Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

YourClassical

"J.D." Bach?

J.S. Bach (1685 – 1750) Prelude and Fugue in C, S. 531 Kevin Bowyer, organ Nimbus 5500

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Poulenc's "Model Animals"

Francis Poulenc (1899 – 1963) Les animaux modeles French National Orchestra; Charles Dutoit, cond. London 452 937

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Hanson and Thomas at summer camp

Howard Hanson (1896 – 1981) Symphony No. 7 (A Sea Symphony) Seattle Symphony and Chorale; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Delos 3130 Augusta Read Thomas (b. 1964) Wind Dances Louisville Orchestra; Lawrence Leighton Smith, cond. Albany/ Louisville First Edition 010

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Barber and Penderecki for strings

Samuel Barber (1910 – 1981) Adagio for Strings, Op. 11 London Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. EMI Classics 55358 Krzysztof Penderecki (b. 1933) Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima Polish Radio National Symphony; Krzyzstof Penderecki, cond. EMI Classics 65077

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Mozart's First (and Fashions)

Wolfgang Mozart (1756 – 1791) Symphony No. 1, K. 16 Prague Chamber Orchestra; Charles Mackerras, cond. Telarc 80256

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Schuman's Third (or "First"?)

William Schuman (1910-1992) Symphony No. 3 New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. Sony Classical 63163 Robert Schumann (1810 – 1856) Symphony No. 1 (Spring) Berlin Philharmonic; James Levine, cond. DG 435 856 Roy Harris (1899-1979) Symphony No. 1 Louisville Orchestra; Jorge Mester, cond. Albany/Louisville First Edition 012

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Salieri opens La Scala

Antonio Salieri (1750 – 1825) Falstaff Overture London Mozart Players; Matthias Bamert, cond. Chandos 9877

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Harbison's Three City Blocks

John Harbison (b. 1938) Three City Blocks United States Marine Band; John Harbison, cond. USMC 14

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Arne rules!

Thomas Arne (1710-1778) Rule Britannia! BBC Symphony and Choruses; Andrew Davis, cond. Teldec 97868

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Sousa leaves the Marine Band

John Philip Sousa (1854 - 1932) Manhattan Beach Dallas Wind Symphony; Jerry Junkin, cond. Reference 94

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.