November 25 - Ethelbert Nevin; Amy Grant (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for November 25th are here: Ethelbert Nevin; Franz Xaver Gruber (2019), Virgil Thomson (2020), and Arthur Schwartz; Johann Friedrich Reichardt (2021), and Paul Desmond (2022)

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Ethelbert Nevin (25 November 1862 – 17 February 1901) was an American pianist and composer whose works were once found in most American piano benches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Question of Taste

Nevin’s pieces, sweet and mild,

   And others sure to please,

Were found among the music piled

   Beside the upright’s keys;

And aunts and uncles purred and smiled

   To hear such things as these.

So how can it be reconciled

That Nevin came to be reviled

   By gradual degrees?

 

 

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Amy Grant (b. 25 November 1960) is an American singer-songwriter and musician best known for contemporary Christian songs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writer’s Block

After trials and curses,

  I find that I can’t

Write whimsical verses

   About Amy Grant.

 

 

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November 24 - Scott Joplin (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for November 25th are here: Scott Joplin (2019), Teddy Wilson (2020), Charles Theodore Pachelbel (2021), and Scott Joplin; Alfred Schnittke (2022)

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Scott Joplin (24 November 1868 – 1 April 1917) was a great American ragtime composer and pianist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Variations on an Admonition of Scott Joplin

“Do not play this piece fast. It is never right to play ragtime fast” -- Scott Joplin

(1)

Scott Joplin felt hurt and harassed

Whenever his rags were played fast;

He said, ”At that place

They lose all of their grace,”

Then he left the performance aghast.

(2)

“A ragtime should never be fast, – 

Because when they’re taken full blast;

They lose their refinement

Of rhythmic alignment,”  —-

(This piece of advice didn’t last.)

 

(3)

The ragtime should never be classed

As a genre that’s meant to be fast;

The suave syncopations

Of Joplin’s creations

Should recall a more temperate past.

 

 

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November 23 - Thomas Attwood; Ruth Etting (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for November 23rd are here: Krzysztof Penderecki (2019), Krzysztof Penderecki, Jerry Bock (2020),  Alfonso X of Castile (The Wise); Krzysztof Penderecki (2021), and Krzysztof Penderecki ; Manuel de Falla (2022)

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Thomas Attwood (23 November 1765 – 24 March 1838) was an English composer and organist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Underground Music

 

Attwood's funeral took place at St Paul's Cathedral on 31 March 1838. He is buried in the cathedral, in the crypt, under the organ.  -- Wikipedia

Mozart’s pupil Thomas Attwood

Never wrote an opus that would

    Be a thing posterity recalls.

Though today he is neglected

At his death he was respected,

And his grave can be inspected

    Underneath the organ of St. Paul’s.

 

 

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Ruth Etting (23 November 1896 – 24 September 1978) was an American singer and actress of the 1920s and 1930s, known as "America's sweetheart of song", she had over 60 hit recordings and worked in stage, radio, and film. -- adapted from Wikipedia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Variations on the Name of Etting

(1)

I can’t be too sure, but I’m betting

That you’re somewhat surprised to be getting,

For better or worse,

A nonsensical verse

On “The Sweetheart of Song” Miss Ruth Etting.

(2)

This blog doesn’t have any vetting,

So I hope that it isn’t upsetting

That the verses found here

Do not mention the career

Of that darling of show biz Ruth Etting.

 

 

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November 22 - Benjamin Britten (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for November 22nd are here: Benjamin Britten (2019), Cecil Sharp (2020),  Wilhelm Friedemann Bach; Stephen Hough (2022), and Gunther Schuller; Benjamin Britten (2022)

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Benjamin Britten (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976) was one of the leading British composers of the mid/late twentieth century.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fingerprints

There wasn’t a radical split in

The musical style of Britten;

The music we hear

From each stage in his career

Is clearly what Britten had written.

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Ceremony of Carols

When choirs are facing the perils

Of Benjamin Britten’s great “Carols”

They hope, when they contact the harpist,

That he’s kept his technique at his sharpest.

 

 

 

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