Michael Brooks

98.1 Classical KING FM Production Director, Host of "Musical Chairs" and "Music Through The Night".

[Michael Brooks @MikeKINGFM]

Mozart's Sonata in E-flat major, is a devilishly tricky piece to play . Listen for chords with as many as eight notes, sharp and rapid contrasts. But no worries Arthur Grumiaux and Walter Klien got you covered in this morning's performance.

[Michael Brooks @MikeKINGFM]

Vaughn Williams London Symphony was inspired by an off the cuff remark made by fellow composer George Butterworth " You know Ralph, you really should write a symphony." Butterworth then got up and walked of!. That stuck and several years later The London Symphony was born!

[Michael Brooks @MikeKINGFM]

Remember back in middle school that guy who was writing his book report on the school bus the morning it was due? That was Bizet, he had 6 weeks and 20 musicians to work with while composing his 27 numbers for the play L'Arlésienne. Let's give him an A for his delightful suite.

[Michael Brooks @MikeKINGFM]

The apple does not fall far from the tree but Josef Strauss raised under the influences of his Waltz King family added an air of cleverness to that much beloved dance style. Enjoy to the complexities he brings to what could have been just another dance piece Music of The Spheres!

[Michael Brooks @MikeKINGFM]

Maybe it's because I just toured the new @thenordicmuseum in Ballard that this guy's music has been on my mind. Speaking of Hugo Alfven. What better to celebrate our new Ballard landmark that Alfven's "Swedish Rhapsody"

[Michael Brooks @MikeKINGFM]

When Edward Elgar wrote his "Enigma Variations, Op.36" He meant it as a gift to his wife, family and dear friends for each of the variations represents a facet of his friends personalities. "He added that character will be known only to two people." I love a good mystery!

[Michael Brooks @MikeKINGFM]

Mozart was famous for his sense of humor. His "Musical Joke" is rife with odd bits of polyphony, a cadenza where the violinists solo falls apart and an odd ending. This was vaudevillian by the standards of Wolfgang's peers. Let's enjoy the laughs and great music on @KingFM.

[Michael Brooks @MikeKINGFM]

As if Vancouver BC isn't cool enough, I learn that it has a Composer In Residence. In 1988 it was Stephen Chatman and he penned this gem for us to enjoy. An Elizabethan Spring " The @VanChamberChoir on @KingFM Next@VanChamberChoir "Schafer/85: A Birthday Spectacular," is July 6.

[Michael Brooks @MikeKINGFM]

A prince who can't laugh, a failed jester, a prat fall, royal machinations and a curse that makes a man madly in love with oranges. Let's get our dose of vitamin "C" that's "C" for Comedy in Prokofiev's "Love For Three Oranges Suite!

[Michael Brooks @MikeKINGFM]

Somehow I think Bach would be OK with his Toccata and Fugue in D minor becoming shorthand for horror films. Catchy tune, you must admit! Coming up in moments on Music Through The Night.

[Michael Brooks @MikeKINGFM]

So what's the world's largest pipe organ sound like. Stop by the Macy's store in Philly or stay tuned to KING FM's Music Through The Night. We'll hear it in moments on @KingFM playing Percy Grainger's "Shepherds Hey!"

[Michael Brooks @MikeKINGFM]

Grieg's Op.45 Violin Sonata was declared to be "Too Norwegian" by his professor Neils Gade. Greig's response: "Then my next shall be even more so..." @thulamusic captures that air of pride in her performance of this piece coming up on @KingFM Music Through The Night.

[Michael Brooks @MikeKINGFM]

Composers and publishers often endure a love/hate relationship Let's thank Debussy's publisher for rescuing Suite Bergamasque. Debussy felt it was too immature a work to be published. His publisher said "trust me". I don't want to imagine life without Moonlight Sonata

[Michael Brooks @MikeKINGFM]

A good love gone is bad an apt description of Mendelssohn's "Italian Symphony." He wrote of its beginning to his sister "It is perhaps the jolliest of all my compositions". but later after numerous revisions he said of it caused him: "some of the bitterest moments of my career"

[Michael Brooks @MikeKINGFM]

In this era of cellphones and fidget spinners it'shard to imagine working at something for 14 years. That's how long Brahms worked to perfect his 1st Symphony. We own him a good listen this morning, don't you think?!
Enjoy this great performance by @londonsymphony

[Michael Brooks @MikeKINGFM]

Table Music is what we're about to hear. Music for a banquet or feast. Let's take our 3rd shift snack breaks and enjoy this "Table Music" gem from Manuel Rosenthal.

[Michael Brooks @MikeKINGFM]

Monteverdi starts this hour with his musical "experiment" a simple melody line joined by accompanying chords. Dropping the madrigal polyphony caused a scandal when this piece premiered in 1607! Enjoy the Tocatta that launches his Orfeo, one of the cornerstones of modern opera.

[Michael Brooks @MikeKINGFM]

Not sure if you're a Mahler fan? I think this excerpt from his 5th Symphony will seal the deal. Neeme Jarvi conducts (it's his birthday today, BTW). The Scottish National Orchestra Plays.

[Michael Brooks @MikeKINGFM]

Michala Petri shows us how to rock the recorder. My humble plastic recorder bows to Michala as she plays Teleman's Recorder Suite in A minor.

[Michael Brooks @MikeKINGFM]

Thunderbolts start us off tonight! Hold on tight as we fire up Music through The Night with Mozart's Symphony No. 41 "Jupiter"! @Apollos_Fire plays.