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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 4-10, 2005
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Monday, July 4
(Fourth of July)
Wagner's American Centennial commission ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Richard Wagner (1813 - 1883): American Centennial March Philip Jones Ensemble; Elgar Howarth, cond. London 414 149 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition Contemporary accounts of the Exhibition 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
Tuesday, July 5
Piazzolla passes ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Astor Piazzolla (1921 - 1992): Tres minutos con la realidad Nestor Marconi, bandoneon; Yo Yo Ma, cello; ensemble Sony Classical 63122 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Astor Piazzolla 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 Other: 1877—Polish harpsichordist Wanda Landowska is born in Warsaw
Wednesday, July 6
Louis Armstrong and American music ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Louis Armstrong (1901 - 1971): Skip the Gutter Louis Armstrong and the Hot Five Columbia 44422 & Louis Armstrong (1901 - 1971) arr. David Jolley: I'm in the Barrel Windscape Arabesque 6732 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Louis Armstrong Another Armstrong Website 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
Thursday, July 7
Handel celebrates peace ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: George Frederic Handel (1685 - 1757): Utrecht Te Deum St Paul's Cathedral Choir; The Parley of Instruments; John Scott, cond. Hyperion 67009 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Handel's life and works 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.
Friday, July 8
John Williams, musical tree-hugger? ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: John Williams (b. 1932): Treesongs Gil Shaham, violin; Boston Symphony; John Williams, cond. DG 471 326 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On composer and conductor John Williams 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
Saturday, July 9
David Diamond arrives, Randall Thompson departs ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: David Diamond (1915 - 2005): Rounds Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra; Gerard Schwarz, cond. Nonesuch 79002 & Randall Thompson (1899 - 1984): Alleluia Dale Warland Singers; Dale Warland, cond. MPR 201 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On composer David Diamond On Randall Thompson ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1879—Italian composer Ottorino Respighi, in Bologna 1915—American composer David Diamond, in Rochester, N.Y. 1938—Japanese-American composer Paul Chihara, in Seattle Deaths: 1747—Italian opera composer, Giovanni Bonocini, age 76, in Vienna; He was the famous (and unsuccessful) rival of Handel's for the favor of the opera-loving public in London 1960—American composer Edward Burlington Hill, age 87, in Francesrtown, New Hampshire 1984—American composer and teacher Randall Thompson, age 85, in Boston Premieres: 1957 — Hartmann: opera "Simplicius Simplicissimus" (revised version), in Mannheim at the Nationaltheater; This opera was premiered in a concert version in Munich by the Bavarian Radio on April 2, 1948 1969 — Lennox Berkeley: Symphony No. 3, in Cheltenham, England 2001 — Steven Stucky: "Three Little Pieces for David," for piano (written for the 65th birthday of conductor David Zinman), by Yefim Bronfman at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado.
Sunday, July 10
Bernstein's stamp of approval ... MUSIC PLAYED ON TODAY'S PROGRAM: Leonard Bernstein (1917 - 1990) arr. Brohn: West Side Story Suite Joshua Bell, violin; Philharmonia Orchestra; David Zinman, cond. Sony 89358 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: On Leonard Bernstein ALSO ON THIS DATE: Births: 1835—Polish composer and violinist Henryk Wieniawski, in Lubin 1895 —German composer and music educator, Carl Orff, in Munich 1933—Broadway composer Jerry Herman, in New York City Deaths: 1940—British composer and conductor Sir Donald Tovey, age 64, in Edinburgh 1941—Jazz pianist and composer Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton, age 55, in Los Angeles 1979—American conductor of the Boston Pops, Arthur Fiedler, age 84; He started the first outdoor "Esplanade Concerts" in Boston in 1929 and the famous "Boston Pops" series in 1930; In 1979, Fiedler was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom 1983 —German composer Werner Egk, age 82, in Inning (near Munich) Premieres: 1733 — Handel: oratorio "Athalia," in Oxford at the Sheldonian Theater, with Handel conducting from keyboard (Gregorian date: July 21) 2001 — Bernstein (arr. William David Brohn): "West Side Story" Suite for violin and orchestra, in New York's Central Park, with soloist Joshua Bell and the New York Philharmonic, William Eddins, conducting Other: 1741—Charles Jennens, the librettist for Handel's oratorio "Saul," writes to a friend: "Handel says he will do nothing next Winter, but I hope I shall persuade him to set another Scripture collection I have made for him, and perform it for his own benefit in passion week. I hope he will lay out his whole genius and skill upon it, that the composition may excel as his former compositions, as the subject excels every other subject. The subject is Messiah." (Gregorian date: July 21) |
