Synopsis
Today’s date marks the premiere of two chamber works from the 1920s, both landmark and transitional works from two of the 20th century’s most influential composers.
On this date in 1920, at London’s Wigmore Hall, the Swiss conductor Ernest Ansermet led the first performance of a Grand Suite from Igor Stravinsky’s biting anti-war stage fable The Soldier’s Tale. During and immediately following World War I, Stravinsky had developed a spiky, jagged, and occasionally jazzy style, and music from The Soldier’s Tale is typical of this period. But Stravinsky did a compositional about-face that same year with one of his earliest neo-classical scores: the ballet Pulcinella, based on themes borrowed from 18th century composers.
Stravinsky’s neo-classical period would last for another three decades until the 1950s, when he became fascinated with the 12-tone method of composition developed by the Austrian composer, Arnold Schoenberg.
And speaking of Schoenberg, on today’s date in 1924, his Serenade received its premiere at the Fourth Donaueschingen Festival in Germany. Serenade was the first work in which Schoenberg employed his strict 12-tone method of composition, avoiding traditional 18th century rules of melody and harmony — and only its Mozartean sounding title could be considered neo-classical.
Music Played in Today's Program
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): L’histoire du Soldat Suite; Harmonie Ensemble; Steven Richman, conductor; Koch 7438
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): Pulcinella Suite; Columbia Chamber Ensemble; Sony 64136
Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951): Serenade; Ensemble InterContemporain; Sony 48463
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, 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
Love the music?
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.
Your Donation
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.
