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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.  |
July 2-8, 2007
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Monday, July 2
Sibelius and "Finlandia" ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Jean Sibelius (1865-1957): Finlandia, Op. 26, no. 7 Finnish National Opera Chorus; Eri Klas, cond. Ondine 754 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Finnish Jan Sibelius Web site More Sibelius links ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1714—German composer Christoph Willibald (Ritter von) Gluck, in Erasbach, Upper Palatinate Deaths: 1778—French writer, music critic, and composer Jean-Jacques Rousseau, age 66, in Ermenonville Premieres: 1900 — Sibelius: tone poem "Finlandia," in Helsinki, with Robert Kajanus conducting; An earlier, vocal version of this music was first performed at the Swedish Theater in Helsinki on Nov, 4, 1899 1929 — Gershwin: musical "Show Girl," at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York; This show included the classic Gershwin song "Liza" 1949 — John Alden Carpenter: Symphony No. 2 (revised version), by the Chicago Symphony at Ravinia, with Fritz Busch conducting; The New York Philharmonic premiered the first version of this symphony on October 22, 1942, with Bruno Walter conducting 1983 — Libby Larsen: "Deep Summer Music" for orchestra, in Terrance, Minn., by the Minnesota Orchestra, Joseph Giunta conducting Other: 1723—Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi agrees to write and rehearse the music for two concerts a month at the Pièta School for Orphaned Girls in Venice
Tuesday, July 3
Plucky music with Landowska and Harbach ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: J.S. Bach (1685-1750): Little Prelude in C, S. 934 Wanda Landowska, harpsichord Pearl 9489 & Barbara Harbach (b. 1946): Cante Flamenco, from Tres Danzas para Clavecin Barbara Harbach, harpsichord Gasparo 290 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Wanda Landowska On Barbara Harbach ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1854—Czech composer Leo Janácek, in Hukvaldy, Moravia 1878—American song composer George M. Cohan, in Providence, R.I.; He mistakenly believed he was "born on the Fourth of July" as his popular song "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy" states; In 1978 the centennial of his birth was honored with a U.S. postage stamp issued on this date 1897—French composer and conductor Philippe Gaubert, in Cahors 1901—American composer and American folksong compiler, Ruth Crawford (Seeger), in East Liverpool, Ohio; She was the second wife of the eminent American composer and enthno-musicologist, Charles Seeger (1886-1979); Charles Seeger's son by his first marriage became the famous American folksinger, Pete Seeger 1926—American composer Meyer Kupferman, in New York City Deaths: 1966 —American composer, writer, and broadcaster, Deems Taylor, age 80, in New York City; For many years he was a broadcast commentator for the national broadcasts of both the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera (Two of his operas were staged at the Met); In 1967, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) established the Deems Taylor Awards for excellence in the fields of music criticism, journalism, and broadcasting; Composers Datebook won a Deems Taylor Award in 2000 1998 —English romantic composer George Lloyd, age 85 Premieres: 1944 — Robert Wright & George Forest: musical "The Song of Norway" (based on the music of Norwegian composer Edward Grieg), during trial run in San Francisco; The musical opened in New York on August 21, 1944 1964 — Robert Ward: opera, "The Lady from Colorado," in Center City, Colorado; 1967 — Havergal Brian: Symphony No. 4 ("Das Siegeslied") in London; This symphony was composed in 1929 1976 — Hovhaness: Violin Concerto ("Ode to Freedom") at Wolf Trap, with André Kostelanetz conducting and Yehudi Menuhin the soloist. Other: 1848—American music publisher Theodore Presser is born in Pittsburgh; In 1883 he founded in Philadelphia the famous music monthly, "The Etude" (which discontinued publication in 1957), and shortly thereafter the Philadelphia-based Presser music publishing firm; He was also a co-founder of the Music Teachers National Association
Wednesday, July 4
(Fourth of July)
Born on the Fourth of July? ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Henri Vieuxtemps (1820-1881): Souvenirs d'Amerique Tchaikovsky Chamber Orchestra; Lazar Gosman, cond. CBS/Sony 45529 & George M. Cohan (1878-1942): George M! Overture New York City Opera Orchestra; Paul Gemignani, cond. MusicMaster 67099 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Stephen Foster On Louis Armstrong On George M. Cohan ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1694—French composer and organist, Louis Claude Daquin, in Paris 1826—American song composer Stephen Collins Foster, in Lawrenceville, Pa. 1903 —Belgian composer and organist and teacher Flor Peeters, in Thielen Deaths: 1623 —English composer William Byrd, aged c. 80 (the exact date of his birth is not known) in Stondon, Essex Premieres: 1831 — The patriot hymn "America" (to the tune of the British patriotic song "God Save the King/Queen" with new words supplied by Samuel Francis Smith) sung by a children's choir at a Fourth of July service at the Park Street Church in Boston; This premiere performance is commonly (but incorrectly) listed as 1832 1900 — final version of Sibelius: Symphony No. 1, in Stockholm by the Helsinki Philharmonic on tour, with Robert Kajanus conducting; An earlier version of the symphony had been premiered in Helsinki on April 26, 1899, with the same orchestra conducted by the composer 1923 — R. Vaughan Williams: "English Folk Song Suite," in London, by the band of the Royal Military School of Music 1964 — Piston: Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire 1983 — David Amram: "Honor Song for Sitting Bull" for cello and orchestra, by the Long Island Philharmonic, Christopher Keene conducting, and William Da Rosa the soloist Other: 1827—Opening of "Niblo's Gardens," an important 19th century American concert venue, at Broadway and Prince Street in New York City 1828 —The U.S. Marine Band first performed "Hail to the Chief" for a living President at the ground-breaking ceremony for the excavation of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal attended by President John Quincy Adams 1986—Amid fireworks and celebration, the Marine Band performed in New York City for the rededication of the Statue of Liberty, recreating the band's performance under John Philip Sousa for the original dedication ceremonies 100 years earlier
Thursday, July 5
Meyerbeer at the Opéra ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880): Peruvian Dance, from Gaîte Parisienne Montréal Symphony; Charles Dutoit, cond. London 430 718 & Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791-1864): Robert le Diable excerpt Samuel Ramey, bass; Munich Radio Orchestra; Jacques Delacôte, cond. EMI Classics 49582 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Meyerbeer ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1878—English composer and pianist Josef Holbrooke, in Croydon 1895—English composer Gordon Jacob, in London 1897—German-born Israeli composer Paul Ben-Haim (originally Frankenburger), in Munich 1918 —American composer George Rochberg, in Paterson, N.J. 1926—American composer and teacher Kenneth Gaburo, in Somerville, N.J. Deaths: 1992—Argentinian composer and bandonion virtuoso Astor Piazolla, age 71, in Buenos Aires Premieres: 1931 — R. Vaughan Williams: ballet, "Job (A Masque for Dancing)," in London 1990 — Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: Clarinet Quintet, at a Chamber Music Northwest concert in Portland, Ore. featuring clarinetist David Shifrin 1996 — Stephen Paulus: "Partita Appassionata," for violin and piano, by William Preucil and Arthur Rowe, at the Seattle Chamber Music Festival 2000 — Leslie Bassett: Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra, during a World Saxophone Congress at Pierre Mercure Hall, Montreal, with soloist Clifford Leaman, and the Orchestre Symphonique de Laval, Louis Lavigueur, conducting; Other: 1877—Polish harpsichordist Wanda Landowska is born in Warsaw
Friday, July 6
Noteworthy Boulanger and Zwilich ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Lili Boulanger (1893-1918): Hymne au Soleil New London Chamber Choir; James Wood, cond. Hyperion 66726 & Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (b. 1939): Symphony No. 3 Louisville Orchestra; James Sedares, cond. Koch International 7278 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On the Boulanger sisters On Ellen Taaffe Zwilich ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1864—Brazilian composer Alberto Nepomuceno, in Fortaleza 1898—German composer Hans Eisler, in Leipzig 1906 —English composer Dame Elizabeth Lutyens, in London Deaths: 1971 —Jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong, age 71, in New York City 1973—German conductor and composer Otto Klemperer, age 88, in Zürich 1999—Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo, age 97, in Madrid Premieres: 1963 — Leslie Bassett: "Variations for Orchestra," in Rome; Following the American premiere on October 22, 1965 with the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Eugene Ormandy, this work was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1966 1968 — David Del Tredici: "Syzygy" (to a text by James Joyce), in New York City 1977 — Tippett: opera, "The Ice Break" at Covent Garden in London Other: 1913—In Paris, the Grand Prix de Rome music award is given to 19 year-old French composer Lili Boulanger (1893-1918), the first woman to be so honored
Saturday, July 7
Baby Doe and Bugs Bunny ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Douglas Moore (1893-1969): The Ballad of Baby Doe Jan Grissom, sop; Central City Opera Orchestra; John Moriarty, cond. Newport Classics 85593 & Richard Wagner (1813-1883) arr. Franklyn: What's Opera Doc? Warner Brothers Symphony; George Daugherty, cond. Warner Brothers 26494 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Douglas Moore On George Daugherty ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1860—Austrian composer and conductor Gustav Mahler, in Kalischt, Bohemia 1911—Italian-born American composer and conductor Gian Carlo Menotti, in Cadegliano 1940—Drummer and songwriter Ringo Starr (of the Beatles), in Liverpool, England Deaths: 1968—American organist and composer Leo Sowerby, age 73, in Fort Clinton, Ohio Premieres: 1713 — Handel: "Utrecht Te Deum," at St. Paul's Cathedral in London (Gregorian Date: July 18) 1956 — Moore: opera "The Ballade of Baby Doe," in Center City, Colo.; According to Opera America, this is one of the most frequently-produced American operas during the past decade 1994 — John Williams: Cello Concerto, at the opening of Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood, Mass., by the Boston Symphony, with the composer conducting and Yo-Yo Ma the soloist 2001 — David Ward-Steinman: "Dublin Down," for 2 pianos, during the College Music Society International Conference in Limerick, Ireland, by the composer and Patrice Madura Ward-Steinman Other: 1720—Funeral of J.S. Bach's first wife, Maria Barbara (age 35); The cause of her death is unknown, and Bach's son Carl Philip Emmanuel reported that his father was at Carlsbad when she died: "The news that she had been ill and died reached him only when he entered his own house"; 1747—J.S. Bach dedicates his "Musical Offering" to Frederich the Great of Prussia 1791—Haydn conducts his Symphony No. 92 ("Oxford") at the Sheldonian Theater of Oxford University, where he was awarded an honorary degree.
Sunday, July 8
Randall Thompson in the Berkshires ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Randall Thompson (1899-1984): Alleluia Concordia Choir; René Clausen, cond. Concordia 2051 & Randall Thompson (1899-1984): Symphony No. 2 Detroit Symphony Orchestra; Neeme Järvi, cond. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Randall Thompson More on Thompson and his " Alleluia" ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1882—Australian-born American composer and pianist Percy Aldrich Grainger, in Melbourne; He became a USA citizen in 1919 1900—American composer George Antheil, in Trenton, N.J. Deaths: 1839—Spanish composer Fernando Sor, age 61, in Paris Premieres: 1940 — Randall Thompson: "Allelujah" at the opening of the Berkshire Music Center in Lenox, Mass. 1942 — Sir Lenox Berkeley: Symphony No. 1 in London, conducted by the composer 1987 — Judith Weir: opera "A Night at the Chinese Opera" in Cheltenham, England 1988 — Philip Glass: opera "The Making of the Representative for Planet 8" (after a sci-fi novel by Doris Lessing), by Houston Grand Opera 2000 — John Williams: "TreeSong" for Violin and Orchestra, at Tanglewood with Gil Shaham and the Boston Symphony, composer conducting Other: 1588—English composer and lutenist John Dowland receives B. Mus. Degree from Christ Church, Oxford |
