Strauss and Thomas in New York
Johann Strauss, Jr. (1825 – 1899) Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 314 Columbia Symphony; Bruno Walter, cond. Sony 64467
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
Scandalous Gershwin?
George Gershwin (1898 - 1937) Scandal Walk, from Scandals of 1920 George Gershwin, piano roll Nonesuch 79287
Tower's musical "islands"
Joan Tower (b. 1938) Island Rhythms Louisville Orchestra; Lawrence Leighton Smith, cond. Louisville 6 Joan Tower (b. 1938) Island Prelude Peter Bowman, oboe; Saint Louis Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, cond. Nonesuch 79245
Robert Xavier Rodriguez
Robert Xavier Rodriguez (b. 1946) Frida and Tango Suites Voices of Change; Robert Xavier Rodriguez, cond CRI 824
George Templeton Strong, Jr.
George Templeton Strong (1856 - 1948) Evening Dance, fr Suite No. 2 Moscow Symphony; Adriano, cond. Naxos 8.559078
Zwilich's Piano Concerto
Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (b. 1939) Piano Concerto Joseph Kalichstein, piano; Florida State Orchestra; Michael Stern, Koch 7537
Telemann makes the record
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681 - 1767) Violin Concerto in A (The Frog) Pavlo Beznosiuk, violin; New London Consort; Philip Pickett, cond. London 455 621
Vaughan Williams's Fifth
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 - 1958) Symphony No. 5 London Philharmonic; Bernard Haitink, cond. EMI 55487
William Grant Still's rain delayed premiere
William Grant Still (18975 - 1978) And They Lynched Him on a Tree Plymouth Music Series Singers; Leigh Morris Chorale; Philip Brunelle, cond. Collins Classics 14542
Mehul's "interesting" times and tunes
Étienne-Nicolas Méhul (1763 - 1817) Symphony No. 1 Les Musiciens du Louvre; Marc Minkowski, cond. Erato 45026
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.