August 27 - Eric Coates (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for August 27th are here: Lester Young (2019), Rebecca Clarke; Eric Coates (2020), and Leon Theremin (2021)

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Eric Coates (27 August 1886 – 21 December 1957) was an English composer of light music and, early in his career, a violist. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Light Makes Right

Your public station probably devotes

Attention to the works of Eric Coates;

His charming tunes and cheerful orchestration

Make perfect filler for that kind of station.

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A Parable of Talents

 

In its obituary notice, The Manchester Guardian took issue with such a dismissal, and preferred the French attitude of cherishing petits-maîtres for what they were rather than condemning them for what they were not: "better to write second-class masterpieces than fail to be a second Beethoven". -- Wikipedia

Take up your pen

   And do what you do best!

Don’t follow when

   You’re tempted to a quest

That, though it’s grand,

   Is frankly quite above you.

Stick to your brand

   ‘Cause that’s why people love you!

August 26 - Aloys Schmitt (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for August 26 are here: Leon Redbone (2019), Humphrey Searle (2020), and Nico Muhly; Aloys Schmitt (2021)

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Aloys Schmitt (26 August 1788 – 25 July 1866) was a German composer, pianist, and music teacher.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1

You probably don’t care a bit

To celebrate Herr Aloys Schmitt,

Whose Preparatory Exercises

Everyone who plays despises.

Though his method trains their fingers,

It’s a book where no one lingers

With their hands in fixed positions

Filled with starry-eyed ambitions

Hoping to become musicians.

It’s far more likely that they’ll quit

Than tolerate Herr Aloys Schmitt.

 

 

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August 25 - Leonard Bernstein (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for August 25th are here: Leonard Bernstein (2019), (2020), and Stefan Wolpe; Undine Smith Moore (2021)

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Leonard Bernstein (25 August 1918 – 14 October 1990) was a dominant force in virtually all areas of music during his busy career.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything

Leonard Bernstein, triple threat,

   Pianist, composer, conductor, -

And also, we should not forget,

   A consummate instructor.

And then, as if that weren’t enough,

   Consider that he has,

Along with all his highbrow stuff,

   His Broadway shows and jazz.

 

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Sweat and Tears 

He conducted the great Philharmonic,

With a fervor intense and tectonic,

But some would suggest

That it might have been best

Had the business been less histrionic.

 

 

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August 24 - Jean-Michel Jarre (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for August 24th are here: Théodore Dubois (2019), Stephen Paulus (2020), and Mason Williams (2021)

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Jean-Michel Jarre (b. 24 August 1948) is a French composer, performer and record producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient, and new-age genres, and is known for organizing outdoor spectacles featuring his music, accompanied by vast laser displays, large projections, and fireworks. -- Wikipedia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Ageism

The music of Jean-Michel Jarre,

Which made him a musical star,

Proved records could sell,

And, indeed, very well,

While eschewing the drums and guitar.

 

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Jarring Experience

If there’s not a spectacular light show

You’re probably not at the right show;

There should be collections

Of lights and projections,

And a noisy, but musically slight show.

 

 

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August 23 - Mark Russell (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for August 23rd are here: Malvina Reynolds (2019), Gene Kelly (2020), and Ernst Krenek; Moritz Moszkowski (2021)

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Mark Russell (b. 23 August 1932) is an American political satirist and comedian whose routines were a mix of political stand-up humor covering current events and musical parodies in which he accompanied himself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alternating Current

Russell himself admits that most of his jokes and songs are very topical and have "a shelf life shorter than cottage cheese". – Wikipedia

Mark Russell’s satirical stuff,

Was made of ephemeral fluff,

When the topics you use

Are from last minute news

They can never be current enough.

 

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Knowing Your Public (Television)

He is best known for his series of semimonthly comedy specials on PBS television between 1975 and 2004.  – Wikipedia

Mark Russell, whose humor addressed

Political foibles with zest,

Had a topical show

Aimed at folks in the know

That was year after year PBS-ed.

 

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August 22 - Claude Debussy (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for August 22nd are here: Claude Debussy; Karlheinz Stockhausen (2019), Claude Debussy (2020). and Claude Debussy; Sergius Kagen (2021)

Claude Debussy (22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) was one of the great innovators of his time, and remains a concert staple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What I Am Not

Debussy strongly objected to the use of the word "Impressionism" for his (or anybody else's) music  In a letter of 1908 he wrote: "I am trying to do 'something different' – an effect of reality ... what the imbeciles call 'impressionism', a term which is as poorly used as possible, particularly by the critics,  – adapted from Wikipedia

Though he tried, he was wholly unable

To escape the “Impressionist” label;

And the fact that his vibe

Was compared with that tribe

Made him cranky, on edge, and unstable.

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Name Your Poison

Though cognoscenti may be fond

Of Pelléas et Mélisande,

The larger public doesn’t care

To puzzle out Symbolic fare.

But, rest assured they will be there

For Children’s Corner or La Mer.

 

 

 

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