February 28 - Jean-Baptiste Arban (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Jean-Baptiste Arban (28 February 1825 – 8 April 1889) was a cornetist, conductor, composer, and pedagogue. His treatise on playing the trumpet is still in use. 

 [For last year's note on Geraldine Farrar click here.] 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cautionary Note

The trumpeter who can

Play Jean-Baptiste Arban,

(I’m speaking of the menace

Of the “Carnival of Venice),

Will have sufficient chops,

(In classical or pops),

To meet the strict conditions

Of any competitions.

But triple tongues alone

Won’t help, unless your tone

(i.e. your basic sound)

Is brilliant, clean, and round,

 

 

 

 If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing.  [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Takes: Great Art Repurposed.]

 

February 27 - Marian Anderson (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Marian Anderson (February 27, 1897 – April 8, 1993) was an American contralto and civil rights leader.
[This post is in celebration of Black History Month.]

[For last year's verse on Hubert Parry click here.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lift Every Voice and Sing

Marian Anderson was a star,

But even so the DAR,

To its permanent disgrace,

Said that persons of her race

Couldn’t use their concert hall.

The Roosevelts took up the call

And found a venue on the Mall.

It may have been the second choice,

But when she lifted up her voice

She shared the glory of her song

With an integrated throng.

There are not words that can convey

The meaning of that Easter day.

 

 

 

If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing.  [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Takes: Great Art Repurposed.]

 

 

February 26 - Fats Domino; Betty Hutton (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Fats Domino (26 February 1928 – 24 October 2017) was an American pianist and singer-songwriter. [This post is in celebration of Black History Month.]

[For last year's quatrain on Frank Bridge click here.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nomenclature

Elvis thought that on the whole

Fats Domino played rock and roll,

While Fats himself preferred to use

The older label rhythm and blues.

It doesn’t matter, after all, it

Isn’t changed by what you call it.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Betty Hutton (26 February 1921 – 12 March 12, 2007) was an American stage, film, and television actress, comedian, dancer and singer.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signing the Cast

When filming Annie Get Your Gun

They needed to determine

How Miss Oakley could be done

Without Miss Ethel Merman.

At first, Miss Garland had the lead

At Metro Golden Mayer,

But she was fired, which caused a need

To find another player.

They looked around, and then they hit

The thing right on the button.

They knew they had the perfect fit,

And cast Miss Betty Hutton.

 

 

 If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing.  [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Takes: Great Art Repurposed.]

 

 

February 25 - George Harrison; Enrico Caruso (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

George Harrison (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) was an English musician, singer, songwriter, and music and film producer, and of course, member of the Beatles.

[For last year's thoughts on Myra Hess click here.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When You Wish Upon a Sitar

George Harrison, who played guitar,

Was noted as a quiet star,

Who with a spirit soft and gentle

Yearned for something transcendental.

He found his transcendental bridge in

Western drugs and Eastern religion.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vocational Counseling

“[A]t the age of 11, the boy was apprenticed to a mechanical engineer who constructed public water fountains.” -- Wikipedia

Caruso’s parents duly made

Their plans to give their son a trade.

He was, in his eleventh year,

Apprenticed to an engineer,

Which would have been a fine career...

But what a difference for Caruso

That he opted not to do so!

 

 

 If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing.  [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Takes: Great Art Repurposed.]