February 4 - Ray Evans; Johann Ludwig Bach (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 4th are here: Erich Leinsdorf (2020), James Dunn (2021), Johann Ludwig Bach (2022), Alice Cooper (2023), Johann Ludwig Bach (2024), and Carl Michael Bellman (2025)

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Ray Evans (4 February 1915 – 15 February 2007) was an American lyricist best known for being a half of a composing-songwriting duo with Jay Livingston, best remembered for "Mona Lisa" and "Silver Bells". 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Time in the City

I looked at the date, and my heavens!

It's the birthday today of Ray Evans,

Whose song "Silver Bells"

Casts seasonal spells

On the air, at hotels,

At the mall, and at 7-Elevens.

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

Johann Ludwig Bach (14 February [O.S. 4 February] 1677 – 1 May 1731) was a German composer and violinist, and third cousin of Johann Sebastian Bach. Technically the 4th is his Old Style birthday, but in spite of the inaccuracy I have decided to feature him today because it works out with my purposes.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But They Were Cousins

 

He was a third cousin of  Johann Sebastian Bach, who made copies of eighteen of his cantatas and performed them at Leipzig.   -- Wikipedia and www.carus-verlag.com

 

That Johann Ludwig Bach survives today

   Is owing to his famous distant cousin,

Who liked his kinsman's works enough that they

   Were copied out for Leipzig by the dozens.

 

 

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November 18 - William Schwenck Gilbert (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for November 18th are here: Carl Maria von Weber; Henry Bishop; Amelita Galli-Curci (2019), Ignacy Jan Paderewski (2020), Carl Maria von Weber; Johnny Mercer (2021), William Schwenck Gilbert (2022), Carl Friedrich Christian Fasch (2023), and Carl Maria von Weber; William Horsley (2024) A previous verse on Horsley appeared on November 15, 2022

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William Schwenck Gilbert (18 November 1836 – 29 May 1911) was an English dramatist, librettist,  poet and illustrator best known for his collaboration with Arthur Sullivan, which produced fourteen comic operas. -- Wikipedia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Silence Dread

While at lost for suitable rhyme,

He averred, "Mr. Sullivan, I'm

Done racking brains

For your Savoy refrains,

I'm writing next time for a mime!"

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Tennyson Anyone?

Though William Schenk Gilbert was witty,

There were erudite folks in the city,

Who complained that his banter

At an anapest canter

Was debased, infra dig, and a pity.

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PUNishment

"Surely there are puns and puns, and a good pun is no such bad thing."  – W.S. Gilbert in conversation with William Archer – gsarchive.net

Said an audience member, confounded

By the wordplay that Gilbert expounded,

"Though I'm told there is fun

In an unlikely pun,

On the whole they'd be better unsounded."

 

 

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May 11 - Irving Berlin (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for May 11th may be found here: Irving Berlin (2019), Joseph Marx (2020),  Irving Berlin (2021), Paul Wittgenstein; Irving Berlin (2022), Irving Berlin (2023), and Irving Berlin (2024)

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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.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Techno

The dance club was vexed with chagrin

When the DJ decided to spin

Some 78s

He had found in old crates

Marked "Grandmother's Irving Berlin."

 

 

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"Doin' What Comes Natur'lly"

Berlin, in his diction and grammar

Eschewed complications and glamor;

It was part of his creed

That the crowd didn't need

To be hit on the head with a hammer.

 

 

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

 

 

April 30 - Sheldon Harnick (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 30th may be found here: Franz Lehár (2019), Sheldon Harnick (2020), Robert Shaw; Alfred Gaul (2021), Merrill Osmond (2022), Franz Lehár (2023), and Robert Shaw (2024)

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Sheldon Harnick (30 April 1924 – 23 June 2023) was an American lyricist and songwriter, best known for his musicals written with Jerry Bock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Encore

It's always a bit of a shock

That the theater public will flock

To greet the arrival

Of the umpteenth revival

Of Fiddler by Harnick and Bock.

 

 

 

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