October 31 - Philippe de Vitry (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for October 31st are here: Ethel Waters; Philippe de Vitry (2019), Phillippe de Vitry (2020), and Philippe de Vitry (2021)

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Philippe de Vitry (31 October 1291 – 9 June 1361) was a composer, music theorist, 

and churchman.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Variations on an Unlikely Theme

The Roman de Fauvel is a 14th-century French allegorical verse romance of a satirical bent. Chaillou's manuscript (Paris, BN fr. 146) is a splendid work of art with illumination, as well as interpolations of 169 pieces of music. Some of these pieces are linked to Philippe de Vitry.  – adapted from Wikipedia, s.v. “Roman de Fauvel”

(1)

Throughout the Roman de Fauvel

There’s music that’s scattered pell mell;

It’s the principal source

For de Vitry, perforce,

Which scholars find perfectly swell!

(2)

Here’s some info that might ring a bell,

Though you may not remember it well:

There is music embedded

In the tale that is threaded

Throughout the Roman de Fauvel.

 

 

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October 30 -- Peter Warlock; Unico Wilhelm, Count van Wassenaer Obdam (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for October 30th are here: Peter Warlock; Frans Brüggen (2019),  and Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge (2020), and Peter Warlock (2021)

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Peter Warlock (30 October 1894 – 17 December 1930)  was a largely self-taught composer. He wrote criticism using his real name, Philip Heseltine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Limitations

Warlock's surviving body of work includes about 150 songs, mostly for solo voice and piano. – Wikipedia

When Warlock considered his career

In a very small musical sphere,

He thought, from his pond,

Of the fishes beyond,

And envied them year after year.

 

 

 ♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪ 

 

Unico Wilhelm, Count van Wassenaer Obdam (30 October 1692 – 9 November 1766) was a Dutch nobleman who was a diplomat as well as a composer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s Mine, All Mine!

His most important surviving compositions are the Concerti Armonici, which until 1980 had been misattributed to the Italian composer Giovanni Battista Pergolesi and to Carlo Ricciotti. Wilhelm’s Concerto Armonico No. 2 in B flat Major (Allegro moderato) was among the works that formed the basis for Igor Stravinsky’s Pulcinella “Tarantella”, based on works considered at the time to be by Pergolesi. – adapted from Wikipedia

Said Unico Wilhelm, “It’s crazy!

I wrote some good stuff; I’m not lazy!

And I think it’s a shame

That my musical fame

Has been pilfered by one Pergolesi.”

 

 

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October 29 - Natalie Sleeth (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for October 29th are here: Jon Vickers (2019), Vivian Ellis (2020), and Jon Vickers (2021)

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Natalie Sleeth (29 October 1930 – 21 March 1992) was an American composer of hymns and choral music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four Rhyming Thoughts

A Thought on Style

 

I’m not convinced there’s substance underneath

The folksy choral writing of Ms. Sleeth.

 

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A Thought on Pretty Teeth

 

In the oeuvre of Natalie Sleeth, dear,

Are there items concerning Macheath, dear?

 

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A Thought on Conflicting Genres

 

You never heard anthems by Natalie Sleeth

Covered by Charlie, Mick, Brian, and Keith.

 

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Another Thought on Style

 

There’s not a lot in which to sink your teeth

When reading through the vocal works of Sleeth.

 

 

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October 28 - John Thomson; Howard Hanson (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for October 28th are here: Howard Hanson; Cleo Laine (2019), Howard Hanson (2020), and Howard Hanson; Dmitry Bortniansky (2021)

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John Thomson (28 October 1805 – 18 May 1841) was a Scottish classical composer. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taking the Low Road

 

Although his original compositions were admired by Mendelssohn and Schumann in his lifetime, his work was little performed subsequently.  Thomson also edited the Vocal Melodies of Scotland.  -- based on Wikipedia

John Thomson published Scotland’s Melodies --

  He should be Scotland’s pride.

And yet, in spite of writing works like these,

  He's largely set aside.

 

 

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪ 

Howard Hanson (28 October 1896 – 26 February 1981) was a composer, music administrator, and advocate for new American music. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also Ran

Howard Hanson, it is clear,

Wrote music that we seldom hear;

And yet, we find that all the same.

You sometimes run across his name.

He’s one of those who gets attention,

But usually it’s just a mention.

It  can’t have been his childhood dream

To have this pale succes d’estime.

 

 

 

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