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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Ruggles at Carnegie Hall

Carl Ruggles (1876 – 1971) Organum Japan Philharmonic; Akeo Watanabe, cond. CRI 715

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Berlioz gets paid (eventually)

Hector Berlioz (1803 – 1869) Harold in Italy Nobuko Imai, viola; London Symphony; Sir Colin Davis, cond. Philips 416 431

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Grofe does the Grand Canyon

Ferde Grofé (1897 – 1972) Grand Canyon Suite Philadelphia Orchestra; Eugene Ormandy, cond. Sony Classical 62402

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Rameau and Adams go dancing

Jean Philippe Rameau (1683 – 1764) Dardanus Suite Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra; Nicholas McGegan, cond. Conifer 51313 John Adams (b. 1947) John's Book of Alleged Dances Kronos Quartet Nonesuch 79453

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Paul Bowles' "Road to Morocco"

Paul Bowles (1910 – 1999) Suite and Concerto for Two Pianos EOS Ensemble; Jonathan Sheffer, cond. BMG/Catalyst 68409

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David Amram, Renaissance Man

David Amram (b. 1930) Rondo a la Turca, fr Triple Concerto David Amram Jazz Quintet; Rochester Philharmonic; David Zinman, cond. Flying Fish 751

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Coleridge-Taylor in Washington

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875 – 1912) Hiawatha's Departure Welsh National Opera Chorus and Orchestra; Kenneth Alwyn, cond. Argo 430 956

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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.