The Symphony: Listening to History
A seminar series on the evolution of the symphony parallels a study of European history from the start of the […]
Rick Phillips
From Motif to Masterpiece: Themes & Variations
The Theme & Variations form is one of the simplest in music: a given melody, idea or theme is put through a series of melodic, harmonic, rhythmic, tempo and other changes, revealing different aspects and traits of the original.
Everything You Wanted to Know About Music …
… but were afraid to ask. Hello, I’m Rick Phillips. I am a freelance writer, reviewer, teacher, speaker, broadcaster, podcaster
Convivium, Guest Blog, Journal, Toronto Pursuits
Nine Symphonies That Changed the World
by Rick Phillips, leader of our 2020 Toronto Pursuits seminar on Beethoven The major anniversaries of the births and deaths
Is Music a Universal Language?
Among the recent events marking the centenary of the end of World War I, French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a
A Musical Microcosm of the World
[Editor’s note: Musician, writer, and broadcaster Rick Phillips returns to Toronto Pursuits with A Symphonic Symposium. What does the symphony
GUEST BLOG—Discovering the Art of Schubert’s Lieder
I’m Rick Phillips and I’ve been leading music seminars at Toronto Pursuits for ten years. I can’t imagine a summer
GUEST POST — Exploring a Subtler Style of Music with Rick Phillips
Hello and welcome to Classical Pursuits 2014. I am Rick Phillips and I’ll be leading the seminar Impressionism in Music.
GUEST BLOG – Ear of the Beholder with Rick Phillips
After a Viennese music critic died, some of his friends made the rounds of local musicians to raise money for
GUEST BLOG: Larry French’s week at Toronto Pursuits
My week at Classical Pursuits, Summer 2012 [editor’s note: due to a technical glitch, publication of this post was slightly