Concert Sound Bites

Dmitri Shostakovich

The Symphony No. 1, written when the composer was 19, has all the
characteristics of his mature sound. It is infused with a restless uneasiness
that foreshadowed much of the turbulence of Soviet life in the 20th century.

Jean Sibelius

The famous waltz, Valse Triste, served as the composer's introduction to early
20th century American audiences. Its haunting melody sets the scene for a
dream sequence in which Death claims its next victim in an elegantly macabre
dance.

Edvard Grieg

Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A Minor is considered by some to be the most
popular piano concerto ever written. Its melodies are drawn from several
Norwegian folk melodies which lend it a distinctly Nordic charm.