Percy Grainger, wildman
Percy Grainger (1882-1961): ‘Country Gardens’; Martin Jones, piano; Nimbus 7703 Percy Grainger (1882-1961): ‘To a Nordic Princess’; Danish National Radio Symphony; Richard Hickox, conductor; Chandos 9721

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

Percy Grainger (1882-1961): ‘Country Gardens’; Martin Jones, piano; Nimbus 7703 Percy Grainger (1882-1961): ‘To a Nordic Princess’; Danish National Radio Symphony; Richard Hickox, conductor; Chandos 9721

John Williams (b. 1932): Cello Concerto; Yo Yo Ma, cello; Los Angeles Recording Arts Orchestra; John Williams, conductor; Sony 89670

Aulis Sallinen (b. 1935): ‘The Palace Rhapsody’; Rheinland-Pfalz State Philharmonic; Ari Rasilainen, cond CPO 999972

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (b. 1939): Clarinet Quintet David Shifrin, clarinet; Ida and Ani Kavafian, violin; Paul Neubauer, viola; Fred Sherry, cello; Delos 3183 Stephen Paulus (1949-2014): Partita Appassionata Troy Gardner, violin; Jill Dawe, piano; innova 539

William Byrd (c. 1540-1623): ‘Sanctus,’ from ‘Mass for Five Voices’; The Cardinall’s Musick; Andrew Carwood; Gaudeamus CD 206

Anthony Iannaccone (b. 1943): ‘From Time to Time’; Janacek Philharmonic; Anthony Iannaccone, conductor; Albany 486

Libby Larsen (b. 1950): ‘Deep Summer Music’; Colorado Symphony; Marin Alsop, conductor; Koch 7520

Johann Strauss, Jr. (1825-1899): ‘Blue Danube Waltz’; Columbia Symphony; Bruno Walter, conductor; Sony 64467

Franz Schubert (1795-1828): String Quartet No. 15; Emerson String Quartet; DG 459 151

Joan Tower (b. 1938): ‘Island Rhythms’; Louisville Orchestra; Lawrence Leighton Smith, conductor; Louisville 6 Joan Tower (b. 1938): ‘Island Prelude’; Peter Bowman, oboe; Saint Louis Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, conductor; Nonesuch 79245
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.