Athletically-inclined music by Janacek and Torke
Leos Janácek (1854-1928) Sinfonietta Boston Symphony; Seiji Ozawa, cond. EMI 47837 Michael Torke (b. 1961) Javelin Atlanta Symphony; Yoel Levi, cond. Argo 452 101
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Erich "Wunderkind" Korngold
Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957) The Snowman BBC Philharmonic Orchestra; Matthias Bamert, cond. Chandos 10434 Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957) The Adventures of Robin Hood film score London Symphony; John Williams, cond. Sony 62788
Vaughan Williams's spin on life in the big city
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) Symphony No. 2 (A London Symphony) London Symphony; André Previn, cond. RCA/BMG 60581
Hanson and "The Golden Age of Radio"
Howard Hanson (1896-1981) Symphony No. 3 Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Delos 3092
"Made to order music" by Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) Ebony Concerto Benny Goodman, clarinet; Columbia Jazz Combo; Igor Stravinsky, cond. Sony 64136
Gottschalk plays a "politically correct" concert
Louis Moreau Gottschalk (1829-1869) The Union (Paraphrase de Concert) Alan Marks, piano Nimbus 5014
"A good story, but not exactly true," says Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Symphony No. 94 in G (Surprise) Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; Sir Colin Davis, cond. Philips 442 614
Sir Stephen Lloyd Sondheim-Webber?
Stephen Sondheim (b. 1930) A Little Night Music New York City Opera Orchestra; Paul Gemignani, cond. MusicMasters 67099 Andrew Lloyd Webber (b. 1948) Angel of Music Cincinnati Pops; Erich Kunzel, cond. Telarc 80405
Strauss depicts "family values" in music
Richard Strauss (1864-1949) Sinfonia Domestica, Op. 53 Minnesota Orchestra; Edo de Waart, cond. Virgin 61460
Passing the hat for Barber
Samuel Barber (1910-1981) Summer Music Bergen Wind Quintet BIS 291
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.