Handel and Colgrass at the organ

Synopsis

George Frideric Handel is the composer credited with “inventing” the organ concerto back in the 18th century.

Handel was a virtuoso performer on the organ, and, as a special added attraction during the London performances of some of his Biblical oratorios, one of Handel’s concertos would be featured as a kind of intermission feature. This served to showcase the Handel’s skill as an organist—and perhaps to give his singers a chance to catch their breath between sections of the full-length oratorio.

Since then, a number of composers have added to the organ concerto repertory started by Handel.

On today’s date in 1990, on a CBC radio broadcast from the Calgary Organ Festival Competition, a brand-new organ concerto by the American composer Michael Colgrass had its premiere performance. Colgrass’ concerto was entitled “Snow Walker,” and is cast as an impressionistic musical picture of the Far North and the fortitude, humor, and spirituality of Canada’s native Inuit peoples.

The work is dedicated to Farley Mowat, the author of a true-life story of life in the Far North, “Never Cry Wolf,” familiar from a popular Disney movie. Howling wolf cries from a trombone do appear in Colgrass’ score, along with surging winds of a polar landscape and evocations of Inuit throat singing, culminated in a rambunctious dance-finale.

It’s all a very far cry from 18th century London, but recognizably in the tradition of Handel’s virtuoso showpieces for a master organist.

Music Played in Today's Program

George Frederic Handel (1685 – 1757) Organ Concerto, Op.4, no. 4 Simon Preston, organ; Festival Orchestra; Yehudi Menuhin, cond. EMI 72626

Michael Colgrass (b. 1932) Snow Walker David Schrader, organ; Grant Park Orchestra; Carlos Kalmar, cond. Cedille 90000 063

On This Day

Births

• 1811 - Hungarian composer and piano virtuoso Franz Liszt, in Raiding (near Oedenburg);

Deaths

• 1725 - Italian opera composer Alessandro Scarlatti, age 65, in Naples; He was the father of composer Domenico Scarlatti;

• 1764 - French composer and violinist Jean Marie LeClair, age 67, in Paris, stabbed in his own home;

• 1859 - German composer, violinist and conductor Ludwig Spohr, age 75, in Kassel;

• 1973 - Spanish cellist (and occasional composer) Pablo (Pau) Casals, age 96, in San Juan, Puerto Rico;

• 1979 - French composition teacher Nadia Boulanger, age 92, in Paris; She taught several generations of American composers, ranging from Aaron Copland to Philip Glass;

Premieres

• 1727 - Handel: "Coronation Anthems," in London at Westminster Abbey during the coronation of King George II and Queen Caroline (see Julian date: Oct. 11);

• 1888 - Rimsky-Korsakov: "Scheherazade," in St. Petersburg by the Russian Symphony, with the composer conducting (Gregorian date: Nov. 3);

• 1899 - Rimsky-Korsakov: opera "The Tsar's Bride," at the Solodovnikov Theatre in Moscow, Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov conducting (Gregorian date: Nov. 3);

• 1920 - American premiere of Ravel: “Le Tombeau de Couperin,” by the Boston Symphony, Pierre Monteux conducting;

• 1942 - John Alden Carpenter: Symphony No. 2 (original version), by New York Philharmonic, Bruno Walter conducting;

• 1962 - Otto Luening: Trio for piano, cello and flute, at the inaugural concert of the Group for Contemporary Music at the McMillin (now Miller) Theater of Columbia University in New York City;

• 1967 - Penderecki: "Capriccio" for violin and orchestra, at the Donaueschingen Festival in West Germany, with Wanda Wilkomriska as soloist;

• 1987 - John Adams: opera "Nixon in China" at Houston Grand Opera;

• 1990 - Michael Colgrass: "Snow Walker" for organ and orchestra, on a CBC radio broadcast during the Calgary Organ Festival Competition, with the competition winner, Jonathan Biggers, as soloist.

• 1993 - John Harbison: "The Most Often Used Chords (Gli Accordi Piu Usati), in Los Angeles, by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Christopf Perick conducting;

Others

• 1739 - Handel completes in London his Concerto Grosso in d, Op. 6, no. 10 (Gregorian date: Nov. 2);

• 1881 - First concert of the Boston Symphony Orchestra at the old Boston Music Hall, with George Herschel conducting; The program included Beethoven's "Consecration of the House" Overture, and works by Gluck, Haydn, Schubert, Bruch and Weber;

• 1883 - Grand Opening of the original Metropolitan Opera House in New York City with performance of Gounod's "Faust" with Auguste Vianesi, conducting;

• 1983 - Celebrating its 100th anniversary, the Metropolitan Opera presents a daylong concert with some of the world's greatest opera stars, including Joan Sutherland, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti and many others.