October 13 - Gerald Marks (The Musical Birthday Seires, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for October 13th are here: Art Tatum; Paul Simon (2019), Paul Simon (2020), Anselm Hüttenbrenner (2021), and Nana Mouskouri (2022)

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Gerald Marks (13 October 1900 – 27 January 1997) was an American Tin Pan Alley composer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Under the Covers 

He was best known for the song "All of Me” which he co-wrote with Seymour Simons and has been recorded about 2,000 times. – Wikipedia

“All of Me” by Gerald Marks

Might ignite romantic sparks,

Though its coyly sly conceit

Is a little indiscreet.

In any case, this song for lovers

Has had, we’re told, was two thousand covers,

And when we hear a song so often

It has a tendency to soften

Any hints in the vicinity

Of prurience and lost virginity.

 

 

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May 11 - Irving Berlin (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for May 11th may be found here: Irving Berlin (2019), Joseph Marx (2020),  Irving Berlin (2021), and Paul Wittgenstein; Irving Berlin (2022)

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Irving Berlin (11 May 1888 – 22 September 1989) wrote both the music and lyrics for some of the most enduring songs in the Great American Songbook.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There's No Business Like Show Business

Berlin maintained a low profile through the last decades of his life, almost never appearing in public after the late 1960s, even for events held in his honor. However, he continued to maintain control of his songs through his own music publishing company, which remained in operation for the rest of his life.  -- Wikipedia

Retaining his role as supplier meant

He savvily met the requirement

For ending his days

With a comfortable phase

Of quiet reclusive retirement.

 

 

 

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March 4 - Antonio Vivaldi; Egbert Van Alstyne (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous entries for March 4th are here: Antonio Vivaldi (2019), Antonio Vivaldi (2020), Paul Mauriat; Antonio Vivaldi (2021), and Antonio Vivaldi; Mario Davidovsky (2022)

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Antonio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) remains one of the most loved composers of the Baroque era.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vivaldi Redux Redux

With so many works from his pen,

There’s a question I ask now and then, –

Are there any good reasons

For playing The Seasons

Again and again and again?

 

 

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Egbert  Van Alstyne (4 March 1878 – 9 July 1951) was an American composer of popular songs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Core Beliefs

It can safely be characterized as a highly sentimental tune. – Wikipedia, s.v. "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree"

"Said he, 'She told us all when she was dying

To bury her beneath the apple tree'"– from the usually omitted 2nd verse of  “In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree”,

Egbert Van Alstyne was famous for he

Composed “In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree”,

With lyrics so languid, and a verse so unhappy,

That even the apple tree thought it was sappy.

 

 

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January 27 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Jerome Kern (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for January 27th are here: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (2020), Jerome Kern (2021), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Mikhail Baryshnikov (2022)

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was one of the greatest composers of all time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Viennese School

The Viennese public was awed

By Mozart, a musical god,

And with Franz Joseph Haydn

And Beethoven tied in,

It was quite a Parnassian squad!

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Jerome Kern (27 January 1885 – 11 November 1945) was an American composer of musical theater and popular music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tip

If a piano bar player should spurn

To feature the ballads of Kern,

They’d find that their patrons

Of gay men and matrons,

Would leave, and they’d never return.

 

 

 

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