Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

YourClassical

Vaughan Williams and Harbison meet the Oboe Concerto

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958) Oboe Concerto Maurice Bourgue, oboe; English String Orchestra; William Boughton, cond. Nimbus 7013 John Harbison (b. 1938) Oboe Concerto William Bennett, oboe; San Francisco Symphony; Herbert Blomstedt, cond. London 443 376

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YourClassical

Herrmann and Daugherty look to the skies

Bernard Herrmann (1911 - 1975) The Day the Earth Stood Still filmscore National Philharmonic; Bernard Herrmann, cond. London 443 899 Michael Daugherty (b. 1954) UFO Evelyn Glennie, percussion; North Texas Wind Symphony; Eugene Migliaro Corporon, cond. Klavier 11121

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Dvořák in America

Antonin Dvořák (1841 – 1904) American Suite Royal Liverpool Philharmonic; Libor Pešek, cond. Virgin 90723

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William Billings

William Billings (1746 – 1800) When Jesus Wept and Methinks I see a heavenly host His Majestie's Clerkes; Paul Hillier, cond. Harmonia Mundi 90.7048

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Adams rolls into the new century

John Adams (b. 1947) Century Rolls Emanuel Ax, piano; Cleveland Orchestra; Christoph von Dohnányi, cond. Nonesuch 79607

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Barber at Lincoln Center

Samuel Barber (1910 – 1981) Piano Concerto, Op. 38 John Browning, piano; Saint Louis Symphony; Leonard Slatkin, cond. RCA/BMG 60732

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Cadman's Trio

Charles Wakefield Cadman (1881 – 1946) Piano Trio, Op. 56and From the Land of the Sky-Blue Water

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Bernstein gets a "Presidential" title

Leonard Bernstein (1918 – 1990) arr. Bright Sheng Arias and Barcarolles Jane Bunnell, mezzo-soprano; Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Delos 3078

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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.