Composers Datebook

SynopsisOn today’s date in 1733, music-loving readers of the Leipzig newspaper Nachricht auch Frag und Anzeiger would have seen this welcome announcement: “Tonight at 8 o’clock there will be a Bach concert at Zimmermann’s Coffeehouse on Catharine Street.”So, in addition to a Grande Latté or Double-shot Depth-Charge, Zimmermann’s patrons could treat themselves to a Grand Suite or Double-Concerto by Johann Sebastian Bach. As if Bach wasn’t busy enough providing all those sacred cantatas and organ chorales for two Leipzig churches every Sunday, he was also in charge of that city’s Collegium Musicum, an organization that presented more secular musical fare. It’s likely that on occasional weekday nights at Catharine Street, most of Bach’s concertos and chamber works were performed by Bach, alongside many of the same musicians he employed each Sunday for his church music.Given his staggering workload, it’s not too far-fetched to assume that caffeine helped Bach stay focused and alert: one of his secular cantatas might even be considered as an early form of an advertising plug: the humorous text of Bach’s Coffee Cantata recounts how a young woman’s addiction to coffee triumphs over her stuffy father’s moral objections to the tasty brew. Music Played in Today's ProgramJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Harpsichord Concerto; Gustav Leonhardt, Herbert Tachezi, harpsichord; Leonhardt Consort; Teldec 35778Coffee Cantata; Christine Schaefer, soprano; Stuttgart Bach-Collegium; Helmuth Rilling, conductor; Hanssler 98.161

SynopsisIn the opinion of General George Washington, a commanding plateau on the west bank of the Hudson River, about 40 miles north of New York City, was a key strategic position during America’s War for Independence. Washington had fortifications built there and transferred his headquarters to this “West Point” in 1779. In 1802, after America’s independence had been won, President Thomas Jefferson signed legislation establishing a United States Military Academy at West Point.150 years later, in 1952, the West Point Military Band decided to observe the Academy’s Sesquicentennial by asking prominent composers to write celebratory works to mark the occasion. A number of composers responded, including French composer Darius Milhaud. Milhaud’s West Point Suite was premiered by the West Point Band at Carnegie Hall on today’s date in 1952, with Captain Francis Resta conducting, and proved to be one of the most successful and oft-performed of these Sesquicentennial pieces.The previous year, Milhaud had paid a visit to West Point to hear the band, as he wanted to assess both their size and ability. He was impressed by what he heard — and surprised as well when the band struck up “Happy Birthday” in his honor. It seems that both Milhaud and his wife had completely forgotten their September 4 visit coincided with the composer’s 60th birthday!Music Played in Today's ProgramDarius Milhaud (1892-1974): West Point Suite; Liszt Academy Symphonic Band; Laszlo Marosi, conductor; Hungaroton 32066

SynopsisIt may be a hotly contested statement that New York is the cultural capital of the United States, but few would deny that city’s important role in so much of our musical history.In 1992, to celebrate its 150th anniversary, the New York Philharmonic commissioned many new works by leading composers and spread out their celebratory premieres over several years. On today’s date in 1996, Leonard Slatkin conducted one of these: an orchestral tribute to New York written by a native son — Toward the Splendid City, a work by Richard Danielpour. While intended as sonic portrait of his hometown, it was written entirely outside of the city. As he himself explained:“[It’s] is one of the very few works I’ve written completely away from New York — work on the piece began in Seattle and was completed in Taos, New Mexico — and, to an extent, it expresses the nostalgia I felt for the city. It became my sonic postcard of the town. One passage, a sound-painting with string harmonics, celesta, harp, vibes, and bells, was inspired by my memory of floating above New York at night on a plane and seeing the lights of the city in the mist...”Music Played in Today's ProgramRichard Danielpour (b. 1956): Toward the Splendid City; Philharmonia Orchestra; Zdenek Macal, conductor; Sony 60779

SynopsisThe comic opera Don Pasquale by Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti had its first performance in Paris on this date in the year 1843. To this day it remains one of his best-loved and most frequently performed works. In all, Donizetti wrote about 70 operas, sometimes turning out four per year. Amazing as this seems today, it wasn’t at all uncommon in the 19th century, especially in Italy, where audience demand for new works was insatiable. Back then, when composers vied with one another for speed, Donizetti was asked if he believed that Rossini had written The Barber of Seville in only 13 days. “Why not?” quipped Donizetti. “He’s so lazy!”In our time, the corollary of a busy opera composer like Donizetti might be a hard-pressed Hollywood composer like John Williams, who could quip that Donizetti was the lazy one. After all, he has surpassed Donizetti’s count of 70 operas with well over 100 film scores.Williams started out in the 1960s writing scores for TV shows like Wagon Train and Gilligan’s Island before shifting primarily to movies and crafting the iconic soundtracks like Jaws, E.T., Star Wars and Schindler’s List.Music Played in Today's ProgramGaetano Donizetti (1797-1848): Don Pasquale Overture; Philharmonia Orchestra; Riccardo Muti, condcutor; EMI 54490John Williams (b. 1932): Devil’s Dance, from Witches of Eastwick; Boston Pops; John Williams, conductor; Philips 422 385