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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Americans in Paris

George Whitefield Chadwick (1854 – 1931) Melpomene Overture Detroit Symphony; Neeme Jarvi, cond. Chandos 9439

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Bernstein and the Pops

Leonard Bernstein (1918 – 1990) Divertimento for Orchestra Boston Pops; John Williams, cond. Philips 416 360

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Diamond and Chihara

David Diamond (1915 - 2005) Symphony No. 2 Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Delos 3093 Paul Chihara (b. 1938) The Tempest Suite Performing Arts Orchestra; Jean-Louis LeRoux, cond. Reference 10

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Percy Grainger, wildman

Percy Grainger (1882 – 1961) Country Gardens Martin Jones, piano Nimbus 7703 Percy Grainger (1882 – 1961) To a Nordic Princess Danish National Radio Symphony; Richard Hickox, cond. Chandos 9721

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John Williams' Cello Concerto

John Williams (b. 1932) Cello Concerto Yo Yo Ma, cello; Los Angeles Recording Arts Orchestra; John Williams, cond. Sony 89670

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Joaquin Jesus Rodrigo

Joaquin Rodrigo (1902 – 1999) Concierto Aranjuez Manuel Barrueco, guitar; Philharmonia Orchestra; Placido Domingo, cond. EMI 56175

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Chamber works by Zwilich and Paulus

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (b. 1939) Clarinet Quintet David Shifrin, cl; Ida and Ani Kavafian, vn; Paul Neubauer, vla; Fred Sherry, vcl Delos 3183 Stephen Paulus (1949 - 2014) Partita Appassionata Troy Gardner, violin; Jill Dawe, piano innova 539

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"Hail to the Chief!"

James Sanderson (17??-18??) Hail to the Chief Manchester Cornet Band Vox Box 5088 James Sanderson (17??-18??) Hail to the Chief Chestnut Brass Company Newport Classics 85548

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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.