Milhaud's Scaramouche Suite
Darius Milhaud (1892 - 1974) Scaramouche Anthony and Joseph Paratore, pianos Four Winds 3014
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
The sounds of summer by Barber and Wagner
Samuel Barber (1910 - 1981) Summer Music, Op. 31 Reykjavik Wind Quintet Chandos 9174 Richard Wagner (1813 - 1881) Act I Prelude, fr Die Meistersinger SWR Radio Symphony; Roger Norrington, cond. Hänssler Classics 93000
Mendelssohn and Tavener consort with royals
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) Symphony No. 3 (Scottish) Chamber Orchestra of Europe; Nikolaus Harnoncour, cond. Teldec 72308 John Tavener (b. 1944) Fall and Resurrection City of London Sinfonia; Richard Hickox, cond. Chandos 9800
Bernard Herrmann's low-budget classic
Bernard Herrmann (1911 - 1975) Psycho (A Narrative for Orchestra) London Philharmonic; Bernard Herrmann, cond. London 443 895
A surprise commission for Mr. Sousa
John Philip Sousa (1854 - 1932) The Washington Post March Dallas Wind Symphony; Jerry Junkin, cond. Reference 94 John Philip Sousa (1854 - 1932) Peaches and Cream Foxtrot Cincinnati Pops; Erich Kunzel, cond. Moss MMG-10005
A star-spangled bummer for Stravinsky?
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) The Star Spangled Banner (arrangement) London Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. BMG/RCA 68865
"Blind Tom"
Thomas "Blind Tom" Wiggins (1849-1908) Battle of Manassas John Davis, p. Newport Classics 85660
Music for the birds by Dvořák and Rautavaara
Antonin Dvořák (1841-1904) String Quartet, Op. 96 (American) Vlach Quartet Naxos 8.553371 Einojuhani Rautavaara (b. 1928) Cantus Arcticus, Op. 61 Lahti Symphony; Osmo Vänskä BIS 1038
Hovhaness and the world's biggest vocal soloist
Alan Hovhaness (1911-2000) And God Created Great Whales Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Delos 3157
Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde"
Richard Wagner (1813-1883) Act II Prelude, from Tristan und Isolde Bayreuth Festival Orchestra; Karl Böhm Philips 434 425
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.