Composers Datebook®

The legacy of J.S. Bach

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

J. S. Bach (1685 - 1750) Capriccio, S. 992 Angela Hewitt, piano Hyperion 67306

On This Day

Births

  • 1893 - Danish composer Rued Langgaard, in Copenhagen

Deaths

  • 1750 - German composer Johann Sebastian Bach, age 65, in Leipzig; He died "a little after" 8:15 p.m. and was buried at St. John's cemetery on either July 30 or 31; In 1894 his body was exhumed, examined, and reburied in the Leipzig's St. Thomas Church, where he had served as Kantor

  • 1838 - Finnish composer Bernard Henrik Crusell, age 62, in Stockholm

  • 1969 - American songwriter and musical composer Frank Loesser, age 59, in New York City

Premieres

  • 1717 - Handel: "Water Music" on the river Thames (Julian date: July 17)

  • 1823 - Spohr: opera "Jessonda," in Kassel

  • 1840 - Berlioz: "Symphonie funebre et triomphale," in Paris, with the composer conducting (with a sword) over 200 marching musicians

Others

  • 1741 - In Vienna, burial of Italian composer and violinist Antonio Vivaldi

  • 1850 - To mark the centenary of the composer's death, The Bach Gesellschaft is founded in Leipzig; Their goal is to publish a complete edition of Bach's works

  • 1954 - Premiere of Columbia Pictures film "On the Waterfront," with a score by Leonard Bernstein

  • 1997 - Ligeti: opera "La Grand Macabre" (revised version), in Salzburg at the Grosses Festpielhaus

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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.

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