Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook for November 9, 2014

YourClassical

Takemitsu and Tanaka

Toru Takemitsu (1930 - 1996) November Steps Katsuya Yokoyama, shakuhachi; Kunshi Isuruta, biwa; Concertgebouw Orchestra; Bernard Haitink, cond. Philips 426 667 Karen Tanaka (b. 1961) Night Bird Claude Delangle, saxophone BIS 890

1:59
YourClassical

Schumann and Zaimont

Clara Schumman (1819 – 1896) Four Polonaises, Op. 1 Josef de Beenhouwer, piano CPO 999 758 Judith Lang Zaimont (b. 1945) September, fr Calendar Collection Judith Lang Zaimont, piano Four Tay 4001

1:59
YourClassical

Varese and Zappa

Edgar Varèse (1883 - 1965) Ionisation New York Philharmonic; Pierre Boulez, cond. Sony 45844 Frank Zappa (1940 – 1993) Dog Breath Variations Cincinnati Conservatory Wind Symphony; Eugene Corporon, cond. Mark 1116

1:59
YourClassical

Tchaikovsky’s “The Voyevoda”

In old Slavonic languages, the word “voyevoda” meant a warlord, but over time it came to denote the governor of a province. “Voyevoda” also came to be the title of not one, but two musical works by Tchaikovsky.

1:59
YourClassical

Sondheim in the Woods

Stephen Sondheim (b. 1930) Into the Woods Original Broadway cast members RCA 60752

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YourClassical

Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge

Igor Stravinsky (1882 – 1971) Apollo Ballet Stockholm Chamber Orchestra; Esa-Pekka Salonen, cond. Sony Classical 46667

1:59
YourClassical

How to Pray

David Lang (b. 1957) How to Pray Real Quiet ensemble; Gil Rose, cond. Naxos 8.559615

1:59
YourClassical

Mozart and "Amadeus"

Wolfgang Mozart (1756 – 1791) Requiem, K. 626 La Chapelle Royale and Orchestre des Champs Elysees; Philippe Herreweghe, cond. Harmonia Mundi 901620

1:59
YourClassical

Chopin gets out of town

Frederick Chopin (1810 – 1849) Piano Concerto No. 2 in f, Op. 21 Martha Argerich, piano; Montréal Symphony; Charles Dutoit, cond. EMI Classics 56798

1:59
YourClassical

Hovhaness in "HOOS-ton"

Alan Hovhaness (1911 – 2000) Symphony No. 2 (Mysterious Mountain) London Symphony; John Williams, cond. Sony Classical 62729

1:59

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.