.

As part of the JAZZ PIANO LIBRARY series of podcasts for Morley Radio I’ve recorded three programmes about Women Jazz Pianists, with fellow pianist Joy Ellis as my guest and co-presenter. Over the course of these we've played recordings by pianists dating from the 1920s to the 2020s – the whole history of recorded jazz.

Poetry finds its way into music in all sorts of ways, from composers setting verses directly to music, to instrumental works inspired by poetic imagery and ideas. It’s an adaptable art form, capable of expressing the most intimate emotions as well as vast, philosophical landscapes.

Have you ever wondered what Ariana Grande's ‘thank u, next’ or Taylor Swift's ‘Wildest Dreams’ would have sounded like in the early 19th century? The hit Netflix series Bridgerton gives us the answer and has sparked a global hype that extends far beyond the TV screen. The second part of the fourth season premiered on 26 February.

For musicians and music lovers, the series offers a fascinating phenomenon: it makes classical instrumentation ‘sexy,’ modern and absolutely mainstream. In this article, you'll learn what's behind the success and why the music from Bridgerton can currently be found on every sheet music shelf.

On Tuesday 20^th February 1816, Gioachino Rossini’s opera buffa The Barber of Seville received its premiere at the Teatro Argentina in Rome. Written in just over three weeks (with revisions added later), it is now hailed as a masterclass of the operatic canon and considered by some to be the composer’s magnum opus—put down the pitchforks, William Tell “Overture” fans. At the time, however, it wasn’t quite so clear that it would go on to so storied a reputation. Worse yet, the first performance was nothing short of a cataclysm for the then-27 year old Rossini.

Observed annually around the world, Black History Month celebrates the achievements of Black communities, whilst also remembering Black history. In the UK, these celebrations take place in October, and this year’s theme is ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride’. The theme conveys a message of resilience, celebrating the remarkable contributions of Black communities, whilst also envisioning a future built on strength and unity.