Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook

YourClassical

Zwilich times Three

Ellen Taafe Zwilich (b. 1939) Triple Concerto Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio; Florida State University; Michael Stern, cond. Koch 7537

1:59
YourClassical

Higdon's Violin Concerto

Jennifer Higdon (b. 1962) Violin Concerto Hilary Hahn, vn;Royal Liverpool Philharmonic;Vasily Petrenko, cond. DG 146980-2

1:59
YourClassical

Schoenberg hissed

Arnold Schoenberg (1874 — 1951) String Quartet No 1, Op 7 Kolisch Quartet Music and Arts 1056

1:59
YourClassical

A Hovhaness premiere

Alan Hovhaness (1911 - 2000) Lousadzak Keith Jarrett, piano; American Composers Orchestra; Dennis Russell Davies, cond. MusicMasters 60204

1:59
YourClassical

Chen Yi's "Spring Festival"

Chen Yi (b. 1953) Spring Festival University of Minnesota Symphonic Wind Ensemble; Craig Kirchhoff, cond. Hal Leonard (full score, parts and CD)HL-04001978

1:59
YourClassical

Kreisler in the style of Kreisler

Fritz Kreisler (1875 — 1962) Violin Concerto (in the style of Vivaldi) Gil Shaham, violin; Orpheus Chamber Orchestra DG 439933

1:59
YourClassical

Torke abroad

Michael Torke (b. 1961) An American Abroad Royal Scottish National Orchestra; Marin Alsop, cond. Naxos 8.559167

1:59
YourClassical

"Old Churches" by Michael Colgrass

Michael Colgrass (b. 1932) Old Churches University of Minnesota Symphonic Band; Craig Kirchoff, dir. Hal Leonard (full score, parts and CD)HL-04002008

1:59
YourClassical

Herbert L. Clarke

Herbert L. Clarke (1867 - 1945) Sounds from the Hudson (Valse brillante) Wynton Marsalis, cornet;Eastman Wind Ensemble;Donald Hunsberger, cond. CBS 42137

1:59
YourClassical

Schubert and the Maiden?

Franz Schubert (1797–1828) String Quartet in d (Death and the Maiden) Emerson String Quartet DG 459 151

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.