jmc's classics
Yesterday was Valentines Day. Today is Presidents Day.
Valentine Day is to celebrate romance and love not the short one piece concertos. In musical terms, this is the definition of a romance. a short one movement concerto. We had George Washington's birthday as a national holiday. In Illinois, Lincoln's birthday is a state holiday. I don't know if it still is. Today is the birthday of American composer John Adams (1947-) and also of composer Christopher Rouse (1949-2019). Both were friends. Adams is not related to the president with the same name. He wrote an opera in 1985 called "The Chairmen Dances" about Richard Nixon visiting China in 1972. Until then china was a closed society. I am not familiar with this opera or his music. Adams and Rouse were friends and had conducted each other's music. Rouse had an interest in Rock and Roll. He wrote a piece for eight percussionists 1988 called "Bonham" after John Bonham of Led Zeppelin. He wrote five symphonies. he also wrote a concerto for cello. I can not find any CDs of this work available. I have a copy of this work. It is with Yoyo ma and The Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by David Zinman. It also contains works for celloand orchestra by Richard Danielpour and Leon Kricher. David Zinamn was also the conductor of the Baltimore Ochestra. Rouse was born in Baltimore. St Valentine was an early Christian martyr. he encouraged Roman soldiers to merrie their famale friends. The Roman emperor did not want his soldiers to be merried. Valentine was eventually arested and killed. A Christian Martyr's day is now assoicate with romance.
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