Previous posts for March 9 are found here: Martin Shaw (2019), Samuel Barber (2020), Ornette Coleman; Samuel Barber (2021), Samuel Barber; Josef Mysliveček (2023)
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Samuel Barber (9 March 1910 – 23 January 1981) was an important American composer in all the major classical genres.
Lost Opportunity
Did Henson ask if “Hermit Songs”
Could be performed as Kermit songs?
Did Barber’s copyright attorney
Forbid their use for Bert and Ernie?
And how come they were never heard
As warbled by our friend Big Bird?
Did lawyers claim that songs like these
Are not the sort of thing to please
The little tykes that watch TVs?
Envoi
Consider, when we do our part
To open up the ways of art,
It never is too soon to start.
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To Be All Alone
There are no “mermaids singing, each to each”
In Matthew Arnold’s somber Dover Beach,
So Barber didn’t make it a duet
When, sitting at his music desk, he set
The verses for one singer and quartet.
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