As the Eastman School of Music begins celebrating its 75th Anniversary Year, we're going to take a look at other musical events happening around the world, back in 1922.

Several British composers had their works premiered that year. Ralph Vaughan William's Pastoral Symphony was first performed; as was The Colour Symphony of Arthur Bliss.

In Austria, Salzburg held its first Mozart Festival. [Incorrect. It was far earlier. 09/16/03]

This year Loyola University radio station WWL broadcast the first musical program heard in the Mississippi Valley. Here in Rochester, the city's second radio station, WHAM, began broadcasting from the new Eastman School.

Out on the west coast, the Hollywood Bowl first opened its gates, while here in the East, follies and scandals were flourishing on Broadway. The Ziegfeld Follies featured a comedy team introducing their signature song ­p; Mister Gallagher and Mr. Shean - in the show. Victor Herbert was one of the show's composers and Ring Lardner worked on some of the lyrics. W. C. Fields romped through George White's Scandals. One new song in this show, I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise, contained the lyrics of Arthur Francis (also known as Ira Gershwin). Other shows introduced songs like As Long As I Have You and Carolina in the Morning.

Popular songs in 1922 were Way Down Yonder in New Orleans, Chicago, My Buddy, and I'll See You in My Dreams.

True Jazz "babies", born this year, were vocalist Carmen McRae, saxman George Walker "Big Nick" Nicolas, trombone player Kai Winding, and bandleader-composer and multi instrumentalist Charles Mingus.

Other musicians entered the world. Flautist Jean-Pierre Rampal in Paris; composer conductor Lukas Foss in Berlin, bandleader Ray Anthony in Cleveland, and film composer Elmer Bernstein in New York City. Oh, yes ­p; also a young miss in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, named Frances Gumm.

OUTRO
For FM ninety-one five, this is David Minor.


© 1996 David Minor / Eagles Byte

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