Friday fanfares

Three Fourths.  Yesterday's set of four third symphonies worked out so well, I thought we'd try three fourths today.  The composers are above.  Names, please!  One hint:  The Symphony No. 4 by the fellow in the middle allows us once again to luxuriate in the gorgeous voice of the late great Swiss soprano Lisa Della Casa.  Mmmmm!

The horn blower reaches midnight.  It is said that the hardest job of baseball managers is managing a star on his way down.  Well, it also works that way in many other professions, not least music, especially the musical fields where peak performance and teamwork come together.  In other words, especially in the symphony orchestra.  Case in point:  the plight of one of the world's greatest orchestras, as one of its star players has entered, according to those listening closely, a period of decline.  What makes this even more fraught is that Dale Clevenger, CSO principal horn since 1966, is one of the last active links to the fabled Chicago Symphony brass section that also featured such legends as trumpeter Adolph Herseth and tubist Arnold Jacobs, both mentors to Clevenger.  This fine article also reminds me of how it's not easy sometimes to be an arts media person in a tight-knit community, and have to say "no" or speak the truth (as you hear it) to a friend.

Carol o' the day:  The late mezzo Jan DeGaetani, accompanied by Gilbert Kalish, performs Charles Ives's "A Christmas Carol."  No words necessary.