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

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

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

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

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

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

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