Recent anniversaries, redux. An astrologist or a musically inclined statistician may consider studying the pattern of composers’ birthdays: there are long stretches with not a single anniversary, and then a treasure trove of great names. Here are several, recent and upcoming this week.
Benjamin Britten, probably the greatest British composer of the 20th century, was born on November 22, 1913. His greatest work was in the opera: just think of Peter Grimes, The Beggar's Opera, Billy Budd, The Turn of the Screw (it’s said that he has more operas performed worldwide than any other composer born in the 20th century). We don’t have recordings of Britten’s operas, but here’s his String Quartet No. 2, Op. 36. It’s performed by Miho Saegusa (violin), Jung-Eun Jenny Ahn (violin), Jan Grüning (viola), and Matthew Allen (cello).
Two Spanish composers, Joaquin Rodrigo, famous for his guitar Concierto de Aranjuez, and Manuel De Falla, one of the most important Spanish composers of the 20th century, have their anniversaries one day apart. Rodrigo was born on November 22, 1901, De Falla – on November 23, 1876. Here’s Rodrigo’s Sonata Giocosa played by the guitarist Ana Vidovic. And here’s an old recording of De Falla’s Danse Espagnole made by the wonderful Russian-American violinist Albert Markov with the late Milton Kaye on the piano.
One of the most interesting Soviet composers of the second half of the 20th century, Alfred Schnittke was born on November 24, 1934. Here’s the second movement of his Piano Quintet. It’s performed by the great proponent Schnittke’s music, the violinist (and conductor) Mark Lubotsky and his colleagues: Dimity Hall (violin), Irina Morozova (viola), Julian Smiles (cello), with Schnittke’s widow Irina on the piano.
And finally, the great French-Italian composer, the founder of the French Baroque music and the favorite court musician of Luis XIV, Jean-Baptiste Lully was born on November 28,1632 in Florence. Here’s his Suite from Bourgeois gentillomme, played by Baroque Band. And we didn’t even get to Gaetano Donizetti!
November 28, 2011
Recent anniversaries, redux. An astrologist or a musically inclined statistician may consider studying the pattern of composers’ birthdays: there are long stretches with not a single anniversary, and then a treasure trove of great names. Here are several, recent and upcoming this week.
Benjamin Britten, probably the greatest British composer of the 20th century, was born on November 22, 1913. His greatest work was in the opera: just think of Peter Grimes, The Beggar's Opera, Billy Budd, The Turn of the Screw (it’s said that he has more operas performed worldwide than any other composer born in the 20th century). We don’t have recordings of Britten’s operas, but here’s his String Quartet No. 2, Op. 36. It’s performed by Miho Saegusa (violin), Jung-Eun Jenny Ahn (violin), Jan Grüning (viola), and Matthew Allen (cello).
Two Spanish composers, Joaquin Rodrigo, famous for his guitar Concierto de Aranjuez, and Manuel De Falla, one of the most important Spanish composers of the 20th century, have their anniversaries one day apart. Rodrigo was born on November 22, 1901, De Falla – on November 23, 1876. Here’s Rodrigo’s Sonata Giocosa played by the guitarist Ana Vidovic. And here’s an old recording of De Falla’s Danse Espagnole made by the wonderful Russian-American violinist Albert Markov with the late Milton Kaye on the piano.
One of the most interesting Soviet composers of the second half of the 20th century, Alfred Schnittke was born on November 24, 1934. Here’s the second movement of his Piano Quintet. It’s performed by the great proponent Schnittke’s music, the violinist (and conductor) Mark Lubotsky and his colleagues: Dimity Hall (violin), Irina Morozova (viola), Julian Smiles (cello), with Schnittke’s widow Irina on the piano.
And finally, the great French-Italian composer, the founder of the French Baroque music and the favorite court musician of Luis XIV, Jean-Baptiste Lully was born on November 28,1632 in Florence. Here’s his Suite from Bourgeois gentillomme, played by Baroque Band. And we didn’t even get to Gaetano Donizetti!