Composers Datebook®

Rebecca Clarke

Composers Datebook - Aug. 27, 2024
DOWNLOAD

Synopsis

Today marks the birthday of a remarkable British composer who spent a good deal of her life in the United States. Her name was Rebecca Clarke, born in Harrow, England, on today’s date in 1886 to an American father and German mother.

Clarke studied at the Royal Conservatory in London, where she became the first female composition student of the Victorian composer Sir Charles Villiers Stanford. As a professional violist, she was one of the first women to be admitted as a member of the Queen’s Hall Orchestra, an ensemble led by Henry Wood.

Many of the chamber works Clarke composed were written for and premiered by professional colleagues.

Based in London from 1924 to 1939, Clarke toured extensively, performed with a number of ensembles, and broadcast over the BBC. At the outbreak of World War II, she found herself stranded in the U.S. In 1944, she married pianist James Friskin, who had been a fellow student at the Royal College and had settled in New York.

Clarke lived long enough to experience what she called “a little renaissance” of interest in her music around the time of her 90th birthday. She died at 93 in 1979.

Music Played in Today's Program

Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979): Piano Trio; Clementi Trio of Cologne; Largo 5103

On This Day

Births

  • 1886 - English light music composer, Eric Coates, in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire

  • 1886 - English-born American composer and viola player Rebecca Clarke, in Harrow

  • 1944 - Australian composer Barry Conyngham, in Sydney

Deaths

  • 1521 - Flemish composer Josquin Des Prez, 81, in Condé-sur-Escaut

  • 1611 - Spanish composer Tomas Luis de Victoria, 62, in Madrid

Premieres

  • 1748 - Rameau: opera-ballet Pygmalion, in Paris

  • 1900 - Fauré: Prométhée, in Béziers, France

  • 1937 - Copland: El Salon Mexico, in Mexico City, with Carlos Chávez conducting

  • 1940 - Meredith Wilson: Symphony No. 2 (The Missions of California) during a San Francisco Symphony concert on Treasure Island conducted by the composer; On the same program was the premiere of Wilson’s Prelude to ‘The Great Dictator’ (based on Wilson's film score to the Charlie Chapin film, whose musical themes were provided by Chaplin himself)

  • 1979 - Bernstein: song “Piccola Serenata” (for Karl Böhm's 80th Birthday), at Salzburg Festival, with mezzo-soprano Christa Ludwig and pianist James Levine

Others

  • 1734 - Handel and John Rich agree to hold the next opera season of Handel’s Royal Academy at Rich’s Covent Garden Theater in London (Gregorian date: Sept. 7).

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

Tower's Violin Concerto

Joan Tower (b. 1938): Violin Concerto; Elmar Oliveira, violin; Louisville Orchestra; Joseph Silverstein, conductor; D’Note 1016

2:00
Get Composers Datebook in your inbox
YourClassical
2:00
YourClassical
2:00
YourClassical

Copland's 'Hurricane' for kids

Aaron Copland (1900-1990): ‘The Second Hurricane’; High School of Music and Art; New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, conductor; Sony 60560

2:00
YourClassical

Biblical Torke

Michael Torke (b. 1961): ‘Song of Isaiah’; Present Music; innova 590

2:00
YourClassical

Anthony Braxton's operas

Anthony Braxton (b. 1945): excerpt from Act 2 of ‘Trillium J’; soloists and ensemble; Anthony Braxton, conductor; New Braxton House 906

1:59
YourClassical

'King's Row,' Korngold and 'Star Wars'

Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957): ‘Main Title,’ from ‘King’s Row’; National Philharmonic; Charles Gerhardt, conductor; RCA LSC-3330 (LP) & 7890-2-RG (CD)

1:58
YourClassical

Holst and Hammersmith

Gustav Holst (1874-1934): ‘Hammersmith’; Dallas Wind Symphony; Howard Dunn, conductor; Reference Recordings 39

2:00
YourClassical

Persichetti and Leon for band

Vincent Pershichetti (1915-1987): Symphony No. 6 (‘Symphony for Band’); Eastman Wind Ensemble; Frederick Fennell, conductor; Mercury 432 754 Tania Leon (b. 1943): ‘Alegre’; American Composers Forum Bandquest CD-ROM; Hal Leonard

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®
YourClassical Radio
0:00
0:00