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Anniversaries
A celebration of American composers from the past.
This page includes information about composer anniversaries and musical tributes.
Send any questions or comments to:
150th Anniversary of George Templeton Strong in 2006
(Photo courtesy of Naxos)
George Templeton Strong was born in New York, NY on 26 May 1856 and died in Geneva Switzerland on 27 June 1948 at the age of 92.
He was an American Romantic composer whose music was championed by Ansermet, Szigeti, Iturbi, Toscanini, and more recently by Adriano.
While living in Wiesbaden, Germany in the 1880s, he met and became a friend of another important American composer, Edward MacDowell. Strong dedicated his Three Symphonic Idylls for Two Pianos, Op. 29 to MacDowell.
Some of Strong's most accomplished works have been recorded on the Naxos label in the "American Classics" series, performed by the Moscow Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Adriano:
Symphony No. 2 in G minor, Op. 50 ("Sintram")(1887-8 ). This symphony is subtitled: Der Kampf das Menschen gegen die bosen Machte (The Struggle of Mankind Against the Powers of Evil).
It is in four movements:
I. Ziemlisch langsam, Rasch (19:17)
II. Langsam (10:43)
III. Die drei entsetzlichen Gefahrten (The Three Terrible Companions: Death, the Devil and Insanity, 11:12)
IV. Kamp und Sieg (The Victorious Struggle, 18:12).Also on this CD is one of Strong's most profoundly moving works, Chorale on a Theme by Hans Leo Hassler, from 1929 (7:09). This work also was recorded by Howard Hanson with the Eastman Rochester Orchestra. Hanson commented that he found Strong's "flowing counterpoint beautiful." Jose Iturbi conducted it often and said it was a "musical sermon, where the listeners were moved by the composer's utterance." One year it was played on a Boston public radio station on Good Friday and received favorable response from the listeners.
His massive symphonic poem titled, Le Roi Arthur (King Arthur) (1916) (Total time = 40:56) with his homage to Richard Strauss and is three movements: I. Non troppo allegro-Andante-Allegro/ II. Adago-Andante/ III. Allegro-Solennemente e funebre. The other work on this CD is a suite titled: Die Nacht, and subtitled: Four Little Symphonic Poems ( 1913) ( Total time = 26:10).
His symphonic poem titled, Ondine (1882-3/revised, 1939)(25:23), and a work titled: From a Notebook of Sketches. This consists of three suites: Suite No. 1 (4 movements, 15:14)/ Suite No. 2 "Athens" (3 movements, 10:49)/ Suite No. 3 (3 movements, 15:56).
Naxos CD 8.559078
Other Composer Tributes
New England Composer Series No. 1: Edwin A. Jones
New England Composer Series No. 2: George W. Chadwick
Favorite American Composers (Web Poll)
Recorded Tributes
These CD-Rs are for educational, non-commercial use only.
Most of the music selections were recorded in live concert performances and feature rare American music from the past.
Two of them (Nos. 3-4) have been prepared for the Top 40 list in the New England Music Archive
List of Recordings:
No. 1: Best of William Billings, 1746-1800
No. 2: Music by Four New England Composers
No. 3: American Choral Sampler
No. 4: New England Song Treasury
No. 5: Memorial Music for Three American Composers
No. 6: A Conversation with Aaron Copland
No. 7: An Interview with Virgil Thomson
No. 8: Interviews with The Shakers and Aaron Copland
No. 9: E.A. Jones -- His Life and Music
For details about any of these CD-Rs of music or interviews, go to:
American Music Recordings Collection [AMRC]
American Music Resources
Are you looking for American music for performance or teaching?
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Music Titles from PineTree Press
Tunemaker Hall of Fame
This annual event is sponsored by The Tune Lovers Society.
Each year there are ten American composers and songwriters added to a Hall of Fame.
To read the names listed for each year, click on this link:
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