Poster John Birge
John Birge
YourClassical MPR

Composers Datebook®

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

YourClassical

A surprise commission for Mr. Sousa

John Philip Sousa (1854 - 1932) The Washington Post March Dallas Wind Symphony; Jerry Junkin, cond. Reference 94 John Philip Sousa (1854 - 1932) Peaches and Cream Foxtrot Cincinnati Pops; Erich Kunzel, cond. Moss MMG-10005

YourClassical
YourClassical

"Blind Tom"

Thomas "Blind Tom" Wiggins (1849-1908) Battle of Manassas John Davis, p. Newport Classics 85660

YourClassical

Music for the birds by Dvořák and Rautavaara

Antonin Dvořák (1841-1904) String Quartet, Op. 96 (American) Vlach Quartet Naxos 8.553371 Einojuhani Rautavaara (b. 1928) Cantus Arcticus, Op. 61 Lahti Symphony; Osmo Vänskä BIS 1038

YourClassical
YourClassical

Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde"

Richard Wagner (1813-1883) Act II Prelude, from Tristan und Isolde Bayreuth Festival Orchestra; Karl Böhm Philips 434 425

YourClassical

Lincoln at the opera

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) Act II Prelude, from Un ballo in maschera La Scala Philharmonic; Riccardo Muti, cond. Sony 62373 Charles Gounod (1818-1893) Soldiers' Chorus, from Faust Paris Opera Chrous and Orch; Andre Cluytens, cond. EMI 63733

YourClassical

Morton Gould's "Spirituals"

Morton Gould (1913-1996) Spirituals for Strings I Musici de Montreal; Yuli Turovsky, cond. Chandos 9848

YourClassical
YourClassical

Safe passage for Rachmaninoff

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) Piano Concerto No. 1 in f#, Op. 1 Krystian Zimerman, piano; Boston Symphony Orchestra; Seiji Ozawa, cond. DG 4796868

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.