The Musical Birthday Series - March 12 - Thomas Augustine Arne

In honor of Thomas Augustine Arne's (12 March 1710– 5 March 1778) birthday, here is the first verse of "Rule, Britannia!" re-written as a limerick.

Britannia Redux

When Britain at Heaven’s command

Arose from the watery strand,

Britannia vowed

To never be bowed,

Or cumbered in slavery’s band.

(original text from The Poetical Works of James Thomson [Boston, 1854], from my collection)

The Musical Birthday Series - March 11 - Carl Ruggles

The complete works of American composer Carl Ruggles (March 11, 1876 – October 24, 1971) were recorded on only two LPS, so it seemed appropriate that his birthday verse be terse.

Short… (and Sweet?)

Nobody snuggles

To music by Ruggles.

The Musical Birthday Series - March 10 - John Bacchus Dykes

John Bacchus Dykes (10 March 1823 – 22 January 1876) was the composer of such beloved hymn tunes as "Holy, Holy, Holy," "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee," and "Eternal Father, Strong to Save," so I thought that today we should sing about him.

The Musical Birthday Series - March 9 - Martin Shaw

Martin Shaw (9 March 1875 – 24 October 1958) remains well-known and beloved by church musicians, but largely forgotten by everyone else. Let's celebrate!

Need a carol?

Take a look

In the famous

Oxford Book.

If you liked what

There you saw,

Give high fives to

Martin Shaw.

The Musical Birthday Series - March 8 - Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

Today is the birthday of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (8 March 1714 – 14 December 1788).

Son of a...

C. P. E. Bach,

Of musical stock,

Was not just another

Musical brother

Because of his zeal

For the empfindsamer Stil.

The Musical Birthday Series - March 7 - John Wilbye

Technically, today is John Wilbye's baptismal day, but we're going to celebrate anyway (baptized 7 March 1574 – September 1638).

Elizabethan Limerick (You’ve Got Me on the Go)

The singers at Queen Bess’s court

In need of a song for her sport,

Asked, “Prithee, John Wilbye

How much would the bill be

For a madrigal snappy and short?”

The Musical Birthday Series - March 6 - Oscar Straus

Today we honor Viennese composer Oscar Straus ( (6 March 1870 – 11 January 1954)

The Chocolate Soldier by Oscar Straus

Was once the global rage

But now it’s rare for an opera house

To mount it on the stage

Confectionary bullets are

No longer cause for smiles;

The operetta repertoire

No longer fills the aisles.

Envoi

And thus, alas, it goes with fame.

Sic transit, as they say:

A solid hit’s as fragile as

A chocolate soufflé.