For those folks who are losing their collective minds over Bad Bunny being picked to perform during halftime at the Super Bowl in February, here is a reminder than music history is replete with examples of beloved tunes sung in languages other than English. Here is but one example. Mr. Pavarotti can perform at my halftime show any time. Italian is a lovely language for music.

Keepin’ It Classy: Composition #42/50: Nessun Dorma by Giacomo Puccini from the Opera, Turandot https://tommacinneswriter.com/2023/10/20/keepin-it-classy-composition-42-50-nessun-dorma-by-giacomo-puccini-from-the-opera-turandot/ ##GiacomoPuccini, ##KeepinItClassy, ##LucianoPavarotti, ##Opera, ##TheThreeTenors, ##Turandot #BadBunny #SuperBowl

Keepin’ It Classy: Composition #42/50: Nessun Dorma by Giacomo Puccini from the Opera, Turandot

Nessun Dorma is an Italian phrase that roughly translates as none shall sleep. “Nessun Dorma” is also the title of one of the opera world’s most popular arias. This aria was composed by Italian com…

Tom MacInnes, Writer

Fwiw, my thoughts on the recent US election and on the meaning of Remembrance Day going forward. #Peace

Keepin’ It Classy…Composition #52/52: Fanfare For The Common Man by Aaron Copland (+) the Stars of Stage and Screen…Song #72/250: Hymn For The Fallen by John Williams from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of the Film Saving Private Ryan https://tommacinneswriter.com/2024/11/15/keepin-it-classycomposition-52-52-fanfare-for-the-common-man-by-aaron-copland-the-stars-of-stage-and-screensong-72-250-hymn-for-the-fallen-by-john-williams-from-the/ #AaronCopland, #EugeneGoossens, #JohnWilliams, #KeepinItClassy, #RemembranceDay, #SavingPrivateRyan, #StarsOfStageAndScreen

Keepin’ It Classy…Composition #52/52: Fanfare For The Common Man by Aaron Copland (+) the Stars of Stage and Screen…Song #72/250: Hymn For The Fallen by John Williams from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of the Film Saving Private Ryan

This past week I attended a Remembrance Day service in the town next to where I live. It was a well attended ceremony with several hundred in attendance. The service was suitably solemn. Heads were…

Tom MacInnes, Writer

In today's music post, we are revisiting the classical music series Keepin' It Classy for a story about one of the most famous examples of "incidental music", Edvard Grieg's "In The Hall of the Mountain King". You've heard this piece hundreds of times before on TV, etc., but never knew it. Enjoy!

Keepin’ It Classy…Composition #51/51: In The Hall of the Mountain King by Edvard Grieg https://tommacinneswriter.com/2024/04/29/keepin-it-classycomposition-51-51-in-the-hall-of-the-mountain-king-by-edvard-grieg/ #EdvardGrieg
#HenrikIbsen, #InTheHallOfTheMountainKIng, #KeepinItClassy, #PeerGynt,

Keepin’ It Classy…Composition #51/51: In The Hall of the Mountain King by Edvard Grieg

Surprise! It’s back! Just when you thought that the Keepin’ It Classy series had been safely tucked into bed and was sleeping soundly, it returns! The story of why I have opted to return with a spe…

Tom MacInnes, Writer

I am still working my way through this year's Academy award nominated films for Best Picture. Today I am talking about the Bradley Cooper-helmed movie Maestro. Enjoy.

The Stars of Stage and Screen…Song #58/250: Symphony No. 2 in C Minor by Gustav Mahler from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to the Film Maestro https://tommacinneswriter.com/2024/03/20/the-stars-of-stage-and-screensong-58-250-symphony-no-2-in-c-minor-by-gustav-mahler-from-the-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-to-the-film-maestro/ #BradlewyCooper, #GustavMahler, #KeepinItClassy, #LeonardBernstein, #Maestro, #ResurrectionSymphony, #StarsOfStageAndScreen, #SymphonyNo2

The Stars of Stage and Screen…Song #58/250: Symphony No. 2 in C Minor by Gustav Mahler from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to the Film Maestro

While I am not a hardcore movie lover, I do enjoy watching a good movie and come Oscar time, I try my best to catch at least a few of the movies that have been nominated for Best Picture of the Yea…

Tom MacInnes, Writer

Hello everyone! Please enjoy the final post in my Keepin' It Classy classical music series. For those who have been reading along, I hope you have enjoyed reading these posts as much I have writing them.

Keepin’ It Classy….Composition #50/50: Messa da Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi and Symphony #9 in D Minor, Op.125 by Ludwig van Beethoven https://tommacinneswriter.com/2024/01/17/keepin-it-classy-composition-50-50-messa-da-requiem-by-giuseppe-verdi-and-symphony-9-in-d-minor-op-125-by-ludwig-van-beethoven/ ##GioachinoRossini, ##GiuseppeVerdi, ##KeepinItClassy, ##LudwigVanBeethoven, ##OdeToJoy, ##Theresienstadt, #$RafaelSchachter, #50, #9

Keepin’ It Classy….Composition #50/50: Messa da Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi and Symphony #9 in D Minor, Op.125 by Ludwig van Beethoven

Welcome to the final post in this series. I find it difficult to believe that forty-nine posts have come and gone, with today marking post #50. Where has the time gone? When I set out to create thi…

Tom MacInnes, Writer

In today's post we talk about Beethoven's masterful Fifth Symphony and those iconic four opening notes. A magnificent composition forged in adversity, Beethoven's Fifth is one of the world's most uplifting and recognized compositions. Learn all about it here. Enjoy.

Keepin’ It Classy: Composition #49/50…Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 by Ludwig van Beethoven https://tommacinneswriter.com/2024/01/10/keepin-it-classy-composition-49-50symphony-no-5-in-c-minor-op-67-by-ludwig-van-beethoven/ ##Fate, ##FifthSymphony, ##KeepinItClassy, ##LudwigVanBeethoven, ##Napoleon

Keepin’ It Classy: Composition #49/50…Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 by Ludwig van Beethoven

There used to be a television show called Name That Tune which featured contestants vying with each other to correctly guess the name of a piece of music based upon hearing only the first few notes…

Tom MacInnes, Writer

Going to the Nutcracker Ballet is a holiday tradition for many families. But do you know that this famous story may not actually be a Christmas story? Click away and find out who inspired Tchaikovsky to make his famous ballet. Have a great day, all!

Keepin’ It Classy: Composition #47/50: The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky https://tommacinneswriter.com/2023/12/07/keepin-it-classy-composition-47-50-the-dance-of-the-sugar-plum-fairy-by-pyotr-ilyich-tchaikovsky/ ##DerSandmann, ##ETAHoffmann, ##KeepinItClassy, ##PytorIlyichTchaikovsky, ##TheDanceOfTheSugarPlumFairy, ##TheNutcracker

Keepin’ It Classy: Composition #47/50: The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

I have read a lot of Christmas and holiday-themed stories to children over the years at school. I feel as though I can safely say that the vast majority of stories I read aloud all had a feel-good …

Tom MacInnes, Writer

Is the classic song "O Come All Ye Faithful" a carol, a secret code for Catholic insurrectionists during the time of King Henry VIII or a punk rebuke against the Church for ignoring the sexual abuse of children in its care? Read away and find out. Enjoy.

Who’s Punk?! What’s the Score?!...Song #11/25: O Come All Ye Faithful by Bad Religion https://tommacinneswriter.com/2023/12/06/whos-punk-whats-the-score-song-11-25-o-come-all-ye-faithful-by-bad-religion/ ##BadReligion, ##JohnFrancisWade, ##KeepinItClassy, ##OComeAllYeFaithful, ##TheJacobites, ##WhosPunk?!WhatsTheScore?!

Who’s Punk?! What’s the Score?!…Song #11/25: O Come All Ye Faithful by Bad Religion

For as long as I can remember, “O Come All Ye Faithful” has been one of the classic carols that has come to symbolize much of what the Christmas Story is all about. The lyrics are lovely. The messa…

Tom MacInnes, Writer

Here is the story behind the story of William Tell and the overture made famous in his name. Enjoy. Have a great day. <3

Keepin’ It Classy: Composition #46/50…The William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini https://tommacinneswriter.com/2023/11/30/keepin-it-classy-composition-46-50the-william-tell-overture-by-gioachino-rossini/ ##GioachinoRossini, ##KeepinItClassy, ##Switzerland, ##TheWilliamTellOverture, ##WilliamTell

Keepin’ It Classy: Composition #46/50…The William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini

In all of classical music, is there a composition more instantly recognizable around the world than “The William Tell Overture” by Gioachino Rossini? I think not. “The William Tell Overture” is a t…

Tom MacInnes, Writer

In today's post we discuss the mysterious death of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Why did he die penniless? Why were his last words stolen? Come listen to one of the world's greatest pieces of classical music at the same time.

Keepin’ It Classy: Composition #45/50: Requiem in D Minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart https://tommacinneswriter.com/2023/11/23/keepin-it-classy-composition-45-50-requiem-in-d-minor-by-wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/ ##Amadeus, ##KeepinItClassy, ##RequiemMass, ##WolfgangAmadeusMozart

Keepin’ It Classy: Composition #45/50: Requiem in D Minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Without question, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was one of the most talented and innovative composers in the entire history of classical music as a genre. Although he lived for only thirty-five years, he…

Tom MacInnes, Writer