May 31 - Johnny Paycheck (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for May 31st are found here: Alfred Deller (2019), Marin Marais (2020), and Louise Farrenc (2021)

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Johnny Paycheck (31 May 1938 – 19 February 19, 2003) was an American country music singer-songwriter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paycheck Pentameters

I’m sure that there are country music fans

Who, when they’re riding in their trucks or vans,

Still know the Paycheck oeuvre, every song,

And playing air guitars will sing along.

The rest of us know only one line of it,

His admonition “Take this job and shove it.”

 

 

 

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May 30 - Benny Goodman (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for May 30th are found here: Benny Goodman (2019), Gustav Leonhardt (2020), and Benny Goodman (2021)

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Benny Goodman (30 May 1909 – 13 June 1986) was a clarinetist and band leader of the Big Band era.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Naming Rights

 

In his 1935–1936 radio broadcasts from Chicago, Goodman was introduced as the "Rajah of Rhythm". -- Wikipedia 

The “Rajah of Rhythm” lacks the zing

That echoes from the “King of Swing,”

So take this lesson and beware

When you receive a nom de guerre.

Envoi 

Even if you’re Goodman (Benny),

Choosing nicknames out of many,

A moniker’s ideal when it’s

A sobriquet that fits your hits.

 

 

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May 29 - Iannis Xenakis (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for May 29th are available here: Isaac Albéniz (2019), Iannis Xenakis (2020), and Erich Wolfgang Korngold (2021)

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Iannis Xenakis (29 May 1922 – 4 February 2001) was a Greek-French composer, music theorist  architect, and engineer. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Power Points

Point 1

Xenakis also developed a stochastic synthesizer algorithm, called dynamic stochastic synthesis, where a polygonal waveform's sectional borders' amplitudes and distance between borders may be generated using a form of random walk to create both aleatoric timbres and musical forms. – Wikipedia

When the methods you use are stochastic,

And the rigor involved is monastic,

Performers, with pain,

Are apt to complain

That your score is just too inelastic.

Point 2

Despite Xenakis's reputation as a "mathematical" composer, his works are known for their power and physicality. – Wikipedia

When you use algorithmical math

As you’re plotting your musical path,

You’ll surprise the unversed

When they find they’re immersed

In a primal emotional bath.

 

 

 

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May 28 - Thomas Moore (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for May 28th are available here: György Ligeti (2019), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (2020), and Riccardo Zandonai (2021)

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Thomas Moore (28 May 1779 – 25 February 1852) was an Irish writer, poet, and lyricist celebrated for his Irish Melodies.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moore Is Less

Hazlitt observed that "if Moore's Irish Melodies with their drawing-room, lackadaisical, patriotism were really the melodies of the Irish nation, the Irish people deserve to be slaves forever". It was a judgement later generations of Irish writers appeared to share. – Wikipedia

Thomas Moore took Irish songs

  And fitted verses to them,

Which then were sung by Irish throngs

  'Til everybody knew them.

The “stilly night,” or “Tara’s halls,”

  Or summer’s final rose,

Are tropes each Irishman recalls,

  Each Irish woman knows.

But no one grasps the reasons why

  The Irish nation nurses

The temperament to dignify

  Such namby-pamby verses.

 

 

 

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May 27 - Fromental Halévy (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for May 27th are available here: Celius Dougherty (2019), Harold Rome (2020), and Joachim Raff (2021)

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Fromental Halévy (27 May 1799 – 17 March 1862) was a French composer mostly of operas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Hit, a Very Palpable Hit

After La Juive, his real successes were relatively few. -- Wikipedia

Fromental Halévy, you might not believe,

Composed forty operas, and not just La Juive;

When that many operas flow from your pen,

You’d hope more than one was performed now and then.

Fromental Halévy soldiered along,

Probably wondering what he did wrong;

He worked at his desk and was loath to admit,

That try as he might, he’d have only one hit.

 

 

 

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