Thursday, August 31, 2023

August 31 - Albert Riemenschneider; Johann Paul Aegidius Martin (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for August 31st are here: Alma Mahler (2019), Joseph Schillinger (2020), Alan Jay Lerner (2021), and Amilcare Ponchielli (2022)

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Albert Riemenschneider (31 August 1878 – 20 July 950) was an American musician and Bach scholar.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wie schön leuchtet


One sometimes can improve morale

By reading through a Bach chorale,

And when you do, thank Riemenschneider,

For acting as the hymns’ provider

By collecting them (it was a chore)

In one convenient Schirmer score.

 

 

♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫ 

 

Johann Paul Aegidius Martin (31 August 1741 – 14 February 1816) was a French composer of German birth best known today for "Paisir d'amour,." Plaisir d'amour," on which the 1961 Elvis Presley pop standard "Can't Help Falling in Love" is based.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can’t Help Falling

 

The melodies for Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love" (1961) and the 20th century Christian hymn "My God Loves Me" are based on Martin's "Plaisir d'amour". -- Wikipedia, s.v. "Plaisir d'amour"

 

Let’s hope that the outcome would hearten

Old John Paul Aegidius Martin,

If he heard Elvis croon

The “Plaisirs d’amour” tune,

Which he’d put so much feeling and art in.

 

 

 

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Wednesday, August 30, 2023

August 30 - Robert Crumb (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for August 30th are found here: Regina Resnik (2019), George Frederick Root (2020), Christian Friedrich Gottlieb Schwencke (2021), and Johnny Mann (2022)

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Robert Crumb (b. 30 August 1943) is an American cartoonist who has illustrated many album covers, most prominently Cheap Thrills by Big Brother and the Holding Company.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Things Past

Today I have been thinking some

About the art of Robert Crumb,

And album covers that you had

To hide away from Mom and Dad,

Which have become nostalgic relics

Of rock and roll and psychedelics.

 


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Tuesday, August 29, 2023

August 29 - Dinah Washington (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for August 29th are here: Charlie Parker (2019), Michael Jackson; Dinah Washington (2020), Wilhelm Hieronymus Pachelbel (2021), and Raphael George Kiesewetter (2022)

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Dinah Washington (29 August 1924 – 14 December 1963) was an American singer and pianist.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paraphrase

Her voice was mid-century modern — sleek and bright and suffused in light — with lots of clean, hard surfaces. – Gwen Thompkins, “Forebears: The Mercurial And Majestic Dinah Washington,” npr.org


Dinah Washington (Ruth Lee Jones)

Sang in her distinctive tones,

With surfaces so hard and clean

They had a bright mid-century sheen.

 

 

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

 



 

 

Monday, August 28, 2023

August 28 - Albert Dietrich (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for August 28th are here: Umberto Giordano; Ivor Gurney; Léon Theremin (2019), Carolmannus Pachschmidt; Peter[von] Winter (2019), Paul Henry Lang (2021), and Umberto Giordano; Agostino Accorimboni (2022)

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Albert Hermann Dietrich (28 August 1829 – 20 November 1908) was a German composer and conductor. He is remembered for his friendship with Johannes Brahms.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trio Sonata

 

The F-A-E Sonata, a four-movement work for violin and piano, is a collaborative piece by three composers: Robert Schumann, the young Johannes Brahms, and Schumann's pupil Albert Dietrich. -- Wikipedia, s.v. "F-A-E Sonata"

 

Dietrich took the chance when he

Was asked to write on F.A.E.,

“Frei aber einsam,” (Free but lonely).

(Dietrich wrote the allegro only;

Brahms, the scherzo, by request,

And Schumann undertook the rest.)


To Schumann, Brahms, and Dietrich, we owe

This fine sonata by a trio.



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Sunday, August 27, 2023

August 27 - Leon Theremin (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for August 27th are here: Lester Young (2019), Rebecca Clarke; Eric Coates (2020), Leon Theremin (2021), and Eric Coates (2022)

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Leon Theremin (28 August [O.S. 15 August] 1896 – 3 November 1993) was a Russian and Soviet inventor, most famous for his invention of the theremin.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Speculative Scenario

The kith and kin

Of Theremin

Objected from the first;


The eerie, thin,

Disturbing din

Brought out their very worst.


If they were in

When he’d begin,

They slammed their doors and cursed.


Was it a sin

To show chagrin

When he was so immersed?


With skin so thin

It might have been

A double win

To leave while he rehearsed.

 

 

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