February 4 - Johann Ludwig Bach (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 4th are here: Erich Leinsdorf (2020), James Dunn (2021), Johann Ludwig Bach (2022), and Alice Cooper (2023)

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Johann Ludwig Bach (14 February [O.S. 4 February] 1677 – 1 May 1731) was a German composer and violinist, and third cousin of Johann Sebastian Bach. [NB. Technically the 4th is his Old Style birthday, but in spite of the inaccuracy I have decided to feature him today because it works out with my purposes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yours, Mine, and Ours

The cantata Denn du wirst meine Seele nicht in der Hölle lassen, once thought to be by Johann Sebastian, and listed as BWV 15 in Schmieder’s Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (Catalogue of Bach's works), is now thought to be by Johann Ludwig.  – adapted from Wikipedia

In Meiningen. a charming town,

He had community renown,

And didn’t dream of immortality

Beyond that small municipality.

He simply did his job on Sunday,

Not imagining that one day

He would have a composition

In an august Bach edition.

But since he’s in the Bach Verzeichnis

There must have been a family likeness,

For he is heard and studied and seen

As J. S. Bach’s Cantata 15.

 

 

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February 3 - Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina; Felix Mendelssohn (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 3rd are here: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina; Felix Mendelssohn (2020), Mabel Mercer (2021), Johann Georg Albrechtsberger; Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (2022), and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (2023)

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Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1525 – 2 Februar 1594) was one of the great composers of all time.  We do not, in fact, know when he was born, but 3 February turns up in some sources, so we are somewhat arbitrarily adopting that here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Floored

Palestrina's funeral was held at St. Peter's, and he was buried beneath the floor of the basilica. His tomb was later covered by new construction and attempts to locate his grave have been unsuccessful. – Wikipedia

Palestrina found his final rest,

In a place the Church considered best,

But later in some Papal renovation

They overlooked his skeleton’s location.

Alas, how insecure our earthly place is

Even in the holiest of spaces!

 

 

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪    

 

 

Felix Mendelssohn (3 February 1809 – 4 November 1847) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor whose works are still a core part of the repertoire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Too Much of a Good Thing?

Mendelssohn was an enthusiastic visual artist who worked in pencil and watercolor, a skill which he enjoyed throughout his life.  – Wikipedia

A 2009 survey by the BBC of 16 music critics opined that Mendelssohn was the greatest composing prodigy in the history of Western classical music. – Wikipedia

Rosen called Mendelssohn "the inventor of religious kitsch in music". – Wikipedia

Everything Mendelssohn touched

  Blossomed with consummate ease;

It never was labored or clutched,

  He was free as a summertime breeze.

He was given an excellent rearing,

  He was good with a pencil and brush,

And his personal charm was endearing,

  His account at his bankers was flush.

And yet, he has had his detractors

  There are high-minded critics who bitch

That his music was one of the factors

  In Protestant musical kitsch.

There are those who pooh-pooh his ability

  And the consummate ease that suffuses

The miraculous, fluent facility

  Of this halcyon son of the muses.

 

 

 

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February 2 - Ursula Oppens (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 2nd are here: Stan Getz (2020), Martina Arroyo (2021), Jussi Björling; Jascha Heifetz; Fritz Kreisler (2022), and Elaine Stritch; Geoffrey O'Hara (2023)

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Ursula Oppens (b. 2 February 1944) is an American classical concert pianist and educator who specializes in contemporary music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oppens Sesame!

Ursula Oppens today turns eighty,

  And this will summarize her career,

The repertoire she played was weighty,

  And wasn’t easy on the ear.

  

 

 

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February 1 - Hildegarde (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 1st are here: Renata Tebaldi; Victor Herbert; George Beverly Shea (2020), James P. Johnson; Clara Butt (2021), James P. Johnson (2022), and Harry Styles (2023)

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Hildegarde (1 February 1906 – 29 July 2005) was an American cabaret and nightclub singer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOT von Bingen!

She was also nicknamed the "First Lady of the Supper Clubs" by Eleanor Rossevelt. – Wikipedia 

She wore elegant gowns and long gloves: “Miss Piggy stole the gloves idea from me," she once said. – Wikipedia

Hildegarde was mononymic,

  She went by just one name,

A quirk that others stars would mimic

  By doing just the same.

She was the queen of supper clubs,

  She had her own mystique,

She was not seen in bars or pubs,

  For she was always chic.

She always sported long white gloves,

  Refined as she could be,

She said, “It is a thing, my loves,

  Miss Piggy stole from me!”

 

 

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