Composers Datebook®

Debussy and the persistence of Ms. Elisa Hall

Composers Datebook for May 17, 2020
DOWNLOAD

Synopsis

Today, a tip of the hat to the persistence of one Ms. Elisa Hall, who lived in Boston from 1853-1924.

Ms. Hall was at the heart of that city's musical life for many years. She was a Francophile, and championed the best and the latest in French music. Sadly, Elisa Hall suffered from a hearing ailment, which would eventually result in complete deafness. At the advice of her doctor, who thought it might stimulate her ears, Hall took up the saxophone — and with typical enthusiasm soon began commissioning the leading French composers of the day for new pieces for her instrument. In all, she commissioned no less than 22 works, the most famous being by Claude Debussy. Debussy was at first reluctant to respond to Ms. Hall's persistence, pleading that the saxophone was (quote) “a reed animal with whose habits he was poorly acquainted.”

Debussy was paid in advance, but it was years before he finally set to work on a short saxophone rhapsody in a vaguely Moorish style. In fact, it wasn't until May of 1919, one year after Debussy's death, that the orchestration of the piece was completed by Debussy's friend, Jean Roger-Ducasse, and premiered in Paris.

Ms. Hall apparently never performed it herself. Maybe she was exasperated by the long delay or perhaps, by 1919, her own hearing had deteriorated to the point where she could simply no longer could.

Music Played in Today's Program

Claude Debussy (1862 - 1918) Rhapsody for Saxophone and Orchestra Kenneth Radnofsky, alto saxophone; New York Philharmonic; Kurt Masur, cond. Teldec 13133

On This Day

Births

  • 1866 - French composer Erik Alfred-Leslie Satie, in Honfleur;

  • 1901 - German composer Werner Egk, in Auchsesheim, near Donauswörth; His original last name was Mayer, and it is said (although denied by the composer) that the he chose the acronym E-G-K because it stood for "ein grosser Komponist" ("a great composer");

  • 1923 - American composer Peter Mennin, in Erie, Pa.;

Deaths

  • 1935 - French composer Paul Dukas, age 69, in Paris;

Premieres

  • 1779 - Gluck: opera "Iphigénie en Tauride" (Iphigenia in Taurus), at the Paris Opéra;

  • 1890 - Mascagni: "Cavalleria Rusticana," in Rome at the Teatro Costanzi;

  • 1904 - Ravel: "Schéhérazade," in Paris, with vocalist Jane Hatto and Alfred Cortot, conducting;

  • 1919 - Ravel: "Alborado del gracioso" (orchestral version), in Paris at Pasdeloup Concert;

  • 1929 - Prokofiev: Symphony No. 3, in Paris, by the Orchestre Symphonique de Paris, with Pierre Monteux conducting;

  • 1933 - Cowell: "Reel," for small orchestra, in New York;

  • 1939 - Prokofiev: cantata "Alexander Nevsky," in Moscow;

  • 1946 - Martin: "Petite Symphonie Concertante," in Zurich, Paul Sacher conducting;

  • 1960 - Ned Rorem: "11 Studies for 11 Players," for chamber ensemble, at the State University of Buffalo (N.Y.), conducted by the composers;

  • 1990 - Rautavaara: "Vincent," in Helsinki at the Finnish National Opera;

  • 2000 - Michael Torke: "Corner in Manhattan," by the Minnesota Orchestra, Eiji Oue conducting;

  • 2001 - Christopher Rouse: Clarinet Concerto, by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Christoph Eschenbach, with Larry Combs the soloist;

Others

  • 1922 - Music of "The President's Own" reached homes across the nation when the first Marine Band radio program was broadcast;

  • 1969 - Leonard Bernstein's last concert as Music Director of the New York Philharmonic, having conducted 939 concerts with the orchestra (831 as its Music Director); Bernstein conducted 36 world premieres with the orchestra; He continued to appear with the Philharmonic as an occasional guest conductor until his death in 1990;

  • 1978 - Philips Electronics of The Netherlands announces a new digital sound reproduction system from flat, silver "Compact Discs."

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

'La Marseillaise' by Lambert

Roger de Lisle (1760-1836): ‘La Marseillaise’ Detroit Symphony; Paul Paray, conductor; Mercury 434 332 Lucien Lambert, Jr. (1858-1945): ‘Brocéliande Overture’; Hot Springs Music Festival; Richard Rosenberg, conductor; Naxos 8.559 037

2:00
Get Composers Datebook in your inbox
YourClassical

Strauss, Shostakovich, Hitler and Stalin

Richard Strauss (1864-1949): ‘Ein Heldenleben’; Daniel Majeske, violin; Cleveland Orchestra; Daniel Barenboim, conductor; London 414 292 Dimitri Shostakovich (1906-1975): ‘Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk’ excerpts; Scottish National Orchestra; Neeme Jarvi, conductor; Chandos 8587

2:00
YourClassical

Requiems and Elegies by Faure and Rouse

Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924): ‘Requiem’; The Cambridge Singers; John Rutter, conductor; Collegium 101 Christopher Rouse (1949-2019): Symphony No. 2 and Flute Concerto; Carol Wincenc, flute; Houston Symphony; Christoph Eschenbach, conductor; Telarc 80452

2:00
YourClassical

Hollywood anniversaries

George Gershwin (1898-1937): ‘An American in Paris’; Hollywood Bowl Orchestra; John Mauceri, conductor; Philips 438 663 Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): ‘1812 Overture’; Berlin Philharmonic; Herbert von Karajan, conductor; EMI Classics 65690

2:00
YourClassical

Handel declines, Schuman accepts

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759): ‘Sinfonia’ from ‘Athalia Academy of Ancient Music’; Christopher Hogwood, conductor; L’Oiseau-Lyre 417 126 William Schuman (1910-1992): ‘Chester (Variations for Piano)’; Alexei Sultanov, piano; Teldec 46103

2:00
YourClassical

Respighi's 'The Pines of Rome'

Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936): ‘Feste Romane’; Montréal Symphony; Charles Dutoit, conductor; London 410 145 Spike Jones (1911-1965): ‘Rhapsody’ from ‘Hunger’; Spike Jones and his City Slickers; RCA 3235

2:00
YourClassical

'The Composer is Dead!'

Lemony Snicket and Nathaniel Stookey: ‘The Composer is Dead’; Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler), narrator; San Francisco Symphony; Edwin Outwater, conductor; Book Audio CD

2:00
YourClassical

'The Ballad of Baby Doe'

Douglas Moore (1893-1969): ‘The Ballad of Baby Doe’; Jan Grissom, soprano; Central City Opera Orchestra; John Moriarty, conductor; Newport Classics 85593

2:00
YourClassical

Noteworthy Boulanger and Zwilich

Lili Boulanger (1893-1918): ‘Hymne au Soleil’; New London Chamber Choir; James Wood, conductor; Hyperion 66726 Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (b. 1939): Symphony No. 3; Louisville Orchestra; James Sedares, conductor; Koch International 7278

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
0:00
0:00