August 6 - Ernesto Lecuona (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Series)

Ernesto Lecuona (6/7 August 1896/95 – November 29, 1963) was a Cuban pianist and composer.  The date of his birth is likely the 7th, but sometimes given as the 6th, and since there is almost no one else to chose from for today, why not?

[For last year's entry on Barbara Strozzi click here.]

Da da dum, da da dum, da da DUM DUM DUM

You may be surprised that you’ve known a

Piece by Ernesto Lecuona,

But though the reminder may pain ya

I’ll call to your mind “Malagueña,”

His publishers seeing that it

Could be a spectacular hit,

Took a look and were happy to know he

Had written the thing to be showy.

And students, whose relatives knew it,

Discovered that they could get through it,

It isn’t too hard or sublime,

It’s noisy and quite a good time.

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 [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Tales: Great Art Repurposed.] 

August 5 - Guillaume Du Fay (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Guillaume Dufay (5 August, c. 1397 – 27 November 1474) was one of the greatest composers in Western music history.

[For last year's offering, also on Dufay, click here.]

Fie on You

When I was young we said  /dju: ‘faI/,*

But now, although I don’t know why,

We’re told it’s more correct if we

Pronounce his name as [dy fa(j)i]**

Dufay has changed when it is spoken,

And as an orthographic token,

Du Fay, when written, now is broken.

*Dew-FIE

**Dui-fa-ee

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 [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Tales: Great Art Repurposed.]

August 4 - Louis Armstrong (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Louis Armstrong (4 August 1901 – 6 July 1971) was an American trumpeter, composer, and singer.

[For last year's tribute to Harry Lauder, click here.]

The Way of the (Wonderful) World

Everyone has heard of Satch,

Which would be great, but there’s a catch;

When thinking of his work and life

The world remembers “Mack the Knife,”

Or recalls that he was jolly

When performing “Hello Dolly,”

Forgetting his importance as

A founding pioneer of jazz.

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 [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Tales: Great Art Repurposed.]

August 3 - Tony Bennett (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Tony Bennett (b. 3 August 1926) is one of the great stylists of American popular song.

[For last year's verse, also on Mr. Bennett, click here.]

Toney Tony

A singer named Bennett (called Tony)

Was trained before tuning was phony.

He did all his crooning

Without Auto-Tuning

Because in those years

Your tuned with your ears,

And not pitch-adjusting baloney.

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 [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Tales: Great Art Repurposed.]

August 2 - Arthur Bliss (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Arthur Bliss (2 August 1891 – 27 March 1975) was an English composer and conductor. 

[For last year's thoughts on Helen Morgan click here.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honorable Mention

In Bliss's later years, his work was respected but was thought old-fashioned...- --Wikipedia

The lesson from the life of Arthur Bliss

        Is this:

Before the time for passing the baton

        Is gone,

Prepare for when your moment in the sun

        Is done.

 

 

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

 

 

August 1 - Lionel Bart (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Lionel Bart (1 August 1930 – 3 April 1999) had many song hits, but his career was overwhelmingly dominated by the success of the musical Oliver!.

[For last year's quatrain, also on Lionel Bart click here.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please, Sir, Can I Have Some More?

Before his Dickensian show,

He needed some practice to grow.

Bart tested the waters

With Lock Up Your Daughters,

A play you’re not likely to know.

 

 

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