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Composers Datebook®

with host John Birge

Honegger plays rough

Rugby is a style of football that originated in England at Rugby School and was played at British public boy’s schools during the 19th century. It’s also the name of a tone poem written by the Swiss composer Arthur Honegger that premiered in Paris at the Théâtre des Champes-Elysées on today’s...Episode details...

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John Birge takes over as host of 'Composers Datebook'

John Birge is the new host of 'Composers Datebook,' the award-winning program about this day in classical music history. A well-known name at Classical Minnesota Public Radio, he will take over from retiring and longtime host John Zech on May 1.

Premiere of Brahms' "Schicksalslied"

On today’s date in 1871, Hermann Levi conducted the premiere of a new choral work by Johannes Brahms titled “Schicksalslied” or “Song of Destiny.” It’s a setting of a poem by Friedrich Hoelderlin, contrasting in its first part the blissful Greek Gods on Mt Olympus, and in its second, the...Episode details...

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Who’s who and what’s what is our specialty at Composers Datebook. Take 2 minutes to make a gift today, to help us continue to share this musical education experience.

Schuman starts on third

On today’s date in 1941, the Boston Symphony gave the first performance of a new symphony by a 31-year old American composer named William Schuman. It is numbered as Schuman’s Third Symphony but, in reality, you might as well say it’s his First. Now, Schuman was not an early devotee of the New...Episode details...

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A Domestic Postscript from Richard Strauss

Of all the works of Richard Strauss, the one that premiered in Dresden on today’s date in 1925 ranks amount the least-known. For starters, it has an odd title, “Parergon to the Symphonia Domestica.” “Parergon” means “an ornamental accessory or embellishment,” and Strauss meant his new work,...Episode details...

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Britten for young persons

Liverpool may be renowned as the birthplace of The Beatles, but it has other claims to fame as well. On today’s date in 1946, for example, one of Benjamin Britten’s best-known orchestral works received its first concert performance in that British city. “The Young Person’s Guide to the...Episode details...

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Dvořák's Violin Concerto

On today’s date in 1883, the premiere of Antonín Dvořák’s Violin Concerto was given in Prague by the Czech violinist František Ondrícek with the National Theatre Orchestra led by a Czech conductor named Moric Anger, an old friend of the Dvořák’s and his one-time roommate. The concerto was...Episode details...

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Before you go...

Who’s who and what’s what is our specialty at Composers Datebook. Take 2 minutes to make a gift today, to help us continue to share this musical education experience.

Daniel Asia's "Black Light"

At Carnegie Hall on today’s date in 1991, Dennis Russell Davies conducted American Composers’ Orchestra in the premiere performance of a new orchestral work entitled “Black Light.” Its composer was Daniel Asia, a Seattle native who has emerged as one of the most productive contemporary composers...Episode details...

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Zwilich celebrates

As far as housewarming gifts go, a nice bottle of champagne is common, or maybe a bouquet of flowers. But if you’re a composer, and the occasion is the ceremonial opening performance at a new concert hall, you write a celebratory piece of music. On today’s date in 1984, for the inaugural...Episode details...

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