September 5 - John Cage; Giacomo Meyerbeer (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for September 5th are here: John Cage; Giacomo Meyerbeer (2019), John Cage (2020), Johann Christian Bach (2021), John Cage (2022), and John Cage (2023)

+++++++++++++++++++++ 

 

John Cage (September 5, 1912 – August 12, 1992) was one of the leading composers of the mid-twentieth century avant-garde in music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doing as Your Told

Mr. Cage doubled down on his stance,

“I am merely the plaything of chance!

For my trusty I Ching

Has commanded that spring

Should be spent with Parisians in France.”

 

 

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

 

 

Giacomo Meyerbeer (5 September 1791 – 2 May 1864) was perhaps the most successful opera composer of the nineteenth century. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defense!

I’d like to take a moment here

To celebrate old Meyerbeer,

Whose work has never been expunged

No matter how his brand has plunged.

Therefore, here I take my stand, –

I think his shows are mighty grand!

And if five acts seem slightly much

Of spectacle, ballets, and such,

There’s plenty there to entertain

And loosen up a furrowed brain.

So check your mind’s important functions!

Enjoy the show without compunctions

While savoring his crass delights!

Save Wagner’s Rites for other nights!

 

 

 

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

 

September 4 - Beyoncé (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for September 4th are here: Anton Bruckner (2019), Darius Milhaud (2020), Anton Bruckner (2021), Anton Bruckner (2022), and Mitzi Gaynor; Anton Bruckner (2023)

++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Beyoncé (4 September 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and businesswoman. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Might Have Been

The DNC agenda had a minute

Which didn’t have a speech or rally in it.

And rumors flew declaring this, of course, meant

That Beyoncé would perform as her endorsement.

The rumor was embellished, padded, riffed on,

And soon we read that she’d have Taylor Swift on,

And both would take the stage and then together

They’d change the whole election (and the weather!).

The DNC is over and, alas,

This mega-meeting never came to pass.

 

 

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

 

 

September 3 - Ferdinand Zellbell the Younger (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for September 3rd are here: Dorothy Maynor; Thurston Dart (2019), Adriano Banchieri (2020), Jo Ann Castle (2021), Knut Nystedt (2022), and Pietro Locatelli (2023)

++++++++++++++++++++

Ferdinand Zellbell the Younger (bapt. 3 September 1719 - 21 April 1780) was a Swedish composer, organist, harpsichordist, violinist, conductor and teacher. He was a co-founder of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.  -- swedishmusicalheritage.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hark, How the Zellbells

Arguably his most accomplished composition is an opera, Il Giudizio d'Aminta, written on the occasion of the birthday of future Empress Catherine the Great of Russia. – Wikipedia 

I wonder if Ferdinand Zellbell the Younger,

While working in Sweden, was given to hunger

To explore other places for wider exposure,

And blood that ran hotter than Nordic composure.

We read in his bio that Ferdinand Junior

Once traveled to Russia, and wrote nothing tunier

Than the opera he wrote (a success it was reckoned)

For Catherine the Great (who was then Kate the Second).

 

 

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

 

 

Further Delay

My plans to get caught up this weekend were foiled when I came down with a (mild) flu, and spent the weekend (a long holiday weekend here in the U.S.) in bed.  I'm feeling better now, and WILL get caught up soon.

September 2 - Isidor Philipp (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for September 2nd are here: Georg Böhm (2019), Hugo Montenegro (2020), Alphons Diepenbrock (2021), Laurindo Almeida (2022), and Georg Böhm; Johann Trier (2023)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Isidor Philipp (2 September 1863 – 20 February 1958) was a French pianist, composer, who is best remembered as a extremely important and influential piano teacher.  His exercises are still in use today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Philipp It Up

Upon occasion in this blog

We fete a piano pedagogue;

We’ve celebrated, from the canon,

Herr Czerny, also Monsieur Hanon;

And so today, well, what the bleep!

Sing Happy Birthday to Philipp.

 

 

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

 

 

September 1 - Johann Pachelbel (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for September 1st are found here: Engelbert Humperdinck (2019), Johann Pachelbel (2020), Franz Biebl (2021), Emanuel Schikander (2022), and Engelbert Humperdinck (2023)

++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Johann Pachelbel (baptised 1 September 1653 – buried 9 March 1706) was an important German composer and organist, who by a quirk of fate is largely known for one minor composition. [His baptismal day is usually given thus, which is O.S.; his N.S. date of 11 September is sometimes seen.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Variation on the Pachelbel Canon

(1)

September first! I might as well

Consider Johan Pachelbel,

Who wrote one piece that’s now iconic, --

His canon that has D as tonic.

(2)

A string quartet, which cast a spell

When playing Johann Pachelbel,

Was bored by this and other fare

Requested by the wedding pair.

(3)

The bridesmaids spaced in single file

Floated down the sacred aisle

With Pachelbel, refined and arty.

To elevate the bridal party.

 

 

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