Composers Datebook®

Bolcom's Bicentennial send-up

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

William Bolcom (b. 1938) Piano Concerto William Bolcom, piano; Rochester Philharmonic; Sydney Hodkinson, cond. Vox Box 7509

On This Day

Births

  • 1714 - German composer Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (the third son of J.S. Bach), in Weimar;

  • 1904 - Greek composer Nikos Skalkottas, on the island of Euboca;

  • 1911 - American composer Alan Hovhaness, in Somerville, Mass.;

Deaths

  • 1869 - French composer Hector Berlioz, age 62, in Paris;

  • 1957 - Swiss composer Othmar Schoeck, age 70, in Zurich;

  • 1961 - British conductor and arranger Sir Thomas Beecham, age 81, in London;

  • 1983 - English composer and conductor Sir William Walton, age 80, in Ischia;

Premieres

  • 1752 - Handel: oratorio "Jephtha," in London (Julian date: Feb. 26);

  • 1896 - Rachmaninoff: symphonic fantasy "The Rock," in Moscow (Gregorian date: Mar. 20);

  • 1898 - R. Strauss: tone-poem "Don Quixote," in Cologne, Wüllner conducting;

  • 1902 - Sibelius: Symphony No. 2, by the Helsinki Philharmonic, with the composer conducting;

  • 1903 - Enescu: "Rumanian Rhapsodies" Nos. 1 and 2, in Bucharest, with the composer conducting;

  • 1934 - Piston: "Concerto for Orchestra," by the Boston Symphony, Serge Koussevitzky conducting;

  • 1954 - Stravinsky: "Three Songs from William Shakespeare," at an "Evenings on the Roof" concert in Los Angeles conducted by Robert Craft;

  • 1956 - David Diamond: Symphony No. 6, by the Boston Symphony, Charles Munch conducting;

  • 1957 - Xenakis: "Pithoprakta," in Munich;

  • 1979 - Rihm: opera "Jakob Lenz," in Hamburg at the Opera stabile (Staatsoper);

  • 1991 - Daniel Asia: "At the Far Edge" for orchestra, by the Seattle Youth Symphony, Ruben Gurevich conducting;

  • 2000 - Karen Tanaka: "At the Grave of Beethoven" for string quartet, in London, by the Brodsky Quartet;

  • 2000 - John Tavener: "The Lord's Prayer," in Guildford (England), by the Tallis Scholars.

Love the music?

Donate by phone
1-800-562-8440

Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.

Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.

YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.

More Ways to Give

Your Donation

$5/month
$10/month
$15/month
$20/month
$

Latest Composers Datebook® Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES

Latest Composers Datebook® Episodes

YourClassical
2:00
Get Composers Datebook in your inbox
YourClassical

Lalo Schifrin

Lalo Schifrin (1932-2025): ‘Hommage a Ravel’; Eaken Piano; Trio Naxos 8.559062 Lalo Schifrin (1932-2025): Theme from ‘Mission Impossible’; studio orchestra; BBC Records 763

2:00
YourClassical

Mendelssohn and Richard Rodgers the record

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): Violin Concerto; Nathan Milstein, violin; New York Philharmonic; Bruno Walter, conductor; Sony 64459 Rodgers and Hammerstein: ‘South Pacific’; Ezio Pinza and Mary Martin; orchestra; Lehman Engel, conductor; Sony 53327

2:00
YourClassical
2:00
YourClassical

Shchedrin's Oboe Concerto

Rodion Shchedrin (1932-2025): Oboe Concerto; Alexei Ogrinchuk, oboe; Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; Suzanna Malkki, conductor; RCO Live CD 11001

2:00
YourClassical

Berio, Brahms and Boccherini

Johannes Brahms (arr. Luciano Berio) (1833-1897): Clarinet Sonata No. 1 Luigi Boccherini (arr. Luciano Berio): ‘Ritirata Notturna di Madrid’; Daniel Ottensamer, clarinet; Basel Symphony; Ivor Bolton, conductor; Sony 19075982072

2:00
YourClassical

The diverting Mr. Persichetti

Vincent Persichetti (1915-1987): ‘Divertimento’; North Texas Wind Symphony; Eugene Migliaro Corporon, conductor; Klavier 11124

2:00
YourClassical

Grieg's 'Lyric Pieces'

Edvard Grieg (1843-1907): ‘Lyric Pieces’ Book VI, No. 6; Homeward Emil Gilels, piano; DG 449721

2:00
YourClassical

Harbison goes Baroque

John Harbison (b. 1938): Concerto for Oboe, Clarinet and Strings; Peggy Pearson, oboe; Jo-Ann Sternberg, clarinet; Metamorphosen Chamber Players; Scott Yoo, conductor; Archetype Records 60106

2:00
VIEW ALL EPISODES

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.

About Composers Datebook®
YourClassical Radio
00:00
Infinity:NaN