Milhaud at West Point

Synopsis

In the opinion of General George Washington, a commanding plateau on the west bank of the Hudson River, about 40 miles north of New York City, was a key strategic position during America’s War for Independence. Washington had fortifications built there and transferred his headquarters to this “West Point” in 1779. In 1802, after America’s independence had been won, President Thomas Jefferson signed legislation establishing a United States Military Academy at West Point.

150 years later, in 1952, the West Point Military Band decided to observe the Academy’s Sesquicentennial by asking prominent composers to write celebratory works to mark the occasion. A number of composers responded, including French composer Darius Milhaud. Milhaud’s West Point Suite was premiered by the West Point Band at Carnegie Hall on today’s date in 1952, with Captain Francis Resta conducting, and proved to be one of the most successful and oft-performed of these Sesquicentennial pieces.

The previous year, Milhaud had paid a visit to West Point to hear the band, as he wanted to assess both their size and ability. He was impressed by what he heard — and surprised as well when the band struck up “Happy Birthday” in his honor. It seems that both Milhaud and his wife had completely forgotten their September 4 visit coincided with the composer’s 60th birthday!

Music Played in Today's Program

Darius Milhaud (1892-1974): West Point Suite; Liszt Academy Symphonic Band; Laszlo Marosi, conductor; Hungaroton 32066

On This Day

Births

• 1792 - American composer Peter Wolle, in New Herrnhut, St. Thomas, West Indies

• 1871 - American composer Frederick Shepherd Converse, in Newton, Massachusetts

• 1880 - Russian composer and pianist Nicolai Medtner, in Moscow (Julian date: Dec. 24, 1879)

• 1881 - Russian composer Nicolai Roslavetz, in Dushatino, Chernigov region, Ukraine (Julian date: Dec. 24, 1880)

Deaths

• 1869 - Russian composer Alexander Dargomizhsky, 55 (Gregorian date: Jan. 17)

• 1970 - Catalan-born British composer Roberto Gerhard, 73, in Cambridge, England

• 1979 - American jazz composer and bassist Charles Mingus, 56, in Mexico City

Premieres

• 1677 - Lully: opera Isis, in Paris

• 1727 - Bach: Sacred Cantata No. 58 (Ach Gott, wie Manches Herzeleid II) performed on the Sunday after New Year’s Day as part of Bach's third annual Sacred Cantata cycle in Leipzig (1725/27)

• 1745 - Handel: musical drama Hercules at the King’s Theater in London (Gregorian date: Jan. 16)

• 1868 - Bruch: Violin Concerto (final version), in Bremen, with Karl Martin Rheintahler conducting and Joseph Joachim the soloist. An earlier version of this work had been premiered on April 24, 1866, which Bruch substantially revised with the assistance of Joachim.

• 1884 - Gilbert & Sullivan: operetta, Princess Ida, at the Savoy Theatre in London

• 1932 - Ravel: Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, in Vienna, with Vienna Symphony conducted by Robert Heger, with Paul Wittgenstein (who commissioned the work) as soloist

• 1941 - Mark Blitzstein: opera No for an Answer, in New York City

• 1949 - Henry Cowell: Symphony No. 5, at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., by the National Symphony, Hans Kindler conducting

• 1949 - Morton Gould: symphonic suite, Fall River Legend, Pierre Monteux conducting San Francisco Symphony Orchestra

• 1961 - Easley Blackwood: Symphony No. 2, in Cleveland (commissioned by music publisher G. Schirmer to celebrate its centenary)

• 1962 - Ross Lee Finney: Piano Quintet No. 2, in Los Angeles

• 1973 - Pierre Boulez: …explosante/fixe at a concert by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York City