Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

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Zwilich's Horn Concerto

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (b. 1939) Horn Concerto David Jolley, horn; MSU Symphony Orchestra; Leon Gregorian, cond. Koch 7487

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Morton Gould's "Pavanne"

Morton Gould (1913 – 1996) Pavanne, fr American Symphonette No. 2 St. Louis Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, cond. RCA 60778

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Mendelssohn in Scotland

Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847) Symphony No. 3 (Scottish) London Symphony; Peter Maag, cond. London 466 990

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Dvořák and friends

Antonin Dvořák (1841 – 1904) String Quartet in Eb, Op. 51 Takacs Quartet London 466 197

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Ligeti in Salzburg

Gyorgy Ligeti (b. 1923) Mysteries of the Macabre, fr Le Grand Macabre Sibylle Ehlert, soprano; Philharmonia Orchestra; Esa-Pekka Salonen, cond. Sony 62311

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Herrmann delivers a new symphony

Bernard Herrmann (1911 – 1975) Symphony No. 1 National Philharmonic; Bernard Herrmann, cond. Unicorn- Kanchana 2063

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Wolfgang, Jr.

Franz Xaver Mozart (1791 – 1844) Piano Concerto in C, Op. 14 Klaus Hellwig, piano; Cologne Radio Symphony; Roland Bader, cond. Koch-Schwann 311004

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Alfredo Casella

Alfredo Casella (1883 – 1947) Serenata per Piccola Orchestra, Op. 46a Haydn Orchestra Bolzano e Trento; Alun Francis, cond. CPO 999 195

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Richard Strauss' "Peace Day"

Richard Strauss (1864 – 1949) Friedenstag Bavarian Radio Symphony; Wolfgang Sawallisch, cond. EMI 56850

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Harbison's Variations

John Harbison (b. 1937) Variations David Satz, clarinet; Rose Mary Harbison, violin; Ursula Oppens, piano Northeastern 230

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.