October 4 - Anonymous (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for October 4th are here: Anonymous and Anonymous IV (2019), Anonymous; Domenico Corri (2020), Anonymous (2021), Anonymous (2022), and Anonymous (2023)

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Anonymous ( ? - ? ).  On some days there are few musicians of any prominence celebrating their birthdays, and so for several years I have taken time on October 4th to celebrate that very prolific master, "Anonymous".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bot Not for Me

It happened oft in days of old —

   This state of anonymity,

When unknown authorship took hold

   With casual equanimity.

And once again today we’re told, —

   Bid autonomy good-bye;

Anonymous is back, — Behold!

    The workings of AI.

 

 

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October 3 - Steve Reich; Stanisław Skrowaczewski (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for October 3rd are here: Stanisław Skrowaczewski, Woldemar Bargiel, Chubby Checker, Steve Reich (2019, Steve Reich; Lindsey Buckingham (2020), Steve Reich (2021), Steve Reich (2022)and Steve Reich (2023)

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Steve Reich (b. 3 October 1936) is one of the most influential living American composers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beware of Reich Bearing Fruit 

 

Music critic Andrew Clements suggested that Reich is one of "a handful of living composers who can legitimately claim to have altered the direction of musical history".  -- Wikipedia

 

Though he suffered initial rejection,

He has changed the historical direction

Of musical thought

By the shocks that he brought

With his minimalist insurrection.

 

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

 

Stanisław Skrowaczewski (3 October 1923 – 21 February 2017) was a Polish-American conductor and composer, long time Music Director of the Minnesota Orchestra in Minneapolis (where this blog is written).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Namely

Though his friends, I have heard, called him Stan

I had had a more decorous plan,

But was foiled in my aim

By his great Polish name

Which disrupted my rhymes and my scan

 

 

 

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October 2 - Henry Février (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for October 2nd are here: Sting (2019), Leroy Shield (2020), Don McLean (2021), Gunnar Wenneberg; Kenneth Leighton (2022), and Francis Hopkinson; Sting (2023)

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Henry Février (2 October 1875 – 6 July 1957) was a French composer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carefully Taught

I’d never heard of Fevrier,

At least, that is, until today,

But he was taught by Massanet,

Had lessons also with Fauré,

And privately, with Messager.

You’d think that teachers such as they

Would send him on his merry way

To have a career très distingué.

 

Hélas! my friends, I'm here to say,

This much-instructed protégé,

Despite his striking resumé

Is hardly ever played today.

 

 

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October 1 - Roger Williams; André Rieu; Henry Clay Work (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for October 1st are here: Paul Dukas; Vladimir Horowitz; Henry Clay Work (2019), Julie Andrews (2020), Roger Williams (2021), Julie Andrews; Vladimir Horowitz (2022), and Julie Andrews; Sylvano Bussotti (2023)

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Roger Williams (1 October 1924 – 8 October 2011) was an American popular music pianist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Autumn Leavings

Roger Williams and his busy

Piano stylings make me dizzy.

Arpeggios and scales abound

Until the tune itself is drowned,

Which makes it tough, if you’re like me, —

Allergic to such filigree.

 

 

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

André Rieu (b. 1 October 1949) is a Dutch violinist and conductor best known for an orchestra that has turned classical and waltz music into a worldwide concert touring act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1-2-3

André Rieu’s schmaltzy schtick

Is twee enough to make one sick,

And yet it’s clear there’s money in

This middle-browish saccharine.

It’s snobs like me who kvetch and grouse,

While André Rieu fills the house.

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

 

Henry Clay Work (1 October 1832 – 8 June 1884) was an American songwriter and composer best remembered for his musical contributions to the Union in the Civil War. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Civil War Story

As the troops sallied forth,

If they fought for the North,

It was Henry Clay Work who ignited them;

‘Mid the shouts and the whoops

Of the rallying troops

It was music like his that united them.

 

 

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