March 27 - Mariah Carey (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for March 27th may be found here: Antonio Squarcialupi (2019), Sarah Vaughan, Patty Smith Hill; Ben Webster (2021), Ferde Grofé (2022), and Vincent d'Indy (2023)

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

 

Mariah Carey (b. 27 March 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variations on a Holiday Theme of Mariah Carey

(1)

Those who work retail are weary and wary

Of the songs of Mariah (“she’s everywhere”) Carey.

  

(2)

Those who work retail

Remember each detail

  Of “All I Want for Christmas is You”.

It’s the song of the season,

And the primary reason,

  That they’re glad when the season is through.

 

 

 

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

 

 

March 26 - Rufus Thomas; Pierre Boulez (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous postings for March 26th may be found here: Pierre Boulez (2019), Diana Ross; Pierre Boulez (2020), Pierre Boulez (2021), (2022), and (2023)

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

 

Rufus Thomas (26 March 1917 – 15 December 2001) was an American rhythm-and-blues, funk, soul, and blues singer, songwriter, dancer, DJ, and comic entertainer. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s Not You, It’s Me

 

His dance records, including "Walking the Dog" (1963), "Do the Funky Chicken" (1969) were some of his most successful songs.  --adapted from Wikipedia

The urge to do the funky chicken

Is not an urge with which I’m stricken.

It’s hard to be a funky avian

When your blood is Scandinavian.

 

 

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

 

Pierre Boulez (26 March 1925 – 5 January 2016) was one of the foremost composers and conductors of his time. 

 

(Note: These verses have previously appeared on Schoenberg's birthday 13 September 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afterlife

(i)

When Boulez said,"Schoenberg is dead,"

He couldn't quite mean what he said:

Though sisters and brothers

Spurn fathers and mothers,

They can’t keep them out of their head.

(ii)

When Boulez wrote, "Schoenberg is dead

Go listen to Webern instead."

It came as a shock

To the serial flock

Who could hardly believe what they read.

 

 

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

 

  

 

March 25 - Bela Bartók; Johann Adolf Hasse (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for March 25th may be found here:  Béla Bartók (2019), Anita Bryant; Elton John (2020), Aretha Franklin; Arturo Toscanini (2021), Arturo Toscanini (2022), and Haydn Wood (2023)

 

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

 

Béla Bartók (25 March 1881 – 26 September 1945) was a Hungarian composer, pianist and ethnomusicologist. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practical Ethnomusicology

 

Bartok's compositional command of folk elements is expressed in such an authentic and undiluted a manner because of the scales, sounds, and rhythms that were so much a part of his native Hungary that he automatically saw music in these terms.  -- Wikipedia

Bela Bartók’s rhythmic verve,

  And his scalar complication,

Come from efforts to preserve

  The folk songs of the Magyar nation.

 

 

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

 

Johann Adolph Hasse (bapt. 25 March 1699 – 16 December 1783)was an 18th-century German composer, singer and teacher of music. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Married Life

 

They were described by the famous librettist Metastasio as "truly an exquisite couple". -- Wikipedia, s.v. "Faustina Bordoni" 

 

Musical success was fed

  By matrimony,

When Johann Adolf Hasse wed

  Faustina Bordoni.

 

 

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

 

 

March 24 - Byron Janis (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous post for March 24th may be found here: Maria Malibran (2019), (2020), Fanny Crosby (2021), Elsa Respighi; John Antes (2022), and Maria Malibran (2023)

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

 

Byron Janis (24 March 1928 –14  March 2024) was an American classical pianist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gone But Not Forgotten: 1928-2024

I write for birthdays, so I’m wary

Of penning an obituary.

But just this once, my birthday column

Treats a subject grave and solemn.

For Byron Janis now has died.

(This fact was noted far and wide).

Byron Janis, at his age,

Had long since given up the stage,

And it is not, perhaps, unkind

That in your mental list you find

That other pianists come to mind,

But if you own his old LPs

You purchased in your youth where he’s

Heard in virtuoso splendor, –

Drop the needle, and surrender.

 

 

 

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