September

30 September

September 30th

Thomas Pitts Jamaica, Music, North America Alberga, September, String Quartet No. 3

Eleanor Alberga Born 30 September 1949

String Quartet No. 3

I. Moderato

II. Scherzo

III. Adagio

IV. Allegro

Eleanor Alberga
From https://britishmusiccollection.org.uk/sites/default/files/field/image/eleanor%20alberga.jpg

Eleanor Deanne Therese Alberga OBE, born on 30 September 1949 in Kingston, Jamaica, is a notable contemporary music composer now residing in the UK. From a young age, Eleanor aspired to be a concert pianist and began writing music at just five years old. After completing her studies at the Jamaica School of Music, she moved to London on a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, where she honed her skills under the guidance of Richard Stoker.

Throughout her career, Alberga has composed numerous works, including two Violin Concertos, a Trumpet Concerto, and a Symphony. She has shared her passion for music as a guest lecturer at the Royal Academy of Music and has worked with various prestigious orchestras, such as the Royal Philharmonic and London Philharmonic.

In 1992, she married violinist Thomas Bowes, and they perform together under the name Double Exposure. Alberga’s contributions to music have not gone unnoticed; in 2021, she was honoured as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her remarkable services to music.

29 September

September 29th

Thomas Pitts Music, North America, United States of America September, Tea for Two, Youmans

Mike Post Born 29 September 1944

Quantum Leap Theme

Hill Street Blues Theme

Mike Post
By POPDUST, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=163033858

Mike Post, born Leland Michael Postil on September 29, 1944, is a renowned American composer celebrated for his captivating television theme music. He has created memorable themes for popular shows such as The Rockford Files, Law & Order, and Magnum, P.I. His musical journey began early; he first made waves with the hit single “Popsicles and Icicles” in 1964. By age 23, he won his first Grammy Award for the instrumental arrangement of “Classical Gas.”

Post’s contributions to television music are significant. He earned acclaim for the theme of The Rockford Files, which became a hit, reaching number 10 on the U.S. charts. His innovative sound for the Law & Order series, marked by the iconic “dun, dun,” has become widely recognised in popular culture. Over the years, he has collaborated with well-known artists like Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, and even composed for BBC’s sitcom Mammoth. His work continues to influence the world of television music.

28 September

September 28th

Thomas Pitts Estonia, Europe, Music Preludes, Saar, September

Mart Saar 28 September [O.S. 15 September] 1882 – 28 October 1963

Preludes 1 to 28

Mart Saar
By Karl Akel[1] (†1942)↑ Põhjavaim. Valik Mart Saare ja Tuudur Vettiku kirju (koostaja Tiiu Tosso). Tallinn: Eesti Teatri- ja Muusikamuuseum, 2007, lk 7. ISBN 9789949153558 – pianolog.ru / image, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30580854

Mart Saar was an influential Estonian composer, organist, and collector of folk songs, born on 28 September 1882. He grew up in a small village called Hüpassaare, where his father worked in forestry and taught him music at home. Saar attended local schools, studying under Joosep Kapp, another prominent composer. In 1901, he left for the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, where he graduated in 1908 and furthered his studies until 1911. Saar then became a music teacher in Tartu and moved to Tallinn in 1921 to work as a freelance composer.

During his life, Saar married twice and had three children. His music often combined the essence of Estonian folk traditions with newer styles, reflecting his deep love for Estonia’s nature. Some of his well-known works include “Oh Kodumaa” and “Küll ma Laulaks”. Saar’s compositions are celebrated for their emotional depth and often explore themes of life and nature. He passed away on 28 October 1963, leaving a lasting legacy in Estonian music.

*Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) indicate dating systems before and after a calendar change, respectively. Usually, they refer to the change from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar as enacted in various European countries between 1582 and 1923.

27 September

September 27th

Thomas Pitts Music, North America, United States of America September, Tea for Two, Youmans

Vincent Youmans 27 September 1898 – 5 April 1946

Tea for Two

Vincent Youmans
By https://thebsreport.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/vincent-youmans.jpg, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50127022

Vincent Millie Youmans was a celebrated American composer and producer born on September 27, 1898, in New York City. He became one of Broadway’s leading composers, known for his collaborations with talented lyricists like Ira Gershwin and Oscar Hammerstein II. Youmans created memorable music, many of which became popular standards. His early pieces featured short melodic phrases, but he later embraced longer, more complex melodies.

Youmans began his career as a song-plugger in Tin Pan Alley and gained fame with his hit songs from musicals such as “No, No, Nanette” and “Tea for Two,” which captured the hearts of audiences worldwide. Despite his success, Youmans faced challenges in his personal life, including struggles with alcoholism and health issues. Sadly, he battled tuberculosis for many years, which ultimately led to his retirement in 1934.

26 September

September 26th

Thomas Pitts Brazil, Music, South America O Astronauta, Powell, Samba Triste, September

Baden Powell 6 August 1937 – 26 September 2000

O Astronauta

Samba Triste

Baden Powell
Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5301263

Baden Powell de Aquino, born on 6 August 1937 in Brazil, was a remarkable guitarist and composer. He is celebrated for blending classical techniques with Brazilian genres like bossa nova and samba. Baden began playing guitar at a young age and quickly demonstrated his exceptional talent, winning competitions as a child. By fifteen, he was performing professionally and captured the interest of many musicians.

Notably, in 1966, he collaborated with poet Vinicius de Moraes to release the influential album “Os Afro-Sambas,” which married samba with Afro-Brazilian rhythms. Throughout his career, Baden created numerous iconic compositions, such as “Samba Triste” and “Canto de Ossanha,” that are still beloved today.

Powell gained recognition in Brazil and abroad, touring extensively. Despite facing health issues later in life, he continued to perform and record music until his passing on 26 September 2000. His unique playing style, characterised by a mix of jazz harmonies and traditional rhythms, established him as one of Brazil’s greatest guitarists.

Композитор_Дмитрий_Дмитриевич_Шостакович

25 September

September 25th

Thomas Pitts Europe, Music, Russia Romance, September, Shostakovich, String Quartet No. 8, Symphony No. 10 in E Minor, Symphony No. 5 in D minor

Dmitri Shostakovich 25 September [O.S. 12 September] 1906 – 9 August 1975

Symphony No. 5 in D minor Op. 47

Symphony No. 10 in E Minor Op. 93

String Quartet No. 8 Op. 110

Romance Movement 8 from The Gadfly Suite, Op. 97a

Dmitri Shostakovich
By Unknown author – Original publication: Газета «Красная звезда» №86 (5150) от 12 апреля 1942 годаImmediate source: Государственный каталог Музейного фонда Российской Федерации, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=96288935

Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a significant Soviet composer and pianist, born on 25 September 1906 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He gained fame after the premiere of his First Symphony in 1926. Shostakovich had a complicated relationship with the Soviet government, with his opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk initially being successful, but later condemned. This led to professional challenges, particularly under state censorship.

Throughout his career, Shostakovich produced numerous works, including 15 symphonies, string quartets, and concertos for various instruments. His music often featured striking contrasts and elements of the grotesque, influenced by other composers like Gustav Mahler. He also engaged with political themes, especially during and after the Second World War, using his music to comment on the struggles of his time.

After his passing, his reputation continued to grow. Many scholars explored the meaning behind his music, particularly its connection to his experiences under Soviet rule.

24 September

September 24th

Thomas Pitts England, Europe, Music Rutter, September, Suite for Strings

John Rutter Born 24 September 1945

Suite for Strings

John Rutter
By vocalessence – https://www.flickr.com/photos/vocalessence/3221596118/in/photostream/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21591590

Sir John Milford Rutter is a distinguished English composer, conductor, and record producer known for his exceptional choral music. Born on 24 September 1945 in London, Rutter’s musical journey began at Highgate School, where he was a chorister. He later studied music at Clare College, Cambridge, and became the director of music there from 1975 to 1979. In 1981, he founded the Cambridge Singers, a choir he conducts, and they have recorded many of his works.

Rutter’s compositions include popular Christmas carols, anthems, and significant pieces like the “Requiem” and “Gloria.” His music is celebrated for its melodic inventiveness and technical skill. Notably, his works have been performed at major events such as the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton and the Coronation of King Charles III.

Despite facing health challenges in the late 1980s, Rutter’s influence in the world of music remains profound, and he continues to inspire musicians globally with his unique sound.

23 September

September 23rd

Thomas Pitts England, Europe, Music Arnold, September, Symphony No. 9

Malcolm Arnold 21 October 1921 – 23 September 2006

Symphony No. 9

Malcolm Arnold
By http://www.chester-novello.com, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15861810

Sir Malcolm Henry Arnold was an English composer and conductor, born on 21 October 1921 in Northampton. He created a diverse range of music, including nine symphonies, numerous concertos, chamber music, and scores for over one hundred films, such as the award-winning The Bridge on the River Kwai. Arnold’s music is known for its lively rhythms and beautiful melodies. Growing up in a musical family, he learned to play the trumpet at age 12 and went on to study at the Royal College of Music. By his thirties, he had shifted his focus entirely to composition, becoming one of Britain’s most renowned composers alongside Benjamin Britten.

Throughout his career, Arnold also composed for the theatre, writing ballets and operas. However, his later years were clouded by personal struggles, including depression and alcoholism. Despite this, he continued to work, producing his last symphony in 1986. Arnold passed away on 23 September 2006, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of music, with festivals and schools dedicated to his memory continuing to celebrate his contributions.

Mikalojus_Konstantinas_Čiurlionis_photo_portrait

22 September

September 22nd

Thomas Pitts Europe, Lithuania, Music Čiurlionis, Piano Sonata in F Major, September

Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis [O.S. 10 September] 1875 – 10 April [O.S. 28 March] 1911

Piano Sonata in F Major

Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis
By S.Fleury – http://ciurlionis.eu/en/mkc-foto-3/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18533041

Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis was a remarkable Lithuanian artist born on 22 September 1875. He was not only a composer but also a talented painter and writer. Čiurlionis made significant contributions to the art movements of symbolism and Art Nouveau, becoming one of the pioneers of abstract art in Europe. Throughout his short life, he created around 400 musical pieces and nearly 300 paintings. His artwork is mainly displayed in the M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum in Kaunas, Lithuania, and he is celebrated for his lasting influence on Lithuanian culture.

Born in Senoji Varėna, he showed musical talent at a young age, impressing many with his ability to play the organ by ear when he was only five. After moving to Druskininkai, his father, an organist, helped nurture his skills. Čiurlionis studied music in Warsaw and later in Leipzig, where he expanded his knowledge and creativity. He is particularly known for his symphonic poems, such as “In the Forest” and “The Sea.” His folk songs brought Lithuanian traditions to life.

21 September

September 21st

Thomas Pitts England, Europe, Music A Moorside Suite, Holst, September

Gustav Holst 21 September 1874 – 25 May 1934

A Moorside Suite for brass band H. 173

Gustav Holst
By Herbert Lambert – National Portrait Gallery, PD-US, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=67990161

Gustav Theodore Holst was an English composer and teacher, born on the 21st of September 1874 in Cheltenham. He is best known for his orchestral suite, The Planets, which gained international fame after the First World War. Though he composed many works, none reached the same level of success as The Planets. Holst’s early musical influences included the great composers Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss, but he later developed his unique style, inspired by English folk songs and modern composers like Maurice Ravel.

From a young age, it was clear that Holst was destined for a musical career. Unfortunately, an arm injury prevented him from pursuing his dream of becoming a pianist. Instead, he studied at the Royal College of Music and worked as a professional trombonist. Holst made a lasting impact on music education, particularly for women, through his teaching at St Paul’s Girls’ School and Morley College. His legacy continues to influence many composers, ensuring that his music remains appreciated to this day.

Holst's complete Planets Suite can be found on the Planets themed collection page, along with pieces for Earth (Jun Nagao) and Pluto (Colin Matthews).