March 31 - Sergei Diaghilev; Johann Sebastian Bach; Joseph Haydn (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for March 31st may be found here: Joseph Haydn (2019) and (2020), Herb Alpert (2022), Joseph Haydn; Johann Sebastian Bach (2022), Joseph Haydn (2023), and Shirley Jones; Johann Sebastian Bach (2024)

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Sergei Diaghilev (31 March [O.S. 19 March] 1872 – 19 August 1929) was a Russian art critic, patron, and ballet impresario (founder of the ballets Russes).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the Ballet

Nijinsky became Diaghilev's lover in late 1908. It was an intense relationship in which Diaghilev was often seen to dominate, and abruptly halted when Nijinsky married and Diaghilev dismissed him from the company in 1913. –"Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes – an introduction" at www.vam.ac.uk

The whiff of a scandal still hovers

In the case of Diaghilev's lovers,

And the kind of abuse

That the old Ballets Russes

Kept (literally) under the covers.

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Johann Sebastian Bach (31 March [O. S. 21 March] 1685 – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and organist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compensation

In Leipzig the weather was bleak,

And the fashions not flashy or chic,

But the Thomas Church choir

Had Herr Bach as supplier

Of cantatas sung week after week.

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Joseph Haydn (31 March 1732 – 31 May 1809) was one of the great composers of the late 18th century.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working Man

At the Esterhazy country estate

Herr Haydn had lots on his plate,

While providing the court

With delights of the sort

That were neither too plain nor ornate.

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March 30 - Tommaso Traetta (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for March 30th may be found here: John Stafford Smith (2019), Celine Dion (2020), Eric Clapton (2021). Johann Wilhelm Wilms (2022), Antonio de Cabezón (2023), and John Stafford Smith (2024)

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Tommaso Traetta (30 March 1727 – 6 April 1779) was an Italian composer best known for his operas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pick Your Battles

According to the Traetta Association in Bitonto, Traetta left Saint Petersburg under threat of assassination by the empress—it seems he was enraged that she insisted on a happy ending for Antigona, and in revenge put music for Polish independence into the final chaconne. He left in time, but his librettist was poisoned. — Wikipedia

Tommaso Traetta, his life story goes,

   Had a run in with Catherine the Great,

For when she took umbrage at one of his shows,

   He was nearly Traetta "the late."

He escaped just in time, (his librettist did not),

   And here, my dear friends, is the morale:

If you work for an empress, enjoy what you've got,

   And never engage in a quarrel!

 

 

 

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

 

March 29 - William Walton (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous postings for March 29th may be found here: Albert von Tilzer (2019), Astrud Gilberto (2020), Supply Belcher; William Walton; John Hawkins (2021), William Walton (2022), E. Power Biggs (2023), and William Walton; Richard Rodney Bennett (2024)

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Sir William Walton (29 March 1902 – 8 March 1983) was an English composer who remains in the active repertoire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circumstance and Pomp

A contemporary reviewer called Crown Imperial "frankly a pastiche on a well-known model of ternary pomp and circumstance, with the regulation strut and swagger, plenty of plain diatonics, and a nobilmente tune in the middle".  – adapted from Wikipedia, s.v. "Crown Imperial (march)"

When commissioned to write "Crown Imperial"

He assumed it should be magisterial,

And he decided to forge

His new march for King George

On the model of Elgar's material.

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

March 28 Jay Livingston (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous postings for March 28th may be found here: Paul Whiteman (2019), Lady Gaga (2020), Alf Clausen (2021), Lady Gaga (2022), Joey Roukens (2023), and Joseph Weigl; Myfanwy Piper (2024)

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Jay Livingston (28 March 1915 – 17 October 2001) was an American composer best known as half of a composing-songwriting duo with Ray Evans, with whom he wrote three Academy Award winning songs -- ''Mona Lisa,'' ''Que Será, Será,'' and ''Buttons and Bows."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Livingston, I Presume

Livingston and Evans wrote also popular TV themes for shows including Bonanza and Mister Ed, which Livingston sang. They also wrote the Christmas song "Silver Bells." -- adapted from Wikipedia

You know his songs, you've heard his voice,

   But likely never heard of him,

And so today I've made the choice

   (Perhaps it is an oddball whim),

To celebrate the songs he wrote,

   Which, though they've faded some from view,

Were songs that everyone could quote,

   And songs that everybody knew.

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Hyperboles for Jay Livingston

Raise your voice and shout hurrah!

Exalting "Que Será, Será."

And can sufficient words be said

To praise the theme from Mr. Ed?

Poets! sing in strophe and stanza

To the theme song from Bonanza.

Write a breathless press release a-

-bout his hit song "Mona Lisa."

What, at Christmas time, excels

The festive cheer of "Silver Bells"?

 

 

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