Performance Today®

English composer Ruth Gipps was born in 1921. She composed music throughout her life, but she was also a champion of 20th century music. Gipps founded two orchestras that focussed on music by living composers, and she fought for the place of women among contemporary composers, conductors and performers right up until her death in 1999. On today's show, hear a piece that conductor Jessica Horsley describes as "...the sort of music that just makes everything alright in the world. It heals all wounds", the Symphony No. 2 by Ruth Gipps.

Composer David Kirkland Garner began writing a piece to honor a particular fiddler's legacy, but, as he found out more, he began moving in a very different direction. On today's show, hear a fiddle tune that's been demolished, transformed, and rebuilt: CROW by David Kirkland Garner.

When Hassan Anderson was in high school, he played the school's "loaner" oboe. His mother felt strongly that he was too talented to be playing on a cheap oboe, so she made a big sacrifice; she sold her car to buy his first professional oboe. On today's show, hear Hassan Anderson and pianist Eliran Avni play music by Thomas Dorsey, from a concert in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Composer Michael Abels wrote a piece specifically for the great musical brothers: Anthony and Demarre McGill. It's cooperative and competitive, as well as delicate and powerful at the same time. On today's show, hear the McGill brothers perform Winged Creatures, by Michael Abels.

The Cavatina Duo - flutist Eugenia Moliner and guitarist Denis Azabagic - became curious about music of the Sephardic Jews from Spain and Portugal when they discovered that they both had Sephardic roots. They asked several composers to write new pieces for them based on old Sephardic melodies. On today's show, hear the Cavatina Duo and the Avalon String Quartet perform one of those pieces: the Sephardic Suite, by Clarice Assad.

Composer Richard Danielpour recently wrote a piece in honor of those affected by the pandemic. On today's show, pianist Simone Dinnerstein plays from Richard Danielpour’s ‘An American Mosaic’.

Composer Elena Ruehr wrote a string quartet with thoughts of an abbey high above the Rhine River...and a composer who lived and worked there 900 years ago. On today's show, hear Elena Ruehr's 21st century music, inspired by the 12th century composer Hildegard von Bingen.

The Cavatina Duo - flutist Eugenia Moliner and guitarist Denis Azabagic - became curious about music of the Sephardic Jews from Spain and Portugal when they discovered that they both had Sephardic roots. They asked several composers to write new pieces for them based on old Sephardic melodies. On today's show, hear the Cavatina Duo and the Avalon String Quartet perform one of those pieces: the Sephardic Suite, by Clarice Assad.

When cellist Annie Jacobs-Perkins first heard a piece by Fanny Mendelssohn, she was astonished. "My first reaction was 'Wow. What is this, and why does no one play this?" PT Young Artist Annie Jacobs-Perkins plays music by Fanny Mendelssohn on this episode of Performance Today.