March 19 - Leonhard von Call (The Musical Birthday Series, 8th Annual Cycle)

Previous postings for March 19th may be found here:  Max Reger (2019), Josef Matthias Hauer (2020), Robert McFerrin Sr.; Max Reger (2021), Max Reger (2022), Max Reger (2023), Max Reger (2024), and  Max Reger (2025)

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Leonhard von Call (19 March 1767 – 19 February 1815), sometimes referred to as "Leonhard de Call", was an Austrian composer and virtuoso on the mandolin and guitar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stepping Into the Breach

A virtuoso, he wrote not for other virtuosos but for the people he was teaching or amateurs, and today it is felt by some musicians that his works "made no great technical demands". – Wikipedia

The repertoire for mandolin

Has always been a trifle thin.

Von Call, who recognized this gap,

Was also an obliging chap,

And wrote a bunch of easy rep

To help with the initial prep

Of amateurs and young beginners

Who pined to shine as mandolinners.

 

 

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You say Mandolin, I Say Mandoline

When looking up the mandoline,

   The spelling is the key;

The instrument for slicing thin

    Is written with an "e".

The instrument for serenades

   As played by Herr von Call,

Has neither "e" nor fatal blades, —

   It's safer, overall.

 

 

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February 9 - Alban Berg; Ferdinando Carulli (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 9th are here: Alban Berg (2020), Carmen Miranda (2021), Alban Berg (2022), Alban Berg; Johann Aegidius Bach (2023), and Alban Berg (2024)

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Alban Berg (9 February 1885 – 24 December 1935) was a great Austrian composer mostly in atonal and serial styles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mixed Metaphors in Three Limericks on Berg’s Violin Concerto

Like many of Berg's works, the piece combines the twelve-tone technique, typical of serialist music learned from his teacher Arnold Schoenberg, with passages written in a freer, more tonal style. The score integrates serialism and tonality in a remarkable fashion.  – Wikipedia, s.v. “Violin Concerto (Berg)”

When Berg and the New Viennese

Were trying to write without keys,

They learned how to cope

With that slippery slope

From Schoenberg’s atonal decrees.

A slippery slope without skis

Cannot be descended with ease;

An unlucky spill

On an atonal hill

Can paralyze more than it frees.

But the series in Berg guarantees

Coherence in certain degrees,

When he spurns the security

Of serial purity

It’s a calm in the unsettled seas.

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Ferdinando Carulli (9 February 1770 – 17 February 1841) was an Italian guitarist and composer of music for that instrument.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Classical Class

His most influential work, the "Method, op. 27", published in 1810, contains pieces still widely used today in training students of the classical guitar. -- Wikipedia

Perhaps with these verses you’re newly

Acquainted with Signor Carulli,

Who was a remarkable star

And composer of works for guitar.

He composed with impressive facility

For players of average ability,

And guitarists, as students are truly

In debt to Ferdinando Carulli.

 

 

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June 9 - Les Paul (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for June 9th are found here: Cole Porter (2019), Fred Waring (2020), Charles Wuorinen; Carl Nielsen (2021), Otto Nicolai (2022), and Cole Porter (2023)

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Les Paul (9 June 1915 – 12 August 2009) was an American jazz guitarist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Few Thoughts on Les Paul

He was one of the pioneers of the solid-body electric guitar, and his prototype, called the Log, served as inspiration for the Gibson Les Paul. -- Wikipedia

Raise your banners, one and all,

On this, the birthday of Les Paul!

Les Paul became a solo star

Within the world of jazz guitar,

And as a duo act he scored

Success with Mary Ford on board.

 

Though, in his era, it was odd, he

Chose to play a solid body

Instrument, electrified, –

The Gibson was his joy and pride!

 

 

 

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December 18 - Keith Richards (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for December 18th are here: Keith Richards; Edward MacDowell (2019), Christina Aguilera; Fletcher Henderson (2020), Charles Wesley; Edward MacDowell (2021), and Betty Grable (2022)

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Keith Richards (b. 18 December 1943) is a guitarist and member of the legendary Rolling Stones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keith Richards at 80

(1)

On his eightieth birthday it seems

There will be inescapable memes

Making light of the age

Of the Rolling Stone sage

As the most entertaining of themes.

(2)

That Keith played the lyre with Apollo

Is a fable that somehow rings hollow. --

But reports of his glorious

Gigs with Praetorius

Are really quite easy to swallow.

 

 

 

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