A Minute with Miles

Miles Hoffman concludes this week's discussion about popular overtures.

Miles Hoffman continues his musings about the history of the overture.

Miles Hoffman talks about the most popular types of overtures.

Miles Hoffman continues his discussion about the birth and evolution of the overture.

Miles Hoffman discusses where the word "Overture" comes from and the earliest iteration of the overture.

Operetta is light opera...or opera light. Its goal is to amuse: to be witty, charming, funny, not serious either in style or substance.

So here’s the famous riddle: Which came first, the chicken... or the violin? Or the piano? Or the valved horn?

Franz von Suppé could be the poster child for composers who were extremely prolific and very famous in their own time, but who, if they’re now remembered at all, are only remembered for two or three pieces.

Turning pages for pianists is a pretty thankless job—the page turner is usually only noticed when he or she messes up. But for pianists who depend on page turners, good, dependable, unobtrusive page turners are worth their weight in gold.

Have you ever wondered why pianists need page turners? They’re not, after all, the only ones who use both hands to play their instruments.