December 31 - John Denver (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for December 31st are here date is unknown: Donna Summer; John Denver (2019), Jule Styne (2020), John Denver; Giulio Cesare Monteverdi (2021), PSY (Park Jae-sang); Odetta (2022), and Donna Summer (2023)

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John Denver (31 December 1943 – 12 October 1997)  was an American singer-songwriter, record producer, actor, activist, and humanitarian.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Country Boy

A limerick’s no place to reveal

The secret of Denver’s appeal,

He was charming and affable

Which it could have been laughable,

But the public could tell it was real.

 

 

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Sunshine Boy

Though it wasn’t a pose or a spiel,

There was risk in his folksy ideal;

For an ethos so easy

Was bound to seem cheesy,

And likely to clot and congeal.

 

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December 30 - Paul Bowles (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for December 30th are here: Paul Bowles (2019), (Mary) Frances Allitsen (2020), David Willcocks (2021), William Croft (2022), and Davy Jones; William Croft (2023)

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Paul Bowles (30 December 1910 – 18 November 1999) was an American composer and novelist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compare and Contrast

Copland was a lover as well as mentor to Bowles. – Wikipedia

“It is music that comes from a fresh personality, music full of charm and melodic invention, at times surprisingly well made in an instinctive and non-academic fashion.” – Copland on Bowles

When Copland and Bowles were a pair

The couple had talent to spare,

But the verdict of Fate

Deems that Copland was great,

While Bowles possessed merely a flair.

 

 

 

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December 29 - Pablo Casals (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for December 29th are here: Pablo Casals (2019), (2020), Peggy Glanville-Hicks (2021), Peggy Glanville-Hicks (2022), and Pablo Casals (2023)

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Pablo Casals (29 December 1876 – 22 October 1973) was a world-renowned cellist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High Strung

The acme of all cello feats

Is to master the Bach cello suites,

And Casals was supreme

As the cream of the cream,

The elitist of cello elites.

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Practical Considerations

When out on the stage on his own

Communing with Bach, in the zone,

He knew there would be

No accompanist fee, —-

An advantage of playing alone.

 

 

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December 28 - Roger Sessions; Nigel Kennedy (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for December 28th are here: Roger Sessions; Earl Hines (2019), Calixa Lavalée (2020), Christian Cannabich; Roger Sessions (2021), and Martha Wash (2022)

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Roger Sessions (28 December 1896 – 16 March 1985) was an important American composer and teacher.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roger and Out

The concert promoter who freshens

Her programs with music Sessions

Will be greeted by seats

Left unsold for such treats

Which the public still calls indiscretions.

 

 

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Nigel Kennedy (b. 28 December 1956) is an English violinist. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Odd Man Out

In 1991, the Controller of BBC Radio 3 John Drummond criticized Kennedy describing him as "a Liberace for the nineties" and objected to his "ludicrous" clothes and "self-invented accent". – Wikipedia

His behavior was odd and erratic,

Self-centered, and undiplomatic,

Veering this way and that

At the drop of a hat,

Which promoters pronounced problematic.

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

 

 

 

December 27 - Anna Russell; Oscar Levant (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for December 27th are here: Marlene Dietrich (2019), Anna Russell (2020), Anna Russell (2021),  Oscar Levant (2022), and Anna Russell (2023)

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Anna Russell (27 December 1911 – 18 October 2006) was an English–Canadian singer and comedian. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m (Still) Not Making This Up, You Know

Today my daily birthday fuss ‘ll

Be a verse for Anna Russell,

A musical comedienne,

(That’s what they called way back then).

Anna Russell’s famous jokes

Were aimed at concert music folks,

(A culture given to habitual

Blind allegiances to ritual).

 

And yet pretensions thus deflated,

Continue onward unabated,

Which is the reason, truth to tell,

Her old routines have aged so well.

 

 

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Oscar Levant (27 December 1906 – 14 August 1972) was an American concert pianist, composer, conductor, author, radio game show panelist, television talk show host, comedian and actor. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raconteur

John Kieran praised Levant as having a "positive genius for making offhand cutting remarks that couldn't have been sharper if he'd honed them a week in his mind. Oscar was always good for a bright response edged with acid.” – Wikipedia

Oscar Levant, you may recall,

   Was famous for acerbic wit,

He’d launch a barb, and let it fall,

   To see if they would censor it.

 

 

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