Margaret and I went to the San Diego Symphony this afternoon... another concert built around, as other concerts this month have been, American music.  The title of today's program was American Riffs and Rhapsodies.  The first composer was Henry Cowell and the piece by Cowell was "Hymn" from Hymn and Fuguing Tune No. 2 for String Orchestra.  I didn't know Cowell, but the short piece composed by him was a very good way to begin a good program.  The other composers were more familiar: Steven Stucky, Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein, Morton Gould, and Duke Ellington.  I don't think I have ever heard the orchestra sound better. The guest conductor was James Gaffigan, very animated, very good.

The Barber piece was Symphony No. 1.  Leonard Bernstein's piece was Prelude, Fugue and Riffs, for Solo Clarinet & Jazz Orchestra.  Sheryl Renk was clarinetist.  Wow! I hadn't thought of Morton Gould for a long time and his piece was Tap Dance Concerto and a guest tap dancer, Cartier Williams,  accompanied the orchestra...  again Wow!  The audience was enthusiastic about the Duke Ellington, Harlem...  Again Wow!  Wow!  Wow!