Friday, February 11, 2022

TDCM: February 11th - Alan Bush

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 


Alan Bush (1900-1995)

Bio

Bush studied at the Royal Academy under Frederick Corder and Tobias Matthay. He was a stand-out student and began a piano performance career, particularly in Berlin. He was an avowed Communist which hampered his publishing opportunities but his composition prowess was never in question and has been cemented since his death.  

Music


Symphony No. 1 in C




Symphony No. 2 "Nottingham"


Quintet for String Quartet and Piano


Piano Concerto


Symphony No. 4 "Lascaux"



Fantasia on Soviet Themes



Africa, a Symphonic Movement for Piano & Orchestra


Scherzo for Wind Orchestra & Percussion


Variations, Nocturne and Finale on an English Sea-Song for Piano and Orchestra



Tuesday, February 8, 2022

TDCM: February 8th - John Bull

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 


John Bull (1562-1628)

Bio

John Bull served in Elizabeth I's court and was an organist. He received a doctor of music from both Cambridge and Oxford and taught at Gresham College. He moved to Belgium and was a Cathedral organist. He is considered one of the originators of contrapuntal keyboard music and may have written God Save the Queen, though the authorship is contested.  

Music

Fantasy for keyboard


In Nomine



Chromatic Fantasia



Several pieces on an original Harpsichord


Walsingham Variations


Collected Organ & Harpsichord Works



Monday, February 7, 2022

TDCM: February 7th - Anton Bruckner

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 


Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)

Bio

Bruckner was born in Ansfelden, Austria, and studied music at a young age. He taught in St Florian's monastery before becoming the organist at Linz. He then moved to Vienna, studied composition, and became faculty at the Vienna Conservatory. He adored Wagner and patterned much of sound after him. Bruckner's compositions are considered radical and were divisive during his lifetime. Along with Wagner, Bruckner was also friends with Gustav Mahler, who called him his "forerunner" after studying under him in Vienna. 

Music

Symphony No. 1 in C Minor



Symphony No. 2 in C Minor


Symphony No. 3 in D Minor


Symphony No. 4 in E-flat



Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major


Symphony No. 6 in A Major



Friday, February 4, 2022

TDCM: February 4th - Max Bruch

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 


Max Bruch (1838-1920)

Bio

One of the lesser-known German Romantics whose name starts with a B, Bruch won the Mozart Scholarship at 14 and traveled Europe studying under various teachers. He taught at Mannheim, Koblenz, Sondershausen, Berlin, and Bonn and also conducted for the Liverpool Philharmonic Society. His gravestone has "Music is the language of God" chiseled under his name. 

Music

Scottish Fantasy



Symphony No. 1 in E-flat Major



Symphony No. 2 in F Minor



Symphony No. 3 in E Major


Violin Concerto No. 2


Violin Concerto No. 1


Concerto for Two Pianos



Suite on Russian Folk Melodies



Septet in E-flat Major


Violin Concerto No. 3



Thursday, February 3, 2022

TDCM: February 3rd - Earle Brown

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 


Earle Brown (1926-2002)

Bio

An American engineering student who briefly played in the Randolph Field Air Force band, Brown studied at Schillinger House before working for Capitol Records and Time-Mainstream Records. He was influenced by and supported by Cage, Boulez, Maderna, Feldman, and others, and is considered a member of the New York School. He is credited with creating "open form" and his influence has been significant on modern composers. 

Music

Novara



4 Systems: Piano



Times Five



Windsor Jambs


Twenty Five Pages


December 1952


Octet 1


Syntagm III


Corroboree



Available Forms I



Wednesday, February 2, 2022

TDCM: February 2nd - Benjamin Britten

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 


Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

Bio

Britten was a prodigy who began composing at the age of four. He studied at the Royal College of Music and was tutored by yesterday's composer, Frank Bridge. He composed 16 Operas, film music, chamber works, and symphonic material. He was particularly interested in compositions for children and instructional material. He was the first composer to ever receive a life peerage. 

Music

Simple Symphony




Four Sea Interludes from "Peter Grimes"



Phantasy Quartet


Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge



Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Minor



Symphony for Cello and Orchestra


Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra


Piano Concerto


Sinfonia da Requiem


A Ceremony of Carols



Tuesday, February 1, 2022

TDCM: February 1st - Frank Bridge

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 


Frank Bridge (1879-1941)

Bio

Bridge studied at the Royal College of Music and then joined the Joachim String Quartet and finally the English String Quartet as a virtuosic Violinist. He traveled conducting and composing with a particular inclination towards spiritual exploration-themed works. He tutored Benjamin Britten and was called one of his most significant influences by the composer that will be featured tomorrow.

Music

Piano Sonata



The Hour Glass



Suite for String Orchestra



Cello Sonata



String Quartet No. 1 "Bologna"



Oration



The Sea



Piano Trio No. 2



Phantasie in C Minor


Mid of the Night