January 5 - Alfred Brendel (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for January 5th are here: Wieland Wagner; Friedrich Blume (2020) and Henry Lawes (2021)

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Alfred Brendel (b. 5 January 1931) is an Austrian classical pianist and author. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Either/Or

There are those who find Brendel too careful, 

Too safe, insufficiently dareful;

While others maintain

That the absence of strain

Makes his music sublime, almost prayerful.

 

 

 

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January 4 - Johann Friedrich Agricola (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for January 4ths are here: Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (2020) and Giovanni Battista Pergolesi; Josef Suk (2021)

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Johann Friedrich Agricola (4 January 1720 – 2 December 1774) was a German composer, organist, singer, pedagogue, and writer on music. He was one of J. S. Bach's copyists.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only the Best

While a student of law at Leipzig (1738–41) he studied music under Johann Sebastian Bach. In 1741 he went to Berlin, where he studied musical composition under Johann Joachim Quantz. -- adapted from Wikipedia

When your vita is able to feature

That Bach was your principal teacher,

And yet also flaunts

That you studied with Quantz,

You’re a shockingly bold over-reacher.

 

 

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Pen and Ink

J. F. Agricola, was J.S. Bach’s copyist,

Meaning, of course, that he wasn’t the sloppiest;

He copied from scores in reliable fashion,

Including the parts for the St. Matthew Passion.

 

 

 

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January 3 - Stephen Stills (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for January 3rd are here: Victor Borge; Henriette Sontag (2020) and Victor Borge (2021)

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Stephen Stills (b. 3 January 1945) is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carry On… Déjà vu

Stephen Stills, with Crosby & Nash,

Made an album, and made a splash,

And then, to take it up a rung,

They added to the band, “& Young.”

Though the band was flying high,

C & S & N &Y

Lasted for a year or two,

Then, after drama, they were through.

To try to have success again

They’d have reunions, now and then,

But planned revivals always crashed

When, once again, their egos clashed,

Defeated in the war of wills

Of Crosby, Young, & Nash, & Stills.

 

 

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January 2 - Roger Miller (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for January 2nd are here: Mily Balakirev; Michael Tippet; Gardner Read (2020) and Eric Whitacre (2021)

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Roger Miller  (2 January 1936 – 25 October 1992) was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and actor, widely known for his honky-tonk-influenced novelty songs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Career Moves

He later began a recording career and reached the peak of his fame in the mid-1960s, continuing to record and tour into the 1990s, charting his final top 20 country hit in 1982. - adapted from Wikipedia

Roger Miller’s country sound

Was honky-tonk, and not profound,

But sentiment worn on the sleeve

Is sometimes easiest to believe.

He played the down home country part

With modest self-effacing art;

And though hit quirky hits weren’t numerous

They’re pleasant, down-to-earth, and humorous.

But just as in a country song

You cannot stay on top for long.

No one on this earth resists

Life’s ups and downs, life’s turn and twists.

And did it soothed him just a bit

To sometimes have a minor hit,

Reminding him of how before he

Used to bask in country glory?

 

 

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January 1 - Country Joe McDonald (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for January 1st are here: Xavier Cugat (2020) and Milt Jackson (2021)

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Country Joe McDonald (b. 1 January 1, 1942) is an American musician who was the lead singer of the 1960s psychedelic rock group Country Joe and the Fish. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good Question

The songs of the Viet Nam war

Had a bitter emotional core;

Country Joe and his band

Took the subject in hand

And jauntily asked, “What’s it for?”

Cheers

The cheer became popular and the crowd would spell out F-I-S-H when the band performed live. During the summer of 1968 it was suggested before one of the shows to spell out a four letter obscenity instead of "fish". In Massachusetts, McDonald was fined $500 for uttering the four letter word in public. –  adapted from Wikipedia

Though to spell out a certain obscenity

Became part of the Fish’s identity,

There states where that word

Simply couldn't be heard,

And it wouldn't be treated with lenity.

 

 

 

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