December 13 - Dick Van Dyke (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for December 13 are here: Heinrich Heine; Phillips Brooks (2019), Taylor Swift (2020), Taylor Swift; Carlos Montoya (2021), Taylor Swift (2022), Taylor Swift (2023) and Taylor Swift (2024)

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Richard Wayne Van Dyke (b. 13 December 1925) is an American actor and comedian  who often appeared in musicals on Broadway and in films.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jolly Holiday 1

You mustn't think that we'd ignore

That Dick Van Dyke has reached four score!

And we'll return to write again,

When he has reached four score and ten!

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Jolly Holiday 2

The hundred years of Dick Van Dyke

Will cause a streaming ratings spike,

For Mary Poppins and the like;

So doom and gloom can take a hike!

Sing birthday sentiments and strike

Up the band for Dick Van Dyke!

 

 

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December 12 - Connie Francis (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for December 12th are found here: Frank Sinatra; Connie Francis; Adolf Schulz-Evler (2019), Dionne Warwick (2020), Frank Sinatra; Sammy Davis Sr. (2021), Frank Sinatra (2022), Frank Sinatra (2023), and Adolf Schulz-Evler (2024)

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Connie Francis (12 December 1937 –16  July 2025) was an American top-charting singer and actress of the late 1950s and early 1960s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arthur's Advise

Arthur Godfrey told her to drop the accordion—advice she gladly followed, as she had begun to hate the large and heavy instrument. -- Wikipedia

"The knot isn't Gordian,

   The answer is clear.

You should lose the accordion,

    To spark your career.

The accordion's big, it

   Is awkward to grip,

And though polka bands dig it,

   It's not very hip."

 

 

 

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

 

  

December 11 - Elliott Carter (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for December 11th are here: Elliott Carter (2019), Hector Berlioz (2020), Rita Moreno (2021), Brenda Lee; Elliott Carter; Hector Berlioz (2022), Elliott Carter (2023), and Elliott Carter; Hector Berlioz (2024)

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Elliott Carter (11 December 1908 – 5 November 2012) was an American composer of exhilarating works of great complexity. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do I Fear a Waltz?

If Elliott Carter wrote a waltz,

His constant rhythmic somersaults

Would cause the hapless dancing pairs

To leave the floor and find their chairs,

Defeated by the pliant beat

Which never matched their dancing feet

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Be Complex Along with Me

When Carter was writing a score,

He needed to probe and explore;

And that is why he

Didn't write in a key,

And avoided the meter four-four.

 

 

 

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December 10 - Olivier Messiaen (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for December 10th are here: Olivier Messiaen (2019), César Franck; Olivier Messiaen (2020), César Franck; Olivier Messiaen (2021), Olivier Messiaen (2022), Olivier Messiaen (2023), and Olivier Messiaen; Theodor Kirchner (2024)

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Olivier Messiaen (10 December 1908 – 27 April 1992) was an organist and one of the greatest French composers of the 20th century.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compare and Contrast

An organist who likes to grapple

With Messiaen at Mass or chapel

Is not the one you'd want to stand,

At keyboards in your worship band.

The one who plays with gospel chops

Is not the one who knows the stops

To pull on those occasions when

The program calls for Messiaen.

 

 

 

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December 9 - Émile Waldteufel (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for December 9th are here: Elisabeth Schwarzkopf; Émile Waldteufel (2019), Donny Osmond (2020), Pierre Henry; Sidney Homer (2021), Maddalena Laura Sirmen (2022), Émile Waldteufel; Donny Osmond (2023), and Conchita Supervía; Pietro Alessandro Guglielmi (2024)

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Émile Waldteufel (9 December 1837 – 12 February 1915) was a composer now remembered for his light dance music, especially the "Skaters' Waltz". 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Hints

Among his best known works is "Les Patineurs", known as "The Skaters' Waltz". -- Wikipedia

For the holidays, here's my advice:

Stay away from ballet dancing mice,

And also from elves

Who incarnate on shelves,

But especially waltzing on ice.

 

 

 

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