Composers Datebook®

Eubie Blake flunks retirement

Composers Datebook for February 7, 2021
DOWNLOAD

Synopsis

You might say that Eubie Blake flunked retirement.

In 1946, with a five-decade career as a successful performer and composer behind him, Eubie Blake retired at the age of 63. The son of former slaves, Blake’s religious mother objected to ragtime music on principle, but in 1899, while still a teenager, Blake penned a classic: “The Charleston Rag.” In 1915, he formed a songwriting partnership with a talented young singer named Noble Sissle, and, in the 1920s the two men fused ragtime and operetta into a series of smash Broadway shows.

During World War II, Eubie Blake toured with USO shows, and, after retiring in 1946, studied composition formally at New York University, collecting and editing his works for posterity.

In the 1950s, a revival of interest in early jazz coaxed Blake out of retirement, and the use of ragtime music in the film “The Sting” transformed that interest into a pop culture sensation.

On today’s date in 1973, on the occasion of his 90th birthday, Blake was honored by ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, and in 1981, at the age of 98, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Music Played in Today's Program

Sousa arr. Eubie Blake (1887 - 1983) Semper Fidelis Eubie Blake, piano Columbia (LP) C2S-847

On This Day

Births

  • 1871 - Swedish composer Wilhelm Stenhammar, in Stockholm;

  • 1883 - American jazz pianist and song composer Eubie Blake, in Baltimore;

  • 1897 - American composer Quincy Porter, in New Haven, Conn.;

  • 1925 - Rumanian-born French composer Marius Constant, in Bucharest;

Deaths

  • 1652 - Italian composer and Papal Chapel singer Gregorio Allegri, age .c 70, in Rome;

  • 1779 - English composer and organist William Boyce, age 67, in Kensington;

Premieres

  • 1733 - Handel: opera “Orlando” in London (Julian date: Jan.27);

  • 1786 - Mozart: opera "Der Schauspieldirektor" (The Impressario), in Vienna at the Orangerie at Schönbrunn;

  • 1792 - Cimarosa: opera "Il Matrimonio segreto" (The Secret Marriage), in Vienna at the Burgtheater;

  • 1873 - Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 2 (“Little Russian”), in Moscow (Julian date: Jan. 26);

  • 1875 - Lalo: "Symphonie espagnole" for Violin and Orchestra, in Paris, Edouard Colonne conducting, with Pablo de Sarasate the soloist;

  • 1882 - Borodin: String Quartet No. 2 in D, in St. Petersburg (Julian date: Jan.26);

  • 1893 - Brahms: Capriccio in d, No. 7 from "Fantasies" for Piano, Op. 116, in Vienna;

  • 1908 - Chadwick: "Symphonic Sketches," by the Boston Symphony, with Karl Muck conducting;

  • 1907 - Rimsky-Korsakov: opera “Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh,” in St. Petersburg (Gregorian date: Feb. 20);

  • 1922 - Stenhammar: incidental music for Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," at the Lorensberg Theater in Gothenburg, Sweden;

  • 1931 - Deems Taylor: opera "Peter Ibbetson" at the Metropolitan Opera in New York;

  • 1941 - first public performance of Barber: Violin Concerto, by Philadelphia Orchestra, with Eugene Ormandy conducting and Albert Spalding the soloist;

  • 1941 - Hindemith: Cello Concerto, Op. 7, by the Boston Symphony, Serge Koussevitzky conducting with Gregor Piatigorsky the soloist;

  • 1953 - Martinu: "The Marriage," one-act opera (after Gogol) on the NBC TV network; One of the earliest operas specifically written for television, it is nowadays all but forgotten;

  • 1957 - Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 7 (arr. Bogatiiryov), in Moscow; This arrangement uses sketches for Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 3 and for another unfinished work for piano and orchestra as the basis for a "new" symphonic work by the late composer;

  • 1964 - Sessions: Symphony No. 5, by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy conducting;

  • 1988 - Tan Dun: "Out of Peking Opera" for violin and orchestra, at Lincoln Center, with soloist Vera Weiling Tsu and the New York City Symphony, David Eaton conducting;

  • 1996 - Zwilich: Triple Concerto for violin, cello, piano and orchestra, by the Minnesota Orchestra, Zdenek Macal conducting, with the Kalichstein/Laredo/Robinson Trio as the soloists;

Others

  • 1973 - On his 90th birthday, Jazz pianist and song composer Eubie Blake, the son of former slaves, is honored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

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

Griffes for pleasure

Charles Tomlinson Griffes (1884-1920): ‘The Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan’; Boston Symphony; Seiji Ozawa, conductor; New World 273

2:00
Get Composers Datebook in your inbox
YourClassical

Korngold writes a symphony

Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957): Symphony; Philadelphia Orchestra; Franz Welser-Most, conductor; EMI 56169

2:00
YourClassical

A belated Schumann premiere

Robert Schumann (1810-1856): Violin Concerto; Gidon Kremer, violin; Philharmonia Orchestra; Riccardo Muti, conductor; EMI 69334

2:00
YourClassical

Bach's wake up call?

J.S. Bach (1685-1750): Cantata No. 140 (‘Wachet auf, Ruft uns die Stimme’); Bach Ensemble; Helmuth Rilling, conductor; Laudate 98.857

2:00
YourClassical

Diamond's 'Rounds'

David Diamond (1915-2005): ‘Rounds’; Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra; Gerard Schwarz, conductor; Nonesuch 79002

2:00
YourClassical

Short (but tough) Copland

Aaron Copland (1900-1990): Symphony No. 2 (‘Short Symphony’); San Francisco Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor; BMG 68541

1:59
YourClassical

Music for St. Cecilia's Day

Henry Purcell (1659-1695): ‘Hail Bright Cecilia!’; Gabrieli Consort; Paul McCreesh; Archiv 445 882 George Frederic Handel (1685-1759): ‘Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day’; English Concert; Trevor Pinnock, conductor; Archiv 419 220 Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): ‘Hymn to St. Cecilia’; London Sinfonietta Voices; Virgin 90728

2:00
YourClassical

Harbison's 'Flight into Egypt'

John Harbison (b. 1938): ‘Flight into Egypt’; Cantata Singers and Ensemble; David Hoose, conductor; New World 80395

2:00
YourClassical

Meredith Monk

Meredith Monk (b. 1942): ‘Atlas’; Meredith Monk Ensemble; Wayne Hankin, conductor; ECM 1491

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®