June 6 - Vincent Persichetti (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for June 6th are found here: John Stainer (2019), Siegfried Wagner (2020), Louis Andriessen (2021), Aram Khachaturian (2022), and Lloyd Lindroth (2023)

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Vincent Persichetti (6 June 1915 – 14 August 1987) was an American composer, teacher, and pianist. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Five Variations on a Theme of Persichetti

Anyone who has played in a high school or college band/wind ensemble, or has attended the concerts of such, has likely encountered the music of Vincent Persichetti, one of the foremost composers of American wind band music. –Victor Carr Jr., at classicstoday.com

(1)

Persichetti’s music is on hand

To program when you have a concert band.

(2)

Persichetti wrote a mass

Of music scored for winds and brass.

(3)

Persichetti added to the store

Of music in the wind band repertoire.

(4)

Persichetti wrote a bunch of things

For winds and brass, eschewing strings.

(5)

If your son’s in band I’ll bet he

Plays the works of Persichetti.

 

 

 

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

 

June 5 - Laurie Anderson (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for June 5th are found here: Daniel Pinkham (2019), Kenny G. (2020), Peter Schat (2021), Arthur Somervell (2022), and Stan Jones (2023)

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Laurie Anderson (b. 5 June 1947) is an American avant-garde artist, musician, performance artist, and filmmaker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Tale in Two Rhymes

Sound your horn and wave Old Glory

For the natal day of Laurie

Anderson, whose music story

Doesn’t fit a category

Where it settles a priori.

To some she is a music god,

They hear her music and applaud,

And leave the concert thrilled and awed,

While others find her whole façade

Outré, outlandish, and, well, odd.

 

 

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

 

June 4 - James Hewitt (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for June 4th are found here: Cecilia Bartoli (2019), James Hewitt (2020), Robert Merrill (2021), Morgana King (2022), and Cecilia Bartoli (2023)

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James Hewitt (4 June 1770 – 2 August 1827) was an American conductor, composer and music publisher.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best Wishes

 

James Hewitt, when he came of age,

Traversed the sea to turn a page.

New York and Boston were the cities

Where Hewitt worked, and sold his ditties

In hope that his success would blossom. --

We fondly hope that it was awesome!

 

 

 

(If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing.

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

 

 

June 3 - Josephine Baker (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for June 3rd are here: Josephine Baker (2019), Jan Peerce (2020), Dakota Staton (2021), Josephine Baker (2022), and James Hook (2023)

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Josephine Baker (3 June 1906 – 12 April 1975) was an American-born French dancer, singer, actress, spy, and civil rights activist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Curriculum vitae

Uncork the champagne for Miss Josephine Baker!

In more than one meaning a mover and shaker!

She conquer the stage with an act so risqué,

It gave a new sense to bananas flambé.

Then she work as a spy in World War Two,

And came to the States when that conflict was through.

She was up on the dais as part of the team

When brave Dr, King uttered, “I have a dream!”

Which was quite a new stage, and quite different news

Than the news that she made for her spicy revues!

 

 

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

 

 

June 2 - Edward Elgar (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for June 2nd are found here: Edward Elgar (2019), (2020), (2021), (2022), and (2023)

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Edward Elgar (2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) was arguably the most important British composer between Purcell and Britten.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s Just the Way It Is

It's Elgar that’s played as we walk

‘Cross the platform, so family can gawk

As we get our degree, –

It’s tradition, you see,

And the music’s not chosen ad hoc. 

 

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Edwardian Etiquette

At times of academic pomp

And circumstance, don’t stomp.

Instead, deport yourself with grace,

With gown and mortar board in place,

And celebrate you learnéd brains

With Edward Elgar’s noble strains.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

June 1 - Mikhail Glinka (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for June 1st will be found here: Mikhail Glinka (2019), Carl Bechstein (2020), Nelson Riddle (2021),  Georg Muffat; Ferdinando Paër (2022), and Joseph Elsner (2023)

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Mikhail Glinka (1 June [O.S. 20 May] 1804 – 15 February  [O.S. 3 February] 1857) is often regarded as the father of the distinctively Russian style of composition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Mikhail Glinka; or, OMG

Glinka's orchestral composition Kamarinskaya (1848) was said by Tchaikovsky to be "the acorn from which the oak" of later Russian symphonic music grew. -- Wikipedia

The overture to Ruslan and Ludmila is a favorite curtain-raiser, the kind of bonbon  that tends to begin seasons or serve as [an] encore after a splendid evening. — arts.ucdavis.edu/post/glinka-overture-ruslan-and-ludmila

Join with me today and drink a

Vodka toast to Mikhail Glinka!

The man of whom Tchaikovsky spoke,

And said, “from him the mighty oak

Of Russian symphonies had grown,”

Yet, in the West, he is unknown

Excepting for a piece or two

Which orchestras will sometimes do

To get the evening’s concert started

With something lively and light-hearted,

 

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