As the tax panic takes hold today, here’s a little musical escapism – the “Dollar Symphony” by the Swedish composer Kurt Atterberg.
In 1928, Atterberg entered his Symphony No. 6 into a contest held by the Columbia Record Company in honor of the 100th anniversary of the death of Franz Schubert. He was awarded the first prize of $10,000. The work became known as the “Dollar Symphony.” It remains the composer’s most frequently-recorded piece, beginning with a commercial recording by Sir Thomas Beecham and a recorded broadcast by Arturo Toscanini.
Atterberg was the winner of the international competition. In case you’re curious, divisional winners (by “zone”) included the now-forgotten English composer John St. Anthony Johnson, for his work, “Pax Vobiscum,” and the equally-forgotten American Charles Haubiel, for a piece called “Karma.”
Franz Schmidt was recognized in Austria, for his Symphony No. 3. Havergal Brian won second prize in England, for the first three movements of his “Gothic Symphony.”
You can find all the details here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1928_International_Columbia_Graphophone_Competition
I don’t know, maybe you’re getting money back. If that’s the case, either you’ve got a good accountant, or you’re not a freelancer.