Composers Datebook®

Hoiby and Monk anniversaries

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

Lee Hoiby (b. 1926) Narrative Lee Hoiby, piano MMC 2038

Thelonius Monk (1917 – 1982) Ruby, My Dear Thelonius Monk, piano Columbia 44297

On This Day

Births

  • 1653 - Italian composer Arcangelo Corelli, in Fusignano (near Imola);

  • 1820 - Belgian composer Henri Vieuxtemps, in Verviers;

  • 1862 - English composer Edward German (Jones) in Whitechurch;

  • 1887 - Finnish composer Leevi Madetoja, in Oulu (Uleaborg);

  • 1920 - American composer Paul Fetler, in Philadelphia;

  • 1926 - Austrian composer Friedrich Cerha, in Vienna;

  • 1926 - American composer Lee Hoiby, in Madison, Wis.;

Deaths

  • 1732 - French composer and organist Louis Marchand, age 63, in Paris;

  • 1841 - Italian composer and guitarist Ferdinando Carulli, age 70, in Paris;

  • 1924 - Finnish composer Oskar Merikanto, age 55, in Hausjärvi-Oiti;

  • 1970 - American composer and conductor Alfred Newman, age 69, in Los Angeles;

  • 1982 - American Jazz composer and pianist Thelonious Monk, age 64, in Englewood, N.J.;

Premieres

  • 1728 - Handel: opera “Siroe, re di Persia” (Cyrus, King of Persia), in London at the King’s Theater in the Haymarket (Gregorian date: Feb. 28); This was the first Handel opera with a libretto by Metastasio;

  • 1792 - Haydn: Symphony No. 93, conducted by the composer, at the Hanover-Square Concert Rooms in London;

  • 1855 - Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 in Eb, in Weimar, with the composer as soloist and Hector Berlioz conducting;

  • 1859 - Verdi: opera "Un Ballo in Maschera" (A Masked Ball), in Rome at the Teatro Apollo;

  • 1889 - Franck: Symphony in d, in Paris;

  • 1901 - Mahler: oratorio "Das Klagende Lied" (Song of Lamentation), in Vienna, with composer conducting;

  • 1904 - Puccini: opera “Madama Butterfly,”in Milan at the Teatro alla Scala;

  • 1914 - Ernst von Dohnányi: "Variations on a Nursery Song" for piano and orchestra, in Berlin, with the composer as soloist;

  • 1927 - Deems Taylor: opera "The King's Henchmen," at the Metropolitan Opera in New York;

  • 1943 - Copland: "Music for Movies," at a Town Hall Forum concert in New York City;

  • 1947 - Copland: "Danzón Cubano" (orchestral version), by the Baltimore Symphony;

  • 1948 - David Diamond: Violin Sonata No. 1, at Carnegie Hall in New York, by Joseph Szigeti (violin) and Josef Lhevinne (piano);

  • 1952 - Henze: opera "Boulevard Solitude," in Hanover at the Landestheater;

  • 1961 - Elie Siegmeister: Flute Concerto, in Oklahoma City;

  • 1977 - Elliott Carter: "A Symphony of Three Orchestra," by the New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez conducting;

  • 1982 - George Perle: "Ballade" for piano, at Alice Tully Hall in New York, by Richard Goode.

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

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
Get Composers Datebook in your inbox
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
YourClassical

Handel's famous 'Largo'

George Frederic Handel (1685-1759): ‘Largo,’ from ‘Xerxes’; Boston Pops; Arthur Fiedler, conductor; BMG 62698

2:00
YourClassical

Delibes on stage and TV

Léo Delibes (1836-1891): ‘Flower Duet,’ from ‘Lakmé’; BBC Concert Orchestra; Barry Wordsworth, conductor; London 473 371 Léo Delibes: ‘Flower Duet,’ from ‘Lakmé’; Natalie Dessay and Delphine Haidan, sopranos; Toulouse Capitole Orchestra; Michel Plasson, conductor; EMI 67830

2:00
YourClassical

Gould at West Point

Morton Gould (1913-1996): ‘West Point Symphony’ (‘Symphony for Band’); Eastman Wind Ensemble; Frederick Fennell, conductor; Mercury 434 320

2:00
YourClassical

Henri Lazarof

Henri Lazarof (1932-2013): Violin Concerto; Yukiko Kamei, violin; Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, conductor; Naxos 8.559159

2:00
YourClassical

A Purcell premiere?

Henry Purcell (1659-1695): ‘Dido and Aeneas Suite’; Freiburg Baroque Orchestra; Thomas Hengelbrock, conductor; Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 77231

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