This composition was commissioned to commemorate the repulsion of Napoleon’s forces. The composer even included the French anthem La Marseillaise into the work, confronted by the roar of cannon. The overture was set to premiere in 1881 but the ruler's assassination delayed the premiere until the following year.

Can you guess this piece? Here’s a hint: Not even severe weather can keep us from this music.

Can you guess this piece? Here’s a hint: split the distance between Paris and Warsaw…

Can you guess this piece? Here’s a hint: chili dogs and romance…

Can you guess this piece? Here’s a hint: slap it, strum it, pick it, drum it…

While this composer is better known for his sacred cantatas, he wrote several secular ones. The plot tells of a young lady hopelessly addicted to coffee. It was first introduced to Europe in the seventeenth century and had made its way to Germany by the 1730s. The propriety of its consumption had become a matter of some controversy.

Can you guess this piece? Here’s a hint: east, west, and in between…

Can you guess this piece? Here’s a hint: unusual architecture…

Can you guess this piece? Here’s a hint: split the distance between Paris and Warsaw…

No scandal in music seems to be more famous than the premiere of this ballet. The ballet was described as a tale of pagan Russia and in this tale the tribal leaders have selected a young virgin to sacrifice to the gods of spring. The choreography was viewed by many to be overtly sexual and was partly to blame for the response by original audiences.