October 31 - Ethel Waters; Philippe de Vitry (The Musical Birthday Series)

Ethel Waters (31 October 1896 – 1 September 1977) was a singer and actor. She was among the first African-Americans to be recognized with mainstream awards.

Turnabout

Ethel Waters, all the rage

On the thirties Broadway stage,

Was, in later decades seen

On your local movie screen.

Lastly, left that worldly sham

To do Crusades with Billy Graham.

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

Philippe de Vitry (31 October 1291 – 9 June 1361) was a composer, music theorist, and churchman.

Contra Ars nova 

When a book gives its name to an Age,

You’d hope that each spell-binding page

Would lead to the next

With a less vexing text,

And at least an attempt to engage.

Pro Ars nova

If you fluently read mensuration,

And understand time and prolation,

De Vitry’s Ars nova,

(With help from Jehovah!)

Was your guide to your strange avocation.

(If you enjoy these posts, please consider helping me by sharing.)         

 

October 30 - Peter Warlock; Frans Brüggen (The Musical Birthday Series)

Peter Warlock (30 October 1894 – 17 December 1930)  was a largely self-taught composer. He wrote criticism using his real name, Philip Heseltine.

Doppelgänger

Peter Warlock was always seen

With Mr. Philip Heseltine,

And Heseltine unlatched the door lock

For his partner Peter Warlock.

Both together, through and through,

Two for one, and one for two.

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

Frans Brüggen (30 October 1934 – 13 August 2014) began his career largely as a recorder player.  Later, he became a leading conductor in the Early Music performance practice movement.

Lèse-majesté

Though Brüggen played a recorder

Specially made to order,

Listeners still were known

To call it a flutophone.

(If you enjoy these posts, please consider helping me by sharing.)        
 

 

October 29 - Jon Vickers (The Musical Birthday Series)

Jon Vickers (29 October 1926 – 10 July 2015) was a prominent Canadian heldentenor.

Invictus

Jon Vickers sang heroic roles,

But cared about eternal souls,

And never sang in lyric fictions

Conflicting with his strict convictions.

(If you enjoy these posts, please consider helping me by sharing.)        
 

October 28 - Howard Hanson; Cleo Laine (The Musical Birthday Series)

Howard Hanson (28 October 1896 – 26 February 1981) was a composer and music administrator.

Hans and Hilma's Boy

Howard Hanson, firm and stolid,

Never squalid, always solid -

Though, I fear, I trust the rumor

That he had no sense of humor.

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



Cleo Laine (b. 28 October 1927) is a distinguished English jazz singer and actor.

Memory Laine

Let me explain

The showbiz reign

Of Cleo Laine.

Cleo Laine

Could entertain

In jazz or pops.

She was tops.

Much recorded,

Oft rewarded.

West End shows?

Some of those.

Pierrot Lunaire?

She was there.

World tour?

Yes, for sure.

Eventually,

A CBE,

Adding Dame

To her name.

I hope that here

I’ve made it clear

Why we should cheer

Her fifty year

Singing career.


(If you enjoy these posts, please consider helping me by sharing.)