TDCM: December 30th - Gian Carlo Menotti

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 

Gian Carlo Menotti (1911-2007)

Bio

Born in Cadegliano-Viconago, Italy, Menotti entered the Milan Conservatory as a teenager but finished his education at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. There he met fellow student and American composer Samuel Barber and the two remained together for most of the rest of their lives. He is mostly known for his operas but produced several other works as well in the verismo and neo-classical traditions.

Music

Piano Concerto in F major

Apocalypse

Concerto for Double Bass & Orchestra

Violin Concerto

Trio for Violin, Clarinet, and Piano

Symphony No. 1 "The Halcyon"

Symphony No. 1 "The Halcyon"

The Medium

The Unicorn, the Gorgon and the Manticore

TDCM: December 29th - Peter Mennin

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 

Peter Mennin (1923-1983)

Bio

Peter Mennin (born Mennini) was the son of Italian immigrants who settled in Erie, Pennsylvania. He studied under Howard Hanson at the Eastman School of Music and his 3rd Symphony was the centerpiece of his Ph.D. He taught at Juilliard and now the prestigious school awards an annual Peter Mennin prize.

Music

Symphony No. 8

Symphony No. 6

Symphony No. 7 "Variation-Symphony"

Flute Concerto

Concerto for Piano

Symphony No. 3

TDCM: December 28th - Felix Mendelssohn

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Bio

Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy was born in Hamburg. His father was a prominent Jewish German banker but the family converted to Protestantism and were all baptized. Felix studied under Ludwig Berger (a student of Muzio Clementi) and Carl Friedrich Zelter. Felix was a prodigious composer, producing many works in his early teens. He conducted Bach's St Matthew's Passion in Berlin at age 20 and is believed to have ignited the revival of appreciation for the Baroque master. He traveled all over Europe, composing and conducting, but pushed his health too far and died after a series of strokes at just 38 years old. 

Music

Symphony No. 3 in A minor "Scottish"

Symphony No. 4 in A major "Italian"

Symphony No. 5 in D major/minor "Reformation"

Violin Concerto No. 2 in E minor

Octet in E-flat major

String Quartet No. 6 in F minor

Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor

Midsummer Night's Dream

TDCM: December 27th - Wilfrid Mellers

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 

Wilfrid Mellers (1914-2008)

Bio

Wilfrid Howard Mellers was born in Warwickshire and attended Leamington College. He was a writer just as much as a musician and taught English and music at Downing College, Birmingham University, and the University of Pittsburgh. He founded the Music Department at the University of York and remained there till his death.  

Music

The only piece I could find was on Spotify as part of the album: Contemporary Music for Organ

Opus Alchymicum, No. 1, Melanosis, Circumambulatio

https://open.spotify.com/track/1bPKgqQUa1HvJGDWIyQ60I?si=a3cd8da3b9924e02

TDCM: December 22nd - Nikolai Medtner

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 

Nikolai Medtner (1880-1951)

Bio

Nikolai Karlovich Medtner was born in Moscow. He studied at the Moscow Conservatory at 11 and graduated with the Rubinstein prize. Rachmaninoff supported his development and eventually secured him passage out of post-revolution Russia. He settled in London and enjoyed success as a teacher, performer, and composer.    

Music

Piano Concerto No. 1

Piano Concerto No. 2

Second Improvisation

Piano Concerto No. 3 "Ballade"

TDCM: December 21st - Richard Meale

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 

Richard Meale (1932-2009)

Bio

Richard Meale was born in Sydney and studied at the NSW State Conservatorium of Music. He also attended the University of California on a Ford Foundation grant. He taught at the University of Adelaide and worked for the Australian Broadcasting Company.    

Music

Symphony No. 1

Sonata for Flute and Piano

Mer De Glace

String Quartet No. 1

TDCM: December 20th - Nicholas Maw

 

Listening Through The Dictionary of Composers and Their Music 

Nicholas Maw (1935-2009)

Bio

John Nicholas Maw was born in Lincolnshire. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music under Steinitz and Berkeley and then in Paris under Boulanger and Deutsch. He taught at several schools including Yale, Boston University, Cambridge, the Royal Academy, and the Peabody Institute.   

Music

The World in the Evening

Odyssey

Music of Memory

Romantic Variations