Music

On December 18, 1892, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker premiered in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Despite initial poor reviews, today it’s a holiday staple for millions.

On November 28, 1925, the Grand Ole Opry was founded as the WSM Barn Dance. The longest-running American radio broadcast, it’s been called the Home of American Music and Country’s Most Famous Stage.

While Scott Joplin’s exact birthdate is unknown, it’s often considered to be November 24, 1868, as shown on his tombstone.  Joplin was dubbed the “King of Ragtime Writers,” known for hits such as “Maple Leaf Rag” and “The Entertainer.”

Jazz musician Coleman Randolph “Hawk” Hawkins was born on November 21, 1904, in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Hawkins is credited with establishing the tenor saxophone as a prominent jazz instrument.

Composer and musician William Christopher Handy was born on November 16, 1873, in Florence, Alabama. He called himself the “Father of the Blues” for his role in popularizing the style on a national level.

Composer Charles Edward Ives was born on October 20, 1874, in Danbury, Connecticut.  Though his music was largely unknown during his lifetime, he was later regarded as the leading composer of 20th-century art music.

On October 15, 1966, the Wolf Trap Farm National Park for Performing Arts was established in Virginia.  It’s the only National Park dedicated exclusively to the performing arts.

Leonard (Louis) Bernstein was born on August 25, 1918, in Lawrence, Massachusetts.  One of the most famous conductors of his time, he was the first American conductor to earn international praise.

On July 22, 1893, Katharine Lee Bates wrote America the Beautiful. It has since become one of America’s most beloved patriotic songs, and has often been proposed to become our national anthem.