Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook for February 7, 2015

YourClassical
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YourClassical

Brant's "Angels and Devils"

Henry Brant (1913 - 2008) Angels and Devils Bonita Boyd, flute; Eastman Wind Ensemble; Donald Hunsberger, cond. Centaur 2014

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Reger-ized Mozart

Max Reger (1873-1916) Variations and Fugue in A Major on a theme by Mozart, Op. 132 NY Philharmonic; Kurt Masur, cond. Teldec 74007

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Liszt pulls a switcheroo

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827) Piano Trio, Op. 1, no. 2 Kempff-Szeryng-Fournier Trio DG 453 751

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A summer Sextet by Brahms

Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897) String Sextet No. 2, Op. 36 L'Archibudelli Sony Classical 68252

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Dvorak's Eighth

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88 Berlin Philharmonic; Rafael Kubelik, cond. DG 447 412

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The Tales of Offenbach?

Jacques Offenbach (1819 - 1880) Tales of Hoffmann Suite Detroit Symphony; Paul Paray, cond. Mercury 434 332

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Maslanka for winds

David Maslanka (1943 - 2017) Wind Quintet No. 2 Manhattan Wind Quintet Albany 246

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Larsen's symphonies

Libby Larsen (b. 1950) Symphony: Water Music Minnesota Orchestra; Sir Neville Marriner, cond. Nonesuch 79147 Libby Larsen (b. 1950) Solo Symphony Colorado Symphony; Marin Alsop, cond. Koch 7520

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Mozart at his happiest?

Wolfgang Mozart (1756 – 1791) Idomeneo Overture Bavarian Radio Symphony; Sir Colin Davis, cond. Philips 422 537

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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.