Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook for February 15, 2008

YourClassical

A belated Elgar premiere

Edward Elgar (1857-1934) Symphony No. 3 (elaborated by Anthony Payne) BBC Symphony; Andrew Davis, cond. NMC 053

1:57
YourClassical
1:59
YourClassical

Johann Strauss and Philip Glass in 3/4 time

Johann Strauss, Jr. (1825-1899) Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 314 Vienna State Opera Orchestra; Jascha Horenstein, cond. Chesky 95 Philip Glass (b. 1937) Modern Love Waltz Gloria Cheng, piano Telarc 80549

1:59
YourClassical

The Brothers Johnson write an anthem

J.W. (1871-1938) and J.R. (1873-1954) Johnson Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing Choirs and Boston Pops Orchestra; Keith Lockhart, cond. BMG/RCA 63888

1:59
YourClassical

The varieties of Bruckner

Anton Bruckner (1826-1894) Symphony No. 6 in A Bavarian Radio Symphony; Eugen Jochum, cond. DG 429 790 Symphony No. 9 in d Minnesota Orchestra; Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, cond. Reference 81

1:59
YourClassical
1:59
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Mozart starts keeping track

Wolfgang Mozart (1756-1791) Piano Concerto No. 14, K. 415 Murray Perahia, piano and cond.; English Chamber Orchestra CBS/Sony 415 Freemason Cantata, K. 623 Boston Early Music Festival; Andrew Parrott, cond. Denon 9152

1:59
YourClassical
1:59
YourClassical

Barber borrows an idea from Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Violin Concerto, Op. 61 Hilary Hahn, violin; Baltimore Symphony; David Zinman, cond Sony 60584 Samuel Barber (1910-1981) Violin Concerto, Op. 14 Hilary Hahn, violin; Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra; Hugh Wolff, cond. Sony 89029

1:59
YourClassical

Stephen Paulus and the Commissioning Club

Stephen Paulus (1949 - 2014) Dramatic Suite Judith Ranheim, flute; Chouhei Min, violin; Korey Konkol, viola; Mina Fisher, cello; Thelma Hunter, piano innova 539

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.