January 31 - Justin Timberlake; Carol Channing (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for January 31st are here: Franz Schubert; George Benjamin (2020) and Philip Glass; Mario Lanza (2021)

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Justin Timberlake (b. 31 January 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Call the Tabloids; or, People Person

The press has spilled plenty of ink

About Timberlake leaving NSYNC,

The process was messy,

And yet, nonetheless, he

Has done pretty well, don’t you think?

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Carol Channing (31 January 1921 – 15 January 2019) was an American actress, singer, dancer, and comedienne.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vocal Traction

A sound engineer who was scanning

The vocals of Miss Carol Channing

Remarked, “I can’t fix it,

And though I can mix it,

It’s going to take patience and planning!”

 

 

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January 30 - Thomas Tallis; Harold Prince (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for January 30th are here: Johann Joachim Quantz; Thomas Tallis (2020) and Johann Joachim Quantz (2021)

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Thomas Tallis (c. 1505 – 23 November 1585) was an extremely important English composer. We do not, in fact, know when he was born, but some sources cite tentative evidence pointing to 30 January, so... why not?
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tallis

 

As no records about the birth, family origins or childhood of Thomas Tallis exist, almost nothing is known about his early life or origins.  ... His remains may have been discarded by laborers during the 1710s, when the church was rebuilt. -- Wikipedia

His origins are so obscure

There’s nothing that we know for sure.

And after death, they took no pains

About the state of his remains.

And yet, in England, then or later

No composer counts as greater.

Moral

Do you work from day to day,

And let the chips fall where they may.

 

 

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Harold Prince (30 January 1928 – 31 July 2019) was an American theatrical director and producer known for his work in musical theater.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let’s Do a Show!

 

Over the span of his career, he garnered a record-setting twenty-one Tony Awards... - Wikipedia  

No producer or director,

  Before or since,

Was a Tony collector

  Like Harold Prince.

 

 

 

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January 29 - John Raitt; Frederick Delius (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for January 29th are here: Daniel François Esprit Auber (2020) and Adam Lambert (2021)

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John Raitt (29 January 1917 – 20 February 2005) was an American actor and singer best known for his performances on Broadway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report from Carousel

When we went today’s matinee, it

Was starring the peerless John Raitt.

An excellent choice

And an excellent voice

In a role that was meant to display it.

 

 

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Frederick Delius (29 January 1862 – 10 June 1934), originally Fritz Delius, was an English composer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s in a Name?

Would Delius have written more popular hits

If he had composed with his given name "Fritz"?

Sometimes in questions of popular standing

It’s merely a matter of changing one’s branding.

 

 

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January 28 - Giovanni Battista Velluti; Ferdinand Hérold (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for January 28th are here: John Tavener (2020) and Artur [Arthur] Rubinstein; Johann Ernst Bach (2021)

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Giovanni Battista Velluti (28 January 1780 – 22 January 1861), was an Italian castrato.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operation

...a local doctor castrated him at the age of eight as treatment for a cough and high fever. -- Wikipedia

At times it is best to think twice

Before taking your doctor’s advice.

It’s best to demur

From a surgical cure,

When a pill and some rest might suffice.

 

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Productivity

 

Upon his retirement from the stage, he became an agriculturist and died in 1861. -- Wikipedia

Giovanni Battista Velluti, it seems,

  Was “the last of the great castratos.”

He retired from the stage and its squabbling schemes,

  And quietly planted tomatoes.

 

 

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Ferdinand Hérold (28 January 1791 – 19 January 1833) was a French composer, best known for his many operas and ballets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hanging In There

The overture to Zampa by

  Ferdinand Hérold,

Is now the only reason why

  His music has a hold.

Alas, Hérold, you once stood tall

  With masters of your day,

And now this noisy piece is all

  That anyone will play.

 

 

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