July 7 - Doc Severinsen (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Carl Hilding "Doc" Severinsen (b. 7 July 1927) is an American jazz trumpeter and conductor.

 [For last year's limerick's on Mahler click here.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Academic Garb

Doc Severinsen, of course you know,

Was famous from the Carson show,

But did you know he had the chops

To lead the best orchestral pops,

And did you know (it’s really true)

That when he taught at A.S.U.

He had this title (sole possessor)  —

“Distinguished Visiting Professor.”

Fancy title! Fancy dresser!

 

 

 

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July 6 - Claude-Michel Schönberg (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Claude-Michel Schönberg (b. 6 July 1944) is a French musical theatre composer, record producer, actor, and singer.

[For last year's tribute to Émile Jaques-Dalcroze click here.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not THAT Schönberg

Claude-Michel Schönberg wrote Les Mis.

  Did you know that show was his?

And did you know his name is on

  The music sung in Miss Saigon?

Though his songs are often heard.

  He isn't quite a household word.

 

 

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July 5 - William Crotch (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

William Crotch (5 July 1775 – 29 December 1847) was an organist and composer who played an important part in the British musical life of his day.

[For last year's limerick on George Rochberg click here.]

Starting Early

Burney wrote a short review

Of William Crotch when he was two.

William Crotch at three was heard

By His Highness George the Third.

Both declared him one to watch,

Quite marvelous, in fact, top notch, 

That prodigy, young William Crotch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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July 4 - Flor Peeters (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Flor Peeters (4 July 1903 – 4 July 1986) was a Belgian composer, organist and academic teacher.  (The situation described in the verses is entirely imaginary.)

[For last year's short note on Cathy Berberian click here.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mechelen Guide; of, Rumblings from Rumbold’s

Peeters was organist at Mechelen Cathedral (St. Rumbold’s) from 1923 to his death in 1986. --- adapted from Wikipedia

Flor Peeters played for sixty years,

     In fact a little longer,

And would be playing still, one fears,

     If God had made him stronger.

For sixty years he ruled the keys,

     For sixty years he played there,

For sixty years he tried to please,

    With music that he made there.

Though Peeters was a man of fame,

     Of scholarship and piety,

The congregation’s not to blame

     To want a little variety.

And though, at last, his destined grave

     Has stilled the master’s fingers,

St. Rumbold’s claims that in the nave,

     Reverberation lingers.

 

 

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July 3 - Leos Janáček (The Musical Birthday, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Leos Janáček (3 July 1854 – 12 August 1928) was one of the greatest Czech composer of the early 20th century.

[For last year's tribute to Ruth Crawford Seeger click here.]

Motivation (A Hallmark Card)

When Janáček was sixty-two,

An age when some of us are through,

He had a major first success,

And that was when he, more or less, 

Began to write the works that show

The genius that we’ve come to know.

And then, for twenty years or so,

He found the strength to persevere

With new endeavors year by year.

Envoi

So even if you’re past your prime,

Assume that you have got some time,

And write that novel, run that race,

Bake those cookies, paint that vase,

Be old-fashioned, be high tech,

But take your cue from Janáček!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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July 2 - Charles-Louis Hanon (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Charles-Louis Hanon (2 July 1819 – 19 March 1900) was a French piano pedagogue and composer. 

[For last year's limericks on Gluck click here.] 

Not Forgotten

The technical studies of Hanon

Were once what a pianist begin in.

And though now we find less

Support for such mindless

Endeavors, he’s still in the canon.

 

 

 

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July 1 - Fred Schneider (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

 Fred Schneider (b. 1 July 1951) is an American singer, songwriter, arranger, and musician.

 [For last year's comments on Hans Werner Henze click here.]

 

B52’s/B52s

Today for a birthday I choose

Fred Schneider (The B52s).

What he and the crew gave

As part of the New Wave

Was more than just dancing and ‘dos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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