Thomson's Hymn Tune Symphony

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

Virgil Thomson (1896 - 1989) Symphony on a Hymn Tune Monadnock Festival Orchestra; James Bolle, cond. Albany 017

On This Day

Births

• 1810 - Polish composer and pianist Frederic Chopin, in Zelazowa Wola (This is the date contained in the composer's baptismal certificate; Chopin himself gave March 1, 1810, as his birthdate);

• 1817 - Danish composer Niels W. Gade, in Copenhagen;

• 1961 - American composer Lowell Liebermann, in New York City;

Deaths

• 1903 - Austrian composer Hugo Wolf, age 42, in Vienna;

Premieres

• 1878 - Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4, in Moscow, with Nikolai Rubinstein conducting (Julian date: Feb. 10);

• 1881 - Bruch: "Scottish Fantasy," Op. 46, in Liverpool, with the composer conducting and Joseph Joachim as soloist;

• 1890 - Brahms: Piano Trio No. 1 in Bb, Op. 8 (revised version), in Vienna, at one of the Rosé Chamber Concerts, with the composer at the piano; The first version of this Trio, composed in 1854, received one of its first public performances ever in New York City on November 27, 1855;

• 1907 - Ravel: "Introduction and Allegro," in Paris;

• 1938 - Kabalesvky: opera "Colas Breugnon," in Leningrad;

• 1941 - Paul Creston: Symphony No. 1, in New York City;

• 1941 - Morton Gould: "Latin American Symphonette," in Brooklyn, N.Y.;

• 1945 - Virgil Thomson: "Symphony on a Hymn Tune," in New York City, with the composer conducting;

• 1962 - Benjamin Lees: "Concerto for Orchestra" No. 1, in Rochester, N.Y.