TDCM: November 23rd - Sir Richard Bennett, CBE

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 

Richard Bennett (1936-2012)

Bio

British composer who, like Bedford, studied with Lennox Berkley at the Royal Academy. Was brought to Paris on scholarship and studied with Boulez. Was awarded the Arnold Bax Award, the Ralph Vaughn Williams Award, and was appointed CBE and knighted. At the time the Dictionary was published was teaching at the Peabody Institute, 45 years of age. 

Music

Symphony No. 1

Sonata for Piano

Sonata for Guitar

Concerto for Stan Getz

Partita for Orchestra

Concerto for Trumpet & Wind Orchestra

Concerto for Orchestra

Percussion Concerto

Music for Strings

Elegy for Viola & Orchestra

Gormenghast 

Sonata for Soprano Saxophone and Piano

Sonatina

Symphony No. 3

Murder on the Orient Express

Four Piece Suite for Two Pianos

Conversations for Two Saxophones

Symphony No. 2

TDCM: November 22nd - Arthur Benjamin

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 

Arthur Benjamin (1893-1960)

Bio

Australian composer who traveled to London and studied at the Royal College of Music. After World War I, Arthur was a piano teacher in Australia and then traveled back to London where his compositions earned him the Carnegie Award and the Cobbett Medal.

Music

Concerto for Harmonica and Orchestra

Symphony No. 1

Romantic Fantasy

Viola Sonata

Concertino for Piano and Orchestra

Cotillon Suite

Overture to an Italian Comedy

Drifting

Scherzino for Piano

Caribbean Pieces for two pianos

From San Domingo

Le Tombeau de Ravel

Not much of Benjamin's work is on YouTube. So, for the rest of the day, I will be listening to Beethoven Symphonies. 

TDCM: November 19th - Vincenzo Bellini

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 

Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835)

Bio

Son of a composer, Bellini was raised around music and at an early age moved to Naples to study at the Conservatorio. Wrote several Operas there before settling in Milan for a few years. Traveled to London and Paris and was made a Chevalier of the Legion d'honneur. Killed by a stomach ailment at just 33 years old.

Music

Norma

Bianca and Fernando

La Sonnambula

TDCM: November 18th - Ludwig van Beethoven

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Bio

'Ol Beef-oven, doesn't really need an introduction does he? Perhaps the most well-known classical composer in world history, the famously deaf German studied under the court organist at Hanover. He was briefly tutored by Mozart and studied under Haydn. Transformed music. 

Music

Symphony No. 1

Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 "Eroica"

Symphony No. 6 "Pastorale"

Symphony No. 5

Violin Sonata No. 9 "Kreutzer"

Rage Over a Lost Penny

Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major "Waldstein"

Piano Sonata No. 23 "Appassionata"

Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat Minor "Hammerklavier"

TDCM: November 16th - David Bedford

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 

David Bedford (1937-2011)

Bio

Bedford studied with Lennox Berkley at the Royal Academy and was influenced by Schoenberg. Has branched into many genres including pop, rock, jazz, and classical. At the completion of the Dictionary, he was 48 years old. He was the composer in residence at Queen's College and the Chairman of the Performing Rights Society. 

Music

Requiem

Balloon Music 1

The Wreck of the Titanic

Ronde for Isolde

Recorder Concerto 5th Movement

Recorder Concerto 1st Movement

You Asked For It

The Sun Paints Rainbows Over the Vast Waves

With 100 Kazoos

Hergest Ridge

Twelve Hours of Sunset

Wind Music of David Bedford (Album)

Song of the White Horse (Song starts at 24 min mark)

Tubular Bells

Symphony No. 1: Introduction - I. Allegro

TCDM: November 15th - Amy Beach

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 

Amy Beach (1867-1944)

Bio

Concert pianist and composer, her 'Gaelic' Symphony is considered the first concert symphony ever composed by an American woman. Traveled the world as a pianist with acclaim for both a standard repertoire and debuting her own music. Is also considered one of the first exclusively American composers with zero European training. Listed among the Boston Six.

Music

Symphony in E minor, Op. 32 "Gaelic"

Four Sketches Op. 15

Variations on Balkan Themes Op. 60

Piano Concerto

Piano Quintet, Op. 67

Quartet for Strings Op. 89

Les Rêves de Colombine

Prelude and Fugue Op. 81

Violin Sonata, Op. 34

TDCM: November 12th - Arnold Bax

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 

Arnold Bax (1883-1953)

Bio

Irish composer who received honorary Doctorates from Oxford, Durham, and Eire. Knighted and awarded the Victorian Order. He and his brother Clifford were also playwrights. Arnold wrote under the pseudonym Dermot O'Byrne.

Music

Tintagel

Symphony No. 4

Symphony No. 5

Symphony No. 6

Symphony No. 3 in C

Symphony No. 2 in E minor and C major

Symphony No. 1 in E flat

November Woods

The Tale the Pine-Trees Knew

Enchanted Summer