Previous posts for May 7th may be found here: Carl Heinrich Graun (2020) and Johannes Brahms; Pyotr Tchaikovsky (2019)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Johannes Brahms (7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was one of the greatest and still most popular nineteenth century composers.
Deep
However, [they] convinced [Brahms] that protocol required him to make a grander gesture of gratitude [than note of thanks]. The University expected nothing less than a musical offering from the composer. — adapted from Wikipedia
Johannes Brahms wrote Opus 80,
Knowing that it should be weighty --
An overture called “Academic”
Should be deep and polysemic.
But then he had this happy thought:
Instead of being overwrought,
Perhaps the overture should be
Full of bibulous esprit.
And so it was he made a medley
Of songs that students sang unstead’ly
When, weary of collegiate thinking,
They took up academic drinking.
♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫
Pyotr Tchaikovsky (7 May 1840 [O.S. 25 April] – 6 November [O.S. 25 October] 1893) is one of the most popular composers in the classical repertoire.
Neither Time nor Place
Hear me as I have my say
About our Independence Day!
I think it’s time that we should shelve
The Overture called “1812,”
Tchaikovsky’s opus 49,
Which tells how Russia held the line
Against Napoleon’s Grande Armée,
A stronger force by far than they.
Don’t misconstrue, I won’t attack it,
It makes, of course, a pleasant racket.
But don’t you think that it’s bizarre
That paeons to the Russian Tsar
Are featured on this special day
With pyrotechnical display
To celebrate the U.S.A.?
Prime the cannons, ring the chimes!
But do these things at other times!
Let’s celebrate our independence
Without Tchaikovsky in attendance!
If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing. [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Takes: Great Art Repurposed.]
No comments:
Post a Comment