Maazel's 'Ring without Words'
Richard Wagner (1813-1883) arr. Lorin Maazel (1930-2014): ‘Ring without Words’; Berlin Philharmonic; Lorin Maazel, conductor; Telarc 80154
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Composers Datebook - May 11, 2025
2:00
Maxwell Davies at a wedding (with sunrise)
Peter Maxwell Davies (1934-2016): ‘An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise’; George MacIlwham, bagpipes; Royal Philharmonic; Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, conductor; Collins 1444
2:00
Alexis Alrich's Marimba Concerto
Alexis Alrich (b. 1955): Marimba Concerto; Evelyn Glennie, marimba; City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong; Jean Thorel, conductor; Naxos 8.574218
2:00
Beethoven's Second on first?
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): Symphony No. 2; New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, conductor; Sony 61835
2:00
Thomson's 'Mother of Us All'
Virgil Thomson (1896-1989): ‘The Mother of Us All’; Santa Fe Opera; Raymond Leppard, conductor; New World 288
2:00
Larsen's 'Lyric' Third
Libby Larsen (b. 1950): Symphony No. 3 (‘Lyric’) London Symphony; Joel Revzen, conductor; Koch 7370
2:00
Debussy's Violin Sonata
Claude Debussy (1862-1918): Violin Sonata; Midori, violin; Robert McDonald, piano; Sony 89699
2:00
Dvorak salutes the flag
Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904): ‘The American Flag’; soloists; choirs; Berlin Radio Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor; CBS/Sony 60297
2:00
Moog moods by Carlos and Voegeli
J.S. Bach (1685-1750) arr. Carlos: Fugue No. 7, from ‘WTC Book 1’;l Wendy Carlos, Moog synthesizer; Sony 7194 Don Voegeli (1920-2009): ‘All Things Considered’ theme (1974 version); Don Voegeli, Moog synthesizer NPR recording
2:00
George Walker's 'Wind Set'
George Walker (1922-2018): ‘Wind Set’; Peggy Schecter, flute; Richard Foley, oboe; William Shadel, clarinet; Leonard Hindell, bassoon; Jerome Ashby, french horn; Summit 274
2:00
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.