Adams and Rouse anniversaries

Synopsis

Today we celebrate the birthday anniversaries of two notable baby boomers.

The American composer John Adams was born on this date in 1947 in Worcester, Massachusetts. After studies at Harvard, Adams moved to California in 1971, and in 1978 he became new music advisor to the San Francisco Symphony. With music director Edo de Waart, created the Symphony's “New and Unusual Music” series, and around that same time, Adams began composing some “new and unusual music” of his own.

Our second birthday anniversary today is that of the American composer Christopher Rouse, born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1949. After studies at Oberlin and Cornell, Rouse taught at Eastman, where, alongside courses on theory and composition, he offered students his scholarly spin on the history of rock ‘n’ roll. Rouse’s interest in rock was genuine, and, in 1988, he wrote a piece for eight percussionists entitled “Bonham”—a tribute to the Led Zeppelin drummer of that name.

On a more introspective note, the following year the St. Paul Chamber orchestra premiered work by Rouse entitled “Iscariot,” which quotes a Bach chorale. John Adams conducted that SPCO premiere, and it was to Adams that Rouse dedicated the score “in friendship and admiration.”

Music Played in Today's Program

John Adams (b. 1947) The Chairman Dances Baltimore Symphony; David Zinman, cond. Argo 444 454

Christopher Rouse (1949-2019) Bonham Baltimore Symphony; David Zinman, cond. Argo 444 454

Iscariot Colorado Symphony; Marin Alsop, cond. BMG 68410

On This Day

Births

• 1571 - possible birth date of German composer Michael Praetorius, in Creuzberg an der Werra, near Eisenach;

• 1847 - Austrian composer Robert Fuchs, in Frauenthal, Styria;

• 1899 - French composer Georges Auric, in Lodève;

• 1907 - French composer and organist Jean Langlais, in La Fontenelle;

• 1947 - American composer John Adams, in Worcester, Mass.;

• 1949 - American composer Christopher Rouse, in Baltimore, Maryland;

Deaths

• 1621 - German composer Michael Praetorius, supposedly on his 50th birthday, in Wolfenbüttel;

• 1857 - Russian composer Mikhail Glinka, age 52, in Berlin;

• 1887 - Russian composer Alexander Borodin (Gregorian date: Feb. 27);

• 1974 - Swedish composer Kurt Atterberg, age 86, in Stockholm;

• 1992 - American composer William Schuman, age 81 in New York; He won the first Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1943 for his Walt Whitman cantata, "A Free Song";

Premieres

• 1686 - Lully: opera "Armide et Renaud," (after Tasso) in Paris;

• 1845 - Verdi: opera "Giovanna D'Arco" (Joan of Arc) in Milan at the Teatro all Scala;

• 1868 - Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 1 ("Winter Dreams") (first version), in Moscow (Julian date Feb. 3); A revised version of this symphony premiered in Moscow on Nov. 19/Dec. 1, 1883;

• 1874 - Bizet: "Patrie" Overture, in Paris, by the Concerts Pasedeoup;

• 1884 - Tchaikovsky: opera "Mazeppa" in Moscow at the Bolshoi Theater (Julian date: Feb. 3);

• 1919 - Loeffler: "Music for Four Stringed Instruments" at New York's Aeolina Hall by the Flonzaley Quartet;

• 1939 - Miakovsky: Symphony No. 19 for wind band, in Moscow;

• 1945 - Paul Creston: Symphony No. 2, by the New York Philharmonic, with Arthur Rodzinski conducting;

• 1947 - Korngold: Violin Concerto, by the St. Louis Symphony, with Jascha Heifetz as soloist;

• 1958 - Diamond: orchestral suite "The World of Paul Klee," in Portland, Ore.;

• 1965 - B.A. Zimmermann: opera "Die Soldaten" (The Soldiers), in Cologne at the Städtische Oper;

Others

• 1940 - American Music Center, a library and information center for American composers, is founded in New York City.