William Sterling

Introducing

Achilles killing Penthesilea, queen of the Amazons by Exekias of Athens c. 560 BC. This type of pot is called Black Figure ware as the figures were filled in using the liquid or slip clay which miraculously turned black during the firing process. One of the incidents during the Trojan War not recorded by Homer was the fight between Achilles, hero of the Greeks, and Penthesilea, queen of the tribe of warrior women called the Amazons. Achilles won but at the moment he drove his spear into her neck their eyes met for the first time and they fell in love with each other. Exekias shows this ultimate Greek Tragedy by suggesting Achilles is trying to pull the spear out rather than thrust it home but all too late. Image © Trustees of the British Museum
My name is Dr William Sterling ~ welcome to my website. I have degrees in History and Geography with additional qualifications in Music and Education. I taught full-time at an Independent School in Kent for four years before joining the Civil Service. I worked for 16 years in the Department of TransportRead more »

SPOTLIGHT: Composers’ Lives

Joseph Haydn

Haydn and the English Although it happened late in his life Haydn’s association with the English had a huge impact on his music not least the 12 Symphonies, chamber and piano music he wrote for his two visits but his discovery of Handel’s oratorios on those visits had an enormous impact on his later choral… Read more »

Franz Liszt

Chopin and Liszt Two of the greatest ever piano composers were also great friends and had a huge influence on their contemporaries and later composers. Two of the greatest pianists of the C19th and the first great composers to emerge from their respective countries; Poland and Hungary. Their music is so familiar today it is… Read more »

Frederic Chopin

Chopin and Liszt Two of the greatest ever piano composers were also great friends and had a huge influence on their contemporaries and later composers. Two of the greatest pianists of the C19th and the first great composers to emerge from their respective countries; Poland and Hungary. Their music is so familiar today it is… Read more »

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