Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook for January 30, 2009

YourClassical

Larsen's symphonies

Libby Larsen (b. 1950) Symphony: Water Music Minnesota Orchestra; Sir Neville Marriner, cond. Nonesuch 79147 Libby Larsen (b. 1950) Solo Symphony Colorado Symphony; Marin Alsop, cond. Koch 7520

2:09
YourClassical

Mozart at his happiest?

Wolfgang Mozart (1756 – 1791) Idomeneo Overture Bavarian Radio Symphony; Sir Colin Davis, cond. Philips 422 537

1:59
YourClassical

Handel vs. Swift

George Frederic Handel (1685 – 1757) Messiah Oregon Bach Festival; Helmuth Rilling, cond. Hännsler 98.198

1:59
YourClassical

Creston's Saxophone Concerto

Paul Creston (1906 – 1985) Saxophone Concerto, Op. 26 James Abato, saxophone; Hollywood Bowl Symphony; Leopold Stokowski, cond. Archival broadcast recording (August 26, 1945)

1:59
YourClassical

Argento in Italy

Dominick Argento (b. 1927) Variations for Orchestra (The Mask of Night) Plymouth Music Series Orchestra; Philip Brunelle, cond. Virgin 91184

1:59
YourClassical

Post-traumatic Strauss?

Richard Strauss (1864 – 1949) Metamorphosen Vienna Philharmonic; Simon Rattle, cond. EMI 56580

1:59
YourClassical

Tavener's "The Whale"

John Tavener (1944 - 2013) The Whale London Sinfonietta and Chorus; David Atherton, cond. Capitol 98497

1:59
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Chavez goes native

Carlos Chavez (1899 – 1978) Sinfonia India (Symphony No. 2) Simon Bolivar Symphony of Venezuela; Eduardo Mata, cond. Dorian 90179

1:59
YourClassical

John Williams goes west

John Williams (b. 1932) The Cowboys Overture Boston Pops; John Williams, cond. Philips 420 178

1:59
YourClassical

Bernstein gets political

Leonard Bernstein (1918 – 1990) So Pretty Roberta Alexander, soprano; Tan Crone, piano Etcetera 1007

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.