Mr. Sax's instrument and Ms. Perry's Quartet
Anita D. Perry (b. 1960): ‘Quartet for Saxophones’; Amherst Saxophone Quartet; innova 516
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - Nov. 6, 2025
2:00
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Barber offers two for the price of one
Samuel Barber (1910-1981): ‘First Essay for Orchestra’; Detroit Symphony; Neeme Järvi, conductor; Chandos 9053 Samuel Barber (1910-1981): ‘Adagio for Strings’; Berlin Philharmonic; Semyon Bychkov, conductor; Philips 434 108
2:00
A second wind for Reicha and Ward-Steinman?
Antonin Reicha (1770-1836): Wind Quintet No. 23; Albert Schweitzer Quintet; CPO 999027 David Ward-Steinman (1936-2015): Woodwind Quintet No. 2 (‘Night Winds’); Arioso Quintet; Fleur de Son Classics 57935
2:00
Middle-Eastern sounds from Rimsky-Korsakov and Reza Vali
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908): ‘Scheherazade’; Atlanta Symphony; Robert Spano, conductor; Telarc 80568 Reza Vali (b. 1952): ‘Folk Songs Set No. 9’; Alberto Almarza, flute; Alvaro Bitran, cello; New Albion 077
2:00
First — and last — orchestral pieces by Brahms and Harrison?
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): ‘Variations on a theme by Haydn’; Cleveland Orchestra; Christoph von Dohnanyi, conductor; Teldec 8.44005 Lou Harrison (1917-2003): Symphony No. 4 (‘Last Symphony’); California Symphony; Barry Jekowsky, conductor; Argo 455 590
2:00
Copland breaks in a new pony
Aaron Copland (1900-1990): ‘The Red Pony Suite’; Dallas Symphony; Andrew Litton, conductor; Delos 3221
2:00
Olga Neuwirth's 'Lost Highway'
Olga Neuwirth (b. 1968): ‘Intro’ from ‘Lost Highway’; Klanform Wien; Johannes Kalitzke, conductor; Kairos CD-0012542KAI
2:00
'What's in a name?' asks Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland (1900-1990): ‘Appalachian Spring’; Saint Louis Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, conductor; EMI 73653
2:00
Don Giovanni in Prague (and Vienna)
Wolfgang Mozart (1756-1791): ‘Don Giovanni’; Michele Pertusi (as Leporello); London Philharmonic; Georg Solti, conductor; London 455 500
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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.