February 15 - Harold Arlen (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 15th are here: John Adams (2020), Harold Arlen (2021), Georges Auric; Jean Langlais (2022), and Henry Engelhard Steinway (2023)

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Harold Arlen (15 February 1905 – 23 April 1986) was an American composer of popular songs and Broadway shows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Could Go On Singing

In 1938, the team of Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg was hired by MGM to compose songs for The Wizard of Oz. – adapted from Wikipedia

A patron at the piano bar said, “Darlin’!

Play me something nice by Harold Arlen!”

The piano player launched into a medley

Which lasted for a half an hour stead’ly.

He varied both geography and key

With Oz, St. Louis, and The Deep Blue Sea,

And ended, as he angled for a tip,

With movie songs that Harold wrote with Yip.

 

 

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August 4 - David Raksin (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for August 4th are here: Harry Lauder (2019), Louis Armstrong (2020), William Schuman (2021), and Louis Lully (2022)

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David Raksin (4 August 1912 – 9 August 2004) was an American composer who was noted for his work in film and television

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lied ohne Worte

Raksin insisted that the theme song for The Bad and the Beautiful (“Love is For the Very Young") be released as an instrumental, because he had resented having to split the proceeds from "Laura" with a lyricist. – Wikipedia

David Raksin always bore a

Grudge because the fees for “Laura”

Were divided with a lyricist.

Lesson learned! this shrewd empiricist

Worked to see that words weren’t sung

With “Love is for the very young,”

Releasing it as instrumental,

Rejecting words as incidental.

And that explains the Cadillács in

The private garage of David Raksin.

 

 

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June 26 - David Grusin (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for June 26th are found here: Leopold Koželuch (2019), Hugues Cuénod (2020), Leopold Koželuch (2021), and Gilberto Gil (2022)

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Dave Grusin (b. 26 June 1934) is an American composer, arranger, producer, jazz pianist, and band leader.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collecting Hardware

Grusin won one Academy Award, and received a further 7 nominations. In total, he has been nominated for 38 Grammy Awards,and won on 10 occasions. - Wikipedia

When his music received validation

With his umpteenth award nomination,

His colleagues said, “Damn! He’s

Again at the Grammys!”

Then swallowed their drinks in frustration.

 

 

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

 

 

 

February 24 - Michel Legrand (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 24th are here: Arnold Dolmetsch (2020), Arrigo Boito (2021), and Samuel Wesley (2022)

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Michel Legrand (24 February 1932 – 26 January 2019) was a French musical composer, arranger, conductor, and jazz pianist. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Papa, Can You Hear Me?

Michel Legrand, who saw potential

In Barbra Streisand singing Yentl,

Wrote a song, sincere and gentle,

Not at all experimental, 

But oh so awfully sentimental,

Which Yentl sings to her parental.

 

 

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