'The Composer is Dead!'
Lemony Snicket and Nathaniel Stookey: ‘The Composer is Dead’; Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler), narrator; San Francisco Symphony; Edwin Outwater, conductor; Book Audio CD
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - July 8, 2025
2:00
'The Ballad of Baby Doe'
Douglas Moore (1893-1969): ‘The Ballad of Baby Doe’; Jan Grissom, soprano; Central City Opera Orchestra; John Moriarty, conductor; Newport Classics 85593
2:00
Noteworthy Boulanger and Zwilich
Lili Boulanger (1893-1918): ‘Hymne au Soleil’; New London Chamber Choir; James Wood, conductor; Hyperion 66726 Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (b. 1939): Symphony No. 3; Louisville Orchestra; James Sedares, conductor; Koch International 7278
2:00
The theme to 'Seinfeld'
Jonathan Wolff (b. 1958): ‘Theme,’ from ‘Seinfeld’; Water Tower Music digital download
2:00
Wagner's American Centennial commission
Richard Wagner (1813 - 1883) — American Centennial March (Philip Jones Ensemble; Elgar Howarth, cond.) London 414 149
2:00
Plucky music with Landowska and Harbach
J.S. Bach (1685-1750): ‘Little Prelude’; Wanda Landowska, harpsichord; Pearl 9489 Barbara Harbach (b. 1946): ‘Cante Flamenco,’ from ‘Tres Danzas para Clavecin’; Barbara Harbach, harpsichord; Gasparo 290
2:00
Bach's 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring'
J.S. Bach (1627-1750): ‘Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring’; Celia Nicklin, oboe; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields; Neville Marriner, conductor; Warner 975562
2:00
Britten's 'Cantata Academica'
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): ‘Cantata Academica’ (‘Carmen Basiliense’); Jennifere Vyvyan, soprano; Helen Watts, mezzo-soprano; Peter Pears, tenor; Owen Brannigan, bass; London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra; George Malcolm, conductor; Decca 4251532
2:00
Anton Arensky
Anton Arensky (1861-1906): Piano Trio No. 1; Rembrandt Trio; Dorian 90146
2:00
A modern Monteverdi premiere
Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643): ‘L’Incoronazione di Poppea’; soloists; Vienna Concentus Music Vienna; Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor; Teldec 42547
2:00
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.