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. 

 

 

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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.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

March 16 - William Henry Monk (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for March 16th may be found here: David Del Tedici (2019), Henny Youngman (2020), Teresa Berganza; William Henry Monk (2021), Christa Ludwig (2022), and David Del Tredici (2023)

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William Henry Monk (16 March 1823 – 1 March 1889) was an English organist, church musician and music editor who composed popular hymn tunes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hymns Ancient and Modern: Then

In 1857 he was appointed the musical editor of "Hymns Ancient and Modern", which became one of the best-selling hymn books ever produced. – adapted from Wikipedia

Said Monk of his volume of hymns,

"I think you will find that it brims

With pages and pages

Of hymns from all ages,

To suit your liturgical whim."

 

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Hymns Ancient and Modern: Now

If an organist casually skims

Through Monk's famous volume of hymns,

She'll notice how few

Are still sung from the pew

As our memory collectively dims.

 

 

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

 

 

April 3 - Richard Proulx (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 3rd may be found here: Reginald De Koven (2019),  Alessandro Stradella (2020), Wayne Newton (2021), and Watkins Shaw (2022)

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Richard Proulx (b. 3 April 1937 - 18 February 2010) was an American composer and editor of church music, including anthems, service music, and music for handbell choir.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Octavos! Get Yer Octavos Here!

Modern Liturgy Magazine called him the "most significant liturgical composer of the last twenty years." -- www.csbsju.edu

If you’re in parish music, you

Will know the work of Richard Proulx,

Who wrote for choir loft and pew.

His bio, as you might recall,

Was early centered on St. Paul,

But then his worship work unfurled

To edify the worship world.

There’s music easy to admire

In anthems that he wrote for choir,

And simpler music for the hymnal,

Eschewing to get too sublim’nal.

 

 

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