Bernstein's stamp of approval
Leonard Bernstein (1917 - 1990) arr. Brohn West Side Story Suite Joshua Bell, violin; Philharmonia Orchestra; David Zinman, cond. Sony 89358
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
David Diamond arrives, Randall Thompson departs
David Diamond (1915 - 2005) Rounds Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Nonesuch 79002 Randall Thompson (1899 - 1984) Alleluia Dale Warland Singers; Dale Warland, cond. MPR 201
John Williams, musical tree-hugger?
John Williams (b. 1932) Treesongs Gil Shaham, violin; Boston Symphony; John Williams, cond. DG 471 326
Handel celebrates peace
George Frederic Handel (1685 - 1757) Utrecht Te Deum St Paul's Cathedral Choir; The Parley of Instruments; John Scott, cond. Hyperion 67009
Louis Armstrong and American music
Louis Armstrong (1901 - 1971) Skip the Gutter Louis Armstrong and the Hot Five Columbia 44422 I'm in the Barrel arr. David Jolley Windscape Arabesque 6732
Piazzolla passes
Astor Piazzolla (1921 - 1992) Tres minutos con la realidad Nestor Marconi, bandoneon; Yo Yo Ma, cello; ensemble Sony Classical 63122
Wagner's American Centennial commission
Richard Wagner (1813 - 1883) American Centennial March Philip Jones Ensemble; Elgar Howarth, cond. London 414 149
Ruth Crawford Seeger
Ruth Crawford Seeger (1901 - 1953) Rissolty Rossolty Schoenberg Ensemble; Oliver Knussen, cond. DG 449 925
Vivaldi and the Pieta
Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741) Concerto in G, Op. 3, no. 3 Les Violons du Roy; Bernard Labadie, cond. Dorian 90255
Milhaud's Scaramouche Suite
Darius Milhaud (1892 - 1974) Scaramouche Anthony and Joseph Paratore, pianos Four Winds 3014
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.