Copland, Dvorak, and Robert Beaser's Mountain Songs on Fretworks

For this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Saturday on Fretworks I'll be featuring music with American associations from Antonin Dvorak, Aaron Copland, Samuel Ward, and Robert Beaser. The Mountain Songs for flute and guitar by Robert Beaser is a setting of eight traditional Appalachian folk tunes.  The set was written for the performers we'll hear, Paula Robison, flute and Eliot Fisk, guitar.  Their 1986 recording was nominated for a Grammy Award. The Modern Mandolin Quartet will play the Finale of Dvorak's American Quartet, his String Quartet No. 12 in F.  It was written while the Czech composer was in the United States as head of the newly formed National Conservatory of Music in New York.  He was visiting the Czech community in Spilville, Iowa in the summer of 1893 when he wrote his most popular chamber work. Going back across the pond for a little bit, we'll hear the Courtly Dances from Gloriana, the opera by Benjamin Britten composed for celebrations surrounding the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.  This arrangement was made by guitarist Julian Bream, who performs it with his early music ensemble, the Julian Bream Consort. Guitarist Stuart Weber will play a short setting of Samuel Ward's America the Beautiful, and the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet will perform several arrangements of Aaron Copland, including the Shaker melody, Simple Gifts and Hoe-Down from the ballet Rodeo. Join me Saturday evening at 7 and Wednesday evening at 7 for Fretworks on Classical 101. http://youtu.be/yffI1XFyJQM