Pomp and the MJQ
Edward Elgar (1857-1934): ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ No. 4; London Philharmonic; Daniel Barenboim, conductor; Sony Classical 60789 Milt Jackson (1923-1999): ‘Blues in C’; Modern Jazz Quartet; Atlantic 1652
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - Aug. 24, 2025
2:00
Barney Google meets Igor Stravinsky?
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): ‘Scènes de Ballet’; London Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor; RCA/BMG 68865
2:00
A 'Silly Symphony' Debut
Edward Grieg (1843-1907): ‘March of the Trolls’
2:00
1968 Proms
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904): Cello Concerto; Mstislav Rostropovich, cello; USSR State Symphony; Yevgeny Svetlanov, conductor; BBC Legends CD 4110 (recorded live August 21, 1968 at the BBC Proms)
2:00
A famous — and a not-quite-as-famous — overture
Arthur Bliss (1891-1975): ‘Edinburgh Overture’; City of Birmingham Symphony; Vernon Handley, conductor; EMI Classics 69388 Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): ‘1812 Overture’; Kirov Orchestra; Valery Gergiev, conductor; Phillips 442 011
2:00
Bernstein's air-conditioned urban jungle
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990): ‘Prologue’ from ‘West Side Story’; orchestra and chorus; Leonard Bernstein, conductor; DG 415 255
2:00
Salieri slandered?
Wolfgang Mozart (1756-1791): Symphony No. 25; Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields; Neville Marriner, conductor; Fantasy 900 1791 Antonio Salieri (1750-1825): ‘La Locandiera Overture’; London Mozart Players; Matthias Bamert, conductor; Chandos 9877
2:00
Atterberg's '$10,000' Symphony
Franz Schubert (1797-1828): Symphony No. 8 (‘Unfinished’); Chamber Orchestra of Europe; Claudio Abbado, conductor; DG 423 655 Kurt Atterberg (1887-1974): Symphony No. 6 (‘Dollar Symphony’); Norrköping Symphony; Jun’ichi Hirokami, conductor; Bis 553
2:00
The king is dead
Michael Daugherty (b. 1954): ‘Dead Elvis’; Charles Ullery, bassoon; London Sinfonietta; David Zinman, conductor; Argo 458 145
2:00
A Mass for Machaut
Guillaume de Machaut (c. 1300-1377): ‘Messe de Nostre Dame’
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.