Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

Composers Datebook for May 31, 2007

YourClassical

Billy Strayhorn

Billy Strayhorn (1915 - 1967) Take the "A" Train Billy Strayhorn, celeste; Duke Ellington, piano; ensemble Riverside 108

2:00
YourClassical

Britten's "War Requiem"

Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976) War Requiem soloists; choirs; BBC Scottish Symphony; Martyn Brabbins, cond. Naxos 8.553558

2:00
YourClassical

Brahms in New York and Boston

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) Serenade No. 1 in D L.A. Chamber Orchestra; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Nonesuch 79065

2:00
YourClassical

Gyorgy Ligeti

György Ligeti (1923 - 2006) Six Bagatelles London Winds Sony 62309 György Ligeti (b. 1923) Atmospheres Berlin Philharmonic; Jonathan Nott, cond. Teldec 88261

2:00
YourClassical

Ravel's "Sheherezade"

Maurice Ravel (1875–1937) Sheherezade (Fairy Overture) Minnesota Orchestra; Eiji Oue, cond. Refereence 79 Maurice Ravel (1875–1937) Daphnis et Chloe Suite no. 2 Minnesota Orchestra; Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, cond. Vox Box 5032

2:00
YourClassical

Edward Collins premieres

Edward Collins (1889 - 1951) Mardi Gras and Tragic Overture Concordia Orchestra; Marin Alsop, cond. Albany 267

2:00
YourClassical

Verdi, Wagner and Sousa for the Red Cross

Richard Wagner (1813 - 1883) Ride of the Valkyries, from Die Walküre New York Philharmonic and NBC Orchestra; Arturo Toscanini, cond. Radio Years 71/72 John Philip Sousa (arr. Toscanini) Stars and Stripes Forever New York Philharmonic and NBC Orchestra; Arturo Toscanini, cond. Radio Years 71/72

2:00
YourClassical

Carter and Copland in dancing shoes

Elliot Carter (1908 - 2012) Pocahontas Ballet American Composers Orchestra; Paul Dunkel, cond. CRI 610 Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990) Billy the Kid Ballet St. Louis Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, cond. EMI 73653

2:00
YourClassical
2:00
YourClassical

Still and Singleton

William Grant Still (1895 - 1978) Sahdji Ballet Eastman-Rochester Orchestra and Chorus; Howard Hanson, cond. Mercury 434 324 Alvin Singleton (b.1940) A Yellow Rose Petal Atlanta Symphony; Louis Lane, cond. Nonesuch 79231

2:00

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.