Blog - Russell Steinberg

Here is my Pacific Nocturne, from Night Arc, a set of four piano preludes.

After the sublime Sanctus, the final Agnus Dei movement defies expectations.

In a sense, the three preceding movements—the introductory Kyrie and monumental Gloria and Credo—are all a setup to the sacred moment of the Sanctus and the miracle of the Eucharist.

After such an epic Gloria, we might expect a respite, a shorter and quieter movement.

The Gloria is massive, really a full symphony in itself, as epic and bursting with energy as the finale of the 9th symphony.

Manuscript from the opening Kyrie of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis BEETHOVEN MISSA SOLEMNIS—INTRODUCTION AND KYRIE Beethoven spoke of massive study he undertook to prepare composing his solemn mass, including Mozart’s Requiem, Cherubini’s Requiem, Haydn’s ma…

I’m standing with Dr.

Music I Adored As A Teenager FIFTH PIECE Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major, Johann Sebastian Bach Of course, all 6 Brandenburg concertos are perfect masterpieces.

Music I Adored As A Teenager FOURTH PIECE Sonata in C minor (“Pathétique”), op. 13 by Ludwig van Beethoven It’s lunchtime, 7th grade.

THIRD PIECE Pt. 2 The Planets by Gustav Holst (Charles Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra) Last week, I introduced you to the first four movements The Planets by Gustav Holst.

THIRD PIECE The Planets by Gustav Holst (Charles Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra) After Sheherazade inspired me to compose my own Magellan Suite for piano, a friend asked if I knew The Planets by Gustav Holst.

SECOND PIECE Sheherazade by Nicolas Rimsky-Korsakov (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Kiril Konrashin) Sheherazade was one of the first pieces that really hooked me.

After recent auditions, I discovered that too few of my youth orchestra students regularly listen to classical music.

Last Saturday was a joyous moment in my life, celebrating the release of my music catalog of nearly 100 original works.

www.russellsteinberg.com/composer Today June 14, 2025 I released my music catalog of nearly 100 original compositions.

Last week The Only Girl In the Orchestra won an Academy Award for Best Short Documentary.

We need Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony in our lives now more than ever.

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Piano virtuoso Johann Nepomuk Hummel was a contemporary of Beethoven’s.

Instantly, the tragic music in the prelude to Act III plunges us into the deep mystery of transition from earthly life to eternity.