April 3 - Reginald De Koven (The Musical Birthday Series)

Reginald De Koven (3 April 1859 – 16 January 1920) was a popular composer of light opera and drawing room songs.

Promises Broken

When Reginald De Koven

Was on the marquee

His name would be met with a smile.

Our grandparents drove in

And knew what they’d see

Would lighten their cares for awhile.

But the songs that were woven

Through plots quaint and twee,

Are tunes that no longer beguile,

And sadly, De Koven,

(Even “Oh Promise Me”),

Is likely to stay out of style.