Opening Concert from Museum of Natural History

This episode is from the WNYC archives. It may contain language which is no longer politically or socially appropriate.

Opening concert for the 8th Annual American Music Festival, a Gala Concert for Contemporary American Music featuring Carol Brice, Kenneth Spencer, Vivian Rivkin and the David Randolph Chamber Chorus, in honor of Lincoln's Birthday.

Seymour Siegel introduces the concert an encourages listeners to send letters to WNYC about programming and subscribe to the Masterwork Bulletin.

Dean Dixon conducts the American Youth Orchestra in the William Billings Overture, composed by William Schuman; The Lincoln Portrait, composed by Aaron Copland and narrated by Kenneth Spencer; First Movement of Symphony #2 composed by Johan Franco (?), dedicated to the memory of George Washington.

Carol (contralto) and Jonathan Brice (piano) perform four songs: "Fly Where I Bid Thee," "Eeny Meeny Miney Mo," "The Day is No More," and "Bird in the Wilderness."

Dean Dixon returns to conduct the American Youth Orchestra in Concertino for Piano and Orchestra, a composition of Norman Dello Joio with Vivian Rivkin, pianist.

United Nations Cantata for Chorus and Orchestra, music by Richard J. Newman, text by Aaron Kramer, performed by baritone soloist and narrator William Deal, David Randolph Chamber Chorus with David Randolph conducting, and the American Youth Orchestra directed by Dean Dixon.

Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection

WNYC archives id: 72620
Municipal archives id: LT5351