Composers Datebook®

William Schuman

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

William Schuman (1910-1992) Symphony No. 3 New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. Sony Classical 63163

Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856) Symphony No. 1 (Spring) Berlin Philharmonic; James Levine, cond. DG 435 856

Roy Harris (1899-1979) Symphony No. 1 Louisville Orchestra; Jorge Mester, cond. Albany/Louisville First Edition 012

On This Day

Births

  • 1875 - Italian opera composer Italo Montemezzi, in Vigasio (near Verona);

  • 1901 - Jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong, in New Orleans; Uncertain of the exact day (or year), Armstrong and his manager came up with the idea of saying he was born on the 4th of July in the year 1900;

  • 1910 - American composer William Schuman, in New York; He won the first Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1943 for his Walt Whitman cantata, "A Free Song";

  • 1912 - American composer David Raksin, in Philadelphia, Pa.; He wrote more than 100 film scores, including the 1944 film noire classic "Laura";

Deaths

  • 1930 - German opera composer and conductor Siegfried Wagner, age 61, in Bayreuth; He was the son of the 19th century German composer Richard Wagner, and little Siegfried's birth was celebrated musically in the elder Wagner's "Siegfried Idyll";

Premieres

  • 1940 - Milhaud: "Le Cortège funèbre" (Funeral March), on a CBS Radio broadcast conducted by the composer;

  • 1972 - Wuorinen: Violin Concerto, for amplified violin and orchestra, at the Tanglewood Festival in Mass., by violinist Paul Zukofsky and the Boston Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas conducting;

  • 1976 - Menotti: Symphony No. 1 ("The Halcyon"), at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy conducting;

  • 1998 - Danielpour: Bassoon Quintet, by bassoonist Stephen Walt and the Muir String Quartet, in Williamstown, Mass.;

  • 2001 - John Tavener: "Song of the Cosmos," at a Proms Concert in London, by soprano Patricia Rozario, baritone Father Meliton, The Bach Choir and the BBC Philharmonic, Hill conducting;

Others

  • 1705 - In Arnstadt, J.S. Bach and a bassoonist named Johann Heinrich Geyersbach cross paths late a night and an argument ensues; Geyerbach threatens Bach with a stick and Bach draws his sword; Both are hauled up before the city magistrate and reprimanded for their behavior (See also: August 9 and 14, 1703)

  • 1782 - Mozart marries Constanze Weber at St. Stephen's in Vienna, with the grudging consent of Mozart's father, Leopold.

  • 1967 - The scheduled local premiere at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires of Argentinean composer Alberto Ginastera's opera "Bomarzo" is cancelled by the military government due to the opera's unacceptable level of sex and violence depicted on-stage; The work had received its world premiere performance on May 19th in Washington, DC.

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

Tower's Violin Concerto

Joan Tower (b. 1938): Violin Concerto; Elmar Oliveira, violin; Louisville Orchestra; Joseph Silverstein, conductor; D’Note 1016

2:00
Get Composers Datebook in your inbox
YourClassical
2:00
YourClassical
2:00
YourClassical

Copland's 'Hurricane' for kids

Aaron Copland (1900-1990): ‘The Second Hurricane’; High School of Music and Art; New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, conductor; Sony 60560

2:00
YourClassical

Biblical Torke

Michael Torke (b. 1961): ‘Song of Isaiah’; Present Music; innova 590

2:00
YourClassical

Anthony Braxton's operas

Anthony Braxton (b. 1945): excerpt from Act 2 of ‘Trillium J’; soloists and ensemble; Anthony Braxton, conductor; New Braxton House 906

1:59
YourClassical

'King's Row,' Korngold and 'Star Wars'

Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957): ‘Main Title,’ from ‘King’s Row’; National Philharmonic; Charles Gerhardt, conductor; RCA LSC-3330 (LP) & 7890-2-RG (CD)

1:58
YourClassical

Holst and Hammersmith

Gustav Holst (1874-1934): ‘Hammersmith’; Dallas Wind Symphony; Howard Dunn, conductor; Reference Recordings 39

2:00
YourClassical

Persichetti and Leon for band

Vincent Pershichetti (1915-1987): Symphony No. 6 (‘Symphony for Band’); Eastman Wind Ensemble; Frederick Fennell, conductor; Mercury 432 754 Tania Leon (b. 1943): ‘Alegre’; American Composers Forum Bandquest CD-ROM; Hal Leonard

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®
YourClassical Radio
0:00
0:00