Pi Day: Music and Math

On Pi Day, perhaps the geekiest of holidays, March 14 (3/14) is a day to celebrate all things numbers (irrational or not) and … pie. In celebration of this wonderfully nerdy holiday, we continue our Music and Data Viz collection with a special Music & Math edition!

Lisztomania

A young, handsome, and enormously talented Franz Liszt.

Did you know? The band Phoenix wrote Lisztomania in honor of composer Franz Liszt’s stud factor. As for the term itself, “Lisztomania” was first coined by German critic/poet/journalist Heinrich Heine as he discussed the fanaticism and fandom surrounding virtuosic pianist and composer Franz Liszt.

Classical Music Insults

Throwing shade, tossing zingers, lobbing jabs. It’s always entertaining to hear about a superbly-delivered insult. Especially when we aren’t at the brunt of it! Here are 10 truly delightful classical music insults and music by the composers that inspired them:

Music and Data Visualization, part 4

Are you ready for more music and data visualization? We sure are! This time we have a fun selection of interactive musical data visualization. You’ll want to bookmark this page for later, as you are likely find yourself slipping down a music and data visualization rabbit hole!

Classical Music Fans in Interesting Places: Susan Orlean

We recently caught up with author (The Orchid Thief, Rin Tin Tin) and New Yorker staff writer Susan Orlean to ask her thoughts on classical music. She happens to be a big fan! What is your favorite composer or piece of classical music and why? ​Handel’s Messiah. It’s gorgeous, stirring, classic, and majestic but human.… Continue reading Classical Music Fans in Interesting Places: Susan Orlean

Also Sprach Zarathustra: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

In honor of Richard Strauss‘ 150th birthday, we compiled a selection of tributes to one of his most famous works: Also Sprach Zarathustra! We know Also Sprach Zarathustra best from the opening sequence in Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, but did you know that Strauss’ music was originally intended to serve solely… Continue reading Also Sprach Zarathustra: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly