Synopsis
In the summer of 1972, five burglars broke into the offices of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate office complex in Washington, DC, and soon the term “Watergate” came to signify a political scandal that nearly led to the impeachment of then-president Richard Nixon. But if you had said, “Watergate” to someone in D.C. in July some 30 years earlier, you probably were referring to a series of outdoor concerts by the National Symphony Orchestra, whose “Watergate Concerts” were held on the banks of the Potomac near the Lincoln Memorial.
These concerts presented a mix of old and new music, classical favorites and recently composed works by American composers. For example, on today’s date in 1945, the weather in DC was clear and warm when Alexander Smallens conducted an outdoor Watergate Concert that included the recently-composed suite from Aaron Copland’s ballet “Rodeo,” and “Newsreel,” an orchestral suite by William Schuman.
Schuman’s suite was inspired by the popular newsreel features shown at movie theaters in those days—a time when radio ruled, and if people wanted to SEE footage of faces and places in the news, they had to turn to the movies, not CNN or the internet.
Music Played in Today's Program
Aaron Copland (1900-1990) Rodeo London Symphony; Aaron Copland, cond. Sony Classical 60593
William Schuman (1910-1992) Newsreel Milwaukee Symphony; Lukas Foss, cond. Pro Arte 102
On This Day
Births
1872 - French composer Déodat de Severac, in Saint-Félix-de-Caraman, Lauraguais
1908 - Swedish composer Gunnar de Frumerie, in Nacka (near Stockholm
Deaths
1752 - German-born English composer and conductor John Christopher (Johann Christoph) Pepusch, age 85, in London; In 1710 was one of the founding members of the "Academy of Ancient Music," which revived 16th century vocal music; He orchestrated some of the numbers in John Gay's famous "The Beggar's Opera" in 1728
Premieres
1920 - Stravinsky: "Grande Suite" from the staged work "The Soldier's Tale," in London at Wigmore Hall, with Ernest Ansermet conducting
1924 - Schoenberg: "Serenade" for chamber ensemble, in Donaueschingen, Germany
1942 - Miaskovsky: Symphony No. 23, in Moscow
1958 - Xenakis: "Achorripsis" for 21 instruments, in Brussels
1970 - Morton Feldman: "Mme. Press Died Last Week at Ninety," an orchestral work commemorating his Russian piano teacher, in St. Paul de Venice, France
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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.
