March 31 - Herb Alpert (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

[Previous posts for March 31st may be found here: Joseph Haydn (2019) and Joseph Haydn (2020).]

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Herb Alpert (b. 31 March 1935) is an American trumpeter who led Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass in the 1960s. During the same decade, he co-founded A&M Records. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowed Goods

During a visit to Tijuana, Mexico, Alpert happened to hear a mariachi band while attending a bullfight. Following the experience, Alpert recalled that he was inspired to find a way to express musically what he felt... ---Wikipedia

Herb Alpert once embarked upon a

Short excursion to Tijuana.

The trip was short, but when this gringo

Heard the local music lingo

From a mariachi band

That the bull ring had on hand

He reproduced it on his horn.

And thus the Alpert style was born

With some quick appropriation

On a Mexican vacation.

 

 

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March 30 - Eric Clapton (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

[Previous posts for March 30th may be found here: John Stafford Smith (2019) and Celine Dion (2020).]

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Eric Clapton (b. 30 March 1945) is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Case of the Clapton

"...I had gotten so tired of the virtuosity – or pseudo-virtuosity – thing of long, boring guitar solos just because they were expected." -- Eric Clapton

Guitarist Eric Clapton

Admitted he felt trapped in

A style with solos mapped in.

It’s things like this that scar

Your psyche when you are

A god of the guitar.

 

 

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

 

 

 

March 29 - Supply Belcher; William Walton; John Hawkins (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

[Previous postings for March 29th may be found here: Albert von Tilzer (2019) and Astrud Gilberto (2020).]

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Supply Belcher (29 March 1751 – 9 June 1836) was an American composer, singer, and compiler of tune books.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Artist Formerly Known As

Because of his choral compositions and musical knowledge,
Supply Belcher was known as "The Handel of Maine." -- American Music Preservation

When they called him “the Handel of Maine,”

He thought it was catchy and plain.

He said, “I should try

To relinquish ‘Supply’

And never be ‘Belcher’ agāin.”

 

 

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Sir William Walton (29 March 1902 – 8 March 1983) was an English composer.

Two, Two, Two Arts in One

The basic concept of Façade

Strikes the uninformed as odd,

When poetry (urbane and witty)

Is read with music (pert and pretty).

Does this constant interaction

Lead to sensory distraction?

William Walton, Edith Sitwell,

Does the combination fit well?

 

 

 

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Sir John Hawkins (29 March 1719 – 21 May 1789) was an English author, now best known for his Life of Samuel Johnson and his history of music. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taking Turns

Although his history was somewhat respected, it soon was overshadowed by Charles Burney’s General History of Music (1776–89). However, in years to come Hawkins's music history was considered to be superior to Burney's music history…  --- adapted from Wikipedia

John Hawkins wrote his learned book

Which Charles Burney’s overtook;

But Hawkins triumphed when in turn he

Superseded Charles Burney.

 

 

 

 

 

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