Bernard Herrmann.

Bernard Herrmann.

Edward Johnson writes… Today it’s the birthday of Bernard Herrmann – born June 29, 1911 in New York City (died December 24, 1975) – who is now generally recognised as one of Hollywood’s very finest movie composers. He scored the music for about fifty films,...
Three performances of the Toccata & Fugue in D-minor (attrib. J. S. Bach/BWV565) as orchestrated by Leopold Stokowski – conducted by Andrew Davis, Leonard Slatkin and Charles Dutoit.

Three performances of the Toccata & Fugue in D-minor (attrib. J. S. Bach/BWV565) as orchestrated by Leopold Stokowski – conducted by Andrew Davis, Leonard Slatkin and Charles Dutoit.

Edward Johnson writes… Doubtless due to its inclusion in Walt Disney’s Fantasia, Stokowski’s arrangement of the Toccata and Fugue has become one of the most performed orchestrations of any of Bach’s organ works. In addition to his own several recordings, it has...
Stokowski at 141 on April 18.

Stokowski at 141 on April 18.

Edward Johnson writes… Stokowski is 141 today. He was born in London on April 18, 1882 and started his musical life as a church organist. However, he soon moved to the orchestral podium where he was to become one of the twentieth-century’s greatest maestros....