Composers Datebook
Composers Datebook™ is a daily two-minute program designed to inform, engage, and entertain listeners with timely information about composers of the past and present. Each program notes significant or intriguing musical events involving composers of the past and present, with appropriate and accessible music related to each.
- Update frequency
- every day
- Average duration
- 2 minutes
- Episodes
- 100
- Years Active
- 2025
Henry Kimball Hadley
Synopsis
Works by Henry Kimball Hadley rarely shows up on concert programs anymore, but in the early years of the 20th century, he ranked as a major and very popular American composer. In 1910, Gustav…
Amy Cheney and Mrs. Beach
Synopsis
Amy Marcy Cheney Beach was born in Henniker, New Hampshire, on today’s date in 1867. Amy Beach — or, Mrs. H.H.A. Beach, as she was also called — was one of America’s first major women compos…
Mackey's 'Lost and Found'
Synopsis
On today’s date in 1996, Michael Tilson Thomas conducted the San Francisco Symphony in the first performance of Lost and Found, a five-minute toccata for orchestra. Its composer was Steve Mac…
Ives in San Francisco
Synopsis
On today’s date in 1931, a short notice appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, which began: “Music never before heard in San Francisco will make up the program of the New Music Society to b…
Haydn at Esterhazy
Synopsis
On today’s date in 1773, Austrian Empress Maria Theresa was visiting the country estate of Prince Nikolaus of Esterhazy. Among the attractions there were an opera house, a marionette theater,…
Pachelbel and his 'Canon'
Synopsis
On today’s date in 17th century Germany, a baby boy was christened who would grow up to be one of the leading composers and organists of his time. No, it wasn’t Johann Sebastian Bach — althou…
Weill's 'Three-Penny Opera' in Berlin
Synopsis
On today’s date in 1928, Kurt Weill’s Three Penny Opera, whose cast members portrayed thieves, murderers,and sex workers, debuted at the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm in Berlin.
The Three-Penny O…
Sousa gets stiffed in Minneapolis
Synopsis
It was on this day in 1929 that a new march by John Philip Sousa was played for the first time — once — and then promptly forgotten until almost 60 years later. The Foshay Tower Washington Me…
John Cage at Woodstock
Synopsis
On today’s date in 1952, at the aptly named Maverick Concert Hall in Woodstock, New York, pianist David Tudor premiered two new works by the American composer John Cage.
The first, Water Music…
Liszt and Milhaud celebrate Goethe
Synopsis
Franz Liszt, the inventor of the “symphonic poem,” wrote 13 of them. The second, Tasso, had its first performance on today's date in 1849. The occasion was a festival celebrating the 100th bi…
Copland does Mexico (and Mexico does Copland)
Synopsis
On today’s date in 1937, in Mexico City, Mexican composer and conductor Carlos Chavez conducted the first performance of this music by Aaron Copland.
The music owes its existence to Copland’s …
A Song for Anne-Sophie
Synopsis
On today’s date in 2001, during the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland, the German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter premiered Tango, Song and Dance, a new chamber work for violin and piano. She had …
Bach's Letter
Synopsis
You almost feel sorry for the guy — after all, how would you like to go down in history as the fellow who tried to stiff J.S. Bach? That’s what happened to Herr Johannes Friedrich Eitelwein, …
Pomp and the MJQ
Synopsis
On today's date in 1907, the Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4 by Edward Elgar had its premiere performance in London. Say Pomp and Circumstance to most people and they will start humming the…
Barney Google meets Igor Stravinsky?
Synopsis
On today’s date in 1944, Russian composer Igor Stravinsky completed an orchestral score, Scenes de Ballet, or Ballet Scenes. Now, considering Stravinsky had achieved international fame for hi…
A 'Silly Symphony' Debut
Synopsis
We have a silly anniversary to note today — seriously!
On today's date in 1929, Walt Disney released his first Silly Symphonies cartoon: “The Skeleton Dance.” It depicted four skeletons dancin…
1968 Proms
Synopsis
For over 120 years the late summer music festival known as the BBC Proms has been presenting memorable concerts in London, but one of the most memorable occurred on today’s date in 1968.
The s…
A famous — and a not-quite-as-famous — overture
Synopsis
Two concert overtures — one very famous and one not so famous — had their premiere performances on today's date.
In 1956, this music by British composer Arthur Bliss provided a festive opening…
Bernstein's air-conditioned urban jungle
Synopsis
If you were in Washington, D.C. on today’s date in 1957, and wanted to escape the summer heat, tickets for a new musical at the air-conditioned National Theater would run you between $1.10 an…
Salieri slandered?
Synopsis
Today is the birthday of Antonio Salieri, one of the most unjustly maligned composers in history.
The successful stage play and movie Amadeus have helped to repeat the notorious charge that je…