Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

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Nancarrow's Quartet No. 3

Conlon Nancarrow (1912 – 1997) String Quartet No. 3 Arditti Quartet Grammavision 79440

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Diamond's Second

David Diamond (1915 – 2005) Symphony No. 2 Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Delos 3093

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Martinu's Third

Bohuslav Martinu ( 1890 – 1959) Symphony No. 3 National Orchestra of Ukraine; Arthur Fagen, cond. Naxos 8.553350

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Vivaldi and Messiaen for the birds

Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741) Flute Concerto, R. 428 (Goldfinch) Patrick Gallois, flute; Orpheus Orchestra DG 437 839 Olivier Messiaen (1908 – 1992) Le Reveil des oiseaux Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano; Cleveland Orchestra; Pierre Boulez, cond. DG 453 478

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Mr. Dukelsky and Mr. Duke

Vladimir Dukelsky (1903 – 1969) Zephyr et Flore Ballet Hague Orchestra; Gennady Rozhdestvensky, cond. Chandos 9766 Vernon Duke (1903 – 1969) Autumn in New York Dawn Upshaw, soprano; orchestra; Eric Stern, cond. Nonesuch 79531

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Bolcom's "View" on choral matters

William Bolcom (b. 1938) A View from the Bridge Lyric Opera of Chicago; Dennis Russell Davies, cond. New World 80558

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Stravinsky's "Ode"

Igor Stravinsky (1882 – 1971) Ode London Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. BMG 68865

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The buzz about Part

Arvo Pärt (b. 1935) If Bach had Raised Bees Philharmonia Orchestra; Neeme Järvi, cond. Chandos 9134

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Hovhaness reaches No. 65

Alan Hovhaness (1911 – 2000) Symphony No. 2 (Mysterious Mountain) Chicago Symphony; Fritz Reiner, cond. RCA 61957

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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.