April 25 - Gottlieb Muffat (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 25th may be found here: Ella Fitzgerald (2019), Jerry Lieber (2020), and Björn Ulvaeus (2021)

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Gottlieb Muffat (25 April 1690 – 9 December 1770) was an Austrian organist and composer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Infringement

It is well established that Handel borrowed copiously from his contemporaries, including Muffat. - Wikipedia

Handel, as is widely known,

Borrowed music, not his own;

And Muffat was a frequent source

That Handel used without remorse.

Did Muffat, when his works were raided,

Find that he was unpersuaded

That his works had been upgraded

When they got the treatment they did?

 

 

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April 24 - John Williams (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 24th may be found here: Barbra Streisand (2019), Barbra Streisand (2020). and Giovanni Battista Martini (2021)

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John Williams (b. 24 April 1941) is a great Australian classical guitarist 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Naming Rights; or, Star Wars

 

Guitar historian Graham Wade has said that "John is perhaps the most technically accomplished guitarist the world has seen." -- Wikipedia 

How sad it is to see your name

Usurped by someone else’s fame.

A case like this, at its bizarrest,

Affects John Williams, the guitarist.

For though it seems a little weird,

A second Williams (John) appeared,

Who soon was feted and revered, –

And Williams (John) and his guitar

Played second fiddle to the star.

 

 

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April 23 - Sergei Prokofiev (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 23rd may be found here: Ruggero Leoncavallo (2019), Sergei Prokofiev (2020), and Robert Fayrfax (2021)

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Sergei Prokofiev (23 April [recte 27] 1891 – 5 March 1953) was  Soviet Russian pianist, composer, and conductor. (NB. He believed his birthday to be April 23rd, but it was discovered after his death, that he was actually born on the 27th.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suite from Romeo and Juliet; or, Picking and Choosing Your Poison

A suite from a famous ballet

Gives orchestras something to play,

And doesn’t require

That they play it entire, ---

Instead, it’s a kind of buffet.

 

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War and Peace

Over seventy characters are listed in the libretto… – Wikipedia

When an opera is cast with a throng,

The sound that they make will be strong;

War and Peace has a cast

Which is famously vast,

Singing salvos of Soviet song.

 

 

 

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April 22 - Giuseppe Torelli (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 22rd may be found here: Alfred Burt (2019), Ethel Smyth (2021), and Joshau Rifkin, and Glen Campbell (2021)

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Giuseppe Torelli (22 April 1658 – 8 February 1709) was an Italian violist, violinist, and composer remembered for being the most prolific Baroque composer for trumpets. -- adapted from Wikipedia 

 

Beyond the Fanfare

A trumpeter shouted, “Woah Nellie!

Slow down when we’re playing Torelli!

My embouchure’s sore

And can’t take any more,

As my lips start to quiver like jelly.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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April 21 - Randall Thompson; Lionel Rogg (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 21st may be found here: Randall Thompson (2019), Leonard Warren (2020), and Patti LuPone (2021)

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Randall Thompson (21 April 1899 – 9 July 1984) was an American composer, particularly noted for his choral works.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alleluia, Ditto, Ditto

Randall Thompson’s "Alleluia" has

A gentle aura with no razzmatazz;

In fact, this lovely anthem soothes the soul

By quietly avoiding rigmarole.

For many years it’s held its place, although in

Recent times, one-upped by Leonard Cohen.

 

 

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

Lionel Rogg (b. 21 April 21 1936) is a Swiss organist and composer. He is best known for performing the music of Bach, whose complete organ works he has recorded three times.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overdoing Doing Over; or, Bach, Ditto, Ditto

Lionel Rogg recorded Bach complete.

   You’d think that would suffice.

And yet Herr Rogg achieve this mammoth feat

   Not once, not twice, but thrice!

 

 

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