July 24 - Adolphe Adam (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Adolphe Adam (24 July 1803 – 3 May 1856) was a French composer and music critic. 

[For last year's item on Peter Serkin click here.] 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O Night Divi-i-i-ine: Variations on a Theme

(1)

When asked, he was always polite,

And kindly replied, ‘You are right,

Indeed, ma’am, I am

Monsieur Adolphe Adam,

The composer of ‘O Holy Night’”.

(2)

Whene’er the occasion befell,

Adam thought it perfectly swell

That folks on the street

Might be eager to meet

The composer of “Cantique de Noël”.

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

July 23 - Francesco Cilea (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Francesco Cilea (23 July 1866 – 20 November 1950) was an Italian composer, best known for his opera Adriana Lecouvreur. 

[For last year's musings on Leon Fleisher click here.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beware the Bouquet 

The Princesse poisons some violets and sends them to Adriana. When Maurizio arrives she has already inhaled the poison, and dies in his arms. -- synopsis of the final scene of Adriana Lecouvreur, adapted from The Metropolitan Opera Encyclopedia, p. 12

Adriana Lecouvreur

Shouldn’t have inhaled les fleurs.

Adriana, in the story,

Rued the scent of i fiori.

But Adriana, being human,

Was attracted to die Blumen.

 

 

 

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

 

 

July 22 - Luigi Arditi (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Luigi Arditi (22 July 1822 – 1 May 1903) was an Italian violinist, composer, and conductor.

[For last year's limerick on Bobby Sherman click here.] 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My One and Only

Luigi Arditi composed “Il bacio”

  (Which translates as “The Kiss”).

A little waltz (it’s far from macho)...

  He’s only known for this.

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

July 21 - Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Yusuf Islam (b. 21 July 1948), commonly known by his Cat Stevens, Yusuf, and Yusuf/Cat Stevens, is a British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist

[For last year's limerick on Isaac Stern click here.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Naming Rites

Steven Georgiou changed his name

When he had a shot at fame.

Cat Stevens had a revelation

And he changed his appellation.

Yusuf Islam, back on stage,

Changed his name to re-engage.

And thus, we use the mononym

Of Yusuf to refer to him.

 

 

 

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

 

July 20 - Simon Ives (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Simon Ives (bapt. 20 July 1600 - 1662) was an English composer and organist who was active in the court of Charles I of England. 

[For last year's musings on Natalie Wood click here.] 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compare and Contrast

Simon Ives, who was immersed

Within the Court of Charles the First,

Wrote the masques and glees expected

From composers thus connected.

Charles Ives, of later fame,

Though he shared a family name,

Was a Yankee independent,

And wasn’t a direct descendant.

 

 

 

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

 

 

July 19 - Vikki Carr (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Vikki Carr (b. 19 July 1940) has had a long career as a singer of popular music in English and Spanish.

[For last year's thoughts on Robert Mann click here.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lifetime Achievement

Vikki Carr,

A major star,

   Increasingly forgotten,

May be aware

That life’s not fair,

  In fact, it’s sometimes rotten.

 

 

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

 

 

 

July 18 - Richard Branson (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Richard Branson (b. 18 July 1950) is an English businessman, investor, author and former philanthropist. He founded Virgin Records.

[For last year's thoughts on Pauline Viardot click here.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like a Virgin

When Richard Branson, twenty-two,

Wondered what the heck to do,

He found some cash and then was able

To start the Virgin Records label.

Richard Branson, as creator,

Sold the business some years later,

To help his airlines (which he kept)

But, the story goes, he wept.

But, wiping free those tender tears,

He moved to conquer other spheres,

Just like any good civilian

(Give a take a couple billion).

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