Thomas Adès’ Chamber Symphony

London-born composer Thomas Adès has a considerable international schedule filled with conducting, performing and composing. In the US, he has been Artistic Partner of the Boston Symphony since 2016. His compositions have won such awards as the Grawemeyer Award and British Composer Award. Adès’ program note for his Chamber Symphony, accessible on his publisher, Faber

Benjamin Britten’s Cello Symphony

Benjamin Britten was one of the most prominent British composers of the 20th century. Some of Britten’s esteemed compositions include the operas, “Billy Budd,” “Peter Grimes” and “Albert Herring.” Britten also has several works in other genres with a secure place in the performed repertoire such as “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.” Britten’s

George Quincy’s “Choctaw Diaries”

Composer of Choctaw lineage, George Quincy, wrote “original” and “striking” music according to the NY Times and NY Post, respectively. He won many ASCAP and Meet the Composer awards. Quincy wrote the following program note, published in the album liner notes for Lyrichord Classical’s recording of his piece, “Choctaw Diaries:”   “The suite Choctaw Diaries

“The Ancient Call” by Reza Vali

Iranian-American composer Reza Vali has been a member of the composition faculty at Carnegie Mellon University since 1988. While studying for my master’s degree at CMU, I took a class with him, analyzing the works of Claude Debussy. It was one of my favorite courses; Vali was a wonderful teacher. He has received the honor

Hendrik Andriessen’s Symphony No. 4

Dutch composer Hendrik Andriessen gained considerable recognition in his country as a composer, church organist and college teacher. During World War II, Andriessen wasn’t allowed to perform or compose by the Nazis as they occupied Holland. They even imprisoned him for a time. Andriessen returned to teaching and composing after the war. Andriessen’s fourth symphony

Aaron Copland’s Symphony for Organ and Orchestra

Aaron Copland is one of the most significant composers in American music history. He has many popular works such as “Rodeo,” “Billy the Kid” and “Appalachian Spring.” Copland once explained that music’s technicalities aren’t significant if they don’t reach our subconscious mind and affect the emotions. “It is, in fact, the immediacy of this marriage