KPFA-FM Music Dept. ➔ Morning Concert: In Honor of Leo Ornstein’s 95th Birthday (Dec. 11, 1987), 1 of 2

Analog Audio

Event Type

Interview and Music

Origin

KPFA

Identifier

MC.1987.12.11.A

Program Series

Morning Concert

Program Length

119 min

Part

1 of 2

Dates

1987-12-11 | broadcast
| 1987-12-11 | created

Description

On December 11, 1987 Leo Ornstein, one of the most important composer-pianists of the 20th century,celebrated his 95th birthday at his home in Green Bay, Wisconsin. In this program, Charles Amirkhanian takes a look at the career of this remarkable path-breaking musician whose early piano compositions, and performances of the most radical European composers of the day, shocked audiences throughout the U. S. in the period from 1912 to 1915. Included are several of his piano works performed by Michael Sellers and Martha Anne Verbit, as well as two chamber works, and an orchestral work featuring the Louisville Orchestra. Amirkhanian also interviews the 95 year old composer over the phone from his home, during which Ornstein discusses the loss of his wife two years previously, his then current efforts to write a short piano work each day for a year, and his opinion that Bach was the greatest composer, ever. Also heard during this program is an excerpt from an 1981 interview that Amirkhanian had with the composer and his wife, in which they discuss the system they use when Ornstein composes at the piano while she transcribes.

Genres

20th century classical
New music

Musical Selections

Wild Man’s Dance (”Danse Sauvage”), Op. 13, No. 2, (ca. 1913) (4:04) -- Piano Sonata No. 4 (ca. 1924)(20:32) -- Three Moods: Anger ; Grief ; Joy (1914) (8:40)

Performers

Michael Sellers, piano (Wild ; Three)
Martha Anne Verbit, piano (Sonata)

Subjects

20th century classical
New music
Piano music
Sonatas (Piano)

Acknowledgment

Funding for the preservation of this program made possible through a grant by the GRAMMY Foundation.

Related places

Berkeley (Calif.) (was recorded at)
Berkeley (Calif.) (was broadcast at)

Related Entities

Amirkhanian, Charles
Ornstein, Leo, 1892-2002
Sellers, Michael
Verbit, Martha Anne