Michael Nyman is, in many ways, the prototypical overachieving baby boomer. Born in London at the very beginning of the boom, his first days were spent under a constant threat of German invasion. As a teenager, he studied music and composition at the Royal Academy of Music and at King's College under

Dramatic, Lush, Moody, Pathos

Constantly surprising and consistently visionary, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington was the rare performer who was both a consummate entertainer and a musical genius respected by his peers. Ellington's orchestra, which he led for 50 years, was a showcase for his vision and a springboard for a lo

Cool, Elegant, Moody, Overflowing, Swing/big band

Like many electronica artists, Richard D. James chose a handle for his recordings because he believes the music is more important than the man behind it. But why "Aphex Twin?" Music buffs can chew on several clues: Aphex is the name of a company that makes high-end audio products frequently used by J

Abstract electronica, Ambient, Eclectic, Electronic, Intense, Layered, Moody, Surreal

The portion of the nineteenth century that posterity has dubbed the Romantic era saw the birth of one of Western culture's greatest archetypes: the Romantic genius. The spirit of the age was incarnated in several dozen men and women, artists whose powers of expression were matched only by the origina

Dramatic, Grand, Monumental, Moody