Mussorgsky (and friends)
Modest Mussorgsky (1839 – 1881) Khovanschina Prelude Montreal Symphony; Charles Dutoit, cond. London 417 299
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Oliver Nelson
Oliver Nelson (1932 – 1975) arr. Eley Sonata Marcus Eley, clarinet; Lucerne DeSa, piano Arabesque 6703
Tan Dun's "Water Music?"
Tan Dun (b. 1957) Concerto for Water Percussion Christopher Lamb, perc.; NY Philharmonic; Kurt Masur, cond. Philharmonic Special Edition NYP-0109
Walton and the Royals
William Walton (1902 – 1983) Coronation Te Deum Andrew Lumsden, organ; Finzi Singers; Paul Spicer, cond. Chandos 9222 William Walton Orb And Sceptre March English Northern Philharmonia; Paul Daniel, cond. Naxos 8.553981
Handel's Testament
George Frederic Handel (1685 – 1759) Air, from Water Music St. Martin's Academy; Sir Neville Marriner, cond. EMI 66646
Billy Strayhorn
Billy Strayhorn (1915 - 1967) Take the "A" Train Billy Strayhorn, celeste; Duke Ellington, piano; ensemble Riverside 108
Britten's "War Requiem"
Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976) War Requiem soloists; choirs; BBC Scottish Symphony; Martyn Brabbins, cond. Naxos 8.553558
Brahms in New York and Boston
Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) Serenade No. 1 in D L.A. Chamber Orchestra; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Nonesuch 79065
Gyorgy Ligeti
György Ligeti (1923 - 2006) Six Bagatelles London Winds Sony 62309 György Ligeti (b. 1923) Atmospheres Berlin Philharmonic; Jonathan Nott, cond. Teldec 88261
Ravel's "Sheherezade"
Maurice Ravel (1875–1937) Sheherezade (Fairy Overture) Minnesota Orchestra; Eiji Oue, cond. Refereence 79 Maurice Ravel (1875–1937) Daphnis et Chloe Suite no. 2 Minnesota Orchestra; Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, cond. Vox Box 5032
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.