Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge

Composers Datebook - Dec. 21, 2024

YourClassical

Sheppard's 'Media Vita'

John Sheppard (1515-1558): ‘Media Vita’; Tallis Scholars; Peter Phillips, conductor; Gimell 16

2:00
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Harbison's Great American Opera?

John Harbison (b. 1938): ‘Remembering Gatsby’; Minnesota Orchestra; Edo de Waart, conductor; Vol. 11, from ‘Minnesota Orchestra at 100’ special edition boxed CD set

2:00
YourClassical

Stravinsky's 'Symphony of Psalms'

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): ‘Symphony of Psalms’; The Monteverdi Choir; London Symphony; John Eliot Gardiner, conductor; DG 436 789

2:00
YourClassical

Quincy Jones and 'The Color Purple'

Quincy Jones (1933-2024): ‘The Color Purple: Main Theme’; Itzhak Perlman, violin; Pittsburgh Symphony; John Williams, conductor; Sony 63005

2:00
YourClassical

Brahms makes his debut

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): Piano Sonata No. 1; Sviatoslav Richter, piano; Philips 438 477

2:00
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Prokofiev in Chicago

Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953): Piano Concerto No. 3; Alexander Toradze, piano; Kirov Orchestra; Valery Gergiev, conductor; Philips 462 048

2:00
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Bloch's American concerto

Ernest Bloch (1880-1959): Violin Concerto; Oleh Krysa, violin; Malmo Symphony; Sakari Oramo, conductor; BIS 639

2:00
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Tsfasman's 'Jazz Suite'

Alexander Tsfasman (1906-1971): ‘Snowflakes’ and ‘Polka’ (excerpts), from ‘Jazz Suite’; Zlata Chochieva, piano; BBC Scottish Symphony; Karl-Heinz Steffens, conductor; Naïve V-8448

2:00
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Barber in Rome

Samuel Barber (1910-1981): Symphony No. 1; Saint Louis Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, conductor; RCA/BMG 60732

2:00
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Henry Brant

Henry Brant (1913-2008): ‘Western Springs’; La Jolla Symphony and Chorus; Henry Brant, et. al. conductor; CRI 827

2:00
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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.