April 30 - Franz Lehár (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 30th may be found here: Franz Lehár (2019), Sheldon Harnick (2020), Robert Shaw; Alfred Gaul (2021), and Merrill Osmond (2022)

 

Franz Lehár (30 Apr 1870 -24 Oct 1948) was one of the greatest of operetta composers.  In the United States, he is largely known only for The Merry Widow and a handful of favorite arias from other operettas. In the German-speaking countries he is still actively staged.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Knowing When the Time is Ripe

 

"Often sung by sopranos in the twilight of their careers..." -- Sydney Morning Herald, as qtd, at intermusica.com 

If her mother tells her “Kiddo,

You should sing the Merry Widow,”

She should stand her ground and say

“I’ll save it for another day.

Certain roles when casts are set

Should not be played by a soubrette.

It’s not a role to take when you

Can still assume the ingénue.

But it’s a role that can be sung

When singers are no longer young,

And when I’ve reached a certain age

I’d love to play her on the stage.

And it will be the wistful highlight

Of my grand artistic twilight.”

 

 

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

 

 

April 29 - Steve Norquist (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 29th may be found here: me (2019), me (2020), me (2021), and me (2022)

++++++++++++++++++++

 

Steve Norquist (b. 29 April 1954) writes this blog.  He is a musicologist and pianist, and performs obscure, undeservedly forgotten, and just plain odd piano music at his YouTube channel Piano Curiosities with Steve Norquist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Trip Around

Today, as he turns sixty-nine,

He will neither harangue nor opine,

But he wants to be clear

That surviving a year

Is a rather encouraging sign.

 

++++++++++++++++++++ 

Self-Defense

If you sit a table with Steve,

It won’t take you long to perceive

That he’s likely to quote

From some nonsense he wrote,

So just make your excuses and leave!

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

No Escape

When you thought that it couldn’t get worse,

He embarked on a new year of verse,

You can bet ten to one, he

Will try to be funny

‘Til they take him away in the hearse.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

April 28 - John Jacob Niles (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 28th may be found here: John Jacob Niles (2019), Michael Daugherty (2020), Blossom Dearie (2021), and Ludvig Schytte (2022)

+++++++++++++++++++++++

 

John Jacob Niles (28 April 1892 –1 March 1980) collected, arranged, or composed (the boundaries are fluid) some of the most beloved American folk melodies.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then and Now

His songs, many based on traditional sources, include the haunting Christmas song "I Wonder as I Wander.” – adapted from Wikipedia 

At Christmastide

A song by Niles

May softly glide

Up sacred aisles,

And yet provide

More modern smiles

When it’s supplied

On MIDI files.

 

 

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

 

 

April 27 - Friedrich von Flotow (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 27th may be found here: Friedrich von Flotow (2019), Nicolas Slonimsky (2020), Johann Adam Reincken (2021), and Nicolas Slonimsky (2022)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Friedrich von Flotow (27 April 1812 – 24 January 1883) was a successful opera composer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Martha, Martha, Martha

In all, Flotow wrote about 30 operas. All but Martha have fallen into obscurity, and even Martha is not nearly as often performed now as it was a century ago.  – adapted from Wikipedia

When you think

Of the Ink

That von Flotow required

For refill-

-ing his quill

When feeling inspired,

It’s too bad

That he had

(Before he retired)

One success,

More or less,

That was widely admired.

 

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

 

 

 

 

April 26 - Ma Rainey (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 26 may be found here: Conrad Susa (2019), Ma Rainey (2020), Mikhail Fokine; Ma Rainey (2021), and Francis Lai; Adam Falckenhagen (2022)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Ma Rainey (26 April 1886 – 22 December 1939) was an important early Blues singer. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look Ma

Dubbed the “Mother of the Blues”, she bridged earlier vaudeville and the authentic expression of southern blues, influencing a generation of blues singers. – Wikipedia

Bragging about sexual escapades was popular in men's songs at the time but her use of these themes in her works established her as both fiercely independent and fearless. – Wikipedia

Ma Rainey, “the Mother of Blues”

Set out to confound and amuse;

She sang of her quarrels

With prevalent morals

In joyously raunchy revues.

 

 

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