Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

YourClassical

Schubert's "Unfinished" business

Franz Schubert (1795 – 1828) arr. Brian Newbould Symphony No. 8 Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields; Sir Neville Marriner, cond. Philips 412 176

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Reznicek of the Mounties?

Emil von Reznicek (1860 – 1945) Donna Diana Overture Symphony Nova Scotia; Georg Tintner, cond. CBC 5167

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Thomas and the trombone

Augusta Read Thomas (b. 1964) Meditation Christian Lindberg, trombone; BBC National Orchestra of Wales; Grant Llewellyn, cond. BIS 788

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YourClassical

Chopin is smitten

Frederic Chopin (1810 – 1849) Polonaise in c#, Op. 26 Garrick Ohlsson, piano Arabesque 6642

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Brahms and the clarinet

Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897) Clarinet Quintet, Op. 115 Charles Neidich, clarinet; Juilliard String Quartet Sony 66285

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YourClassical
YourClassical

Miakovsky's last symphony

Nikolai Miaskovsky (1881 – 1950) Symphony No. 27 USSR Academic Symphony; Yevgeny Svetlanov, cond. Olympia 168

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Mr. Gershwin goes to Washington

George Gershwin (1898 – 1937) Of Thee I Sing soloists; Orchestra of St. Luke's; Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. Sony 42522

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.