April 6 - Johann Kuhnau (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 6th may be found here: André Previn (2019), Gheorghe Zamfir (2020), Johann Kuhnau (2021), and John Pizzarelli (2022)

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Johann Kuhnau (6 April 1660 – 5 June 1722) was a German composer and Bach's predecessor at Liepzig. He was also active as a novelist, translator, lawyer, and music theorist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Have Success at Happy Hour

When the Leipzig Thomaskantor

Comes up in your office banter,

Bach will dominate, although

Kuhnau’s also good to know.

But such a circumstance, methinks,

Will not occurred at office drinks,

So study up on likelier themes,

Like Netflix, sports, and funny memes.

 

 

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April 5 - Albert Roussel (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 5th may be found here: Louis Spohr (2019), Agnetha Fältskog (2020), Herbert von Karajan, and Sébastien Érard (2022)

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Albert Roussel (5 April 1869 – 23 August 1937) was a French composer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peripheral Figuring

For the general public, Roussel remains almost famous, his work just beyond the pool of repertory universally drawn from. – Bernard Holland, qtd. in Wikipedia

When he read the review, he exclaimed,

“I’m dejected, depressed, and ashamed,

And it feels like hell

To be Albert Roussel,

Who is ranked with the never-quite-famed.

 

 

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

 

April 4 - Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 4th may be found here: Elmer Bernstein (2019), Stephen Storace (2020), Sheku Kanneh-Mason (2021), and Pierre Monteux; Eugène Bozza (2022)

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Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli (4 April 1752 – 5 May 1837) was a distinguished Italian composer, chiefly of opera.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not What It Seems

Excitement grew! They cried, “Whoa Nelly!

“We’re going to play some Zingarelli!”

My reader, reading this, says, “Steve,

That story’s pretty hard to believe!”

And I’ll reply, “Despite the date,

It’s April Fools — a little late!”

 

 

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

 

April 3 - Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 3rd may be found here: Reginald De Koven (2019),  Alessandro Stradella (2020), Wayne Newton (2021), and Watkins Shaw (2022)

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Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (3 April 1895 – 16 March 1968) was an Italian composer, pianist and writer, whose guitar works are still in the active repertoire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Verse in Lieu of a Monument

There isn't a statue or fresco

For Castelnuovo-Tedesco;

Guitarist still favor his stuff,

But this isn't reason enough

To raise up a figure in bronze

On meadowed municipal lawns.

 

 

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

 

 

April 2 - Giacomo Gotifredo Ferrari (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous postings for April 2nd may be found here: EmmyLou Harris (2019),  Marvin Gaye (2020), Franz Asplmayr (2021), and Franz Lachner (2022)

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Giacomo Gotifredo Ferrari (baptised 2 April 1763 – 2 December 1842) was an Italian composer  and singing teacher who spent most of his career in France and England.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Missed Calling

After G. G. Ferrari

Had traveled afar, he

  Ended up working in Britain;

Through his life's long safari

He was dull and un-starry,

  (So why was this verse even written?).

If G. G. Ferrari

Had invented a car, he

  Would be so much more easy to fit in.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

April 1 - Susan Boyle (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 1st may be found here: Sergei Rachmaninoff (2019), F. Melius Christiansen (2020), Alberta Hunter (2021), and Debbie Reynolds; Sergei Rachmaninoff (2022)

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Susan Boyle (b. 1 April 1961) is a Scottish singer who rose to fame in 2009 after appearing as a contestant on Britain's Got Talent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vox populi

While some recoil

At Susan Boyle,

To second guess

Her great success

Would lack decorum

In this forum,

Because her voice

Was Britain’s choice.

 

 

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