Copland and Chopin are familiar to concert goers, but who are these other characters?
Cesar Cui is a name that might be familiar from music history courses. The "Russian Five" that we had to memorize were Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin, Balakirev and Cui. ( Mr. BBC when studying) But somehow we never heard any music by the last two! I still haven't heard any Balakirev but we found a lovely Barcarolle for cello and piano by Cui.
And Guillaume Connesson? The most modern composer on the program, he was born in 1970. Studied and now teaches in France and has commissions from major orchestras all over the world. Fortunately he also writes fun short chamber music pieces like the Disco Toccata. (probably too short to dance to)
Rebecca Clarke, American, born in 1886, and lived until 1979, composing, touring as a performer with a cellist, playing her own music and battling sexism. She once tied in a composition contest with Bloch but was not given the prize when it was known that she was a woman.
More coming about Henry Cowell, an early promoter of world music (born in Menlo Park 1897), prolific composer and mentor to John Cage, Lou Harrison, Charles Ives, and Harry Partch.
