Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

YourClassical
YourClassical

Brant's "Angels and Devils"

Henry Brant (1913 - 2008) Angels and Devils Bonita Boyd, flute; Eastman Wind Ensemble; Donald Hunsberger, cond. Centaur 2014

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Zwilich's "Gardens" Symphony

W.A. Mozart (1756 - 1791) Symphony No. 35 (Haffner) Prague Chamber Orchestra; Sir Charles Mackerras, cond. Telarc 80203 Ellen Taaffe Zwillich (b. 1939) Symphony No. 4 (The Gardens) MSU Symphony and Choirs; Leon Gregorian, cond. Koch International 7487

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Liszt pulls a switcheroo

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827) Piano Trio, Op. 1, no. 2 Kempff-Szeryng-Fournier Trio DG 453 751

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A summer Sextet by Brahms

Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897) String Sextet No. 2, Op. 36 L'Archibudelli Sony Classical 68252

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Maxwell Davies tackles the Symphony

Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897) Symphony No. 1 Berlin Philharmonic; Herbert von Karajan, cond. DG 447 408 Peter Maxwell Davies (b. 1934) Symphony No. 1 BBC Philharmonic; Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, cond. Collins Classics 14352

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The Tales of Offenbach?

Jacques Offenbach (1819 - 1880) Tales of Hoffmann Suite Detroit Symphony; Paul Paray, cond. Mercury 434 332

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Maslanka for winds

David Maslanka (1943 - 2017) Wind Quintet No. 2 Manhattan Wind Quintet Albany 246

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Larsen's symphonies

Libby Larsen (b. 1950) Symphony: Water Music Minnesota Orchestra; Sir Neville Marriner, cond. Nonesuch 79147 Libby Larsen (b. 1950) Solo Symphony Colorado Symphony; Marin Alsop, cond. Koch 7520

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Mozart at his happiest?

Wolfgang Mozart (1756 – 1791) Idomeneo Overture Bavarian Radio Symphony; Sir Colin Davis, cond. Philips 422 537

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.