Uploaded March 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Thanks again to Dr. Belkin for his time! Check him out at alanbelkinmusic.com or his YouTube channel at youtube.com/channel/UCUQ0TcIbY_VEk_KC406pRpg
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Classical Nerd is a video series covering music history, theoretical concepts, and techniques, hosted by composer, pianist, and music history aficionado Thomas Little.
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Music:
- Thomas Little: Dance! #2 in E minor, performed by Rachel Fellows, Michael King, and Bruce Tippette
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Contact Information:
Questions and comments can be directed to:
nerdofclassical [at] gmail.com
Facebook:
facebook.com/classicalnerd
Instagram:
instagram.com/the_classical_nerd
----------
All images and audio in this video are for educational purposes only and are not intended as copyright infringement. If you have a copyright concern, please contact me using the above information.
Thanks again to Dr. Belkin for his time! Check him out at alanbelkinmusic.com or his YouTube channel at youtube.com/channel/UCUQ0TcIbY_VEk_KC406pRpg
----------
Classical Nerd is a video series covering music history, theoretical concepts, and techniques, hosted by composer, pianist, and music history aficionado Thomas Little.
----------
Music:
- Thomas Little: Dance! #2 in E minor, performed by Rachel Fellows, Michael King, and Bruce Tippette
----------
Contact Information:
Questions and comments can be directed to:
nerdofclassical [at] gmail.com
Facebook:
facebook.com/classicalnerd
Instagram:
instagram.com/the_classical_nerd
----------
All images and audio in this video are for educational purposes only and are not intended as copyright infringement. If you have a copyright concern, please contact me using the above information.
![Great Composers: Giacinto Scelsi
A look at the final Count of Ayala Valva.
This was a viewer request from YouTuber BASSOONISTFROMHELL. Please note that requests for future videos are on hold for the time being, given the extraordinary number of requests Ive already received. See the current request queue at http://lentovivace.com/requestqueue.html.
Classical Nerd is a weekly video series covering music history, theoretical concepts, and techniques, hosted by composer, pianist, and music history aficionado Thomas Little.
Music:
- Giacinto Scelsi: Four Pieces on a Single Note, performed by the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Peter Rundel [original upload: MfTjz6emd7c]
- Thomas Little: Dance! #2 in E minor, Op. 1 No. 2, performed by Rachel Fellows, Michael King, and Bruce Tippette
Contact Information:
Questions and comments can be directed to:
nerdofclassical [at] gmail.com
Tumblr:
classical-nerd.tumblr.com
All images and audio in this video are for educational purposes only and are not intended as copyright infringement. If you have a copyright concern, please contact me using the above information. Great Composers: Giacinto Scelsi](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UX_8DJeaGaU/mqdefault.jpg)
![Tuning: An Introduction
🎶 Support the channel: http://www.patreon.com/classicalnerd
📚 Sources/further reading:
Info on quarter-comma meantone and Werkmeister III were sourced from tables on Kyle Ganns web site [https://www.kylegann.com/histune.html], which in turn comes from Tuning: Containing the Perfection of Eighteenth-Century Temperament, the Lost Art of Nineteenth-Century Temperament, and the Science of Equal Temperament by Owen Jorgensen (Michigan State University Press, 1991).
The video featuring split sharps may be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GhAuZH6phs
Additionally, I highly recommend the book How Equal Temperament Ruined Harmony (and Why You Should Care) by Ross W. Duffin (Norton, 2007).
Music:
- Thomas Little: Dance! #2, performed by Rachel Fellows, Michael King, and Bruce Tippette
Contact Information:
Questions and comments can be directed to:
nerdofclassical [at] gmail.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/classicalnerd/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/the_classical_nerd/
All images and audio in this video are for educational purposes only and are not intended as copyright infringement. If you have a copyright concern, please contact me using the above information. Tuning: An Introduction](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Uikxrhl5w2E/mqdefault.jpg)
![Rethinking Dissonance (A Theory of Harmonic Symmetry)
🎶 Support the channel:
🎼 https://lentovivace.bandcamp.com
🎼 https://www.patreon.com/classicalnerd
Classical Nerd is a video series covering music history, theoretical concepts, and techniques, hosted by composer, pianist, and music history aficionado Thomas Little.
Music:
- Thomas Little: Dance! #2 in E minor, performed by Rachel Fellows, Michael King, and Bruce Tippette
Contact Information:
Questions and comments can be directed to:
nerdofclassical [at] gmail.com
Tumblr:
https://classical-nerd.tumblr.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/classicalnerd/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/the_classical_nerd/
All images and audio in this video are for educational purposes only and are not intended as copyright infringement. If you have a copyright concern, please contact me using the above information. Rethinking Dissonance (A Theory of Harmonic Symmetry)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VARBs7_K2z8/mqdefault.jpg)
![Great Composers: Imogen Holst
A look at the second-most-famous Holst.
This was a viewer request from YouTuber classicalmusic26. If youve got a question or request for a future video, leave a comment, shoot me a message through YouTube, or use the email/Tumblr links below.
Classical Nerd is a weekly video series covering music history, theoretical concepts, and techniques, hosted by composer, pianist, and music history aficionado Thomas Little.
Music:
- Imogen Holst: “Phantasy” Quartet, performed by the London Conchord Ensemble [original upload: a5wokRknTRE]
- Thomas Little: Dance! #2 in E minor, Op. 1 No. 2, performed by Rachel Fellows, Michael King, and Bruce Tippette
Contact Information:
Questions and comments can be directed to:
nerdofclassical [at] gmail.com
Tumblr:
classical-nerd.tumblr.com
All images and audio in this video are for educational purposes only and are not intended as copyright infringement. If you have a copyright concern, please contact me using the above information. Great Composers: Imogen Holst](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VHcMU5D41TI/mqdefault.jpg)
![Musical Sudoku: Serialisms History and Techniques
Math in music? Its more likely than you think.
This was a viewer request from YouTuber Quinn Roberts. See the current request queue at http://lentovivace.com/requestqueue.html.
Classical Nerd is a weekly video series covering music history, theoretical concepts, and techniques, hosted by composer, pianist, and music history aficionado Thomas Little.
Music:
- Arnold Schoenberg: Piano Suite, Op. 25, performed by Peter Bradley-Fulgoni and available on IMSLP: https://tinyurl.com/yarg6ygr
- Thomas Little: Dance! #2 in E minor, Op. 1 No. 2, performed by Rachel Fellows, Michael King, and Bruce Tippette
Contact Information:
Questions and comments can be directed to:
nerdofclassical [at] gmail.com
Tumblr:
classical-nerd.tumblr.com
All images and audio in this video are for educational purposes only and are not intended as copyright infringement. If you have a copyright concern, please contact me using the above information. Musical Sudoku: Serialisms History and Techniques](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VhA3W3PAb5g/mqdefault.jpg)
![Confronting Stillness: The Life and Works of Morton Feldman
🎶 Support the channel:
🎼 https://lentovivace.bandcamp.com
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📚 Sources/further reading:
http://www.cnvill.net/mfhall.pdf
http://nilsvigeland.com/writings-interviews/morton-feldman-ii
http://www.cnvill.net/mf-interview-with-Nils-Vigeland.pdf
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242758215_Morton_Feldman_and_Abstract_Expressionism_Time_and_sound_construction_in_his_piano_miniatures_of_the_1950s_and_1960s
https://publications.lakeforest.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1007&context=seniortheses
http://rohandrape.net/ut/rttcc-text/Hanninen2004a.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKyW2Ua_9YY
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,28007.20.html
https://fsu.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fsu:175589/datastream/PDF/view
https://portal.rcs.ac.uk/mdonohue/wp-content/uploads/sites/261/2017/02/Vertical_thoughts-morton-feldman.pdf
http://www.ex-tempore.org/mpaccione/MPACCIONE.htm
This was requested by Ryan Edwards, Chlamydius Spearmint, Joe Rhodes, Harrison Koley, Stavroula Mi, and Zachary Detrick. See all requests at http://www.lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html.
Classical Nerd is a video series covering music history, theoretical concepts, and techniques, hosted by composer, pianist, and music history aficionado Thomas Little.
Music:
- Thomas Little: Dance! #2 in E minor, performed by Rachel Fellows, Michael King, and Bruce Tippette
- Morton Feldman: Coptic Light, performed by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Peter Eötvös [original upload: PgS37X4P2hM]
- Morton Feldman: The King of Denmark, performed by Colin Frank [original upload: rZpa0WWAK5c]
- Morton Feldman: Rothko Chapel, performed by the Ensemble Intercontemporain and Les Cris de Paris conducted by Gregor A. Mayrhofer [original upload: ks_mZJR-lAQ]
- Morton Feldman: Between Categories, performed by Frank Wolff, Wilhelm Schulz, Christoph Keller, Morton Feldman, Hans-Peter Friedrich, Ulf Klausenitzer, Burkhard Wissemann, and Michael Dietz [original upload: XUnT3FOg0tI]
- Morton Feldman: Piano and Orchestra, performed by John Tilbury and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra [original upload: r_gzPtMuKRw]
- Darude: Sandstorm, clip originally from Wikipedia [http://tinyurl.com/y2cch3md]
Footage:
- Morton Feldman, Ursula Oppens, and Elliott Carter in conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZzEnuUJEsA
Contact Information:
Questions and comments can be directed to:
nerdofclassical [at] gmail.com
Tumblr:
classical-nerd.tumblr.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/classicalnerd/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/the_classical_nerd/
All images and audio in this video are for educational purposes only and are not intended as copyright infringement. If you have a copyright concern, please contact me using the above information. Confronting Stillness: The Life and Works of Morton Feldman](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VpL80kd9qcY/mqdefault.jpg)

![Great Composers: Edgard Varèse
A look at the stratospheric colossus of sound.
This was a request from Tyson Davis. See all current requests at http://www.lentovivace.com/requestqueue.html
Classical Nerd is a weekly video series covering music history, theoretical concepts, and techniques, hosted by composer, pianist, and music history aficionado Thomas Little.
Music:
- Edgard Varèse: Amériques, performed by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Riccardo Chailly [original upload: 8zXaEwWFbnA]
- Thomas Little: Dance! #2 in E minor, Op. 1 No. 2, performed by Rachel Fellows, Michael King, and Bruce Tippette
Contact Information:
Questions and comments can be directed to:
nerdofclassical [at] gmail.com
Tumblr:
classical-nerd.tumblr.com
All images and audio in this video are for educational purposes only and are not intended as copyright infringement. If you have a copyright concern, please contact me using the above information. Great Composers: Edgard Varèse](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WnJNTNg9IF0/mqdefault.jpg)
![Why Viola Jokes?
🎶 Support the channel:
🎼 https://lentovivace.bandcamp.com
🎼 https://www.patreon.com/classicalnerd
Why one instrument gets a bad rap.
Classical Nerd is a weekly video series covering music history, theoretical concepts, and techniques, hosted by composer, pianist, and music history aficionado Thomas Little.
Music:
- Thomas Little: Gossamer Limerence, Op. 9b, performed by Wooram Kwon and Thomas Little
- Thomas Little: Dance! #2 in E minor, Op. 1 No. 2, performed by Rachel Fellows, Michael King, and Bruce Tippette
Contact Information:
Questions and comments can be directed to:
nerdofclassical [at] gmail.com
Tumblr:
classical-nerd.tumblr.com
All images and audio in this video are for educational purposes only and are not intended as copyright infringement. If you have a copyright concern, please contact me using the above information. Why Viola Jokes?](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WtmlybCRplY/mqdefault.jpg)
![Modest Mussorgsky: The Troubled Dramatist [The Mighty Handful, Pt. 5/6]
🎶 Support the channel:
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🎼 https://www.patreon.com/classicalnerd
This was requested by parker, Josh Tebben, torram28, Sean Ramsdell, Jose Vega, and Peasants Rondo. See all requests at http://lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html
📚 Sources/further reading:
“Musorgsky: His Life and Works” by David Brown
“Pianistic Mastery of Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition: Developing Associative Thinking through Analysis of Musical Texture” by Ana Cristea (DMA Dissertation, University of Miami, 2016): https://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2637&context=oa_dissertations
“Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition: Identifying the Expressive Narrative through Comparisons with Vocal Literature” by Matthew Quick (DMA Dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2014): https://etd.ohiolink.edu/!etd.send_file?accession=ucin1406819727&disposition=inline
“Correcting the Record: A Comparison of Vladimir Ashkenazy’s Urtext-Based Edition of ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ with Orchestration by Ravel and Stokowski” by Hoon Choi (DMA Dissertation, University of North Texas, 2012): https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc149572/m2/1/high_res_d/dissertation.pdf
“A Stylistic Analysis of the Early and Late Songs of Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky (1836–1881)” by Daniel Johnson (MM Thesis, Texas Tech University, 1976): https://ttu-ir.tdl.org/bitstream/handle/2346/15681/31295015502858.pdf?sequence=1
Classical Nerd is a video series covering music history, theoretical concepts, and techniques, hosted by composer, pianist, and music history aficionado Thomas Little.
Music:
- Modest Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition (1874), performed by Chiara Bertoglio and available on IMSLP: https://tinyurl.com/PixatanExhibition
- Thomas Little: Dance! #2 in E minor, performed by Rachel Fellows, Michael King, and Bruce Tippette
- Modest Mussorgsky: Night on [the] Bald[/Bare] Mountain (1867), performed by the London Philharmonic conducted by David Lloyd-Jones [original upload: zR2P-5J-2MA]
Contact Information:
Questions and comments can be directed to:
nerdofclassical [at] gmail.com
Tumblr:
classical-nerd.tumblr.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/classicalnerd/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/the_classical_nerd/
All images and audio in this video are for educational purposes only and are not intended as copyright infringement. If you have a copyright concern, please contact me using the above information. Modest Mussorgsky: The Troubled Dramatist [The Mighty Handful, Pt. 5/6]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XXXycC1h1ko/mqdefault.jpg)
![Do Different Keys Mean Different Things?
🎶 Support the channel: http://www.patreon.com/classicalnerd
📚 Sources/further reading:
A History of Key Characteristics in the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries, 2nd Ed., by Rita Steblin (University of Rochester Press, 2002)
Interview: Jacob Collier (Part 1) by June Lee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnBr070vcNE
Music:
- Thomas Little: Dance! #2, performed by Rachel Fellows, Michael King, and Bruce Tippette
Contact Information:
Questions and comments can be directed to:
nerdofclassical [at] gmail.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/classicalnerd/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/the_classical_nerd/
All images and audio in this video are for educational purposes only and are not intended as copyright infringement. If you have a copyright concern, please contact me using the above information. Do Different Keys Mean Different Things?](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YJMb0Uv5aZI/mqdefault.jpg)