Morton Gould: Classical Variations on Colonial Themes (1984-5) Open Reel 2026-09-19 | Morton Gould: Classical Variations on Colonial Themes (1984-5)
Gail Kubik: Sonatina for Violin & Piano (1944) Open Reel 2020-09-01 | The American composer, Gail Kubik (1914-1984) wrote music for the concert hall as well as for film and television. His Sonatina for Violin & Piano was recorded at the same time (1963) as the other works contained on the Contemporary album of his chamber music. However, it was never released due to space limitations. Here is a performance with Eudice Shapiro, violin and Ingolf Dahl, piano from the composer's tape copy.
Gail Kubik: Sonatina for Clarinet & Piano (1959) Open Reel 2020-09-01 | The American composer, Gail Kubik (1914-1984) wrote music for the concert hall as well as for film and television. His Sonatina for Clarinet & Piano is dedicated to Nadia Boulanger and is performed by William O. Smith, clarinet & Ingolf Dahl, piano.
Gail Kubik: Sonatina for Piano (1941) Open Reel 2020-09-01 | The American composer, Gail Kubik (1914-1984) wrote music for the concert hall as well as for film and television. His Sonatina for Piano is dedicated to Walter Piston and is performed by Ingolf Dahl.
Michael Fiday: Automotive Passacaglia (2001) Open Reel 2020-09-01 | The American composer, Michael Fiday (1961- ) has received a number of commissions and awards for his music. He is currently Professor of Composition at the College-Conservatory of Music at University of Cincinnati. The orchestral version of Automotive Passacaglia is based on an earlier work of his scored for piano and percussion. Here is the world premiere performed by the Oakland East Bay Symphony conducted by Michael Morgan on February 23, 2001.
Paul Dunlap: Tequila - Overture Fantasy (1947) Open Reel 2020-09-01 | The American composer, Paul Dunlap (1919-2010) is best known for his over 200 film scores that he wrote over a 30 year career. However, he did write concert music prior to his career in Hollywood and after his retirement. Here is an early commercial recording of this work on the Discovery label with Izler Solomon conducting the Columbus Philharmonic Orchestra. This radio station copy was unfortunately played with an oversize (78 rpm) stylus which adds to the surface noise.
Gail Kubik: Divertimento No. 2 for 8 Players (1959) Open Reel 2020-08-18 | The American composer, Gail Kubik (1914-1984) wrote music for the concert hall as well as for film and television. His Second Divertimento is dedicated to Aaron Copland. The composer conducts a Chamber Orchestra made up of musicians active in the Los Angeles area in the 1960s.
Gail Kubik: Divertimento No. 1 for 13 Players (1959) Open Reel 2020-08-18 | The American composer, Gail Kubik (1914-1984) wrote music for the concert hall as well as for film and television. He dedicated this work to Ingolf Dahl (who is the pianist and harpsichordist in this recording). It is in 5 short movements, Overture, Humoresque, Scene Change, Seascape and Burlesque. The performance features the composer conducting a Chamber Orchestra made up of musicians active in the Los Angeles area in the 1960s.
Sten Broman: Symphony No. 7 with Electronic Sound (1971) Open Reel 2020-08-18 | Sten Broman (1902-1983) was a Swedish violinist, conductor, music crtic and composer. He composed 9 symphonies between 1961 and 1977. Although the composer had incorporated taped organ sounds in his Sixth Symphony of 1970, his Seventh Symphony incorporates non-pitched electronic sounds developed at the recently completed Electronic Music Studio (EMS) in Stockholm. The work has two movements, Combattimento and Contrappunto. This recording stems from the first performances in May 1972 with Sixten Ehrling conducting the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Robert Hughes: Symphony No. 1 (1951, rev. 1971) Open Reel 2020-08-18 | Not to be confused with the American bassoonist, conductor and composer, Robert G. Hughes, the Australian Robert W. Hughes (1912-2007) was a leading composer of the older generation in Australia. The original version of his First Symphony dates from 1951 and is in 3 movements. There is a recording of that original version available on YouTube. He completely revised the work in 1971, expanding the work to 4 movements but retaining the basic thematic material from the original. Here is the revised version of his Symphony No. 1 with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Joseph Post.
David Sheinfeld: Symphony No. 1 Polarities (1991) Open Reel 2020-08-18 | The violinist, teacher and composer David Sheinfeld (1906-2001) was long a fixture in the San Francisco Bay Area. He studied with Ottorino Respighi in Rome (1929-31) and was a violinist in the San Francisco Symphony from 1945 until 1971. Following retirement from the Symphony, he concentrated on teaching and composing. There are two short You Tube videos on the composer, but there doesn't seem to be any of his compositions available for listening. Here is the world premiere of his 1st Symphony, "Polarities" with the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kent Nagano.
Leon Jongen: Malaisie - Suite for Orchestra (1935) Open Reel 2020-05-03 | The Belgian composer, Leon Jongen (1884-1969) was the younger brother of the composer, Joseph Jongen. His Malaisie Suite is in three movements and is performed by L'Orhcestre National de Belgique conducted by the composer.
Joseph Jongen: Suite No. 3 for Orchestra (1930) Open Reel 2020-05-03 | The Belgian teacher and composer, Joseph Jongen (1873-1953) wrote his four movement 3rd Suite "dans le style ancien". It is performed here with L'orchestre National de Belgique conducted by Fernand Quinet.
Victor Legley: Suite for Orchestra (1944) Open Reel 2020-05-03 | The Belgian composer, Victor Legley (1915-1994) wrote his five movement Suite in 1944. It is performed here by L'Orchestre National de Belgique conducted by Fernand Quinet.
Marga Richter: Concerto for Piano, Violas, Cellos & Basses (1955) Open Reel 2020-05-03 | The American composer, Marga Richter (1926- ) wrote her First Piano Concerto in 1955 for pianist William Masselos on commission from MGM Records. It was recorded in late 1956 with pianist William Masselos and Carlos Surinach conducting the MGM String Orchestra.
Olly Wilson: Hold On: Symphony No. 3 (1998) Open Reel 2020-05-03 | The American composer, Olly Wilson (1937-2018) wrote his Symphony, Hold On in 1998 on commission from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Here is the world premiere performance from February 1999 with William Eddins conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Elias Tanenbaum: First Bassman for Contrabass & Orchestra (1996) Open Reel 2020-05-02 | The American teacher and composer, Elias Tanenbaum (1924-2008) wrote First Bassman on commission from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Here is the world premiere performance from February 1999 with Joseph Guastafeste, contrabass and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Daniel Barenboim.
Ingram Marshall: Sinfonia Dolce far Niente (1988) Open Reel 2020-05-02 | The American composer, Ingram Marshall (1942- ) wrote his Sinfonia on commission from the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Here is the world premiere performance from December 1988 with Leonard Slatkin conducting the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
Juan Jose Castro: Corales Criollos No. 3 (1953) Open Reel 2020-05-02 | The Argentine composer and conductor, Juan Jose Castro (1895-1968) was one of four musical brothers, including Jose Maria Castro, Washington Castro and Luis Arnaldo Castro. Although his symphonic poem, Corales Criollos No. 3 is his third work of this title, the first two were written for piano and this work is often just referred to as Corales Criollos. The work has a theme and 6 variations followed by a finale. This performance features the Inter-American Festival Orchestra conducted by Julio Malaval.
Juan Jose Castro: El Llanto de las Sierras (The Cry of the Sierras) (1947) Open Reel 2020-05-02 | The Argentine composer and conductor, Juan Jose Castro (1895-1968) was one of four musical brothers, including Jose Maria Castro, Washington Castro and Luis Arnaldo Castro. This broadcast performance of El Llanto de las Sierras (The Cry of the Sierras) features the New York Philharmonic conducted by Zubin Mehta during a tour of South America and was recorded in the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aries on August 31, 1982.
Norman Dello Joio: To Saint Cecilia (1958) Open Reel 2020-05-02 | The American composer, Norman Dello Joio (1913-2008) wrote his cantata To Saint Cecilia during June and July of 1958. The work employs a text adapted from John Dryden's A Song For St. Cecilia's Day of 1687. It is scored for mixed chorus (with bass solo), 3 trumpets, 3 horns and tuba. This performance features the Columbia University Chapel Choir, Brass and Percussion Ensemble conducted by Searle Wright. It was recorded in St. Paul's Chapel at Columbia University.
George Antheil: Music from Liberation of Paris (1959) Open Reel 2020-04-05 | In his later years, the so-called "Bad Boy of Music", Geroge Antheil (1900-59) wrote many scores for both film and television. Music from "Liberation of Paris" was written for the documentary TV series , "20th Century," narrated by Walter Cronkite which ran from 1957 to 1968. This music was used in the 15th episode of the second season and first aired on February 1, 1959.
Harold Shapero: Music from Woodrow Wilson: The Fight for Peace (1958)) Open Reel 2020-04-05 | The neo-classical American composer, Harold Shapero (1920-2013) is not usually associated with film or television music. However, he did write music for one episode of "20th Century." Music from "Woodrow Wilson: The Fight for Peace" was written for the documentary TV series , "20th Century," narrated by Walter Cronkite which ran from 1957 to 1968. This music was used in the 10th episode of the second season and first aired on December 28, 1958.
Paul Creston: Music from Russo-Finnish War (1958) Open Reel 2020-04-05 | The American composer, organist and teacher, Paul Creston (1906-1985) wrote a variety of music, most for the concert hall. However, he did write some music for film and television. Music from "Russo-Finnish War" was written for the documentary TV series , "20th Century," narrated by Walter Cronkite which ran from 1957 to 1968. This music was used in the 4th episode of the second season and first aired on November 15, 1958.
Gail Kubik: Music from The Silent Sentinel (1959) Open Reel 2020-04-05 | The American composer, Gail Kubik (1914-1984) wrote music for the concert hall as well as for film and television. Music from "The Silent Sentinel" was written for the documentary TV series , "20th Century," narrated by Walter Cronkite which ran from 1957 to 1968. This music was used in the 22nd episode of the second season and first aired on March 22, 1959.
Gail Kubik: Music from Hiroshima (1958) Open Reel 2020-04-05 | The American composer, Gail Kubik (1914-1984) wrote music for the concert hall as well as for film and television. Music from "Hiroshima" was written for the documentary TV series , "20th Century," narrated by Walter Cronkite which ran from 1957 to 1968. This music was used in the 18th episode of the first season and first aired on March 2, 1958.
Ingolf Dahl: Aria Sinfonica (1965) Open Reel 2020-04-05 | In the late 1950s, the German-born American composer, pianist and conductor, Ingolf Dahl (1912-1970) adopted serial techniques which set his later works apart from many that are probably better known today. He revised his Aria Sinfonica in 1968, however this broadcast performance is prior to that revision. The work is in 4 movements and is probably the closest he ever came to writing a symphony. It is performed by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra conducted by the composer.
Fela Sowande: African Suite for Strings (1944) Open Reel 2020-04-05 | The Nigerian composer, Fela Sowande (1905-1987) designed his African Suite for radio broadcast from London to West Africa. He sought to integrate native folk material with western music. This performance includes all five movements of the work, Joyful Day, Nostalgia, Onipe, Lullaby & Akinla. It is performed by the New Symphony Orchestra conducted by Trevor Harvey from a long out-of-print LP issued in 1951.
Roy Travis: Symphonic Allegro (1951) Open Reel 2020-04-05 | The American composer and teacher, Roy Travis (1922-2013) completed his Symphonic Allegro in August 1951. The work was chosen as the best of a group of orchestral works submitted by sixty-seven American composers in the Seventh Annual Gershwin Memorial Award. It is performed by the New York Philharmonic conducted by Dimitri Mitropoulos from a long out-of-print Columbia LP.
Svend Erik Tarp: Symphony No. 2 in E Flat, Op. 50 (1948) Open Reel 2020-04-05 | Although the Danish composer, Sven Erik Tarp (1908-1994) wrote in all genres, he wrote some 10 symphonies over the period from 1945 to 1992. His Second Symphony is in 3 movements: Meditativo, Animato & Sereno. It is performed from this 1969 LP release by the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Miltiades Caridis.
Andre Previn: Concerto No. 1 for Cello & Orchestra (1967) Open Reel 2020-04-03 | The versatile Andre Previn (1929-2019) is probably better known as a conductor and pianist than as a composer of "serious" or "classical" music. However, over the years he wrote quite a variety of compositions including a number of concertos for various instruments. His Cello Concerto No. 1 was premiered in 1968 in Houston during his tenure as the conductor of the Houston Symphony Orchestra. Here is a broadcast performance of this relatively early work that he withdrew some years after its composition. It is performed by cellist Julian Lloyd Webber with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Christopher Adey.
Darius Milhaud: Perons Suite from the documentary TV film, Peron et Evita, Op. 372 (1958) Open Reel 2020-04-03 | The French composer, Darius Milhaud (1892-1974) was an extremely prolific composer, who wrote in all genres, including for film and television. Here is a suite from the television documentary, "Peron et Evita" with a group of unidentified performers.
Johan Franco: Concerto Lirico No. 5 for Guitar & Chamber Orchestra (1971) Open Reel 2020-04-03 | The Dutch-born American composer, Johan Franco (1908-1988) wrote 5 "concertos liricos", No. 1 for Violin, No. 2 for Cello, No. 3 for Piano , No. 4 for Percussion and No. 5 for Guitar. Here is the world premiere performance with Jeffrey Van, guitar, and the National Gallery Orchestra conducted by Richard Bales.
Nikolai Lopatnikoff: Divertimento for Orchestra, Op. 34 (1951) Open Reel 2020-04-03 | The Russian-born American composer, Nikolai Lopatnikoff (1903-1976) was a relatively prolific composer, but only a few works of his have ever been commercially recorded. He was active in the Pittsburgh area, having been a professor of composition at Carnegie-Mellon University between 1945 and 1969. His Divertimento for Orchestra is in 4 movements and was commisioned by the advisory board of the Musical Arts Society of La Jolla, California. It was premiered on August 19, 1951 by the group that performs here, the La Jolla Musical Arts Festival Orchestra conducted by Nikolai Sokoloff.
Charles Skilton: Suite Primeval - Part 1 (Deer Dance & War Dance) (1915) Open Reel 2020-04-03 | The American composer and teacher, Charles Skilton (1868-1941) was one of a group of composers considered "American Indianists". Skilton made a detailed study of American Indian music and incorporated Indian motifs into traditional musical forms. Part 1 of his Suite Primeval was originally written for String Quartet and was subsequently expanded for orchestra and transcribed for piano. Here it is performed in its orchestral version by the Philharmonia Orchestra of Hamburg conducted by Hans-Jurgen Walther.
Alan Hovhaness: In The Beginning Was The Word, Op. 206 (1963) Open Reel 2020-04-03 | The American composer, Alan Hovhaness (1911-2000) was extremely prolific with more than 500 compositions to his credit. He wrote some 67 numbered symphonies with commercial recordings of over 30. He also wrote concertos, chamber music and vocal music. His oratorio, In The Beginning Was The Word was commissioned for the eighth quadrennial conference of the National Methodist Student Movement, held in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1964. The work is in fifteen short movements, each in a different modal system and draws upon the religious music of China, Japan and Korea. It is performed here by Ara Berberian, bass, Janice Harsanyi. soprano, Evelyn Reynolds, contralto with the National Methodist Student Movement Chorus and Members of the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra conducted by Thor Johnson.
John Vincent: Consort for Piano & Strings (1960) Open Reel 2019-01-16 | The American composer and teacher, John Vincent (1902-1977) has the distinction of following Arnold Schoenberg as Professor of Composition at UCLA. He composed in virtually all genres with the exception of opera. He is probably best known for his 1st Symphony, Symphony in D which has had two commercial recordings. His Consort for Piano & Strings is in the same vein as the Symphony in D and in 1976 expanded the work as his Symphony No. 2 for Strings. This long out-of-print recording of the Consort features Lukas Foss, piano and the American Art Quartet.
Serge Nigg: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra (1957) Open Reel 2019-01-16 | The French composer, Serge Nigg (1924-2008) wrote his only Violin Concerto for Christian Ferras who premiered the work on May 27, 1960. Christian Ferras is the soloist in this long out-of-print recording with Charles Bruck conducting the Orchestre Philharmonique d 'O.R.T.F.
Robert Starer: Concerto for Violin, Cello & Orchestra (1967) Open Reel 2019-01-15 | The Austrian-born American composer, Robert Starer (1924-2001) was a relatively prolific composer in all genres. A variety of his music has been commercially recorded. His Concerto for Violin, Cello & Orchestra was premiered in 1968. Here is a broadcast performance from October 3, 1969 with Joseph Silverstein, violin; Jules Eskin, cello and the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Steinberg.
Robert Ward: Symphony No. 3 (1950) Open Reel 2019-01-15 | The American composer and teacher, Robert Ward (1917-2013) wrote seven symphonies. Fortunately all but the 5th and 7th have been commercially recorded. His 3rd Symphony was premiered in its original version on March 31, 1950 under the composer's direction. He later expanded the scoring for the version heard here, which was premiered in 1953. Here is an earlier recording to that with Igor Buketoff conducting the Iceland Symphony Orchestra which was originally released on CRI. This performance features the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra conducted by Thor Johnson from a long out-of-print Remington LP released in 1954.
Leon Stein: Three Hassidic Dances (1940-1) Open Reel 2019-01-15 | The American composer, teacher, and conductor, Leon Stein (1910-2002) wrote in virtually all genres, including two operas, four symphonies, four violin concertos as well as many chamber and vocal works. He spent 47 years teaching at De Paul University in Chicago. Some of his chamber music has been commercially recorded, but this recording of his Hassidic Dances appears to be the only commercial recording of an orchestral work. The three dances are: 1. Dance of the Joyous, 2. Dance of the Enraptured, & 3. Dance of the Exultant. The performance is by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra conducted by Thor Johnson from this long out-of-print Remington LP issued in 1954.
Josef Alexander: Symphony No. 4 (1968) Open Reel 2019-01-15 | The American composer and teacher, Josef Alexander (1907-1992) wrote orchestral, chamber and vocal works. He spent some 35 years teaching at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. Although there have been some commercial recordings of his chamber music, his orchestral music has not been so fortunate. Here is a broadcast recording of his 4th and final symphony with the National Orchestral Association conducted by Leon Barzin.
Josef Alexander: Symphony No. 3 (1961) Open Reel 2019-01-15 | The American composer and teacher, Josef Alexander (1907-1992) wrote orchestral, chamber and vocal works. He spent some 35 years teaching at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. Although there have been some commercial recordings of his chamber music, his orchestral music has not been so fortunate. Here is a broadcast recording of his 3rd Symphony with the National Orchestral Association conducted by John Barnett.
Darius Milhaud: La Muse Menagere, Op. 245 (1945) Open Reel 2018-12-01 | The French composer, Darius Milhaud (1892-1974) originally wrote La Muse Menagere for the piano and dedicated it to his wife, Madeleine. As the composer has said, "It describes the events of an ordinary day of our life in California." Milhaud later orchestrated the work. Although there is currently a commercial recording of the piano version of this piece, the orchestral version has been long out-of-print. It is performed here by the Vienna Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Herbert Haefner.
Olly Wilson: Shango Memory (1995) Open Reel 2018-12-01 | The late American composer, Olly Wilson (1937-2018) wrote Shango Memory as a New York Philharmonic 150th Anniversary Commission. As the composer has stated, "Shango Memory is inspired by the Yoruban deity Shango, the god of thunder and lightning, who holds a prominent position in the pantheon of deities of not only the Yoruba people of West Africa but also in many places of the African diaspora, particularly the Caribbean and South America. In this composition I attempted to use Shango as a metaphor for West African musical concepts that were reinterpreted in the American context and became the basis for African-American music". This performance features the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas.
Harold Farberman: The Great American Cowboy - Suite from the Film (1973) Open Reel 2018-11-30 | The late American conductor, percussionist and composer, Harold Farberman (1929-2018) is perhaps best known as a conductor. He began his career as a percussionist and has written a number of pieces for percussion ensemble. He's also written a number of orchestral works. Here is his suite from the documentary film, The Great American Cowboy. It is performed by the Oakland Symphony Orchestra conducted by the composer.
Loren Rush: Song and Dance (1975) Open Reel 2018-11-30 | The American composer, Loren Rush (1935 - ) wrote his Song and Dance on commission from Seiji Ozawa and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. It is apparently the first orchestra composition to employ computer-generated digital synthesis in performance. Here is the world premiere performance with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra conducted by Seiji Ozawa.
Robert Parris: Symphonic Variations (1987) Open Reel 2018-10-05 | Robert Parris (1924-1999) was an American composer, pianist and teacher. One of his last orchestral compositions was his Symphonic Variations which is heard here in its world premiere performance from January 28, 1988 with the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, D.C. conducted by Mstislav Rostropovich.
Martin Mailman: Symphony No. 2, Op. 63 (1979) Open Reel 2018-10-05 | The American composer, conductor and teacher, Martin Mailman (1932-2000) wrote in virtually all genres. He studied composition at the Eastman School of Music with Mennini, Barlow, Rogers and Hanson. Here is his second of three symphonies performed by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kenneth Kiesler.
Raymond Premru: Concerto for Orchestra (1976) Open Reel 2018-10-05 | The American trombonist, conductor, teacher and composer, Raymond Premru (1934-1998) spent much of his life in the United Kingdom. He was a member of the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble as well as co-director of the Bobby Lamb-Ray Premru Big Band. He also participated in a number of popular music recordings. Although he wrote a number of works for orchestra, none have been commercially recorded, although there are recordings of some of his instrumental and brass works. Here is his Concerto for Orchestra performed by the Cleveland Orchestra conducted by Lorin Maazel.
William Bolcom: Gaea Concerto No. 3 for Two Pianos Left Hand & Orchestra (1996) Open Reel 2018-10-05 | The prominent American composer, pianist and teacher, William Bolcom (1938-) wrote this concerto for Leon Fleisher and Gary Graffman. Also known as Concerto for Two Pianos Left Hand, Bolcom wrote the piece in such a way that it can be performed in one of three ways, with either piano part alone with reduced orchestra, or with both piano parts and the two reduced orchestras combined into a full orchestra. Here is the world premiere performance from April 1996 with pianists Leon Fleisher and Gary Graffman and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Zinman.
