Join us this week as we continue our investigation of composers in America. Our first episodes began at the turn of the 20th century and over the years we have worked our way to composers who were active in the time of Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and beyond. You’ll hear all the usual suspects (Copland, Gershwin, Stravinsky, and Schoenberg), but we’ll also weave in beautiful and intriguing music from Peter Menin, Augustus Hailstork, Charles Wuorinen, Terry Riley, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Joan Tower, Charlie Parker, and, yes, Fats Domino. And we’ll end the week with rich, elegiac symphonic work from George Walker, the first African American composer to win the Pulitzer Prize.
American Masters, Part VI
Playlist
Episode 1
Copland, Aaron: Symphony #3 – 4. Molto Deliberato, Allegro Risoluto – excerpt
New York Philharmonic Orchestra/ Leonard Bernstein
Aaron Copland – Symphony No. 3 Quiet City
DG 419170-2
3:57
Walker, George: Serenata (excerpt)
Chicago Sinfonietta/ Paul Freeman
African Heritage Symphonic Series, Vol II
Cedille CDR 90000 061
0:59
Korngold, Erich Wolfgang: Violin Concerto In D, Op. 35 – 1. Moderato Nobile
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra/ Alfred Wallenstein, Jascha Heifetz, violin
Heifetz – Korngold: Concerto – Ròzsa: Concerto Tema con Variazioni – Waxman: “Carmen” Fantasy
RCA Victor Gold Seal 09026-61752-2
7:46
Schoenberg, Arnold: Phantasy for Violin and Piano, Op. 47 (excerpt)
Lucille Chung, piano, Ian Swensen, violin
Music@Menlo Live – 5 Through Brahms
2011
2:03
Persichetti, Vincent : Serenade No. 5 for Orchestra, Op. 43:
1. Prelude: Heavily
2. Poem: Quietly
3. Interlude: Simply
4. Capriccio: Brightly
5. Dialogue: Delicately
Louisville Orchestra/Robert Whitney
Persichetti: Symphonies: No. 3; No. 4; No. 7, “Liturgical”. Symphony No. 6; Parable Ix; Serenade No. 11; Psalm; Pageant; Masquerade; Divertimento. Symphonies: No. 5; No. 8; Serenade No. 5
First Edition FECD 0034
8:17
Stravinsky, Igor: Ebony Concerto
Woody Herman and The First Heard at Carnegie Hall
Stravinsky / Milhaud – Woody Herman & Orchestra
Everest EVC 9049
3:50
Parker, Charlie: Ornithology
Charlie Parker Quintet
Charlie Parker Quintet Broadcast Birdland NYC 30 June 1950
Live and Private Recordings in Chronological Order
3:06
Kenton, Stan: Artistry in Rhythm
Stan Kenton & his Orchestra
Artistry in Rhythm
Capitol Records H 167
3:18
Gershwin, George: I Loves You, Porgy
Miles Davis with orchestra under Gil Evans
Porgy and Bess
CBS PC 8085
4:06
Domino, Fats: I’m Walkin’
Fats Domino
The Fats Domino Jukebox 20 Greatest Hits
EMI 72435 37600
2:08
Presley, Elvis: Mystery Train
Elvis Presley
Elvis At Sun (Remastered)
RCA 82876 61308
2:29
Harrison, Lou: Main Bersama-Sama
Gamelan Sekar Kembar & Scott L. Hartman
Chamber & Gamelan Works
New World Records 80643
7:22
Episode 2
Cascarino, Romeo: Blades of Grass
Philadelphia Philharmonia/ JoAnn Falletta
American Classics – Romeo Cascarino
Naxos 8559266
7:23
Mennin, Peter: Symphony #5 – 1. Con Sdegno
Eastman-Rochester Orchestra/ Howard Hanson
Hanson Conducts Ives, Schuman, Mennin
Mercury 432 755-2
4:42
Lees, Benjamin: Violin Concerto:
II. Adagio
III. Allegro Giusto
American Symphony Orchestra/ Kazuyoshi Akiyama Ruggiero, Violin
The American – American Concertos – Composers Series
Vox Box 5158
13:14
Hailstork, Adolphus: Epitaph for a Man Who Dreamed
Chicago Sinfonietta/Paul Freeman
African Heritage Symphonic Series, Vol II
Cedille CDR 90000 061
7:42
Riley, Terry: A Rainbow in Curved Air, for electric piano, dumbak and tambourines
Terry Riley
A Rainbow in Curved Air
Esoteric Recordings #ECLEC 2306
18:39
Episode 3
Kay, Ulysses: Overture to Theater Set
Chicago Sinfonietta/ Paul Freeman
African Heritage Symphonic Series, Vol II
Cedille CDR 90000 061
4:30
Starer, Robert: Concerto for Viola, Strings & Percussion
I. Andante Mosso
II. Presto leggiero
III. Lento leading to
IV. Molto allegro
American Symphony Orchestra/Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Ruggiero, Violin
The American – American Concertos – Composers Series
Vox Box 5158
25:54
Hoiby, Lee: “Winter Song” “In the Wand of The Wind”
Leontyne Price, David Garvey
Price re-Discovered
RCA VIctor 902663908
3:39
Hoiby, Lee: Songs of Innocence – “The Lamb who made me.”
Nathan Gunn, Kevin Murphy
American Anthem
EMI 73160
3:09
Hailstork, Adolphus: An American Port of Call
Chicago Sinfonietta/Paul Freeman
African Heritage Symphonic Series, Vol II
Cedille CDR 90000 061
8:38
Gould, Morton: American Symphonette No.2 – Pavane
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra/ Leonard Slatkin
The American Album
RCA Victor Red Seal 60778-2 RC
3:14
Zwilich, Ellen Taaffe: Concerto Grosso
Louisville Orchestra/ James Sedares, John Mack, oboe
Zwilich: Oboe Concerto/ Symphony No.3/ Concerto Grosso
Koch 3-7278-2
3:29
Episode 4
Svoboda, Tomas: Overture of the Season, Op. 89
Oregon Symphony/ James DePriest
Orchestral Works by Tomas Svoboda
Albany Troy 604
8:50
Wuorinen, Charles: Piano Concerto No. 3, Allegro Giusto
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra/Michael Tilson Thomas
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
The Golden Dance – Piano Concerto No. 3
Elekta Nonesuch 9 79185 2
6:25
Danielpour, Richard: Cello Concerto – I. Invocation (Arioso), I. Profanation – (excerpt)
Philadelphia Orchestra/ David Zinman Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Yo-Yo Ma: Premieres
Sony SK 66299
9:38
Zwilich, Ellen Taaffe: Concerto Grosso: 1 Maestoso
Louisville Orchestra/ James Sedares, John Mack, oboe
Zwilich: Oboe Concerto/ Symphony No.3/ Concerto Grosso
Koch 3-7278-2
2:39
Schwantner, Joseph: A Sudden Rainbow
Dallas Symphony Orchestra/ Andrew Litton
Joseph Schwantner: Angelfire – September Canticle
Hyperion CDA 67493
12:52
Harbison, John: The Most Often Used Chords – 1 Toccata
Albany Symphony Orchestra/ David Alan Miller
John Harbison – Symphony No. 3
Troy 390
4:36
Lieberson, Peter: The Ocean Has No East and No West,
Pastorale in loving memory of Toru Takemitsu
Peter Serkin, piano
The Ocean that has no West and no East
Koch 3-7450-2
4:39
Episode 5
Foss, Lukas: American Landscapes – 1. Flow & Free
Sharon Isbin; Hugh Wolff: St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
Sharon Isbin American Landscapes
Virgin CLassics CDC 55083
8:18
Rouse, Christopher: Flute Concert: 1. Anhran
Houston Symphony Orchestra/Christoph Eschenbach, Carol Wincenc, flute
Rouse: Symphony No 2 – Flute Concerto – Phaethon
Telarc CD 80452
4:17
Tower, Joan: Concerto for Orchestra – Part 1 & 2
Nashville Symphony Orchestra/Leonard Slatkin
Tower: Made In America
Naxos 8.559328
13:40
Walker, George: Lyrics for Strings
Chicago Sinfonietta/ Paul Freeman
African Heritage Symphonic Series, Vol II
Cedille CDR 90000 061
6:15
Walker, George: Lilacs: I. Eighth note = 56
Sinfonia Da Camera/ Albert Lee, Ian Hobson
George Walker Great American Orchestral Works Vol. 4
Albany Troy 1430
4:07
Walker, George: Folk Songs For Orchestra:
I. “Going to lay down my sword and shield”
II. “And they crucified my Lord”
III. “My Lord, what a morning”
IV. “O Peter, go ring dem bells”
Cleveland Chamber Symphony, Edwin London, conductor
George Walker – Orchestral Works
Troy 270
11:33
Walker, George: Serenata
Chicago Sinfonietta/ Paul Freeman
African Heritage Symphonic Series, Vol II
Cedille CDR 90000 061
2:22