April 17 - Johann David Heinichen (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 17th may be found here: Anja Silja (2019), Johann David Heinichen (2020), Nicolas Nabokov (2021), Artur Schnabel (2022), Johann David Heinichen (2023), and Artur Schnabel (2024)

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Johann David Heinichen (17 April 1683 – 16 July 1729) was a German composer and music theorist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heinichen vs. Heineken

Let it from the start be clear:

The Heinichen I speak of here

Was not involved with making beer;

In fact, musicians would be leery

Of Johann David's music theory

If his breathing had been beery.

 

 

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April 16 - Milton Cross (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 16th may be found here: Henry Mancini; Charlie Chaplin (2019), Dennis Russell Davies (2020), Herbie Mann; Edie Adams (2021), Milton Cross (2022), Milton Cross; Federico Mompou (2023), and Bobby Vinton (2024)

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Milton Cross (16 April 1897 – 3 January 1975) was an American radio announcer best known as the voice of the Metropolitan Opera, hosting its Saturday afternoon radio broadcasts for 43 years. - adapted from Wikipedia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Cross Purposes

When Cross was broadcast coast to coast,

He acted as a charming host

For those of us who couldn't get

To see the opera at the Met.

And every Saturday for years

We'd tune him in with eager ears

To hear whatever vocal hit he

Introduced from New York City.

 

 

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April 15 - Johann Friedrich Fasch (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 15th may be found here: Bessie Smith (2019), Neville Marriner (2020), Johann Friedrich Fasch (2021), Domenico Gabrielli (2022), Neville Marriner (2023), and Neville Marriner (2024)

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Johann Friedrich Fasch (15 April 1688 – 5 December 1758) was a German violinist and composer. [NB: In spite of the several pictures mistaken listed in a Google search, there is no know image of Fasch.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Singet!

"It appears that most of his vocal works (including 9 complete cantata cycles, at least 14 masses and four operas) are lost, while the instrumental works are mostly extant."  New Grove Music Online, as qtd. in Wikipedia

Johann Friedrich Fasch awoke

Devotion in his Lutheran folk,

   With Sunday service piety.

But Time and Fate saw fit to quash

The sacred works of J. F. Fasch

In all their weekly variety.

 

 

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April 14 - Morton Subotnik (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 14th may be found here: Morton Subotnik (2019), Loretta Lynn (2020), Julian Lloyd Webber (2021), Loretta Lynn (2022), Edgar Stillman Kelley (2023), and John Wainwright (2024)

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Morton Subotnik (b. 14 April 1933) is one of the pioneers in using electronic sounds in composition and live performance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Period Instruments: Performance Practice

In future times, and soon enough,

When folks perform Subotnik's stuff

They'll find their earnest efforts thwarted

By older tech that's unsupported.

It's then that musicology

Will study old technology

And reproduce the miles of wires

That such outdated tech requires.

 

 

 

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April 13 - Frederic Rzewski (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 13th may be found here: William Sterndale Bennett (2020), Howard Keel (2019), Frederic Rzewski (2021), Félicien David (2022), William Sterndale Bennett (2023), and William Sterndale Bennett (2024)

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Frederic Anthony Rzewski (b. 13 April 1938) is an American composer and pianist  who often incorporates social and political themes in his works.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resistance

Frederick Rzewski, whose "People United"

  Has earned him a place in the musical annals;

Will not be surprised when his opus is cited

  By the Kennedy Center's new censorship panels.

 

 

 

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April 12 - Joseph Lanner (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 12th may be found here: Tiny Tim (2019), Lily Pons (2020), Montserrat Caballé (2021). and Helen Forrest; Caffarelli (2022), Montserrat Caballé; Lily Pons (2023), and Felice Giardini (2024)

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Joseph Lanner (12 April 1801 – 14 April 1843) was an Austrian dance music composer and dance orchestra conductor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lanner and Strauss: Two for One-Two-Three

Lanner is best remembered as one of the earliest Viennese composers to reform the waltz from a simple peasant dance to something that even the highest society could enjoy. He was just as famous as his friend and musical rival Johann Strauss the Elder. – Wikipedia

Joseph Lanner wrote the waltz

Before it had devolved to schmaltz;

His charming dances, deftly made,

Are still upon occasion played,

Concerning Lanner, do not grouse

Because he wasn't Johann Strauss.

When both are programmed á la carte, 

It's hard to tell the two apart.

 

 

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