Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge

Composers Datebook - May 24, 2025

YourClassical

Carter and Copland in dancing shoes

Elliott Carter (1908-2012): ‘Pocahontas Ballet’; American Composers Orchestra; Paul Dunkel, conductor; CRI 610 Aaron Copland (1900-1990): ‘Billy the Kid Ballet’; St. Louis Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, conductor; EMI 73653

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YourClassical

Daniel Pinkham's 'Nocturnes'

Daniel Pinkham (1923-2006): ‘Nocturnes’; Fenwick Smith, flute; David Leisner, guitar; Koch 7423

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YourClassical
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YourClassical

Brubeck's 'Pange Lingua Variations'

Dave Brubeck (1920-2012): ‘Pange Lingua Variations’; Brubeck Quartet; London Voices; London Symphony; Russell Gloyd, conductor; Telarc 80621

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YourClassical

Alfons Diepenbrock

Alfons Diepenbrock (1862-1921): ‘In Great Silence’ (‘A Mood Poem based on an Aphorism of Friedrich Nietzsche’); Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; Riccardo Chailly, conductor (live recording); Royal Concertgebouw Recordings 97033

2:00
YourClassical
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YourClassical

Milhaud's 'Sacred Service'

Darius Milhaud (1892-1974): ‘Sabbath Morning Service’; Prague Philharmonic Choir; Czech Philharmonic; Gerard Schwarz, conductor; Naxos 8.559409

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Ned Rorem for eleven

Ned Rorem (1923-2022): ‘Eleven Studies for Eleven Players’; New York Chamber Ensemble; Stephen Rogers Radcliffe, conductor; Albany 175

2:00
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Smetana and the National Theatre in Prague

Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884): Act I Prelude and opening chorus, from ‘Dalibor’; Prague National Theatre Orchestra and Chorus; Zdenek Kosler, conductor; Supraphon ‎SU0077-2 632

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About Composers Datebook®

Host John Birge presents a daily snapshot of composers past and present, with timely information, intriguing musical events and appropriate, accessible music related to each.

He has been hosting, producing and performing classical music for more than 25 years. Since 1997, he has been hosting on Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music Service. He played French horn for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra and performed with them on their centennial tour of Europe in 1995. He was trained at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy.

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