WILLIAM SCHUMAN: American Festival Overture

wswebmaster on December 2, 2018

Program Notes The American Festival Overture is one of William Schuman’s earliest works to achieve success and his first to be recorded. It was composed in 1939 at the encouragement of Serge Koussevitzky, who promised to perform it with the Boston Symphony. …

WILLIAM SCHUMAN: Composer Profile

wswebmaster on December 2, 2018

Program Notes During the 1960s William Schuman was one of the most prominent figures in America’s classical music world—“probably the most powerful figure in the world of art music” and “the most important musical administrator of the 20th century,” according …

BARBER: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra

wswebmaster on December 2, 2018

Program Notes Samuel Barber’s Piano Concerto was one of the greatest popular successes of his later years. It was commissioned by his publisher G. Schirmer, in celebration of their hundredth anniversary, with a premiere to take place during the opening week of …

HOVHANNES: Symphony No. 2, “Mysterious Mountain”

wswebmaster on December 2, 2018

Alan Hovhaness: Symphony No. 2, “Mysterious Mountain” Program Notes “Mysterious Mountain” is probably Alan Hovhaness’ most popular and often-performed orchestral work. It was commissioned by Leopold Stokowski, for his first concert as music director of the Houston Symphony Orchestra in …