November 10 - François Couperin; Friedrich Schiller (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for November 10th are here: Martin Luther; Carl Stalling (2019) and Johann Christian Schieferdecker (2020)

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François Couperin (10 November 1668 – 11 September 1733) was a French Baroque composer, organist, and harpsichordist.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monumentality 

 

Ravel's Le Tombeau de Couperin is a light-hearted, and sometimes reflective work rather than a sombre one which Ravel explained in response to criticism saying: "The dead are sad enough, in their eternal silence." -- adapted from Wikipedia

Of all the works of Couperin

It was his suites for clavecin

Which gave Ravel the urge to show

His deep respects with a Tombeau,

A title which suggests lament,

But that was not Ravel’s intent;

“The Dead in their eternal peace

Do not seek dirges for release.”

 

 

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Friedrich Schiller (10 November 1759 – 9 May 1805) was a German playwright, poet, and philosopher whose poems were set by Beethoven and Schubert. among others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ode to Joy; or, Beethoven Defends Himself

  Beethoven said that a great poem is more difficult to set to music than a merely good one because the composer must rise higher than the poet – "who can do that in the case of Schiller?" -- Wikipedia

“I know that the piece is a killer,

As the choir gets shriller and shriller;

But when singers get hoarse,

Which is often, of course,

I’ll blame the disturbance on Schiller.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 9 - Jean-Baptiste Weckerlin (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for November 9th are here:  Thomas Quasthoff; Bryn Terfel; Anna Amalia of Prussia (2019) and Mary Travers (2020)

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Jean-Baptiste Weckerlin (9 November 1821 – 20 May 1910) was a French composer and music publisher.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Question of Priorities

 

Weckerlin’s compositions cover many genres: works for orchestra and for voices and orchestra oratorios and other sacred works, operas, and over 300 songs.  -- adapted from Opera Rara

 

Weckerlin is best remembered for his piano arrangements of traditional French songs, notably the bergerette. -- Wikipedia

 

Was Weckerlin filled with regrets

That his ever-so-slight bergerettes

Became his mostly lasting success? ----

I’d guess that the answer is yes.

 

 

 

 

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November 8 - Friedrich Witt (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for November 8th are here: Patti Page; Bonnie Raitt (2019) and Arnold Bax (2020)

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Friedrich Witt (8 November 1770 – 3 January 1836) was a German composer and cellist,  perhaps best known as the likely author of a Symphony in C major known as the "Jena Symphony", once attributed to Beethoven. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Soul of Witt

Stein thought it was quite likely an early work by Beethoven and pointed out some stylistic similarities in the preface to the score. When H.C. Robbins Landon found another copy of the work  with Witt's name on it, he convinced most other scholars that the work was in fact by Witt. -- adapted from Wikipedia, s.v. "Jena Symphony"

 

There once was much excitement when a

Symphony was found at Jena

Which seemed to be a project nursed

By Beethoven before his First.

Enthusiasm cooled a bit

When Robbins Landon showed that it

Was just a piece by Friedrich Witt.

 

 

 

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November 7 - Joan Sutherland (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for November 7th are here: Joan Sutherland; Joni Mitchell (2019) and Al Hirt (2020)

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Joan Sutherland (7 November 1926 – 10 October 2010) was a supremely great Australian coloratura soprano.  (The fantasy below has no basis in fact.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Song

Joan Sutherland hailed from Down Under,

And inspired the world with wonder,

But to sing “Kookaburra”

With coloratura,

Was an Aussie aesthetical blunder.

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

November 6 - John Philip Sousa (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for November 6th are here: Adolphe Sax; John Philip Sousa (2019) and Ray Conniff (2020)

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John Philip Sousa (6 November 1854 – 6 March 1932) was an American composer and band leader.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bee’s Knees

It’s really a challenge to choose a

Favorite by John Philip Sousa;

Each march is a ringer,

Hot stuff, a humdinger,

A corker, a lollapalooza.

 

 

 

 

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