October 10 - Giuseppe Verdi (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Giuseppe Verdi (9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was the most important composer of Italian opera in the mid-nineteenth century.  The limerick on Rigoletto originally appeared here last year.

[For last year's thoughts on Giuseppe Verdi, Vernon Duke, Evgeny Kissin, and Thelonious Monk click here.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rigoletto

The jester at court, Rigoletto,

Had a daughter at home in the ghetto.

She met, through a fluke,

The Mantuan Duke,

And thus, there's a tragic libretto. 

 

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La Traviata

Violetta had gotten ahead

By making her living in bed,

But she toyed with Alfredo

As if he were Playdoh,

And then in Act IV she is dead.

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Il Trovatore

That business involving the baby…

Can we ever believe it? Well, maybe.

We shouldn’t be frightened

When action is heightened,

For without it what fun would the play be?

 

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Aida

He had no intent to embarrass

Aida and Princess Amneris

When he swam in the Nile

Wearing only a smile,

While the two of them sat on the terrace.

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

 

Requiem

"I’m sure everyone knows the music of the “Dies Irae”, ... as it has been 

used for dramatic effect in many films and commercials over the years". --mymusictheory.com

Your company ought to be leary

When using the great Dies Irae;

That the prospect of Hell

Gets your product to sell,

Is a dubious marketing theory.

 

 

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