The Hidden History of Music

The Unfinished Life of the Musical Genius Franz Schubert

This episode is all about The Unfinished Life of the Musical Genius Franz Schubert. Franz Schubert lived quietly, taught school by day, and wrote music by candlelight, yet in his brief life span of thirty-one years, he created over six hundred songs and left us some of the most moving melodies ever written. In this episode, I explore the life of a composer who never sought fame but left behind a legacy that defines emotional honesty in music. From his humble beginnings in a Vienna schoolhouse to the intimate Schubertiades where friends first performed his songs, Schubert’s story is one of quiet genius, perseverance, and beauty born from struggle. I’ll uncover the man behind the “Unfinished Symphony”, the teacher-turned-composer who bridged the Classical and Romantic eras, transforming ordinary feelings into extraordinary art. In this episode you’ll discover how Schubert’s music, uncelebrated in his lifetime, grew into a timeless voice for the human heart. The post The Unfinished Life of the Musical Genius Franz Schubert [https://ashbynavis.com/the-unfinished-life-of-the-musical-genius-franz-schubert/] appeared first on Ashby Navis & Tennyson Media Publisher [https://ashbynavis.com].

Biography of Johann Sebastian Bach

Today I visit the life and times of a composer who while alive was not considered to be one of the greats. But who today is internationally regarded as one of the masters. Today’s show is about Johann Sebastian Bach. At the time of his passing in 1750, many people considered Bach to be an excellent teacher and someone who was a virtuoso on the organ, but who was not any type of ‘great composer’. This is in spite of him having written more than a thousand works. A century passed before Mendelssohn, rediscovered’  his music and helped lay the groundwork that would eventually lead to Bach being recognized as the great composer we think of today. Who was Bach? He was born in 1685 in Eisenach in the German state of Thuringia to Johann Ambrosius and Maria Elisabeth into what historians refer to as the Bach clan. Why clan? There were at least 50 professional musicians in his extended family. In fact, the members of his family were so numerous that whenever musicians gathered in Thuringia, people would just say, ‘the Bach’s are here’. One factor that influenced Bach was that his father passed away when Johann was 9. He was taken in and essentially raised by his older brother Johann Christoph. His brother also became his first serious teacher. According to legend, at night the young Bach would break into a cabinet and pilfer manuscripts that had been forbidden to him and then make copies using only the moonlight for illumination. Young Bach was both adventuresome and ambitious. When he was 15, he wanted to study at the prestigious St. Michael’s School in Luneburg, so he walked. Now while I know some folks will think, so what, a lot of people walk to school, this isn’t that type of morning walk to school. In this case, the distance from his home in Eisenbach to Luneburg is about 335 kilometers OR 208 miles.  That’s dedication to an idea and a goal. When he turned 18, he was hired at a church in Arnstadt as the organist. It was there that he developed a reputation, as being somewhat different, a little difficult, or maybe even a slight rebel. He was reprimanded by the church leaders for creating elaborate musical accompaniments to the hymns that often confused the congregation. As one point, he simply disappeared for a few months, turns out it was because he decided to take a pilgrimage to Lubeck to hear the Danish composer and organist Dieterich Buxtehdue. In his 20s Bach entered into what are known as his Weimar Years. This took place from about 1708 until 1717. Bach served (was a member of or worked for) the ducal court of Weimar. He was successful and became the Konzertmeister (music director). It was here that he composed some of his most important organ works and church cantatas, including foundational pieces for the future composition, The Well-Tempered Clavier. This time was characterized by strong artistic development, helped by his having a productive relationship with the supportive Duke Wilhelm Ernst, and the emergence of a unique synthesis of northern and southern German musical styles. Alas this was not to last, and he had a falling out with the Duke, and in 1717 he was actually put in jail for almost a month because he tried to leave his position. Like many creative people who find themselves sitting in a jail cell or isolated for any reason, he used this time to draft several future works in his head, and upon his release he committed them to paper. After leaving the Duke’s court Bach served as The Kapellmeister of Köthen (the chapel master) for Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen. It was during this time, from about 1718 until 1723, that Bach composed some of his most famous instrumental works. These included the Brandenburg Concertos, Cello Suites, and the Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin. Two of those concertos number 3 and 6 are the background music you hear in this piece. This was one of Bach’s happiest periods, because he was freed from church restrictions, because the Calvinist court at Köthen did not require extensive sacred music. This allowed Bach to focus on composing secular instrumental music for the prince and his musicians.  However, this wasn’t a complete fun time for Bach, in fact, he actually sent his Brandenburg Concertos to the Margrave of Brandenburg, (kind of like a job application), but the Margrave never even acknowledged them. Bach eventually was hired as the cantor at St. Thomas School, primarily because German Baroque composers Telemann and Graupner turned down the job. He still made the most of his time there, and he produced multiple cantatas (a cantata is a musical composition for voice(s) and instruments, which quite often features soloists, a choir, and instrumental accompaniment, that almost always include a literary or religious text). He produced one every week for years, and it is estimated that over 200 of them survive to this day. Bach was not the students favorite leader or composer, and they often complained that the music he assigned them was so complex that it was basically unsingable. In fact, the Leipzig council suggested that he compose music that was easier for the schoolboys to perform. Bach was married twice, the 1st time was in 1707, (when he was during his Weimar years) to Maria Barbara. She passed away in 1720 when Bach was away from home. He remarried in 1721 to professional singer Anna Magdalena, and she helped him by copying much of his music by hand. Now most of us are familiar with the concept of a ‘mix-tape’ and apparently Bach made an 18th century one for Anna Magdalena. The “Notebook for Anna Magalena” was filled with keyboard pieces, popular tunes, and some family music-making. Speaking of family Bach fathered twenty children, including C.P.E. Bach who was an innovator in the classical style and J.C. Bach who influenced Mozart. Bach’s final years weren’t exactly the stuff dreams are made of. He suffered from vision problems, in fact a botched surgery by “oculist” John Taylor, who also blinded Handel by a botched surgery may have contributed to his early death. I can identify with the botched surgery issue, the VA botched surgery on one of my eyes and I lost use of it, luckily though it hasn’t affected my overall health. Anyway…After his death, his music, which was already considered to be old-fashioned, had begun giving way to a lighter more gallant style. After he passed away in 1750, he was essentially forgotten by most people, and his music was ignored. Then in 1829, Mendelssohn rediscovered him and in Berlin staged the St. Matthew Passion to great reviews. From that point on, Bach has been elevated to the top level of composers.  Albert Schweitzer called him “the Fifth Evangelist,” and even Einstein claimed to find God in Bach’s music. Bach was one of the first to cipher his name, B-A-C-H (B-flat, A, C, B-natural), into his music. Bach uses his name as the final fugue subject in the last Contrapunctus of The Art of Fugue (fyoog) and the motive also appears in the Sinfonia No. 9 in F Minor. Many composers in the 19th and 20th centuries also paid homage to J.S. Bach by using the B-A-C-H motive in their own music too. Today he is considered one of the three “B’s” of classical music, Beethoven, Bach, and Brahms. For his Violin Concerto [https://ashbynavis.com/johann-sebastian-bach-violin-partita-no-1-and-thunderstorms-musical-album-and-biography/] Violin Partita No 1 Violin Concerto in A minor [https://ashbynavis.com/johann-sebastian-bach-music-and-biography/] The post Biography of Johann Sebastian Bach [https://ashbynavis.com/biography-of-johann-sebastian-bach/] appeared first on Ashby Navis & Tennyson Media Publisher [https://ashbynavis.com].

Episode 1 – Beethoven – His Life and the 6th Symphony

[https://ashbynavis.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/beethoven_6th_bio.png] Beethoven – His Life and the 6th Symphony Welcome to the Hidden History of Music.  This program dives deeper into the life and times of some of the greatest composers in history. What were their early lives like? What made them the person they became? What was the inspiration behind the music? There are so many questions that are traditionally hidden from our view and uncovering and answering those questions are what this program is all about. In this episode, I will look closer at one of, if not the, greatest composers of all time. I will take a closer look at Beethoven and also look at his composition  “ Symphony No. 6 in F Major ‘Pastoral’, Op. 68”, commonly known as the “Pastoral Symphony,”  The music in the background is from that symphony, it’s the first track the “Allegro non troppo”  Ready? First stop on our journey back in time is Bonn, Germany and the date is December 16th, 1770. The day the Maestro was born. What type of world was Beethoven born into? Bonn in 1770 was actually a large city with a population of over 300,000. The city was renowned for not only being a center of political influence and power. It was also very much one of Germany’s and Europe’s leading spiritual and trading centers. At that time Germany was a part of what was the Holy Roman Empire and Bonn was the ecclesiastical principality of the region. It was ruled by a bishop and was very much under the control of Rome. Beethoven’s family was employed by the principality, and that gave them a certain level of status and prestige among the population. One of the most interesting things about Beethoven’s family was that while his Grandfather was a respected musician, his father, Johann while being an accomplished singer was also an alcoholic. His goal or ambition was to turn his son Ludwig into a child prodigy like Mozart. In order to do so, he often made Ludwig practice for hours on end. His methodology was not one of encouragement but instead harsh and demeaning. In spite of, or maybe because of, Beethoven did display an incredible talent from an early age. He worked with and learned from professional musicians such as Christian Gottlob Neefe who taught him how to play Bach’s “Well Tempered Clavier”. it was occasions such as this that clearly showed Beethoven’s talent and helped others to recognize his almost unlimited potential. He began to realize his potential when he was 12 and published his first composition. This was a set of keyboard variations, that was entitled  “Nine Variations on a March by Ernst Christoph Dressler for piano (C minor) WoO 63.” This clearly displayed his unique talent, because he had started working on it while he was only 10. Finally at the ripe old age of 22, he moved to Vienna. At that time Vienna was the international capital  of music. He moved there in order to study with Joseph Haydn. As is often the case when two brilliant and talented people try to work together, especially when one is trying to teach or serve as a mentor, tensions will arise between them. The Haydn – Beethoven relationship was no different. Even though there was friction between the two, the Lichnowskys, one of Vienna’s most prominent families, took notice of Beethoven and he was able to gain their support. During this time, he began to establish himself as one of the most brilliant pianists, and he was most noted for his ability to improvise. It was also during his Vienna days that he composed the first two of his piano concertos. Both of which clearly showed how much both Haydn and Mozart had influenced him. The two pieces, ‘1st String Quartets” and “Symphony Number 1” clearly showed glimpses of his powerful and truly innovative style. Unfortunately, this was also the time when he began to experience difficulty hearing. As was and is the case with hearing loss, it continued to grow worse over time. He realized that it was incurable around 1802, at which time he wrote to his brothers telling them of his despair and how he thought of committing suicide. His letter is known as the “Heiligenstadt Testament”, and while it was indeed dark and foreboding, he continued to compose because his music and his art were his sole reason for living. It was during this time that he composed some of the works he is most known for including: “Symphony No. 3 (“Eroica”)” in 1803. This was initially dedicated to Napoleon, but he changed the dedication due to his disillusionment with Napoleon’s raw ambition to create an empire.  In 1804 and 1805, he composed, The Waldstein and Appassionato Piano Sonatas” and then in 1807 – 1808 he composed both hie famous “Symphony No. 5” and the focus of this episode, “Symphony No. 6” Commonly known as the “Pastoral Symphony,” the 6th Symphony clearly displays how deeply Beethoven loved nature. The notes take the listener on a journey through the countryside and is often thought of as one of, if not the, earliest examples of what is known as programmatic music. Programmatic music is music that tells a story or in many cases actually helps the listener hear extra-musical ideas. While it was mostly composed during the 1807-1808 time period, there are some of his papers that suggest he was working on it as early as 1802. He premiered the piece in Vienna on December 22nd, 1808, at the same time as he premiered his 5th, Symphony.  The composition is most notable for each of its 5 movements, evoking an image of various aspects of the natural world. The movements are: Allegro ma non troppo – “Awakening of Cheerful Feelings Upon Arrival in the Countryside”. When listening to this piece, the audience is given a calm and joyful, almost playful introduction to nature. Andante molto mosso – “Scene by the Brook” – if you’ve ever sat by a brook or creek and listened to the water flowing by while birds sang in the nearby trees, you’ll recognize the feelings this gives you. In fact, if you listen carefully, you will hear how the woodwind section of the orchestra imitate the calls of nightingales, quails, and cuckoos. Allegro – “Merry Gathering of Country Folk” – Takes the listener back to those days of a family or group picnic, A gathering of friends and family mostly in rural settings. Allegro – “Thunderstorm” – Living in the country, hearing the sounds of thunder as they interrupt an otherwise idyllic outdoor gathering.  Allegretto – “Shepherd’s Song – Happy and Thankful Feelings After the Storm” Once the storm has passed, the air is cleaner, the birds resume singing, and nature returns to a state of relaxation and peacefulness. The Pastoral Symphony was truly groundbreaking in how it clearly laid out a program that people could follow and understand. It also was a foundation for other composers such as Berlioz, Liszt, and Wagner, each of whom expanded on the concept of telling a story through symphonic music.  In addition to individual composers, most music historians believe that it also served as an important influence on the Romantic movement, when composers such as Mendelssohn (Scottish and Italian Symphonies), Mahler, and Richard Strauss began to incorporate themes inspired by nature into their music. The Pastoral Symphony is one of Beethoven’s most beloved compositions. The way he wove the elements together, with its lyrical beauty, a truly unique storytelling approach, and the emotional depth it display that has helped to make it a timeless masterpiece. Even though many consider the 5th and 6th to be masterpieces, they were not the culmination of his work. From 1808 through 1815, he continued to compose. This period has been labeled his “Heroic Period and Masterpieces”  and despite his hearing loss many music historians believe this might have been his most creative period. Perhaps his most famous concert was the one he gave in Vienna in 1808, when he featured the premier of both his “5th and 6th Symphonies” the “Choral Fantasy”, and other works. Some of his notable works that he produced during this period include:  In 1812, “Symphony No. 7” also known as “the apotheosis of the dance” It derived this name due to its rhythmic drive.  Also, in 1812 “Symphony No. 8” – this is a very playful, light-hearted symphony, which when you consider his hearing loss is very special. Then in 1814, he revised “Fidelio” which was originally composed in 1805 This is his only opera, in which he emphasized the overall themes of freedom and justice. His life from 1815 until his death in 1827, could be considered a life of personal struggle but also a time in which he still produced important works.  It was during this time that he produced, ”Symphony No. 9 (“Choral”)” This work included the famous “Ode to Joy,” and it was one of the first times a choir was included in a symphony. Beethoven’s health continued to deteriorate and eventually he succumbed from liver disease in March of 1827. He was 56 and his funeral was attended by an estimate of over 20,000 people. Beethoven’s influence on the musical world cannot be overstated, that is why 200 years after his passing, his music is still performed in all parts of the globe. The post Episode 1 – Beethoven – His Life and the 6th Symphony [https://ashbynavis.com/episode-1-beethoven-his-life-and-the-6th-symphony/] appeared first on Ashby Navis & Tennyson Media Publisher [https://ashbynavis.com].

Introduction to the Hidden History of Music

[https://ashbynavis.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Hidden_512.png] Welcome to the Hidden History of Music. This is a new podcast from Ashby Navis and Tennyson Digital Media Publishers Have you ever thought about the lives of the greatest composers of all time? Have you ever wondered if there were any untold stories about them, maybe stories that  have slipped through the cracks? Think for a moment about the genius of Beethoven, the brilliance of Mozart, the innovation of Bach, what inspired them? Did they have to overcome any obstacles, we know that Beethoven lost his hearing, what about the others? What struggles did they overcome? And what secrets are hidden in their masterpieces? Welcome to The Hidden History of Music, a brand-new podcast where I will take you beyond the notes and into the lives of history’s greatest composers. Each episode, I’ll explore the fascinating stories of these musical legends and put a spotlight on one of their most iconic works, together we will begin to unravel the mysteries behind the music you love. Whether you’re a lifelong classical music fan or just starting to explore the genre, The Hidden History of Music will change the way you hear these timeless pieces. Join us every week as we uncover the passion, drama, and hidden genius behind the world’s greatest music. Subscribe now on [Podcast Platform] and be part of the journey! The post Introduction to the Hidden History of Music [https://ashbynavis.com/introduction-to-the-hidden-history-of-music/] appeared first on Ashby Navis & Tennyson Media Publisher [https://ashbynavis.com].

Episode 4 – Examples of censorship taking place around the globe and here in America.

Examples of censorship taking place around the globe and here in America. I was planning on looking at how some school districts are intent on insuring that students don’t really learn actual history but instead learn a sanitized and often incorrect version, but I need to do some more research on the subject,  because it’s far more detailed and nuanced than I originally thought. So, in today’s episode I’ve changed things up and want to take a look at a couple of other areas.  I will take us on a tour of the world to list some of the religious books that are banned in various countries. Then I want to look at some of the States here in the U.S., one where it’s a crime to give students books and some of the laws and proposals that are currently out there that could, and one that does, turn librarians into criminals. There are many Examples of censorship taking place around the globe and here in America. Let’s go around the globe and find out whose religious books are allowed where. Examples of censorship taking place around the globe and here in America. [https://ashbynavis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ForbiddenWord_1400-1024x1024.jpg] Since those who profess to be Christians make up the largest percentage of Americans, I thought I’d start with The Bible. In the hermit kingdom of North Korea: The Bible is completely illegal to own or import, and distribution can result in imprisonment or execution. However, to be fair, Islam is also banned in North Korea and the punishment for participating in that religion is also punishable by imprisonment or death. In a country that is theoretically an ally, Saudi Arabia: The distribution of non-Muslim religious materials, including the Bible, is illegal. if someone is caught with a Bible, they could face imprisonment, deportation, and in some cases, even the death penalty, as distributing non-Muslim religious materials like Bibles is considered illegal and can be seen as an act of apostasy or blasphemy depending on the circumstances. Maldives: It is illegal to import Bibles, and all citizens are required to be observant Muslims. if someone is caught with a Bible, they could face imprisonment, as the country strictly enforces Islamic law and prohibits the propagation of any religion other than Islam; meaning publicly possessing or distributing a Bible is considered a criminal offense Brunei: Bibles are banned from being imported, and Christians must be careful with electronic versions of the Bible.  According to our State Department, “The constitution states that while the official religion is the Shafi’i school of Sunni Islam, all other religions may be practiced “in peace and harmony.”  According to the constitution, the Sultan is the head of “the official religion” and is advised by the Islamic Religious Council “on all matters relating to the Islamic Religion.”  The Sultan may, after consultation with the Religious Council, make laws in respect of matters relating to the practice of Islam.  The government enforces the Sharia Penal Code (SPC), which states offenses such as apostasy and blasphemy are punishable by corporal and capital punishment, including stoning to death, amputation of hands or feet, or caning.” Well, those must be outliers, right? Far from it, in Iran: Selling Bibles is illegal.  In Morocco: It is illegal to distribute Bibles or religious literature.   Libya: It is illegal to import or distribute Bibles, or to practice evangelism. In both the  Sudan and Yemen, It is illegal to own a Bible.  But those are all theocracies, religious practices and books are allowed in the secular west and elsewhere, right? Not exactly, unlike Christianity and Judaism, Islam isn’t formally recognized in Italy. This means that mosques cannot receive public funds, Islamic weddings have no legal value, and Muslim workers aren’t entitled to take days off for religious holidays. Angola and Slovenia have banned Islam. China and Japan have both disallowed Mosques. Uzbekistan criminalizes activities by unregistered religious groups and designates certain Islamic groups as extremist and prohibited. Members of illegal groups can be jailed for up to five years, and members of prohibited groups can be jailed for up to 20 years. The common theme among all of these is the censorship of ideas or beliefs that the rulers or in some cases the majority of the population do not agree with. As for the United States, we’re beginning to see the foundation for this same type of punishment for ideas spring up and be accepted by those who are afraid of what they are hearing. In 2022 Missouri took the first step towards criminalizing book distribution. Let me be clear, we all want to protect our children from harm. We all want to make sure that children have a chance to be children. The problem comes when politicians, who are seeking power, decide to paint the issue with a broad brush and do not understand, or who willingly neglect to understand that there’s a huge difference between an 8-year-old and a 16-17 year old. The Missouri law  makes it a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail or a $2,000 fine for School librarians and other educators to give students access to books that contain any sexually explicit images. Regardless of the student’s age or parental permission. In what I, as a writer, see as strange,  the law does not apply to written descriptions of sex or sexual acts; only photos, drawings, videos and other visual depictions are prohibited. So, a book can contain the most graphic, lurid, and explicit language and as long as the students are reading it and not seeing it, then  it’s ok.  After passage of the act, between July and December of 2022 12 school districts in Missouri banned 315 books, with the Wentzville School District banning 220 of those.  Not to be outdone, other states and politicians have jumped on the let’s ban everything bandwagon. This is seen in how book challenges and outright bans have reached levels not seen in decades. “Concerned citizens” have flooded Public and school libraries with complaints. Politicians, and right-wing organizations such as Moms for Liberty are all complaining about what they view as the moral decay of America. And many lawmakers are considering implementing new legal punishments, such as lawsuits which cost a fortune to defend and fight, unrealistic and punitive fines, and in some cases, (see Missouri) even imprisonment. Why? For distributing books some regard as inappropriate, for others. They have set themselves up as the modern morality police for the United States. They are the 21st century version of the old Comstock folks or the U.S. version of the “Mutawa”,  which is the Saudi Arabian religious police. The official name is “Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice”. That is exactly what these groups are trying to become, they want to be your conscience. Some people think I’m exaggerating when I talk about this issue, the reality is in 2023 lawmakers in more than 15 states introduced bills that if passed, would subject librarians or libraries to harsh penalties. Utah for example, has enacted legislation that grants the state’s Attorney General power to enforce a new system of challenging and removing any books that are considered “sensitive” books from schools. The law also creates a citizens panel (which won’t be made up of neutral or educated citizens, but political cronies) to monitor compliance and violations. In April of 2024, Idaho’s Gov. Brad Little signed a bill that empowers local prosecutors to bring charges against public and school libraries if they don’t move “harmful” materials away from children. Now supporters do say that technically this isn’t book banning, it is book relocation, and they’re correct. However, the fact that charges can  be brought against the librarians, who may not agree that a book is “harmful” is what makes this especially onerous. Will some of these laws be overturned by the courts, probably, many of them go too far. But in other instances, the courts that will be making the decisions if a law is constitutional or not are very socially conservative, so the ultimate result is very much unknown. The trend towards more censorship rather than less is clear. Conservative news media platforms realize they have an audience who fears change and they are happy to profit from that fear by promoting only the most sordid of stories. As long as they can make money, and politicians can grab power, they will continue to go after the low hanging fruit. I think that’s going to do it for this episode.  Remember everything that happens in the United States happens because of politics and the selection of books for libraries and schools are always influenced by politics. As with all of my work, I approach things from the perspective of a historian and the interdisciplinary perspective, in that, I believe there are no simple answers to the questions we face as a society. I’ll talk with you next week, until then, read what you want to read and encourage others to do the same. Peace y’all Join me out in the cyber world Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/centxhank] BluSky [https://bsky.app/profile/centxhank.bsky.social] Have information to share about Book Bans in your community, Contact me [https://ashbynavis.com/connect-with-us/] The post Episode 4 – Examples of censorship taking place around the globe and here in America. [https://ashbynavis.com/episode-4-examples-of-censorship-taking-place-around-the-globe-and-here-in-america/] appeared first on Ashby Navis & Tennyson Media Publisher [https://ashbynavis.com].