July 27 - Enrique Granados (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for July 27th are here: Enrique Granados (2019), Bobbie Gentry (2020), Vladimir de Pachmann (2021), and Mauro Giuliani (2022)

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

 

Enrique Granados (27 July 1867 – 24 March 1916) was an important Spanish composer and pianist. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memento mori

On the way across the English Channel, the Sussex was torpedoed by a German U-boat. Ironically, the part of the vessel that contained his cabin did not sink and was towed to port, with most of the passengers, except for Granados and his wife, who were on the other side of the boat when it was hit. – Wikipedia

Every program note will tell

The awful ending that befell

Granados on his way to France,

When by tragic trick of chance

His boat was hit by a torpedo,

And so he never reached the lido.

Envoi

 

A death like his has this to teach,

A moral true for all and each:

Not everyone will reach the beach, 

So grasp each day within your reach!

 

 

 

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

 

 

July 26 - Ralph Blane (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for July 26th are found here: Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart (2019), John Field (2020), Mick Jagger; Angela Hewitt (2022), and Mick Jagger; Darlene Love (2022)

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

 

Ralph Blane (26 July 1914 – 13 November 1995) was an American composer of popular songs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discovery

Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane’s best-known songs include "The Boy Next Door", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and "The Trolley Song", all written for the 1944 film musical Meet Me in St. Louis. – Wikipedia

Ralph Blane was not a household name,

  And though he wrote some famous songs,

  He wasn’t one of those who belongs

With music’s greats, but all the same

  

When Judy Garland gave her touch

  To ballads like the “The Boy Next Door”

  He grew more famous than before,....

But not by much.

 

 

 

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

 

July 25 - Alfredo Casella (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for July 25th is here: Yvonne Printemps (2020), Agostino Steffani (2021), and Philipp Heinrich Erlebach (2022)

++++++++++++++++++++++ 

Alfredo Casella (25 July 1883 – 5 March 1947) was an Italian composer, pianist and conductor. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rebirthing

 

The resurrection of Antonio Vivaldi's works in the 20th century is mostly thanks to the efforts of Casella, who in 1939 organised the now historic Vivaldi Week. -- Wikipedia 

Casella may get praise or blame,

Depending on your point of view,

For lifting up Vivaldi’s name,

And lighting up his fame anew.

Today Vivaldi’s pieces live,

(And damn! He was a fertile fella!),

And the sated critics give

Blame or credit to Casella.

 

July 24 - Adolphe Adam (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for July 24th are here: Peter Serkin (2019), Adolphe Adam (2020), Kristin Chenowith (2021). and Les Reed (2022)

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

 

Adolphe Adam (24 July 1803 – 3 May 1856) was a French composer remembered for his ballets and his Christmas song known in English as "O Holy Night".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Up and Adam

At your parish’s Christmas Eve service

If your choir's soprano is nervous,

The cause of this Christmassy fright

Is the ending of “O Holy Night”

Which features those waited-for high notes, —

Those once-every-year-do-or-die notes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for July 23rd are here: Leon Fleisher (2019), Francesco Cilea (2020), Franz Berwald (2021), and Eduard Marxsen (2022)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giving Up

Cilea's last opera, Gloria, premièred at La Scala on 15 April 1907. The opera was withdrawn after only two performances; and the failure of this work was enough to drive him to abandon the operatic stage for good. – adapted from Wikipedia

Cilea welcomed in the century

  Writing for La Scala’s stage,

And with the failure of that venture, he

  Spent his life ‘til ripe old age

Saying no to stage commissions,

  Never answering with yes,

And though it hampered his ambitions,

  He went through life with less distress.

 

 

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