Rawsthorne's version of "Cats"
Alan Rawsthorne (1905 – 1971) excerpt, fr Practical Cats Robert Donat, speaker; Philharmonia Orchestra; Alan Rawsthorne, cond. EMI Classsics 66935
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Bernstein asks a musical question in Moscow
Charles Ives (1874 – 1954) The Unanswered Question New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. Sony Classical 46701
Claude Goudimel, Huguenot
Claude Goudimel (1510 – 1572) Comfort, comfort Ye my people Cathedral Singers; Richard Proulx, cond. GIA 290
Hadley, Thompson, et al. in the Berkshires
Randall Thompson (1899 – 1984) Alleluia Dale Warland Singers; Dale Warland, cond. Minnesota Public Radio 201
Handel at work on Messiah
George Frederic Handel (1685 – 1757) excerpts fr Messiah UC Berkeley Chamber Chorus; Philharmonic Baroque Orchestra; Nicholas McGegan, cond. Harmonia Mundi 907050
Summer in the city, Berlioz-style
Franz Liszt (1811 – 1886) St. Francis of Assisi Preaching to the Birds and Rhapsodie espagnole Stephen Hough, piano Virgin 61129
Tower's Fifth
Joan Tower (b. 1938) Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 5 Colorado Symphony; Marin Alsop, cond. Koch 7469
Edward Collins escapes to Wisconsin
Edward J. Collins (1889 – 1951) Concert Piece in A minor Leslie Stifelman, piano; Concordia Orchestra; Marin Alsop, cond. Albany 267
Monteverdi gets mugged (and a new job)
Claudio Monteverdi (1567 – 1643) Che dar piu vi poss'io, fr 5th Book of Madrigals Consort of Musicke; Anthony Rooley, cond. L'oiseau Lyre 410 291
Frederick the Great, composer
Frederick II, King of Prussia (1712 – 1786) Flute Concerto No. 3 Patrick Gallois, flute; CPE Bach Chamber Orchestra; Peter Schreier, cond. DG 439 895
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.