December 31 - Donna Summer; John Denver (The Musical Birthday Series)

Donna Summer (31 December 1948 – 17 May 2012) was one of the most important singers of the disco era.

For Everything There Is a Season

Cue the jester! Call the mummer!

On this day of Donna Summer!

Celebrate! And do not stint her!

Even in the depths of winter!

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪

John Denver (31 December 1943 – 12 October 1997)  was an American singer-songwriter, 

record producer, actor, activist, and humanitarian.

 

 

Pentameters for John Denver

His Colorado Rocky Mountain High

Concerned how Aspen air gave him a boost.

He testified to Congress to deny

The feeling had been chemically induced. 

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December 30 - Paul Bowles (The Musical Birthday Series)

Paul Bowles (30 December 1910 – 18 November 1999) was a composer and novelist.

The Ballad of Paul Bowles

Consider Paul Bowles who dabbled in this,

   And then he’d dabble in that.

The sort of a man you’d likely might dismiss

  But that would be too pat.

His friends would ask him to compose

  Music for their plays,

But then he’d switch to writing prose,

  Or coaching protegés.

He used to collect artistic friends,

  They fell beneath his spell,

They followed him to the earthly ends,

  Or wherever he chose to dwell.

Wherever he went, they paid him a visit

  (His permanent digs were Moroccan)

He chose his flat by asking “And is it

  A suitable place to talk in?”

Perhaps to have chosen a single career

  Would have made more sense,

Instead, Paul Bowles went year to year

  Sitting on the fence.

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December 29 - Pablo Casals (The Musical Birthday Series)

Pablo Casals (29 December 1876 – 22 October 1973) was a world-renowned cellist.

The following nonsense, while not strictly a clerihew, expands on that form and keeps its cheeky spirit. The actions described are completely made up.

Practice Makes Perfect

Pablo Casals,

A sensible fellow,

Avoided cabals,

And mastered the cello.

Others would plot,

But Pablo would play,

He did it a lot,

And day after day

While playing for tips

On the sidewalks and streets,

Repeated his trips

Through the Bach cello suites.


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December 28 - Roger Sessions; Earl Hines (The Musical Birthday Series)

Roger Sessions (28 December 1896 – 16 March 1985) was an important American composer and teacher.

Just a Thought

Did Roger Sessions

Release aggressions

By using serial

Material?

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪ 

Earl "Fatha" Hines (28 December 28, 1903 – 22 April 1983) was an influential jazz pianist and band leader.

Memorial 

If people built musical shrines

To pianists whose playing defines

The era they played in,

Then one would be made in

Tribute to Earl “Fatha” Hines.

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