May 26 - William Bolcom (The Musical Birthday Series)

William Bolcom (b. 26 May 1938) is an important and eclectic composer, but today we celebrate his skill as an idiomatic accompanist in the popular songs of the early part of the last century.

Piano Bench Music

William Bolcom and Joan Morris

Loved the songs that came before us.

Music from the USA,

Parlor, Broadway, cabaret;

Songs of pathos, songs of charm

From the city, from the farm;

Older songs, by now exotic,

In our grandpapá’s demotic;

Songs that once were all the rage

From the parlor, from the stage.

Even songs he newly wrote

Had a retrospective note.

Envoi

Introduction, verse, and chorus

Their recordings never bore us

William Bolcom and Joan Morris