James Bennett II

If only the answer were so easy.

It's not just limited rap or jazz — classical pianists would improvise and go at it to see who really was the best. But some of these contests got way out of hand.

David Tayler breaks out this old stringed instrument for an intimate performance of a Bach prelude.

For the year of her 150th birth, here are a handful of works to start you on a journey of discovery of Amy Beach's music.

When the American saxophonist Elise Hall commissioned Claude Debussy to write a piece for Saxophone and Orchestra, it took nearly two decades for the project to be realized.

The Negro spiritual "Sinner, Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass" has been interpreted and arranged by many musical minds, including that of Florence Price.

Classical music and throwback cartoons are seemingly inseparable. Here are five of our favorites that blend some awesome music with animated hijinks.

The record-setting storm has inflicted damage on a number of cultural institutions, including the Houston Grand Opera.

The concertmaster plays solos, but they aren't a soloist, right?

This TED-Ed video featuring Anita Collins will give you new motivation to pick up an instrument.

Let Bernstein school you with these in-depth musical lectures and analyses.

Dvořák's “American” Quartet gets rearranged to include the magic of flute.

We may remember him as a gifted composer and conductor, but Bernstein's left-leaning politics earned him the ire of the federal government when paranoia was at an all-time high.

The massively popular violin has some complex origins, and wasn't always as loved as it is today.

Pianists Eyran Katsenelenbogen and Tal Zilber have reimagined the American classic in ten different musical styles — and it's amazing.

Composer Adam Neely sets out to discover if one key really is sadder than the rest.

In 1910, an instrument maker designed a self-playing violin, a machine that many thought would be impossible to make.

Passionate, moody, troubled, social — Beethoven's personality is hard to pin down. Here are a few wild stories from his life that provide a glimpse into a life misunderstood.

Chaconne Klaverenga performs the last of Paganini's caprices on her guitar.

Giovanni Bottesini was a legendary double bassist. Watch this performance of his Concerto No. 2 to find out why.