Robert Greenberg
Historian, Composer, Pianist, Speaker, Author
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Music History Monday: A Marriage of Convenience
April 22nd, 2019
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) in 1746, by Elias Gottlob Haussmann On April 22, 1723 – 296 years ago today – the 38-year-old Johann Sebastian Bach was elected music director and cantor of St. Thomas church in Leipzig. Despite the fact that it was a prestigious position, Bach felt scant enthusiasm for the job and considered it a step down from his previous position. Bach’s reticence was shared by the Leipzig authorities’ reticence towards Bach, who…
Dr. Bob Prescribes William Schumann
April 16th, 2019
William Schuman (1910-1992) circa 1965 In last week’s Dr. Bob Prescribes post, I asserted that the composers Roy Harris (1898-1979) and his student William Schuman (1910-1992): “are generally considered to be the two greatest American composers of symphonies to have yet graced our planet.” I have received no evidence in the intervening week that that…
Music History Monday: The Empress
April 15th, 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqeNtqywBEA Bessie Smith performing W.C. Handy’s St. Louis Blues in a 16-minute movie of that name, filmed in 1929. It is the only known movie of Empress Smith” Today we celebrate the birth – on April 15, 1894, 125 years ago today, in Chattanooga, Tennessee – of the American contralto Bessie Smith. Bessie Smith We…
Dr. Bob Prescribes: Roy Harris
April 9th, 2019
Roy Harris (1898-1979) I continue on my self-avowed mini-mission to bring to you some of the most glorious music (and recorded performances) I know, music by mid-century, so-called American “populist” composers. This week and next will feature symphonies by two composers who are generally considered to be the two greatest American composers of symphonies to… Robert Greenberg | Copyright © 2019 All Rights Reserved