May 16 - Liberace (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for May 16th may be found here: Liberace (2019), Richard Tauber (2020), Woody Herman (2021), Liberace (2022), Woody Herman (2023), and Betty Carter (2024)

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Liberace (16 May 1919 – 4 February 1987) was a popular pianist who used a classical technique for arrangements of light and popular songs, all of which was overshadowed by his flamboyant showmanship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flamboyant,  Not Clairvoyant

Liberace denied he was gay

In a firm but improbable way;

But try not to judge him,

Tsk-tsk, or begrudge him,

It's what a man did in his day.

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More Is More Is More

So here's what he'd want you to know

Of his over-extravagant show:

Don't take just a cake

If the baker can make

A genoise, or a torte, or gateau.

 

May 15 - Claudio Monteverdi (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for March 15th may be found here: Claudio Monteverdi (2019), Michael William Balfe (2020), Claudio Monteverdi (2021), Claudio Monteverdi (2022), and Mike Oldfield (2023)

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Claudio Monteverdi (bapt. 15 May 1567 – 29 November 1643) was, by any measure, one of the greatest composers of all time.  We do not know his date of birth, however he was baptized on May 15th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practicing the Seconda pratica

The Spirit of the Time awoke

And Renaissance became Baroque.

And Monteverdi led the charge

To change the music world at large,

And people heard a brand new audio

Because of Monteverdi (Claudio).

 

 

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May 14 - Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for May 14 may be found here: Otto Klemperer (2019), Lou Harrison (2020), Lou Harrison (2021), Bobby Darin (2022), Erik Satie (2023), and Bobby Darin (2024)

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Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann (14 May 1805 – 10 March 1900) was one of the leading Danish composer of the 19th century.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not Anon

With such a name 

It's no surprise that he

Is known to fame 

And simply J. P. E.

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Hanging On

In 1836, Hartmann made a study tour to Germany and France, where he made the acquaintance of Chopin, Rossini, Cherubini, Spontini and Spohr. Further journeys to Germany followed in the next few years, during which he met Mendelssohn, Schumann, Liszt, Brahms, and other renowned composers of the time. – adapted from Wikipedia

Said Hartmann at age ninety-four,

As he thought of his friendships of yore,

"All my musical friends

Have met glorious ends,

And yet I'm still here, – what a bore!"

 

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May 13 - Arthur Sullivan (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for May 13th may be found here: Arthur Sullivan (2019), Stevie Wonder; Arthur Sullivan (2020), Bea Arthur; Arthur Sullivan (2021), Arthur Sullivan; Maxine Sullivan (2022), Arthur Sullivan (2023), and Arthur Sullivan (2024)

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Arthur Sullivan (13 May 1842 – 22 November 1900) was a respected composer in a Mendelssohnian vein, but he was also, of course, the musical half of Gilbert and Sullivan.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All's Well that Ends

There's a lenient burden of proof

in the plot of an opéra bouffe,

And even when written

For stodgy Great Britain

There's no need for logic or truth.

 

 

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Update -- Posts delayed for a few days

Verses will continue in a day or two.  I have taken a short break, but will be caught up soon.

May 12 - Jules Massanet (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for May 12th may be found here: Jules Massenet; Gabriel Fauré (2019), Burt Bacharach (2020), Johann Baptist Wanhal (2021), Jules Massenet (2022), Jules Massanet (2023)

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Jules Massenet (12 May 1842 – 13 August 1912) was a French composer best known for his thirty plus operas, especially Manon and Werther.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joyeux Noël

After he dies, Charlotte faints. Outside children are heard singing the Christmas carol.  -- Wikipedia, s.v. "Werther"

It's a very sad end to the play,

In Werther by Jules Massanet,

When Werther is dead,

Having suffered and bled

In a very un-Christmassy way.

 

 

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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.

 

 

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