April 9 - Paolo Tosti (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 8th may be found here: Giuseppe Tartini (2019), Julian Lennon; Peggy Lennon (2020), Jacques Brel; Franco Corelli (2021)

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Paolo Tosti (9 April 1846 – 2 December 1916) was an Italian composer and music teacher. long resident in England.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Variations of a Theme of Tosti

(1)

 

By 1885 he was the most popular composer of songs in England. His publishers paid him a staggering retaining fee for twelve songs a year. -- Wikipedia

 

The excitement that Tosti created, 

And the way that his songs were awaited,

Is hard to believe

For songs we perceive

As charming, but hopelessly dated.

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(2)

In 1906, he became a British citizen and was knighted (KCVO) two years later by his friend, King Edward VII. -- Wikipedia

 

Though Tosti’s creations seem light, –

Benign, sentimental, and slight, -

It’s wise to recall,

If they seem banál,

That they earned him the title of Knight.

 

 

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