William Schuman writes a "Symphony for Strings"
William Schuman (1910-1992) Symphony No. 5 (Symphony for Strings) I Musici de Montreal; Yuli Turovsky, cond. Chandos 9848
John Birge
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Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Tiomkin finds a home in Hollywood (and London)
Dmitri Tiomkin (1894-1979) Rhapsody of Steel Royal College of Music Orchestra; David Willcocks, cond. Unicorn-Kanchana 9047
A cold welcome for Verdi?
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) Overture and Act II excerpt, from La Forza del Destino John Alldis Choir; London Symphony; James Levine, cond. RCA/BMG 39502
Senor Rodrigo's popular Concierto
Joaquin Rodrigo (1902-1999) Concierto de Aranjuez Manuel Barrueco, guitar; Philharmonic Orchestra; Placido Domingo, cond. EMI 56175
Musical tales from Stravinsky and Marsalis
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) L'histoire du soldat Suite Philharmonia Orchestra; Robert Craft, cond. Koch 7504 Wynton Marsalis (b. 1961) The Fiddler's Tale Wynton Marsalis, trumpet; Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Sony 60979
Rachmaninoff writes "something for audiencesandrdquo
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 Jon Nakamatsu, piano; Rochester Philharmonic; Christopher Seaman, cond. Harmonia Mundi 90.7286 Niccolo Paganini (1782-1840) Solo Violin Caprice No. 24 James Ehnes, violin Telarc 80398 Andrew Lloyd Webber (b. 1948) Variations Julian Lloyd Webber, cello; London Philharmonic; Lorin Maazel, cond. Philips 420 342
Mr. Sax's instrument and Ms. Perry's Quartet
Anita D. Perry (b. 1960) Quartet for Saxophones Amherst Saxophone Quartet innova 516
Barber offers "two for the price of oneandrdquo
Samuel Barber (1910-1981) First Essay for Orchestra, Op. 12 Detroit Symphony; Neeme Järvi, cond. Chandos 9053 Samuel Barber (1910-1981) Adagio for Strings, Op. 11 Berlin Philharmonic; Semyon Bychkov, cond. Philips 434 108
A second wind for Reicha and Ward-Steinman?
Antonin Reicha (1770-1836) Wind Quintet No. 23 in a No. 23, Op. 100 Albert Schweitzer Quintet CPO 999027 David Ward-Steinman (1936-2015) Woodwind Quintet No. 2 (Night Winds) Arioso Quintet Fleur de Son Classics 57935
Middle-Eastern sounds from Rimsky-Korsakov and Reza Vali
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) Scheherazade, Op. 35 Atlanta Symphony; Robert Spano, cond. Telarc 80568 Reza Vali (b. 1952) Folk Songs Set No. 9 Alberto Almarza, flute; Alvaro Bitran, cello New Albion 077
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.