The Classics a Day team once again made NAFTA Classics the theme for July. Two of the three countries in North America have significant holidays in the month — Canada Day (July 1), and Independence Day (July 4).
As always with this theme, I simply alternated between Canadian, American, and Mexican composers. And the process discovered a lot of great classical music north and south of the border.
Here are my #ClassicsaDay posts for the third week of #NAFTAclassics.
07/19/21 Ernest Gagnon (Canada 1834-1915) – Ave maria stella
Gagnon is remembered primarily for his collection of French Canadian folk music published in the 1860s. He was also a virtuoso organist and an accomplished composer.
07/20/21 Francisco López Capillas (c. 1615 – 1673) – Magnificat a 8
Capillas was a native-born Mexican composer and spent his life working in the Mexico City Cathedral. He’s credited with composing the most Mexican masses of the Baroque era.
07/21/21 Arthur Foote – (US 1853-1937) A Night Piece for Flute and String
Quartet
Foote was a member of the Boston Six, and a founder of the American Guild of Organists. The majority of his catalog.
07/22/21 Charles A.E. Harriss (Canada 1862–1929) – The Alma Patrol
Harriss emigrated from the UK and gained prominence as an organist. He founded the McGill Conservatorium of Music, as well as several Canadian music festivals.
07/23/21 Aniceto Ortega (1825–1875) – Marcha Zaragoza
This talented physician and composer composed the Marcha Zaragoza in honor of the famous Mexican general and patriot in 1862. It has since become Mexico’s second national anthem.
