The anniversaries are usually associated with people birthdays, but Adam Scott Neal in his recent and very insightful blog celebrates the birth of the Post Tonal Century in 1909 – the moment that changed classical music scene forever. Hundred years ago, Arnold Schoenberg presented several works that, as Adam notes “eschewed tonal centers”. Adam shares with us his views on post-tonal music concluding, “The theme of the Post-Tonal Century is not dissonance. It is liberty.” And indeed 20^th century was liberating for arts in many ways.

Interestingly, this year is also an anniversary of the opposite in music: Franz Joseph Haydn a father of symphony and string quartet as musical forms died 200 years ago – a century before Schoenberg shook the world with his Op. 11 piano piece. You can read the notes on Haydn appearing in our blog features here.

GraceAnne remembers Billie Holiday who prematurely left us 50 years ago. And indeed, what better way to pay homage to a musician that influenced you but with a piece of music that was inspired by that person's legacy. GraceAnne explains in her blog the inspiration and details of her own piece The City of Dreams (2005).

I leave you now with an invitation to continue contributing to this month topic and with three works by Schoenberg, Holiday and Haydn…