January 4 - Stephen Hale Alonzo Marsh; Nicolai Roslavets (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for January 4ths are here: Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (2020), Giovanni Battista Pergolesi; Josef Suk (2021), Johann Friedrich Agricola (2022),  Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (2023), Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (2024), and Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (2025)

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Stephen Hale Alonzo Marsh (4 January 1808 - 21 January 1888) was born in the United Kingdom, but thirty productive years of his career were spent in Australia. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early Down Under

Isaac Nathan's Don John of Austria (1847), was described as the 'first opera wholly produced in Australia'. Marsh followed with A Gentleman in Black, also claiming it as 'Australia's first opera'. – adapted from Australian Dictionary of Biography (adb.anu.edu.au)

Stephen Hale Alonzo Marsh, whose name

   Rolls with noble grandeur off the tongue,

Earned himself some temporary fame

   When musical Australia was young.

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Nikolai Roslavets (4 January 1881 [O.S. 23 December 1880] – 23 August 1944) was a composer active in the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nyet!

Roslavets was a convinced modernist and cosmopolitan thinker; his music was officially suppressed from 1930 onwards. -- Wikipedia

Roslavets, whose music was suppressed,

Explored a style which didn't pass the test,

(As those who know his music might have guessed), 

As  propaganda for the proletariat.

He found his style and wouldn't tweak or vary it,

Or write a tune so villagers could carry it.

 

 

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January 3 - Petro Metastasio (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for January 3rd are here: Victor Borge; Henriette Sontag (2020), Victor Borge (2021), Stephen Stills (2022), Victor Borge (2023), Victor Borge (2024), and Victor Borge (2025)

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Pietro Metastasio (3 January 1698 – 12 April 1782) was an Italian poet and librettist, considered the most important writer of opera seria libretti.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seria Business

Metastasio said of his verse

As the singers began to rehearse,

"The public is smitten

With da capos I've written,

Which is good for my penniless purse!"

 

 

 

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

January 2 - Michael Tippett (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for January 2nd are here: Mily Balakirev; Michael Tippet; Gardner Read (2020),  Eric Whitacre (2021), Roger Miller (2022), Mily Balakirev (2023), Michael Tippett (2024), and Michael Tippett (2025)

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Michael Tippett (2 January 1905 – 8 January 1998) was an important British composer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Groovy!

The Ice Break was a reflection of Tippett's American experiences, with a contemporary storyline incorporating race riots and drug-taking. His libretto has been criticised for its awkward attempts at American street vernacular. – Wikipedia

Though keeping abreast 

Of current events,

   Of passing fads and passions,

Is done with the best 

Of all intents,

   Beware the fate of fashions!

The slang that you think 

The young might use,

   The jargon they've created,

Is sent to the brink 

By cultural coups,

   And all at once seems dated.

 

 

 

 

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

January 1 - Ulrich Zwingli (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for January 1st are here: Xavier Cugat (2020), Milt Jackson (2021), Country Joe McDonald (2022),  Johann Christoph Altnickol (2023),  Edwin Franko Goldman (2024), and Hugo Leichtentritt (2025)

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Ulrich Zwingli (1 January 1484 – 11 October 1531) was a Swiss Christian theologian, musician, and leader of the Reformation in Switzerland. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stop the Music!

Zwingli enjoyed music and could play several instruments, but he criticized the practice of priestly chanting and monastic choirs.  - adapted from Wikipedia

A pious reformer named Zwingli

Was triggered and zealously tingly

On the subject of chant,

And was given to rant

Against scholae or priests singing singly.

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Not in My House, You Don't

Though Zwingli played music in homes,

But abhor every note that was Rome's;

He didn't find glory in

The chant called Gregorian

Under Protestant steeples or domes.

 

 

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