Welcome to the wonderful world of medieval manuscripts! You’ll find that medieval manuscripts are not nearly as inaccessible as you might think. They are true multimedia events: for the sports lover, there are depictions of cats playing tennis. Music aficionados will find illustrations of rabbits and foxes playing viols and flutes. From the sacred to the profane, they prove without a doubt that the Dark Ages were anything but.

We’d like to share some information worth celebrating — literally! Here are 23 holidays and celebrations to make sure you have classical music on your calendar!

While kitties are favored in contemporary popular culture (memes, viral videos, #Instagram), they have also long dominated the hearts of humans throughout history and are reflected through past art and music.

Is your hearing pitch-perfect? Play each of the videos below and see if you can identify the correct pitch.

We can’t guarantee that you’ll love (or even like) each and every rendition, but we promise that you will be amazed by the beauty and the broad appeal of Schubert’s “Ave Maria.”

The Handel & Haydn Society had just finished its rendition of Mozart’s “Masonic Funeral” at Boston’s Symphony Hall on Sunday when a youngster blurted out loudly: “WOW!”

The Philadelphia Orchestra’s music director has gone to the dogs. And the cats.

Lang Lang’s latest solo record Piano Book is out now. Have you ever dreamed of taking the stage with one of the world’s leading piano players? Even if Carnegie Hall is a bit out of your reach, you still have the opportunity to play — and learn — with Lang Lang. In conjunction with the recent release of hist newest …

Today’s Google Doodle pays homage to Johann Sebastian Bach, who was born on March 21, 1685. To celebrate the illustrious Baroque composer, Google gives you the opportunity to do your best Bach impression. The interactive doodle invites you to build the soprano line of your own composition, and then the program creates complementary harmonies to emulate Bach’s music. Google says …

We never thought we’d be writing this, but a new comedy sketch and song from Merle Hazard has atonal music at its center. The song, called “(Gimme Some of That) Ol’ Atonal Music,” riffs on staples of the country and bluegrass traditions, but with lyrics like “his music always made you think; it never made you smile,” some very discordant banjo soloing, and an interlude inspired by John Cage.

Think you know classical composers? Can you guess them by their facial hair?

Some composers ate to live, others lived to eat. Can you match the composer to his favorite food?

Did you know that some of our nation’s leaders past and present could hold their own at a conductor’s podium? Regardless of their political party, many presidents from Jefferson to Nixon to Obama might all agree on one thing: music is important in our lives.

Actress and comedian Retta grabbed classical music lovers’ attention when she appeared on Conan O’Brien’s late night talk show, Conan when she revealed that she loves to treat herself to classical music. We spoke with Retta to find out what classical works she wants you to treat yo self to and why.

Gary Pressy, an organist and lifelong Cubs fan, has been a signature part of games at Wrigley Field for over 30 years.

When organist Lori Moreland grew up rooting for the White Sox, she never thought that one day she would be one of the team’s most valuable players.

Bach’s Minuet in G major from the Notebooks for Anna Magdalena Bach is famous enough today that you may have had it as your cell phone ringtone. One arrangement, recorded by a ’60s girl group called The Toys, was a #1 single in the US and reached #5 on the UK Global charts.

Mozart’s 22 operas each have their own unique personalities. Are you fun and lovable like The Magic Flute? Are you passionate and dark like Don Giovanni? Find out what Mozart opera YOU are!

Making it as a musician is tricky — just ask these guys. All of these composers found ways to make ends meet, and some of them may surprise you!

Tom, of Wilmette, IL, has had German Shepherds for almost forty years, and most of them have been named after characters from Wagner’s “Ring Cycle.” Hear his opera-loving dog Loge sing along to Siegfried’s horn call.

Few birds have inspired more composers than the cuckoo. Lisa Flynn selects some of her favorite works inspired by the cuckoo, from intimate chamber works to grand symphonies.

Take this quiz and we’ll reveal which composer is your soulmate this Valentine’s Day.

Find out what classical music you should serve as a Thanksgiving side dish

Jerry, Río, and Gratia are three of the most beautiful dancers you’ll ever see. But unlike most dancers, they perform on four legs, not two.

Chopin wrote his Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2 in E-flat major between 1830 and 1832 and the piece was first published in 1833. The Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2 is one of the most popular of Chopin’s 21 nocturnes as evidenced by the number of arrangements made for other instruments. Karol Lipiński made the first arrangement during Chopin’s lifetime for …