Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook for September 11, 2010

YourClassical

Hanslick and Thomson, critics at large

Richard Wagner (1813-1883) Act III excerpts, from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Deutschen Oper Berlin Orchestra; Eugen Jochum, cond. DG 415 281 Virgil Thomson (1896-1989) Digging (A Portrait of Howard Rea) London Gabrieli Brass Ensemble; Christopher Larkin, cond. Hyperion 66517

1:59
YourClassical

Berlioz and the Parisian prudes

Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) Benvenuto Cellini and Roman Carnival Overtures Staatskapelle Dresden; Sir Colin Davis, cond. BMG/RCA 68790

1:59
YourClassical

Edward Burlingame Hill

Edward Burlingame Hill (1872-1960) Prelude for Orchestra Columbia Symphony; Leonard Bernstein, cond. CBS/Sony 61849

1:59
YourClassical

Bernstein's "Mass"

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) Sanctus, from Mass Empire Brass Telarc 80159 Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) Simple Song, from Mass Boston Pops; John Williams, cond. Philips 416 360

1:59
YourClassical

Colorful music by Bliss and Torke

Sir Arthur Bliss (1891-1975) Red, from A Color Symphony English Northern Philharmonia; David Lloyd-Jones, cond. Naxos 8.553460 Michael Torke (b. 1961) Bright Blue Music Baltimore Symphony; David Zinman, cond. Argo 433 071

1:59
YourClassical

Vaughan Williams and Gavin Bryars look back

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields; Sir Neville Marriner, cond. Argo 414 595 Gavin Bryars (b.1943) Cadman Requiem Hilliard Ensemble; Fretwork Point 462 511

1:59
YourClassical

Amy Cheney and Mrs. Beach

Amy Beach (1867-1944) Piano Concerto in c#, Op. 45 Joanne Polk, piano; English Chamber Orchestra; Paul Goodwin, cond. Arabesque 6738

1:59
YourClassical

Milhaud's "Symphonies"

Darius Milhaud (1892-1974) Symphony No. 9, Op. 380 Basel Radio Symphony; Alun Francis, cond. CPO 199 166

1:59
YourClassical

Ives in San Francisco

Charles Ives (1874-1954) Washington's Birthday Chicago Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas; cond. CBS/Sony 42381

1:59
YourClassical

Haydn at Esterhazy

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Symphony No. 48 in C (Maria Theresa) Polish Chamber Orchestra; Jerzy Maksymiuk, cond EMI Classics 69767

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.