November 17 - Jonathan Huntington (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for November 17th are here: Charles Mackerras; Hershy Kay (2019), Gordon Lightfoot; August Wilhelm Ambros (2020), Alberich Zwyssig (2021), Michele Carafa (2022), Michele Carafa (2023), and Hershy Kay (2024)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Jonathan Huntington (17 November 1771 - 29 July 1838) was one of the first american-born composers. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hunting for Huntington

For Jonathan Huntington's life, Wikipedia

Provides just a paragraph for its report.

Alas, it's the same in traditional media,

And that's why this verse is exceedingly short.

 

 

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

 

 

September 20 - Frank Comstock; Benjamin Franklin White (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for September 20th are here: William Kapell (2019), Ildebrando Pizzetti (2020), Frank De Vol (2021), John Dankworth (2022), and Gottfried Scheidt (2023)

++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Frank Comstock (20 September 1922 – 21 May 2013) was an American composer, arranger, and conductor for big bands and major situation comedies and variety shows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Living Room Music

He also wrote the theme and scores for the Dean Jones comedy Ensign O'Toole (1962-63); composed scores for such 1960s sitcoms as Gilligan's Island, McHale's Navy and F Troop; arranged much of the jukebox music heard during the early seasons of the 1970s hits Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley;). Perhaps most significantly, Comstock penned the original themes for several segments of the animated Rocky and His Friends (1959-61), specifically "The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle," "Fractured Fairy Tales," "Peabody's Improbable History" and "Bullwinkle's Corner."  -- obituary at http://www.filmmusicsociety.org

Frank Comstock wrote the sound that we

Associate with old TV.

His list of credits never ends,

And goes from Rocky and His Friends,

Through F-Troop, Dragnet, Happy Days,

And others that define that phase

Of television’s golden times

And earns his place in present rhymes.

 

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

 

Benjamin Franklin White (20 September 1800 – 5 December 1879) was a shape note singing master, and compiler of the shape note tunebook known as The Sacred Harp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Shape of Things

Benjamin Franklin White compiled

The Sacred Harp caused a fashion

For songbooks where the print was styled

In shape notes and was sung with passion.

Enthusiastic coteries

Of ardent singers still employ it

And dedicated votaries

Of shape note singers still enjoy it.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

November 2 - Otto Reubke (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for November 2nd are here: Patrice Chéreau; Friedrich Kalkbrenner (2019), k. d. lang; Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf (2020), Friedrich Kalkbrenner (2021), and Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf (2022)

+++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Otto Reubke (2 November 1842 — 8 May 1913) was a German pianist, organist, composer, and university professor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brotherly Love

Julius Reubke’s brother Otto prepared the Sonata on the 94th Psalm for its first publication in August 1871. – adapted from Wikipedia, s.v. “Julius Reubke”

When Julius Reubke died too young,

    He left behind a pile of work.

His younger brother searched among

   The elder’s papers, didn't shirk,

Until he found the precious ink

   Where his brother had composed

His great sonata, and I think

   He knew what Destiny imposed.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 16 - Max Spicker (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for August 16th are here: Madonna (2019), Heinrich Marschner (2020), Al Hibbler (2021), and Madonna; Eydie Gormé (2022)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Max Spicker (16 August 1858 – 15 October 1912) was a German American organist, conductor, and composer, best-known today for the many editions he undertook for G. Schirmer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anthology Man

Spicker eventually became an editor for G. Schirmer, editing such collections as the four-volume Anthology of Sacred Song and the five-volume Operatic Anthology. In their day, both publications became standard anthologies for young singers. – Wikipedia

Spicker, when he worked at Schirmer,

Made their reputation firmer

By editing their vocal collections

Of sacred and profane selections

From works for concert, stage, and church,

Where soloists in need could search

And be assured that they could find

Some solos of the proper kind

Of gracious taste and chaste refinement

To suit the most august assignment.

 

 

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

 

September 11 - William Boyce (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for September 11th are here: Arvo Pärt (2019) , Harry Connick Jr.; William Boyce (2020), and Friedrich Kuhlau; Eduard Hanslick (2021)

++++++++++++++++++++++

 

William Boyce (bapt.11 September 1711 – 7 February 1779) was an English composer, organist, and music editor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afterlife

His three volume Cathedral Music (1760–73) was the first collection of church music in England after the Restoration and the first to be printed in score. Many of the pieces in the collection are still used in Anglican services today. – adapted from Britannica.com and Wikipedia

He was buried under the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral. – Wikipedia

Does William Boyce’s ghost devoutly roam

The ample space of his eternal home

Where music from his monumental tome

Still echoes underneath the lofty dome?

 

 

 

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