In the wake of the French Revolution, Beethoven redefined the role of the musician from servant to artist.  His stormy and passionate music mirrors both the joys and struggles of this deaf genius.  Dennis Kobray portrays the esssence of the man and his music with sympathy, insight and dynamic piano performance in this DVD. 

All Dennis Kobray titles incorporate live piano performance, authentic character portrayal and costuming, and carefully researched story-telling to educate, inspire and entertain. Age 8 up. A study guide is included with this DVD. Good for studio, home school, classroom.

• WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Discover the world of Mozart’s time. . .what life was like for this brilliant musician, both personally and professionally. His prolific works defined the Classical era of European music, and excerpts are heard in context as his tale unfolds.
• SCOTT JOPLIN: Portraying a friend and student of the African-American musician at the turn of the twentieth century, Dennis Kobray explores what life was like socially and personally for a Black man of Joplin’s talents. The “King of Ragtime” drew on West African rhythms, European harmonies and plantation songs to create a new and distinctly American genre, and viewers will experience them all in this toe-tapping ragtime portrayal.
• GEORGE GERSHWIN: George Gershwin was the epitome of the American success story. His beloved pieces are performed by Dennis Kobray in an energetic portrayal of one of America’s most treasured musicians. Beginning with Gershwin’s childhood on the streets of New York as the child of immigrants, the story unfolds to include his partnership with lyricist brother Ira as they went from Broadway to Hollywood. Includes many of his best known and most beloved pieces.
• JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH: Bach was the personification of the Baroque style – a music that was complex and highly embellished. Bach influenced almost every style of western music, past and present.  Yet this genius who composed by candlelight was unheralded in his own time. Dennis Kobray brings the eighteenth century to life with stories and performances of Bach’s masterpieces on the clavichord, harpsichord and grand piano.