March

Prokofieff_(i.e._Prokofiev)_LCCN2014708419_Crop_2

5 March

March 5th: Sergei Prokofiev

Thomas Pitts Asia, Composer Of The Day, Europe, Russia 20th Century, Cinderella, March, Modernism, Neo-Classicism, Sergei Prokofiev

Sergei Prokofiev 27 April [O.S. 15 April] 1891 – 5 March 1953

Cinderella Op. 87: Adagio

Sergei Prokofiev
By Bain News Service, publisher. Restored by User:MyCatIsAChonk – Library of CongressCatalog: https://lccn.loc.gov/2014708419Image download: https://cdn.loc.gov/service/pnp/ggbain/28200/28259v.jpgOriginal url: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2014708419/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=133424073

Sergei Prokofiev was a famous Russian composer, pianist, and conductor, known as one of the major musical figures of the 20th century. He wrote in many genres, including seven symphonies, eight ballets, seven operas, major concertos, and nine piano sonatas. His best-known works include Peter and the Wolf, Romeo and Juliet, Lieutenant Kijé, and the March from The Love for Three Oranges. Prokofiev showed talent early, composing as a child and studying at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, where he became known as a bold and modern composer. Before and during the Russian Revolution, he created striking works like the Classical Symphony and collaborated with cultural figures like Sergei Diaghilev. In 1917, he left Russia and lived in the United States, Germany, and Paris, building an international career. He returned to the Soviet Union in 1936, producing famous works like Cinderella and the War Sonatas. Prokofiev’s life became difficult in the late 1940s due to Soviet policies, but he continued to compose until his death on 5 March 1953, the same day as Stalin.

4 March

March 4th: Antonio Vivaldi

Thomas Pitts Composer Of The Day, Europe, Italy 17th Century, 18th Century, Antonio Vivaldi, Baroque, Cum Dederit, March, Nisi Dominus

Antonio Vivaldi 4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741

Nisi Dominus IV: Cum Dederit

Antonio Vivaldi
By Unidentified painter – (Old image: Taken from the en.wikipedia), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10678

Antonio Lucio Vivaldi was an Italian Baroque composer, virtuoso violinist, and opera impresario, known for shaping the solo concerto into a dominant musical form. His influence spread widely across Europe during his lifetime, inspiring many imitators and advancing orchestration, violin technique, and programmatic music. Born in Venice, Vivaldi was baptised immediately after birth, likely due to fragile health. He trained for the priesthood from age 15 and was ordained in 1703, earning the nickname “il Prete Rosso” (“the Red Priest”) for his red hair. Much of Vivaldi’s career centred on the Ospedale della Pietà, an institution that educated girls in music. He taught and composed extensively for its musicians. His breakthrough came with the concerto collection L’estro armonico, published in 1711. In the 1720s, he composed his most famous work: The Four Seasons, which depicts vivid seasonal scenes, each linked to a descriptive sonnet. Vivaldi died in poverty in 1741, but his music experienced a revival in the 20th century. Today, The Four Seasons remains one of the most performed Baroque works.

3 March

March 3rd: Margaret Bonds

Thomas Pitts Composer Of The Day, North America, United States of America 20th Century, Composers Of Colour, Female Composers, March, Margaret Bonds, Spirituals, Troubled Water

Margaret Bonds 3 March 1913 – 26 April 1972

Troubled Water

Margaret Bonds
By Carl Van Vechten – This image is available from the United States Library of Congress’s Prints and Photographs divisionunder the digital ID cph.3c14532.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15975565

Margaret Bonds was an influential American composer, pianist, and teacher born in Chicago. She was one of the first Black composers to gain recognition in the United States. Bonds is best known for her arrangements of African-American spirituals and her collaborations with poet Langston Hughes. Notably, she was the first African American woman to perform with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Bonds faced many challenges throughout her life, including racial discrimination in her education at Northwestern University. Despite these obstacles, she earned her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees. After moving to New York, she continued to compose and perform, creating significant works like “The Ballad of the Brown King.”

In 1967, she moved to Los Angeles, where she taught music and composed for theatre. Tragically, Bonds died of a heart attack in 1972. Her legacy includes promoting African-American music and addressing social issues through her compositions, making her a vital figure in American music history.

2 March

March 2nd: Bedřich Smetana

Thomas Pitts Composer Of The Day, Czech Republic, Europe 19th Century, Bedřich Smetana, Die Moldau, March, Romantic

Bedřich Smetana 2 March 1824 – 12 May 1884

Die Moldau

Bedřich Smetana
By Bain News Service, publisher – Library of CongressCatalog: https://lccn.loc.gov/2014716851Image download: https://cdn.loc.gov/service/pnp/ggbain/36700/36702v.jpgOriginal url: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2014716851/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=133935744

Bedřich Smetana was a Czech composer who played a vital role in developing a unique Czech musical style during the 19th-century cultural revival in Bohemia. Often referred to as the “father of Czech music”, he is best known internationally for his comic opera The Bartered Bride and the orchestral cycle Má vlast, particularly the symphonic poem Vltava, which beautifully depicts the river flowing through Prague.

Born in Litomyšl, Smetana displayed remarkable talent as a pianist and composer from a young age. He studied in Prague and participated in the 1848 Prague uprising, writing patriotic music. After personal tragedies, including the loss of his daughters and wife, he moved to Sweden, where he gained recognition. Returning to Prague, he became a key figure in Czech-language opera, with The Bartered Bride becoming a major success. Despite becoming deaf, Smetana continued to create significant works, including the six-part Má vlast. He remains a foundational figure in Czech culture, with his legacy enduring through his music.

JamesJamesEvanJamesMemorialPontypriddPark

1 March

March 1st: Evan James & James James (St. David’s Day)

Thomas Pitts Composer Of The Day, Europe, Wales 19th Century, Evan James & James James, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, Land Of My Fathers, March, St. David's Day

Evan James & James James 18 January 1809 – 30 September 1878 / 4 November 1832 - 11 January 1902

Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau Land Of My Fathers

A memorial in Ynysangharad Park (Pontypridd, south Wales) to Evan James and James James, composers of the Welsh national anthem
By Varitek – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25733347

On 1 March (St David’s Day), many people in Wales celebrate their identity, culture, and language. A natural part of this celebration is the singing of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (“Land of My Fathers”), the de facto national anthem of Wales. Although it is not set in law as the official anthem, it is widely used at national and local events and is especially associated with sport and public occasions. Originally known as “Glan Rhondda”, the song was first performed in early 1856 and quickly became popular locally. Its profile grew after Welsh cultural festivals (Eisteddfodau) helped it travel across the country, gaining further status through notable performances later in the 19th century. A key turning point came in 1905 when it was sung before a rugby match, helping establish the tradition of pre-match anthems. The anthem’s creators were James James, who composed the tune, and his father Evan James, who wrote the words. Their contribution is commemorated locally, and their song has become a recognisable symbol of Welsh pride, especially fitting for St David’s Day.

Jobi Talbot ,Potrait,2011, Credit: Johan Persson/

1 March

Joby Talbot (25th August 1971-) – Once Around The Sun, III: March – Seed Capsule

Thomas Pitts Bonus Content, England, Europe March, Once Around The Sun, Seed Capsule, Talbot

Joby Talbot Born 25 August 1971

Once Around The Sun III: March – Seed Capsule

III: March – Seed Capsule

Joby Talbot

Joby Talbot is a British composer who has written for a wide variety of purposes and in a broad range of styles, including instrumental and vocal concert music, film and television scores, pop arrangements and works for dance.

In 2004, Joby wrote 12 pieces for five instruments, one for each month of the year.