Shostakovich goes for the "Gold"
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 –1975) Polka, from The Age of Gold Moscow Chamber Orchestra; Constantine Orbelian, cond. Delos 3257
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
A Strauss tale too good to be true
Richard Strauss (1861 – 1949) Ariadne auf Naxos Vienna Philharmonic; James Levine, cond. DG 419 225
Reich's "Trains" of thought
Steve Reich (b. 1946) Different Trains Kronos Quartet Nonesuch 79176
Piston's "New England Sketches"
Walter Piston (1894 – 1976) Three New England Sketches Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Delos 3106
Handel and Colgrass at the organ
George Frederic Handel (1685 – 1757) Organ Concerto, Op.4, no. 4 Simon Preston, organ; Festival Orchestra; Yehudi Menuhin, cond. EMI 72626 Michael Colgrass (b. 1932) Snow Walker David Schrader, organ; Grant Park Orchestra; Carlos Kalmar, cond. Cedille 90000 063
A quirky piece by Marga Richter
Marga Richter (b. 1926) Quantum Quirks of a Quick Quaint Quark Czech Radio Orchestra; Gerard Schwarz MMC 2006
Hanson's "futile efforts"
Howard Hanson (1896 – 1981) Pastorale Randall Ellis, oboe; Susan Jolles, harp; Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Delos 3105
Chadwick wins a prize
George Whitefield Chadwick (1854 – 1931) Symphony No. 3 Detroit Symphony; Neeme Järvi, cond. Chandos 9253
Saeverud's "Minnesota Symphony"
Harald Saeverud (1897 – 1992) Symphony No. 8 (Minnesota) Stavanger Symphony; Ole Kristian Ruud, cond. BIS 972
Copland's "Letter from Home"
Aaron Copland (1900 – 1990) Letter from Home St. Louis Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, cond. EMI 49766
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.