Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Richard Wagner (1813-1883): ‘Ride of the Valkyries,’ from ‘Die Walküre’; New York Philharmonic and NBC Orchestra; Arturo Toscanini, conductor; Radio Years 71/72 John Philip Sousa (arr. Toscanini): ‘Stars and Stripes Forever’; New York Philharmonic and NBC Orchestra; Arturo Toscanini, conductor; Radio Years 71/72
Elliott Carter (1908-2012): ‘Pocahontas Ballet’; American Composers Orchestra; Paul Dunkel, conductor; CRI 610 Aaron Copland (1900-1990): ‘Billy the Kid Ballet’; St. Louis Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, conductor; EMI 73653
Daniel Pinkham (1923-2006): ‘Nocturnes’; Fenwick Smith, flute; David Leisner, guitar; Koch 7423
Richard Wagner (1813-1883): ‘Transformation Music’ from ‘Parsifal’
Dave Brubeck (1920-2012): ‘Pange Lingua Variations’; Brubeck Quartet; London Voices; London Symphony; Russell Gloyd, conductor; Telarc 80621
Alfons Diepenbrock (1862-1921): ‘In Great Silence’ (‘A Mood Poem based on an Aphorism of Friedrich Nietzsche’); Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; Riccardo Chailly, conductor (live recording); Royal Concertgebouw Recordings 97033
Jodie Blackshaw: ‘Letter from Sado’; University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble; Hal Leonard HL04004132 (sheet music)
Darius Milhaud (1892-1974): ‘Sabbath Morning Service’; Prague Philharmonic Choir; Czech Philharmonic; Gerard Schwarz, conductor; Naxos 8.559409
Ned Rorem (1923-2022): ‘Eleven Studies for Eleven Players’; New York Chamber Ensemble; Stephen Rogers Radcliffe, conductor; Albany 175
Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884): Act I Prelude and opening chorus, from ‘Dalibor’; Prague National Theatre Orchestra and Chorus; Zdenek Kosler, conductor; Supraphon SU0077-2 632
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.
