What music has been written just for the NEW YEAR?

[Lance]

Over the years, I have presented New Year's radio broadcasts often trying to find classical music written especially for the New Year. I know Boyce wrote his series of symphonies, and Friedrich Nietsche, along with Mosonyi and Kunzen wrote material as did Georg Gebel (an oratorio). But I'd like to present this type of program for New Year's 2011, otherwise, I may use one of the many New Year's Eve programs recorded in Vienna or elsewhere. Ideas, please?!? Many thanks!

[jbuck919]

An obvious choice is the chorale "Das alte Jahr vergangen ist," a hymn of praise and thanksgiving (albeit in a minor modality) which was set several times by Bach as something quite sad. The only other setting I know of is an organ fughetta by Walther which does not provide sufficient contrast to make the point.

[John F]

Franz Waxman wrote a set of variations on "Auld lang syne" in the styles of various composers such as Shostakofiev. Gidon Kremer and his Kremerata Baltica include it in their amusing CD "Happy Birthday," which is well worth having.

[johnQpublic]

Lance you mentioned Boyce (regarding "symphonies/overtures") but did you know he wrote an Ode for the New Year, 1774? I have an ASV CD of it & it lasts c. 24 minutes.

And for a shorty try Lumbye's "New Year Greeting March"

[Fergus]

JSB Cantatas BWV16/41/143/171/184a/190

I am, however, completely ignorant on the content of the relevant specific lithurgical texts for each work

[Seán]

It was not intended as a New Year theme, however, I always listen to Haydn's Symphony No. 45, his "Farewell", on New Year's day.

[jbuck919]

JSB Cantatas BWV16/41/143/171/184a/190

I am, however, completely ignorant on the content of the relevant specific lithurgical texts for each work

With regard to number 184a, so is everyone else (words and music have been lost).

[Fergus]

JSB Cantatas BWV16/41/143/171/184a/190

I am, however, completely ignorant on the content of the relevant specific lithurgical texts for each work

With regard to number 184a, so is everyone else (words and music have been lost).

I questioned myself as to whether I should in fact list that one but the completeist in me took over

[piston]

From what is found on the Music and History website, Boyce is the only composer to write New Year specific music that was performed on the first of January:
"Again returns the circling year" (1/1/1771)
"At length the fleeting year is o'er" (1/1/1772)
"Pass but a few short fleeting years" (1/1/1774)

I'm excluding here music composed for and performed at the beginning of the year 2000.

[piston]

Looking at recent European concerts programmed for the New Year, Johann Strauss is always a popular composer, in addition to any work of "jubilation."

[maestrob]

Tan Dun wrote an eclectic soundtrack to the 24-hour soundtrack of the telecast of the 2000 worldwide celebration: it may be a bit new-agey for your taste, but it's there if you want it.

[karlhenning]

Tan Dun wrote an eclectic soundtrack to the 24-hour soundtrack of the telecast of the 2000 worldwide celebration: it may be a bit new-agey for your taste, but it's there if you want it.

I thought the music for 16:35 Greenwich Mean Time the best in the 24 hours . . . .

Cheers,
~Karl

[johnQpublic]

Britten wrote a "New Year Carol" (I have it on a Collins Classics).

And I did a selective search @ Amazon typing in "New Year", using the quotation marks. Aside from many things that were New Year's Eve, I did see a number of items that dealt just with the New Year including works by Zaimont, Asia, etc.

[Ken]

Schumann's Neujahrslied, Op. 144 for orchestra, choir and vocal soloists, composed during his Düsseldorf years and using a text by Friedrich Rückert. A truly creative and enjoyable work (I had the pleasure of hearing it at the Tonhalle's Neujahrskonzert this year), but sadly, like most all of the composer's late works for orchestra and vocalists (Königssohn, Sängers Fluch, usw.), not available on CD--as far as I know.

[diegobueno]

A rather quirky selection would be Michael Tippett's suite from his opera New Year (1988), which was recorded by Richard Hickox and the Bournemouth Symphony. The piece reminds me a little bit of Frank Zappa, but it culminates with a playing of "Auld Lang Syne".