Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook - April 15, 2024

YourClassical

Bryars and Horner on the Titanic

Gavin Bryars (b. 1943): ‘The Sinking of the Titanic’; Gavin Bryars and ensemble; Point Music 446 249 James Horner (1953-2015): ‘Titanic’ sountrack; Studio Orchestra; James Horner, conductor; Sony Classcial 63213

2:00
YourClassical

Jay Ungar and Roy Harris meet Ken Burns

Jay Ungar (b. 1946): ‘Ashokan Farewell’; Jay Ungar, fiddle; Newman-Oltman Guitar Duo; MusicMasters 67145 Roy Harris (1898-1979): Symphony No. 6 (‘Gettysburg’); Pacific Symphony; Keith Clark, conductor; Varese-Sarabande 47245

2:00
YourClassical

Handel recycled by Zwilich (and himself)

George Frederic Handel (1685-1759): ‘Sinfoni’ from ‘Messiah’; Boston Baroque Orchestra; Martin Pearlman, conductor; Telarc 80348 Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (b. 1939): ‘Concerto Grosso 1985’; New York Philharmonic; Zubin Mehta, conductor; New World 372

2:00
YourClassical

Castelnuovo-Tedesco in New York

Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1895-1968): Violin Concerto No. 2 (‘The Prophets’); Jascha Heifetz, violin; Los Angeles Philharmonic; Alfred Wallenstein, conductor; RCA BMG 7872

2:00
YourClassical

George Walker's 'Visions'

George Walker (1922-2018): Sinfonia No. 5 (‘Visions’); Sinfonia Varsovia; Ian Hobson, conductor; Albany TROY-1707

2:00
YourClassical

Antheil at Carnegie Hall

George Antheil (1900-1959): ‘A Jazz Symphony’; Ivan Davis, piano; New Palaise Royale Ensemble; Maurice Peress, conductor; MusicMasters 67094

2:00
YourClassical

C.P.E. Bach's 'Magnificat'

C.P.E. Bach (1714-1788): ‘Sicut Erat In Principio,’ from ‘Magnificat’; RIAS Kammerchor & Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Hans-Christoph Rademann; Harmonia Mundi 902167

2:00
YourClassical
2:00
YourClassical

Beethoven's 'Eroica' premiere

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1828): Symphony No. 3 (‘Eroica’); Berlin Philharmonic; Herbert von Karajan, conductor; DG 429 036

2:00
YourClassical

Ravel's 'Duo'

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): Sonata (‘Duo’) for Violin and Cello; Nigel Kennedy, violin; Lynn Harrell, cello; EMI 56963

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.