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MUSIC HISTORY









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In 1967, a student sent John Lennon a letter telling him his teacher was conducting a class analyzing the Beatles' songs. The letter served as the initial motivation for John to write a song that was beyond analysis.

Eddie Deezen








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Whether you prefer the 1925 movie featuring Lon Chaney, the original Broadway production, or the 2004 Gerard Butler remake, there’s no question that the chandelier crash scene is one of the most iconic moments in The Phantom of the Opera.

Stacy Conradt


Stephen Sondheim speaks at the Great Writers Thank Their Lucky Stars annual gala hosted by The Dramatists Guild Fund on October 21, 2013.

Composer, lyricist, and Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim passed away on November 26, 2021 at the age of 91. Celebrate his life with a look back at a few of the many iconic songs he wrote over the course of his career.

Erin McCarthy




Beethoven-Haus, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

Stubborn and self-involved, dramatic yet loving of his friends, Ludwig van Beethoven was a virtuoso pianist and canonical composer of dozens of symphonies, concertos for piano, piano sonatas, and string quartets.

Gili Malinsky


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People love to complain about today’s music. All the lyrics are too bland, repetitive, and racy. So thank goodness we have a canon of treasured composers to fall back on! You know, guys like Mozart. He wrote songs with substance.

Lucas Reilly
The Beatles performing on stage in 1963.

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr are remembered for their instrumental roles in launching the British invasion and bringing the aesthetic of rock and roll to new frontiers with everything from electronic effects to sitars.

Kenneth Partridge, Meg Boeni