Composers Datebook®

Olympic music by Richard Strauss and John Williams

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

Richard Strauss (1864 - 1949) Olympic Hymn Locke Brass Consort; James Stobart, cond. Chandos 8419

John Williams (b. 1932) Summon the Heroes Boston Pops; John Williams, cond. Sony 89364

On This Day

Births

  • 1906 - Norwegian composer Klaus Egge, in Gransherad, Telemark

  • 1913 - American composer and pianist Peggy Stuart-Coolidge in Swampscott, Mass.;

  • 1952 - English composer Dominic Muldowney, in Southhampton

  • 1965 - Scottish composer and percussionist Evelyn Glennie, in Aberdeen

Deaths

  • 1730 - French composer and flutist Jean-Baptiste Loeillet, age 49, in London

Premieres

  • 1924 - Webern: Six Bagatelles, Op. 9, for string quartet , in Donauschingen (Germany), by the Amar Quartet

  • 1973 - Penderecki: Symphony No. 1 in Peterborough Cathedral by the London Symphony, conducted by the composer

  • 1976 - Richard Wernick: "Visions of Terror and Wonder" for mezzo-soprano and orchestra, at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado; This work won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1977

  • 1996 - John Williams "Summon the Heroes," a six-minute theme for the 1996 Summer Olympics, commissioned by the Atlanta Olympic Organizing Committee

Others

  • 1942 - Arturo Toscanini conducts the American premiere of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7 ("Leningrad") on a NBC Symphony broadcast; The world premiere performance by the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra had occurred on March 1, 1942, in Kuybishe, the wartime seat of the Soviet government

Love the music?

Donate by phone
1-800-562-8440

Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.

Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.

YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.

More Ways to Give

Your Donation

$5/month
$10/month
$15/month
$20/month
$

Latest Composers Datebook® Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES

Latest Composers Datebook® Episodes

YourClassical

Deems Taylor

Deems Taylor (1885-1966): ‘Through the Looking Glass’; Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, conductor; Delos 3099

2:00
Get Composers Datebook in your inbox
YourClassical

Sheppard's 'Media Vita'

John Sheppard (1515-1558): ‘Media Vita’; Tallis Scholars; Peter Phillips, conductor; Gimell 16

2:00
YourClassical

Harbison's Great American Opera?

John Harbison (b. 1938): ‘Remembering Gatsby’; Minnesota Orchestra; Edo de Waart, conductor; Vol. 11, from ‘Minnesota Orchestra at 100’ special edition boxed CD set

2:00
YourClassical

Stravinsky's 'Symphony of Psalms'

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): ‘Symphony of Psalms’; The Monteverdi Choir; London Symphony; John Eliot Gardiner, conductor; DG 436 789

2:00
YourClassical

Quincy Jones and 'The Color Purple'

Quincy Jones (1933-2024): ‘The Color Purple: Main Theme’; Itzhak Perlman, violin; Pittsburgh Symphony; John Williams, conductor; Sony 63005

2:00
YourClassical

Brahms makes his debut

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): Piano Sonata No. 1; Sviatoslav Richter, piano; Philips 438 477

2:00
YourClassical

Prokofiev in Chicago

Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953): Piano Concerto No. 3; Alexander Toradze, piano; Kirov Orchestra; Valery Gergiev, conductor; Philips 462 048

2:00
YourClassical

Bloch's American concerto

Ernest Bloch (1880-1959): Violin Concerto; Oleh Krysa, violin; Malmo Symphony; Sakari Oramo, conductor; BIS 639

2:00
YourClassical

Tsfasman's 'Jazz Suite'

Alexander Tsfasman (1906-1971): ‘Snowflakes’ and ‘Polka’ (excerpts), from ‘Jazz Suite’; Zlata Chochieva, piano; BBC Scottish Symphony; Karl-Heinz Steffens, conductor; Naïve V-8448

2:00
VIEW ALL EPISODES

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.

About Composers Datebook®