Sheldon Harnick (b. 30 April 1924)is an American lyricist and songwriter.
[For last year's limerick on Franz Lehár click here.]
A musical set in a shtetl
Would test any lyricist’s mettle;
It’s a difficult thing
When your characters sing
As they’re forced from their homes to re-settle.
If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing. [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Tales: Great Art Repurposed.]
Steve Norquist (b. 29 April 1954) writes this blog. He performs obscure, undeservedly forgotten, and just plain odd piano music at his YouTube channel Piano Curiosities with Steve Norquist.
[For last year's entry, also on me, click here.]
Song of Myself
When Norquist encountered this date.
He said, “There’ no room for debate,
For today, let’s agree
That it’s all about me,
And all of those others can wait!”
If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing. [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Tales: Great Art Repurposed.]
Michael Daugherty (b. 28 April 1954) is an American composer, pianist, and teacher.
[For last year's intricate verse on John Jacob Niles click here.]
The music of Daugherty, eclectic and brash,
Is sometimes mistaken for pandering trash.
The question becomes: Is is layered and rich,
Or is it a jumble of middlebrow kitsch?
If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing. [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Tales: Great Art Repurposed.]
Nicolas Slonimsky (April 27 [O.S. April 15] 1894 – December 25, 1995) was a Russian-born American conductor, author, pianist, composer and lexicographer.
[For last year's limerick on Flotow click here .]
Slonimsky on music invective
Found critical thinking defective.
He collected appalling
Disparaging squalling
In a giddily sly retrospective.
If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing. [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Tales: Great Art Repurposed.]
Ma Rainey (26 April 1886 – 22 December 1939) was an important early Blues singer.
[For last year's verse on Conrad Susa click here.]
One Man’s Cure
Though the sound is archaic and grainy,
When feeling emotional pain, he
Knows he could use
Some old-fashioned blues
From the voice of immortal Ma Rainey.
If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing. [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Tales: Great Art Repurposed.]
Jerry Lieber (25 April 1933 – 22 August 2011) was half of the song-writing team of Leiber and Stoller, who wrote "Hound Dog" and "Jailhouse Rock" among many other hits.
[For last year's nonsense on Ella Fitzgerald click here.]
Half Empty
Leiber and Stoller did their parts
To get young Elvis on the charts,
And given this, it is regrettable
That fans have found their names forgettable.
(If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing. [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Tales: Great Art Repurposed.]
Barbra Streisand (b. 24 April 1942) is an American singer, actress, and filmmaker.
[For last year's nonsense, also on Streisand, click here.]
“People” Translated into Limerick
People need people, it’s true,
And you’re lucky if you have a few
People who care,
Even better if there
Is a lover who’s special to you.
Force of Nature
I seldom call voices iconic,
But Streisand’s is almost tectonic.
If that’s overblown,
Pick a word of your own:
It’s "cyclonic," bionic," "symphonic."
(If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing. [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Tales: Great Art Repurposed.]
Sergei Prokofiev (23 April [recte 27] 1891 – 5 March 1953) was Soviet Russian pianist, composer, and conductor. (NB. He believed his birthday to be April 23rd, but it was discovered after his death, that he was actually born on the 27th.]
[For last year's limerick on Leoncavallo click here.]
Two Variations on Peter and the Wolf
"As well as promoting desired [Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization] virtues such as vigilance, bravery and resourcefulness, the plot illustrates Soviet themes such as the stubbornness of the un-Bolshevik older generation (the grandfather) and the triumph of Man (Peter) taming Nature (the wolf).... [T]he piece was first performed for an audience of Young Pioneers during May Day celebrations."-- Wikipedia
(i)
When the fable received its premiere
It was clear to each Young Pioneer
That since life was great
In a Soviet State
Young Peter had nothing to fear.
(ii)
The fable, first heard on a May Day,
(In Russia a public display day),
Inspired the youth
To honor the truth
Of the great Proletarian heyday.
(If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing. [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Tales: Great Art Repurposed.]
