Composers Datebook®

Gabrieli and Harbison

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

Giovanni Gabrieli (1553 - 1612) Canzon Duodecimi Toni No. 2 London Symphony Brass; Eric Crees, cond. Naxos 8.554129

John Harbison (b. 1938) Concerto for Double Brass Choir and Orchestra Los Angeles Philharmonic; Andre Previn, cond. New World 80395

On This Day

Deaths

  • 1951 - American composer John Alden Carpenter, age 75, in Chicago;

  • 1991 - French-born American composer and arranger Leo (Noël) Arnaud, age 86, in Los Angeles; His tune "Bugler's Dream" (written for a Felix Slatkin LP) became used as a familiar theme for the Olympic Games;

Premieres

  • 1738 - Handel: opera "Serse," (Julian date: April 15);

  • 1899 - first version of Sibelius: Symphony No. 1, by the Helsinki Philharmonic, with the composer conducting; A revised, final version of this symphony was performed by the same orchestra on tour in Stockholm on July 4, 1900, conducted by Robert Kajanus;

  • 1915 - Hindemith: String Quartet No. 1 in C, Op. 2, at Dr. Hoch's Conservatory in Frankfurt;

  • 1959 - John Cage: "Fontana Mix," in New York City;

  • 1965 - Ives: Symphony No. 4, at Carnegie Hall by the American Symphony Orchestra, with Leopold Stokowski (assisted by David Katz and José Serebrier);

  • 1970 - Broadway premiere of Sondheim: musical 'Company"; A trial-run in Boston preceded the Broadway premiere;

  • 1990 - John Harbison: Concerto for Double Brass Choir and Orchestra, in Los Angeles, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, André Previn conducting;

  • 2002 - Michael Hersch: Symphony No. 2, by the Pittsburgh Symphony, Mariss Jansons conducting;

Others

  • 1891 - Tchaikovsky arrives in New York to take part in the May 5, 1891, opening concert at New York's newly-constructed "Music Hall"(later known as "Carnegie Hall”).

  • 1926 - American premiere of Monteverdi's 1642 opera "L'Incoronazione di Poppea" (The Coronation of Poppea), at Smith College in Northampton, Mass.

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

Rebecca Clarke gets her due

Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979): ‘Vivace’ from Viola Sonata; Philip Dukes, viola; Sophia Rahman, piano; Naxos 8.557934

2:00
Get Composers Datebook in your inbox
YourClassical

Columbus Day music

Victor Herbert (1859-1924): ‘Columbus Suite’; Slovak Radio Symphony; Keith Brion, conductor; Naxos 8.559027 James DeMars (b. 1952): ‘Premonitions of Christopher Columbus’; Tos Ensemble with R. Carlos Nakai, Native American flute; Canyon 7014

2:00
YourClassical

Concertos by Nielsen and Adams

Carl Nielsen (1865-1931): Clarinet Concerto; Kjell-Inge Stevennson, clarinet; Danish Radio Symphony; Herbert Blomstedt, conductor; EMI 69758 John Adams (b. 1947): ‘Gnarly Buttons’; Michael Collins, clarinet; London Sinfonietta; John Adams, conductor; Nonesuch 79453

2:00
YourClassical

Berio's 'Sinfonia' in New York

Luciano Berio (1925-2003): ‘Sinfonia’; New Swingle Singers; French National Orchestra; Pierre Boulez, conductor; Erato 88151

2:00
YourClassical

A birthday Beatle

Lennon and McCartney (arr. Toru Takemitsu): ‘Here, There and Everywhere’; John Williams, guitar; Sony 66704

2:00
YourClassical

Sharon Isbin and John Corigliano

John Corigliano (b. 1938): ‘Troubadours’; Sharon Isbin, guitar; St. Paul Chamber Orchestra; Hugh Wolff, conductor; Virgin 55083

2:00
YourClassical

Music and politics with Rimsky-Korsakov and John Adams

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908): ‘The Golden Cockerel Suite’; Russian National Orchestra; Mikhail Pletnev, conductor; DG 447 084 John Adams (b. 1947): ‘The Chairman Dances’; San Francisco Symphony; Edo de Waart, conductor; Nonesuch 79453

2:00
YourClassical

Brahms and Rzewski for amateurs

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): ‘Liebeslieder Waltz’ No. 18; Silke-Thora Matthies and Christian Köhn, piano; Naxos 553140 Frederic Rzewski (1938-2021): ‘The Days Fly By’; Ursula Oppens, piano; Companion CD to Boosey and Hawkes ‘The Carnegie Hall Millennium Piano Book’ ASIN: B003AG8IUK

2:00
YourClassical

Timely Argento and Takemitsu

Dominick Argento (1927-2019): ‘A Ring of Time’; Minnesota Orchestra; Eiji Oue, conductor; Reference 91 Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996): ‘From Me Flows What You Call Time’; Pacific Symphony; Carl St. Clair, conductor; Sony 63044

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