May 7 - Johannes Brahms; Pyotr Tchaikovsky (The Musical Birthday Series)

Today is the birthday of two of the greatest and most popular nineteenth century composers, Pyotr Tchaikovsky (7 May 1840 [O.S. 25 April] – 6 November [O.S. 25 October] 1893) and Johannes Brahms (7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897).

Dynamic Duo

Tchaikovsky (Peter) and Brahms (Johannes)

Were born on 7 May.

And so Cantatebus organis!

Play, musicians, play!

 About Face

It’s hard to believe, but it’s the truth,

Johannes Brahms was, in his youth,

 Both angel-faced and shy.

As he matured, and was revered,

He grew enamored of his beard,

  But no one dared ask why.

Christmas Bonus

The dearest loved Tchaikovsky Suite

Is not performed in time of heat,

  Not when it’s warm and sunny.

When Christmastime comes into view

The suite, and yes, the ballet too

  Will siphon in the money.

May 6 - Carmen Cavallaro (The Musical Birthday Series)

Carmen Cavallaro (6 May 1913 – 12 October 1989) was one of the foremost exponents of the now nearly extinct genre of light piano music. 

Passing the Torch Song

Carmen Cavallaro played

Classics with a flourish;

All of which, of course, dismayed

Snobs, who thought it boorish.

Octaves and arpeggios

Were his stock in trade,

And he parlayed these and those

To the hit parade.

Every trill and each cascade,

Technically topnotch, he

Threw them in, and thus he made

A fan of Liberace.

May 5 - Tammy Wynette (The Musical Birthday Series)

Tammy Wynette (5 May 1942 –6 April 1998) was one of the greatest country music singer/song writers of her time.

In Good Standing

Tammy Wynette

In her dinette,

  Baking a cake in a pan,

Suffered regret

For what you get

   When standing by your man.

May 4 - Bartolomeo Cristofori (The Musical Birthday Series)

 Bartolomeo Cristofori (4 May 1655 –27 January 1731) is credited with inventing the piano.

Hammered 

Sing the praise of Cristofori!

Loud and soft were missed before he

   Built an instrument with hammered strings

Shout to praise Bartolomeo!

Those who play the piano may know

     All the satisfaction that it brings.

May 3 - Richard D'Oyly Carte (The Musical Birthday Series)

Richard D'Oyly Carte (3 May 1844 – 3 April 1901) was an English talent agent, theatrical impresario, and hotelier.  He is responsible for launching and nurturing the success of the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.

Pentameters for an Impresario

 

O sing the praise of Richard D’Oyly Carte,

Who gave the team of G and S their start!

The three beguiled the world with lively shows

In alternating bits of song and prose;

While G. supplied the words, and S. the score,

R. D’O. C. provided the decor.

He built a stage and dubbed it the Savoy

And kept the three in lucrative employ.

And year by year their bank accounts grew fatter

From sentiment and parody and patter.

May 2 - Alessandro Scarlatti (The Musical Birthday Series_

Alessandro Scarlatti (2 May 1660 – 22 October 1725) was one of the founding composers of the mature Baroque vocal style. He was the father of the very famous composer of keyboard sonatas, Domenico Scarlatti.

Variations on a Theme

Domenico's Father

Alessandro Scarlatti was sad

To always be thought of as dad.

But scholars have found

That his operas abound

In music that’s really not bad.

Domenico's Father Redux

Alessandro Scarlatti, outdone

In the history books by his son,

Was surely relieved

When his work was retrieved

And a modest revival begun.

May 1 - William Lawes (The Musical Birthday Series)

William Lawes (bapt. 1 May 1602 – 24 September 1645) was a courtier and musician for Charles I of England, best known for his viol consort music, and ceremonial music written for the court. He was, no doubt, actually born in April, but the first solid date we have is for his baptism, so that is what I celebrate here.

Lawes and Order

No one guffaws

At William Lawes.

There’s just a pause,

And then applause;

And that’s because

   (It’s plain)

His music was

   Arcane.