Composers Datebook®

Scandalous Gershwin?

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

George Gershwin (1898 - 1937) Scandal Walk, from Scandals of 1920 George Gershwin, piano roll Nonesuch 79287

On This Day

Births

  • 1722 - Bohemian composer Georg Anton (Jirí Antonín) Benda, in Alt-Benatek, Bohemia;

  • 1861 - Russian composer Anton Arensky, in Novgorod (Gregorian date: July 12);

  • 1892 - Hungarian composer Laszlo Lajtha, in Budapest;

  • 1958 - Finnish composer and conductor, Esa-Pekka Salonen, in Helsinki;

Deaths

  • 1987 - Spanish composer Federico Mompou, age 94, in Barcelona;

Premieres

  • 1924 - Gershwin: musical revue, "George White's Scandals of 1924," at the Apollo Theater in New York City; This show includes the classic Gershwin song "Somebody Loves Me" (lyrics by B.G. De Sylva and Ballard MacDonald).

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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.

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