Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook for October 27, 2009

YourClassical

Daniel Asia's Fourth

Daniel Asia (b. 1953) Symphony No. 4 New Zealand Symphony; James Sedares, cond. Summit 256

1:59
YourClassical

Shostakovich goes for the "Gold"

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 –1975) Polka, from The Age of Gold Moscow Chamber Orchestra; Constantine Orbelian, cond. Delos 3257

1:59
YourClassical
1:59
YourClassical
1:59
YourClassical

Piston's "New England Sketches"

Walter Piston (1894 – 1976) Three New England Sketches Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Delos 3106

1:59
YourClassical

Handel and Colgrass at the organ

George Frederic Handel (1685 – 1757) Organ Concerto, Op.4, no. 4 Simon Preston, organ; Festival Orchestra; Yehudi Menuhin, cond. EMI 72626 Michael Colgrass (b. 1932) Snow Walker David Schrader, organ; Grant Park Orchestra; Carlos Kalmar, cond. Cedille 90000 063

1:59
YourClassical

A quirky piece by Marga Richter

Marga Richter (b. 1926) Quantum Quirks of a Quick Quaint Quark Czech Radio Orchestra; Gerard Schwarz MMC 2006

1:59
YourClassical

Hanson's "futile efforts"

Howard Hanson (1896 – 1981) Pastorale Randall Ellis, oboe; Susan Jolles, harp; Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Delos 3105

1:59
YourClassical

Chadwick wins a prize

George Whitefield Chadwick (1854 – 1931) Symphony No. 3 Detroit Symphony; Neeme Järvi, cond. Chandos 9253

1:59
YourClassical

Saeverud's "Minnesota Symphony"

Harald Saeverud (1897 – 1992) Symphony No. 8 (Minnesota) Stavanger Symphony; Ole Kristian Ruud, cond. BIS 972

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.