Composers Datebook®

Roman and the Danza

Composers Datebook - 20231113
DOWNLOAD

Synopsis

While for Puerto Ricans, the bomba and the plena are more familiar representatives of their proud dance tradition, the musical form known as danza holds a special place in their hearts.

Danza originated in southern Puerto Rico in the early 19th century, originally similar to the waltz, but over time it absorbed Afro-Cuban influences. Manuel Gregorio Tavárez, a 19th-century Puerto Rican composer raised the danza to a cultivated artform, and accordingly he was dubbed “the Chopin of America.”

A 21st-century Puerto Rican composer, Dan Román, paid tribute to Tavárez and other earlier danza masters in a piece for cello and piano called Retrospectos, or Retrospectives. This new work premiered on today’s date in 2007 at the University of Colorado at Boulder, played by the Montserrat Duo, which had commissioned the piece.

“Each movement of my piece uses a different aspect of the Danza,” Román says. “Each movement also explores a particular composer from among the most significant authors of the genre. However, the source material is always treated as series of analytical objects that become manipulated to nearly the point of abstraction.”

Music Played in Today's Program

Dan Román (b. 1974) Retrospectos; Beth Ringel, vcl; Alex Maynegre, p. Innova 904

On This Day

Births

  • 1854 - American composer George Whitefield Chadwick, in Lowell, Mass.;

  • 1856 - Russian composer Sergei Taneyev, in near Moscow (Gregorian date: Nov. 25);

  • 1921 - Finnish composer Joonas Kokkonen, in Iisalmi;

Deaths

  • 1868 - Italian composer Gioachino Rossini, in Passy, near Paris, age 76;

  • 1951 - Russian composer Nicolas Medtner, age 70, in London;

Premieres

  • 1893 - Sibelius: "Karelia Suite," in Viborg, Finland;

  • 1933 - Ruth Crawford Seeger: String Quartet, at the New School in New York City, by the New World String Quartet;

  • 1943 - Martinu: Symphony No. 1, by the Boston Symphony, Serge Koussevitzky conducting;

  • 1953 - Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 5, in Moscow, by the Beethoven Quartet;

  • 1964 - Yardumian: Symphony No. 2 ("Psalms"), with vocalist Lili Chookasian, and the Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy conducting;

  • 1997 - Poul Ruders: Symphony No. 2, at Lincoln Center in New York, by the Riverside Symphony, George Rothman conducting;

  • 2002 - Tavener: “Ikon of Eros” for soloists, chorus and orchestra, at the St. Paul (Minnesota) Cathedral, with Jorja Fleezanis (violin), Patricia Rozario (soprano), Tim Krol (baritone), the Minnesota Chorale and Minnesota Orchestra, Paul Goodwin conducting;

Others

  • 1937 - First "official" radio broadcast by the NBC Symphony Orchestra. Pierre Monteux conducting; Arthur Rodzinski had conducted a "dress rehearsal" broadcast on Nov. 2, 1937; Arturo Toscanini's debut broadcast with the NBC Symphony would occur on Christmas Day, 1937;

  • 1940 - Disney releases “Fantasia,” an animated film based on classical music favorites ranging from Bach to Stravinsky; Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra recorded the soundtrack, and in one famous scene Stokowski shakes hands with Mickey Mouse.

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

The singular Mr. Berwald

Franz Berwald (1796-1868): Symphony No. 3 (‘Singulière’); Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra; Okko Kamu, conductor; Naxos 8.553052

2:00
Get Composers Datebook in your inbox
YourClassical

Opposite-coast bouquets and brickbats for Weill and Sessions

Roger Sessions (1896-1985): Symphony No. 2; San Francisco Symphony; Herbert Blomstedt, conductor; London 443 376 Kurt Weill (1900-1950): ‘Act 1 Intro’ from ‘Street Scene’; Scottish Opera Orchestra; John Mauceri, conductor; London 433 371

2:00
YourClassical

A fateful anniversary for Lully

Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687): ‘Galliarde’ from ‘Trios pour le Coucher du Roi’; Chicago Baroque Ensemble; Cedille 043

2:00
YourClassical

Pop music by Rimsky-Korsakov and Michael Daugherty

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908): ‘Song of India’ from ‘Sadko’ (arr Kreisler); Gil Shaham, violin; Akira Eguchi, piano; DG 447 640 Michael Daugherty (b. 1954): ‘Candelabra Rhumba’ from ‘Le Tombeau de Liberace’; Paul Crossley, piano; London Sinfonietta; Markus Stenz, conductor; Argo 458 145

2:00
YourClassical

Bach at Starbucks?

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Harpsichord Concerto; Gustav Leonhardt, Herbert Tachezi, harpsichord; Leonhardt Consort; Teldec 35778 ‘Coffee Cantata’; Christine Schaefer, soprano; Stuttgart Bach-Collegium; Helmuth Rilling, conductor; Hanssler 98.161

2:00
YourClassical

Milhaud at West Point

Darius Milhaud (1892-1974): West Point Suite; Liszt Academy Symphonic Band; Laszlo Marosi, conductor; Hungaroton 32066

2:00
YourClassical

Danielpour's hometown tribute

Richard Danielpour (b. 1956): ‘Toward the Splendid City’; Philharmonia Orchestra; Zdenek Macal, conductor; Sony 60779

2:00
YourClassical

The productive Mr. Donizetti and Mr. Williams

Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848): ‘Don Pasquale Overture’; Philharmonia Orchestra; Riccardo Muti, condcutor; EMI 54490 John Williams (b. 1932): ‘Devil’s Dance’, from ‘Witches of Eastwick’; Boston Pops; John Williams, conductor; Philips 422 385

2:00
YourClassical

Wagner's 'shaggy dog' story

Richard Wagner (1813-1883): ‘The Flying Dutchman Overture’; Berlin State Orchestra; Daniel Barenboim, conductor; Teldec 88063

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®