December 31 - Alessandro Longo (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for December 31st are here date is unknown: Donna Summer; John Denver (2019), Jule Styne (2020), John Denver; Giulio Cesare Monteverdi (2021), PSY (Park Jae-sang); Odetta (2022), Donna Summer (2023), and John Denver (2024)

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Alessandro Longo (31 December 1864 – 3 November 1945) was an Italian composer and musicologist. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Longo Ago and Far Away

 

For many years, Scarlatti's keyboard sonatas were conventionally identified by their Longo numbers, but these were later superseded by those found in Ralph Kirkpatrick's catalogue. -- Wikipedia

You're now only liable to find

The numbers that Longo assigned

When completeness compels

Both the K's and the L's,

Viz. Kirkpatrick and Longo combined.

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December 30 - Dmitry Kabelevsky (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for December 30th are here: Paul Bowles (2019), (Mary) Frances Allitsen (2020), David Willcocks (2021), William Croft (2022), Davy Jones; William Croft (2023), and Paul Bowles (2024)

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Dmitry Kabalevsky (30 December [O.S. 17 December] 1904 – 14 February 1987) was a Soviet composer, conductor, pianist and pedagogue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teach Your Children Well

The music Kabelevsky made

Is very often learned and played

   By pianists in their youth.

He thought the sort of music placed

In front of students formed their taste,

   And well, … ain't that the truth!

 

 

 

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December 29 - Pablo Casals (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for December 29th are here: Pablo Casals (2019), (2020), Peggy Glanville-Hicks (2021), Peggy Glanville-Hicks (2022), Pablo Casals (2023), and Pablo Casals (2024)

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Pablo Casals (29 December 1876 – 22 October 1973) was a world-renowned cellist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Household Name

“I am a very simple man. I am a man first, an artist second. My first obligation is to the welfare of my fellow man. I will endeavour to meet this obligation through music." – Pablo Casals

Though violinists played the game

Of fanning fortune's lambent flame

While courting fanfare, fees, and fame,

A cellist seldom did the same.

Yet, never having made his aim

To dominate, or stake a claim

To status as a famous name,

A household name Casals became.

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

December 28 - Calixa Lavalée; Julius Rietz (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for December 28th are here: Roger Sessions; Earl Hines (2019), Calixa Lavalée (2020), Christian Cannabich; Roger Sessions (2021), Martha Wash (2022), Roger Sessions (2023), and Roger Sessions; Nigel Kennedy (2024)

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Calixa Lavallée (28 December 1842 – 21 January 1891) was a French-Canadian-American musician and Union Army band musician during the American Civil War who composed "O Canada." 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

True Patriot Love

During the later years of his life, Lavallée was a choirmaster in Boston, and he died penniless in that city in 1891. -- Wikipedia

"O Canada" rings out each day

   Across the frozen North

Whenever hockey players play

   Or Mounties sally forth.

And Lavallée, the loyal one

   Who wrote those patriot strains

Will stir the land from sun to sun

   While Canada remains.

And yet he died without a cent,

   O Canada! lament it!

Remember now that sad event,

   And he who underwent it!

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

Julius Rietz (28 December 1812 – 12 September 1877) was a German composer, conductor, cellist, and teacher.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Line

During 1848, a year after Mendelssohn's death, Rietz took over Mendelssohn's former role as conductor of the Gewandhaus concerts. – Wikipedia

When Mendelssohn died

I imagine he cried,

Though perhaps not with a moderate sob,

For one of the feats

Of Herr Julius Rietz

Was succeeding to Mendelssohn's job.

 

 

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December 27 - John Goss (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for December 27th are here: Marlene Dietrich (2019), Anna Russell (2020), Anna Russell (2021),  Oscar Levant (2022), Anna Russell (2023), and Anna Russell; Oscar Levant (2024)

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Sir John Goss (27 December 1800 – 10 May 1880) was an English organist, composer and teacher.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Goss Sakes!

His music is always melodious and beautifully written for the voices, and is remarkable for a union of solidity and grace, with a certain unaffected native charm which ought to ensure it a long life. – Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians (1906)

If you should ever do research

On music of the English Church,

Eventually you'd run across

The stolid music of John Goss,

Whose pieces, - pious, bland, and plain, -

Were favored in Victoria's reign.

But by a sad aesthetic whim,

His legacy, though proud and prim, 

Grows year by year more sadly dim…

An anthem now and then, or hymn. 

 

 

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