Due to my hectic weekend in Ticonderoga, I was unable to honor Dmitri Shostakovich and George Gershwin on their birthdays. It did occur to me that both were featured on the cover of Time Magazine, which gave me the idea to compile ten Time covers of famous composers (which I am only just getting around to posting). Happy belated birthdays, boys!

Shostakovich, born September 25, 1906 (died August 9, 1975)
Gershwin, born September 26, 1898 (died July 11, 1937)

Interestingly, both appeared on the cover on July 20, seventeen years apart!

It’s sobering to be reminded of a time when classical music was still accepted as a part of our broader culture. I wonder who the last living composer was to be featured on the cover of Time?

Andrew Lloyd Webber got a cover in 1988. No John Williams?

Clockwise from left: Gershwin (July 20, 1925), Shostakovich (July 20, 1942), Richard Strauss (January 24, 1927), and Richard Strauss (July 25, 1938). More in the gallery.