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Archives Find past shows by date:  Complete archive Your purchase from Public Radio Market helps support the American Composers Forum and Composers Datebook.  |
September 17-23, 2007
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Monday, September 17
Cowell in Teheran ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Henry Cowell (1897-1965): Persian Set Manhattan Chamber Orchestra; Richard Auldon Clark, cond. Koch International 7220 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Henry Cowell An essay on Cowell’s legacy ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1795—Baptismal date of Italian opera composer Saverio Mercadante, in Altamura, near Bari; 1884—American composer Charles Tomlinson Griffes, in Elmira, New York; 1917—Korean-born German composer Isang Yun, in Tong Young (now Chung Mu); Deaths: 1179—German mystic, writer and composer Hildegard von Bingen, age c. 81, in Rupertsburg (near Bingen); 1762—Italian violinist and composer Francesco Geminiani, age 74, in Dublin; 1803—Austrian composer Franz Xaver Sussmayr, who studied with Salieri and Mozart; Sussmayr completed Mozart's unfinished "Requiem"; Premieres: 1872 — American premiere of Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" at a Central Park concert given by the Theodore Thomas orchestra; 1931 — Delius: "A Song of Summer," in London; 1957 — Cowell: "Persian Set," at the Gulestan Palace in Tehran, Iran, by the Minneapolis Symphony, Antal Dorati conducting; 1982 — Steve Reich: "Tehillim" (orchestral version), by New York Philharmonic conducted by Zubin Mehta; Other: 1966—German tenor Fritz Wunderlich dies, age 35, from a fall in his home in Heidelberg.
Tuesday, September 18
Prokofiev and Leifs agree: “There’s no place like home!” ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953): Piano Concerto No. 3 in C, Op. 26 Martha Argerich, piano; Montréal Symphony: Charles Dutoit, cond. EMI Classics 56654 & Jón Leifs (1899-1968): Saga Symphony Iceland Symphony; Osmo Vänskä, cond. BIS 730 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Prokofiev On Jón Leifs On the film Tears of Stone ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1893—Australian composer Arthur Benjamin, in Sydney; 1910—Polish-born Israeli composer Josef Tal, in Pinne (near Posen); Deaths: 1970—Rock guitar virtuoso Jimi Hendrix, age 27, from asphyxiation due to an overdose of barbiturates Premieres: 1954 — Virgil Thomson: Concerto for flute, strings and percussion, in Venice; 1960 — Penderecki: "Dimensions of Time and Silence," during "Warsaw Autumn" International Festival of Contemporary Music; 1978 — Shostakovich: unfinished opera "The Gamblers" (after Nikolai Gogol), in Leningrad at the Large Hall of the Leningrad Philharmonic; 1986 — Corigliano: "Fantasia on an Ostinato" by the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Zubin Mehta; 1998 — Bright Sheng: "Spring Dreams," by cellist Yo-Yo Ma with the Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwartz conducting. 1998 — Michael Torke: "Lucent Variations," in St. Paul, Minn., by the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Hugh Wolff conducting.
Wednesday, September 19
Elmer Bernstein in Aranjuez? ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Joaquin Rodrigo (1902-1999): Concierto de Aranjuez Christopher Parkening, guitar; Royal Philharmonic; Andrew Litton, cond. EMI Classics 54665 & Elmer Bernstein (b. 1922-2004): Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra Christopher Parkening, guitar; London Symphony; Elmer Bernstein, cond. EMI Classics 56589 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Elmer Bernstein ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1829—Music publisher Gustav Schirmer, in Königsee, Thuringia; He came to America in 1840 with his parents, and in 1861 founded in New York City the music publishing house that bears his name, G. Schirmer, Inc.; 1911—Swedish composer Allan Pettersson, in Västra Ryd; Deaths: 1949—Greek composer Nikos Skalkottas, age 45, in Athens; 1972—French composer and pianist Robert Casadesus, age 73, in Paris; Premieres: 1894 — Brahms: two Clarinet Sonatas, Op. 120, at a private performance in the home of the sister of the Duke of Meiningen at Berchtesgaden, by clarinetist Richard Mühlfeld (of the Grand Ducal Orchestra of Meiningen) with the composer at the piano; Brahms and Mühlfeld also gave private performances of both sonatas on November 10-13, 1894, in Frankfurt (for Clara Schumann and others); on November 14, 1894, at Castle Altenstein (for the Duke of Meiningen); and on Jan. 7, 1895, in Vienna (for members of the Tonkünstler Society); The first public performances of the two sonatas took place in Vienna on January 8 (Sonata No. 2) and 11 (Sonata No. 2), 1895, with the same performers, as part of the Rosé Quartet's chamber music series; 1908 — Mahler: Symphony No. 7 ("Song of the Night"), in Prague, with the composer conducting; 1927 — Schoenberg: String Quartet No. 3, in Vienna, by the Kolisch Quartet; 1937 — Hanson: Symphony No. 3 (partial performance), on a CBS Radio Symphony concert conducted by the composer; The first complete performance occurred with the rival network's NBC Symphony, again with the composer conducting, on March 26, 1938; 1970 — Morton Feldman: "The Viola in My Life" No. 1 for viola and orchestra, in London; 1998 — André Previn: opera "A Streetcar Named Desire," with cast including Rene Fleming, by the San Francisco Opera, the composer conducting; 1998 — Michael Torke: "Jasper" for orchestra, by the Madison (Wisc.) Symphony, John DeMain conducting; 1999 — Elmer Bernstein: Guitar Concerto, with Honolulu Symphony conducted by Samuel Wong and soloist Christopher Parkening; 2002 — John Adams: "On the Transmigration of Souls" for vocal soloists, chorus and orchestra, by the New York Philharmonic, Lorin Maazel conducting; 2002 — John Adams: “On the Transmigration of Souls” for vocal soloists, chorus and orchestra, by the New York Philharmonic, Lorin Maazel conducting; Other: 1725—J.S. Bach gives organ recitals in the Sophienkirche, Dresden, on Sept. 19 and 20; 1738—Oratorio librettist Charles Jennens writes to a young relative describing a visit to Handel the previous day, dismayed by Handel's ideas for their collaboration on the oratorio "Saul": "Mr. Handel's head is more full of maggots than ever . . ." (Gregorian date: Sept. 30).
Thursday, September 20
Sibelius passes ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Jean Sibelius (1865-1957): Alla Marcia, from Karelia Suite Finnish Radio Symphony; Jukka-Pekka Saraste, cond. RCA 7765 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Finnish Jan Sibelius Web site More Sibelius links ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1880—Italian composer Ildebrando Pizetti, in Parma; 1885—Frequently cited birth date of American composer and jazz pianist Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton, in New Orleans; This date has been proven incorrect (See October 20, 1890); 1900—Finnish composer Unno Klami, in Virolahti; Deaths: 1908—Spanish violin virtuoso and composer Pablo de Sarasate, age 63, in Biarritz; 1957—Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, age 91, in Järvenpää; Premieres: 1878 — Tchaikovsky: "Valse-scherzo" for violin and orchestra, in Paris, with Nicolai Rubinstein conducting and Stanislaw Barcewicz the soloist; 1930 — first public performance of Elgar: "Pomp and Circumstance" March No. 5, at Queen's Hall in London, Sir Henry Wood conducting; The first performance ever of this music occurred two days earlier, when Elgar himself recorded his new march at HMV's London studios; 1954 — Stravinsky: "In Memoriam Dylan Thomas," in Los Angeles, conducted by Robert Craft; Stravinsky had met the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas the previous year, and they had discussed collaborating on an opera project, but Thomas died on November 9, 1953; 1975 — Jack Beeson: opera "Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines" in Kansas City, Mo.
Friday, September 21
Of froth and Friml ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Rudolf Friml (1879-1972): Song of the Vagabonds, from The Vagabond King Eastman-Dryden Orchestra: Donald Hunsberger, cond. Arabesque 6562 & Rudolf Friml (1879-1972): Chanson “In Love” New London Orchestra; Ronald Corp, cond. Hyperion 67067 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Friml ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1698 —French violinist and composer François Francoeur, in Paris; He was one of the "24 violins du roi" and collaborated with François Rebel in the production of several works for the Paris Opéra; 1737—American statesman and composer Francis Hopkinson, in Philadelphia; He was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and also composed some songs; 1874—English composer Gustav Holst, in Cheltenham; He was born Gustavus Theodore von Holst, and his early works were published under the name "Gustav von Holst," but removed the Germanic "von" after World War I broke out in 1914; Deaths: 1953—English composer Roger Quilter, age 75, in London; Premieres: 1795 — revised version of Haydn: Symphony No. 103 ("The Drumroll"), conducted by the composer, in Vienna (Haydn had conducted the first version of this symphony at the King's Theater in London, on March 2, 1795; 1925 — Rudolph Friml's operetta, "The Vagabond King," in New York City; 1966 — Havergal Brian: Symphony No. 6 ("Sinfonia Tragica") in London; This work was composed in 1948; 1966 — Maliperio: Symphony No. 9 ("Hélas") at the "Warsaw Autumn" Festival of Contemporary Music in Poland; 1972 — Piston: Flute Concerto, with Dorothy Anthony Dwyer the soloist and the Boston Symphony conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas; 1988 — Peter Maxwell Davies: Trumpet Concerto, in Hiroshima (Japan), by the Philharmonia Orchestra, Giuseppe Sinopoli conducting, with soloist John Wallace; 1994 — James MacMillan: "Britannia" for orchestra, at the Barbican in London by the London Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas conducting; Other: 1880—The International Mozart Foundation is established in Salzburg; 1962—Igor Stravinsky returns to the Soviet Union for the first time in 48 years; He visits Moscow, Leningrad and Oranienbaum.
Saturday, September 22
Higdon welcomes Autumn ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Jennifer Higdon (b. 1962): Autumn Music Moran Woodwind Quintet Crystal 754 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Jennifer Higdon ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1875 —Lithuanian composer Mikolajus Ciurlionis, in Varena (then the Kaunas province of the Russian Empire; Julian date: Sept. 10); 1933—Spanish composer Leonardo Balada, in Barcelona; 1961—American composer Michael Torke, in Milwaukee, Wisc.; Deaths: 1989—American song composer Irving Berlin, age 101, in New York City; Premieres: 1869 — Wagner: opera, "Das Rheingold," in Munich at the Hoftheater, Franz Wüllner conducting; The opera was performed at the Bavarian emperor Ludwig II's request, but against the composer's wishes; 1938 — Webern: String Quartet, Op. 28, at South Mountain, Pittsfield, Mass., during the Berkshire Chamber Music Festival; This work was commissioned for $750 by the American music patron, Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge; 1964 — Jerry Bock: musical "Fiddler On the Roof" opens on Broadway: It would run for 3,242 performances before closing; 1971 — Barber: "The Lovers" for solo voice and chorus (after a poem by Pablo Neruda), in Philadelphia; 1989 — Bernstein: "Arias and Barcarolles" (orchestrated version prepared by Bright Sheng), at the Tilles Center of Long Island University with the New York Chamber Symphony conducted by Gerard Schwarz and featuring vocalists Susan Graham and Kurt Ollmann; The first version of this work, for soloists and piano four-hands, premiered on May 9, 1988, at Equitable Center Auditorium in New York City; 1990 — James MacMillan: "The Beserking" (Piano Concerto), at Henry Wood Hall in Glasgow by pianist Peter Donohoue and the Royal Scottish Orchestra, Matthias Bamert conducting; 1990 — Christopher Rouse: "Jagannath" for orchestra, by the Houston Symphony Orchestra, Christoph Eschenbach conducting; 2000 — Philip Glass: “Tirol Concerto” for piano and orchestra, by Dennis Russell Davies (piano and conductor) with the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, at the 7th annual Klangspuren Festival in Schwaz, Tirol (Austria); 2000 — Zwilich: "Millennium Fantasy" for piano and orchestra, by the Cincinnati Symphony, Jesús Lopez-Cobos conducting with soloist Jeffrey Biegel; Other: 1937 —During the Spanish Civil War, Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas conducts his 1935 composition “Homage to Federico Garcia Lorca” in Madrid while the city was under siege by Spanish fascist forces; The Spanish poet Lorca had been killed by the Falangists;
Sunday, September 23
Mr. Copland (and Mrs. Kennedy) ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Aaron Copland (1900-1990): Connotations New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein, cond. Sony 47236 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The Copland Collection at the Library of Congress The Copland House website MPR’s Copland Centennary webpage ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1899—American composer William Levi Dawson, in Anniston, Ala.; 1920—Armenian composer Alexander Arutiunian, in Yerevan; His Trumpet Concerto, composed in 1950, is his best-known work; 1926 —American composer and jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, in Hamlet, N.C.; 1928—American pianist and composer Robert Helps, in Passaic, New Jersey; Deaths: 1835—Italian opera composer Vincenzo Bellini, age 33, in Puteaux (near Paris); 2006—British composer Sir Malcolm Arnold, age 84, in Norfolk county, eastern England; Premieres: 1777 — Gluck: opera, "Armide," at the Académie Royale in Paris; 1913 — Charles Wakefield Cadman: Piano Trio in D, at a private home in Denver; The first public performance took place the following month in Minneapolis; 1958 — Stravinsky: "Threni," at San Rocco in Venice, by the North German Radio Orchestra of Hamburg (who had commissioned the work), conducted by the composer; 1962 — Copland: "Connotations" for Orchestra, at Philharmonic Hall (now Avery Fisher Hall) during the opening season of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, by the New York Philharmonic conducted by Leonard Bernstein; This concert, televised by CBS, also included the "Gloria" from Beethoven's "Missa Solemnis" and the first movement ("Veni, creator spiritus") from Mahler's Symphony No.8; 1965 — Diamond: "Elegies" for Flute, English Horn, and Strings, by Murray Panitz (flute), Louis Rosenblatt (English horn), and the Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy conducting; 1990 — James MacMillan: "Sowetan Spring" for winds, at the Glasgow Hospitality Inn by the winds of the Royal Scottish Orchestra, John Paynter conducting. |
