Composers Datebook®

Mr. Parker and Mr. Ives

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

Horatio Parker (1863-1919) Introduction, from Hora Novissima Nebraska Chamber Orchestra; John Levick, cond. Albany TROY-124/5

Charles Ives (1874-1954) Scherzo, from Symphony No. 1 Chicago Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. Sony 44939

On This Day

Births

  • 1863 - American composer and teacher, Horatio William Parker, in Auburndale, Mass.; He became chairman of the Yale music department in 1894, where he taught the young Charles Ives;

  • 1890 - Swiss composer Frank Martin, in Geneva;

  • 1913 - American composer Henry Brant, in Montréal, Canada;

Deaths

  • 1945 - Austrian composer Anton von Webern, age 61, accidentally shot by an American soldier in Mittersill, Austria;

Premieres

  • 1946 - Cowell: "Hymn and Fuguing Tune" No. 5 (string orchestra arrangement), at the Saratoga Springs Convention Hall, by the Spa Music Festival Orchestra, F. Charles Adler conducting; This music was originally written for 5 voices, and in that form was premiered on April 14, 1946, at Times Hall in New York by the Randolph Singers directed by David Randolph;

  • 1946 - Ives: String Quartet No. 2, at the Yaddo Music Festival in Saratoga, N.Y., by the Walden Quartet (This music was completed in 1913);

  • 2000 - Sallinen: opera "King Lear," by the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki.

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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.

About Composers Datebook®