Synopsis
On today’s date in 1931, Russian-born American composer Nicolas Slonimsky was in Paris, conducting the second of two concerts of modern music from the Americas bankrolled by retired insurance executive and famous composer Charles Ives.
This second concert showcased Latin American composers like Pedro Sanjuan, Carlos Chavez and Alejandro Caturla, as well as works by the Franco-American composers Carlos Salzedo and Edgard Varese. North America was represented by Wallingford Riegger’s Three Canons for flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon.
Normally, chamber music for just four players doesn’t require the services of a conductor, but in this case Slonimsky did beat time for the Parisian wind players hired for the gig. As he put it, “Some instrumental parts were written in 5/8 and others in 2/8. I started beating time in 5/8, whereupon the binary musicians began to gesticulate at me to show their discomfort. What was I to do? OK, I said, I will conduct 5/8 with my right hand and 2/8 with my left. I was so delighted with my newly found ambidextrous technique that I applied it in other pieces as well, notably in the second movement of Ives’ Three Places in New England, played on the first of the two Parisian concerts. Someone quipped that my conducting was evangelical, for my right hand knew not what my left hand was doing.”
Music Played in Today's Program
Wallingford Riegger (1885-1961): Three Canons; Samuel Baron, flute; Ronald Roseman, oboe; Charles Neidich, clarinet; Donald MacCourt, bassoon; Bridge 9068
On This Day
Births
1864 - German composer and conductor Richard Strauss, in Munich
1899 - American composer George Frederick McKay, in Harrington, Washington
1926 - American opera composer Carlisle Floyd, in Latta, South Carolina
Premieres
1913 - Pizetti: incidental music for La Pisanella, in Paris
1921 - Honegger: cantata Le Roi David (King David), in Mézières
1925 - Honegger: opera Judith (first version), at the Théatre du Jorat in Mézières im Waadt
1960 - Britten: opera A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in Aldeburgh at the Jubilee Hall
1960 - Stockhausen: Kontakte for electronic instruments, piano and percussion, in Cologne
1970 - Hovhaness: And God Created Great Whales for taped song of humpback whales and orchestra, at a New York Philharmonic Promenade concert conducted by André Kostelanetz
1987 - Michael Torke: ballet Purple, at the New York State Theater, by the New York City Ballet Orchestra, Lukas Foss conducting
Others
1931 - Nicholas Slonimsky conducts in Paris the second of two concerts (both financed by Charles Ives) devoted to new music. The June 11 program includes works for chamber orchestra by the Spanish-Cuban composer Pedro Sanjuan (Sones de Castilla), Mexican Carlos Chaves (Energia), Franco-American Carlos Salzedo (Preamble et Jeux). Cuban Alejandro Caturla (Bembe), American Wallingford Riegger (Three Canons), and Franco-American Edgard Varese (Integrales). See also June 6, 1931.
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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.