Tuesday, February 18, 2020

BLACK HISTORY MONTH, A CELEBRATION






BLACK HISTORY MONTH, A CELEBRATION
of
5 COMPOSERS, 5 STORIES, 5 CONTRIBUTIONS TO MUSIC


February is Black History Month. Although there is a dedicated month for celebration and appreciation, I’m sure this is not the only month you appreciate and celebrate the contributions of people of color.  The Michigan Philharmonic celebrates diversity and regularly programs music by composers of many different backgrounds.

It is hard to believe that there was a time of intense separation. Prior to that, different races held different levels of status in society. Black History Month is a time to recognize those throughout history who made and continue to make an impact in our world. There are SO many to name and thank for their contributions.

Here, we are going to focus on five African-American composers and musicians who paved the way for not only those of their own skin color, but inspired people of all backgrounds, for generations, showcasing their talents in less accepting times.


**Side note: the starred composers and their compositions have appeared on aa Michigan Philharmonic program


Let’s begin:

1.)    Joseph Bologne**

Joseph Bologne (pronounced *Bol-lawn-yay), or as we so lovingly call him, Joey Baloney,  :)  was dubbed “le Mozart noir,” or the Black Mozart, having reminded people of the talent and drive of the then-famous Mozart. He is remembered as the first black composer, having his work performed by orchestras around the world, including us, the Michigan Philharmonic. Mr. Bologne was born to a wealthy plantation owner and wrote many a compositions, some of which became very popular during his life. It has been said that Mozart envied him so much, it was theorized that the villainous black character, Monostatos, from Mozart’s the The Magic Flute was created after Bologne..can someone say petty??






2.)    Florence Price**

Florence Price was the first black woman to have her music performed by a major symphony orchestra (!!). One of her pieces was performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1933 and was highly accepted among citizens and respected just the same. A Chicago Daily News music critic described her piece and performance: 
           “a faultless work…[that] speaks its own message with           restraint and yet with passion…worthy of a place in the         regular symphonic repertoire.”

Imgine - 1933 - You go, girl!


3.)    Scott Joplin

Scott Joplin! You know Scott Joplin…maybe not by name, but you definitely know him by one or two of his songs. One of his most popular is “The Entertainer.” (click to listen). Mr. Joplin was dubbed the “King of Ragtime,” and rightfully so. He is seen as one of the most influential composers at the turn of the 20th century! * Please note, it does not say, most influential black composer – just composer. Joplin influenced composers of ALL races and backgrounds, especially after introducing his complex bass patterns and sporadic syncopation! His music, specifically “The Entertainer,” 
      is still extremely popular today.






4.)    William Grant Still **

William Grant Still – another familiar name, was dubbed “The Dean” of African American composers. As an African American composer, this gentleman had a lot of music firsts:

-first black composer to conduct a major American Symphony orchestra
-first black composer to have an opera produced by a major opera company, the New York City Opera Company
-first black composer to have a symphony performed by a leading orchestra (his “First Symphony”)
-first black composer to have an opera performed on national TV.

I only listed four things, but to be the first black composer to accomplish such feats is HUGE. This opened so many doors for future black composers, musicians, actors, EVERYTHING. What AWESOME accomplishments.
When he wasn’t busy, ya know, writing successful operas and symphonies, and being on TV, he found some extra free time to moonlight as an oboist, conductor, as well as a jazz arranger. What a guy!


5.)    Samuel Coleridge-Taylor**
You probably recognize his name from some of our marketing for our upcoming concert. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, (not to be confused with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the Romantic poet), was dubbed the “Black Mahler” by white musicians in New York. He lived a short life (1875-1912), but fought against racial prejudice throughout that time. Coleridge-Taylor skillfully married African folk music with classical music, creating pieces and patterns never heard before!

One of his pieces Danse Nègre from the African Suite, Op. 35, can be heard at the upcoming MAHLER MADNESS (details below).
The concert will also feature music of composer Jessica Hunt, where we explore a child’s view of heaven. Finishing up the show will be Gustav Mahler’s “Symphony No. 4 in G Major,” which is based on his own song “The Heavenly Life.” (We see what did here now, Nan, tying together composers and their pieces for a show….clever, clever!)





Only 5 black composers were mentioned here, but there are so many fantastic black composers, musicians, conductors, entertainers, and every other profession under the sun. We here at the Michigan Philharmonic honor and pay tribute to these creative individuals throughout the month of February and always. Thank you to the black composers and entertainers who opened the door to so many opportunities for generations to come.

We hope you learned something and expanded your musical horizons!

Until next time, Phil Fans!




MAHLER MADNESS
 Sunday, March 15, 2020
 2 PM
 First United Methodist Church, Plymouth

TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE!



Facts courtesy of: 
*We do not own any of the pictures, credit has been given to the respective owners

Friday, February 7, 2020

LET IT BE....BEATLES: THEIR SONGS AND THEIR STORIES



You know them, you love them, but DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET? Just kidding, these facts are no secret, but they may be some you’ve never known about this sensational group. With the upcoming concert, Let it Be! Beatles, it was only appropriate to talk about the concert and the songs that will be heard!

For this one, I went a little crazy, studying every song and researching specific facts and stories about them!  Enjoy.


The Michigan Philharmonic will be performing Let it Be! Beatles which is a concert full of the Fab Four’s greatest hits, some compiled into six different arrangements, two songs which will be played individually, all being performed to create ONE night of FAB FUN!





Arrangement #1: (Bob Lowden)

Remembering the Beatles
[Eleanor Rigby; Yesterday; A Hard Day’s Night; Fool on the Hill; Something; Please Please Me]




Album: Revolver
Written by: McCartney
About: A lonely spinster and the solitary priest who buries her. It was the group’s first song written in the first person AND their first on the subject of a named individual. When originally pitched to the band and Liverpool mate Pete Shotten, McCartney originally used the names Daisy Hawkins and Father McCartney in the songs (whhhhattt!). Shotton suggested McKenzie after picking it out of a phonebook (a what? Holy Retro!) After that, the whole band added a little something to the song. Starr suggested the Father was “Darning his socks,” and Harrison came up with the infamous “look at all the lonely people.” McCartney chose Eleanor Rigby, for Beatles’ Help! Costar Eleanor Bron and a store in Bristol (neat!). It peaked at #1 on September 24, 1966!


Yesterday


Album: Help!
Written By: McCartney
About: Here’s how the story goes; McCartney woke up one morning with the song’s music and lyrics fully formed. He thought he may have subconsciously stole the song from someone else, and took time to perform it for numerous people, using the phrase “Scrambled Eggs” as a placeholder until he arrived at “Yesterday.” This song was a pivotal work for the group, with the lyrics being something that most adults could embrace, “signaling a depth of introspection and a loss of innocence.” (DEEP). It peaked at #1 on October 9, 1965!

Paul 2, rest of Beatles 0






Album: A Hard Day’s Night
Written By: Lennon & McCartney
About: On the evening of April 13, 1964, Lennon wrote “A Hard Day’s Night,” the same day that director Dick Lester decided to name the Beatles’ first film that. Lennon wrote a majority of the songs for this album as well as the follow-up, Beatles for Sale. (Go John!). McCartney recalls Lennon offering to write the song, and coming back to the studio the following day with the completed song. The lyrics were written on the back of child’s birthday card – which is now in the British Museum in London! It peaked at #1 on August 1, 1964!




Album: Magical Mystery Tour
Written By: McCartney
About: Who’s the fool? Apparently the fool is the Maharishi (Indian guru), whose detractors dismissed him for his high-pitched laugh and constant smile. McCartney wrote the song while visiting his father. The arrangement may be simple, but the piece contained many overdubs. Engineer Ken Scott said it was NOT fun to get two tape machines to line up, the original track and the flute track were different speeds and HARD to line up! A GIANT round of applause for KEN!





Something


 Album: Abbey Road
Written By: Harrison
About: One of Harrison’s best songs, which is odd since Harrison uncharacteristically wrote it on the piano! The opening line comes from the James Taylor song “Something in the Way She Moves.” “Something” is said to be the second most covered Beatles’ song, after “Yesterday.” It peaked at #1 on November 29, 1969!







Album: Please Please Me
Written By: Lennon & McCartney
About: The Beatles’ second single, but it almost was not that way. Their manager wanted the group to record a teen bop written by a professional songwriter, but John and Paul offered this song instead. To compromise, their manager took the song, but advised them to speed it up to its known speed – and they did. It peaked at #1 on March 14, 1964!








Arrangement #2: (Henry Mancini)

Portrait of the Beatles
[All My Loving; And I Love Her; A Hard Day’s Night; Michelle; Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown); Yesterday]










Album: With the Beatles
Written By: Lennon & McCartney
About: In May 1963, The Beatles were on tour with Roy Orbison and McCartney penned the lyrics to this tune while en route to the next gig – was the first song he ever wrote the words first! (Fun fact!). Upon arriving at the next venue, Paul quickly found a piano backstage and picked out chords for it. He originally wanted the song to have a country-western flare, although it is more of a rock song, Harrison’s guitar solo gives it the twang McCartney originally envisioned.




 
If I Fell / And I Love Her single artwork
Album: A Hard Day’s Night
Written By: McCartney & Lennon
Album: McCartney was in love with actress Jane Asher in 1964 and soon moved in with her and her parents, where this song was written. McCartney was impressed with his own work and liked that he only mentions the title once throughout the song. The Beatles attempted to use their electric guitars, but opted for a gentler acoustic sound (good choice, fellas). It was criticized for being to repetitious, so they added a key change!! (God bless the F sharp minor to G minor, we got a song!)




“A Hard Day’s Night”

See above.




Michelle
 

Album: Rubber Soul
Written By: McCartney
About: This tune was inspired by music of the fifties and originally started as a joke, as McCartney saw some guy singing a French song at a party he attended. McCartney performed it as a party piece with nonsensical French lyrics, until Lennon knocked some sense into him and made it a proper tune (Thank you John!). With the help of Jan Vaughan, a friend’s wife, who was a French teacher, he was able to develop proper French lyrics for the song. The melody and bass are played simultaneously and was inspired by Chet Atkins’ style of finger-picking. Lennon suggested repeating the “I love you” in the refrain, imitating Nina Simone’s version of “I Put a Spell on You.”





Album: Rubber Soul
Written By: Lennon
About: Lennon wrote the song while vacationing with manager George Martin and their wives in the Swiss Alps. Martin broke his foot, causing the group to spend most of the trip indoors. Lennon used the time to write songs for Rubber Soul, this being one....and it was about one of Lennon’s extramarital affairs.




“Yesterday”

See above.





Arrangement #3: (Jack Bullock)

The Beatles Remembered
[Do You Want To Know A Secret?; From Me To You; I Saw Her Standing There; She Loves You]




Album: Please Please Me
Written By: Lennon & McCartney
About: Very lightweight, and perfect for the youngest Beatle, George Harrison to sing, as it suited his innocent demeanor. Lennon was the primary composer and wrote the tune Fall 1962, deriving the opening lines of the song from “I’m Wishing,” a song featured in Walt Disney’s 1937 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. (His mama used to sing it to him when he was younger….aw!)





 
Single Cover Art, Italy
*Was featured as a single, not included on a Beatles’ album
Written By: Lennon & McCartney
About: Third single written and first not to be included on an album. It was also the first to top all of the U.K. charts and was the start of Beatlemania! It was written on February 28, 1963 while on tour with Helen Shapiro.








Album: Please Please Me
Written By: Lennon & McCartney
About: Songwriting began in fall 1962 when McCartney started working out chords on an acoustic guitar. It was originally called “Seventeen,” and speculated to have been written for McCartney’s then-girlfriend Celia Mortimer, who was 17 at the time. The lyrics were completely finished a month later by Lennon and McCartney, changing the original line “she was just 17, never a beauty queen,” to the more suggestive “you to know what I mean,” which McCartney loved because we don’t know what he means (Silly guy). Another fun fact: the “one-two-three-four” count-in at the beginning of the song was added on the NINTH take of the song, to make it seem like it was recorded live. (ok sneaky petes)





*Was featured as a single, not included on a Beatles’ album
Written By: Lennon & McCartney
About: This song, was, and remains, the best-selling single in the U.K. It was written Summer ’63 right before a gig. McCartney had the idea to write it as an advice piece, rather than a traditional love song. The song was finished the following day. McCartney played it for his dad who said, “Couldn’t you sing, ‘She loves you. Yes! Yes! Yes!’?” (Should dad be getting some of these royalties???) Like most songs, to appeal to a wider audience and meet demand, it was recorded in German: “Sie Liebt Dich.”




Arrangement #4: (Calvin Custer)

The Best of the Beatles
[Got to Get You Into My Life; When I’m Sixty-Four; Michelle; Get Back]


 
Got To Get You Into My Life / Helter Skelter
album cover art
Album: Revolver
Written By: McCartney
About: McCartney was unsure how to go about this song – was not sure what he wanted the overall feel to be. At first he thought he would give it a more Motown flare, having the instruments loud with prominent harmonized vocals. Later on, McCartney wanted to add a brass section. INTERESTING: to record the brass section, Geoff Emerick, engineer, placed mics in the bells of the instrument and compressed the sound through the Fairchild limiter, giving them more of a punch and clarity, which was rarely heard on ANY recording up until this diddy.



Fairchild Limiter





Album: Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Written By: McCartney
About: This was one of McCartney’s first songs he had ever written…..and he wrote it when he was, wait for it, 16. It was never really part of the early Beatles’ repertoire, but they would play it every now and again to kill some time. It’s speculated Young McCartney wrote it about his own father, James, who at the time was 64, written in a jazzier style, which would have been inspired by the music he listened to as a child and the music his musician father....being a jazz musician.



“Michelle”

See above.



Get Back


Album: Let It Be
Written By: McCartney
About: Written during a loose jam session, with the “get back to where you once belonged” line being inspired by Harrison’s song “Sour Milk Sea,” written for Jackie Lomax (where Paul played Bass). It was written as a parody to some racist attitudes held by some in the UK, however, the final version of the song centers around Jo Jo and Loretta Martin, both in the middle of transitions. Jo Jo is searching for a home and Loretta is questioning her gender identity.







Roger Holmes, Arrangement #5:




Album: Please Please Me
Written By: Phil Medley, Burt Berns, & Bert Russell
About: Written in 1961 under the name “Shake It Up Baby.” It was recorded by the Isley Brothers in 1962 under the name “Shout.” To capitalize on the success, Berns retitled the track to “Twist and Shout,” taking advantage of the popular dance craze the Twist. It peaked at #2 on April 4, 1964.








Arrangement #6: (Ted Ricketts)

Hello, Goodbye (Songs of the Beatles in Concert)
[Can’t Buy Me Love; Hello, Goodbye; Penny Lane; Ticket to Ride]


 
You Can't Do That / Can't Buy Me Love
cover art
Album: Please Please Me
Written By: McCartney
About: Written at the height of Beatlemania, this song demonstrated how fast the Beatles worked. McCartney wrote the song in January 1964 while touring with the band in Paris, where they had a 19-day residency. At the end of January, they recorded the song in under an hour, in just FOUR takes! It peaked at #1 on April 4, 1964.

A number one and number two on the SAME DAY. Madness! No MANIA, Beatlemania!




 
Hello Goodbye / I Am The Walrus
cover art
Album: Magical Mystery Tour
Written By: McCartney
About: It’s about duality, with a message to be more positive. Side note: Lennon did not like the song….AT ALL. That or he was just a little upset this song was chosen over his song “I am the Walrus,” which appeared on the album’s B-side (look up how an album works, kids). This song peaked at #1 on December 30, 1967!







Penny Lane
 
Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane
cover art
Album: Magical Mystery Tour
Written By: Lennon & McCartney
About: It was a short bus ride around Liverpool that provided the inspiration for this song. The lyrics were based on McCartney and Lennon’s childhood memories. The song was written and recorded, but something was missing. The missing piece to the Penny Lane puzzle was discovered upon Paul watching a performance of Bach’s Brandenburg Concert No. 2 in F Major, which featured David Mason on piccolo trumpet, prompting McCartney to add in the trumpet part. Fun Fact: David Mason was hired to perform the trumpet flourishes and solo on this song! This song peaked at #1 on March 18, 1967! (*Click Here to listen to David Mason talk about his experience with the Beatles).






 
Ticket To Ride / Yes It Is
cover art
Album: Help!
Written By: Lennon & McCartney
About: This tune was a sign of the time, symbolizing the emerging youth culture, with sexually confident women being a recurring theme within the Beatles’ music in 1965. Here, the tune is about a women who can’t be tied down. Interestingly, this song featured one of the heaviest rhythms heard in rock and roll up to that time, not to mention the pretty innovative fade-out. McCartney said they “almost invented the idea…it was quite radical at the time.”








Arrangement #7: (Bruce Healey)

Love is All You Need (A Tribute to the Beatles)
[All My Loving; All You Need is Love; Blackbird; Can’t Buy Me Love; Come Together; Day Tripper; Here Comes the Sun; If I Fell; Lady Madonna; Let It Be; Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da; Something; Yesterday]



“All My Loving”

See above.




 
All You Need Is Love / Baby, You're a Rich Man
cover art
Album: Magical Mystery Tour
Written By: Lennon
About: The song was commissioned by Britain and required the Beatles to write a song to represent Britain for Our World, which was the first live global television link with artists from 19 nations representing their countries. Lennon responded with a message he thought would be universally understood and appreciated. The original song was recorded with an orchestra and background singers. Care to guess who was one of the background singers? (Answer: Mick Jagger). It peaked at #1 on August 19, 1967!



Blackbird


Album: The Beatles (The White Album)
Written By: McCartney
About: This song was inspired musically by Bach’s Bourée in E Minor, and was written as a tribute to the U.S. civil rights movement. The blackbird of the title is meant to represent a black woman, a song that was written from him to her, who was experiencing the problems in the states.









“Can’t Buy Me Love”

See above.





 
Something / Come Together
cover art
Album: Abbey Road
Written: Lennon
About: This song was written in 1969 for the campaign of psychologist and pro-psychedelics activist Timothy Leary, who was running for governor of California at the time. Leary’s slogan was “Come together, join the party,” from which Lennon derived the title and theme. Leary was then imprisoned on a pot charge, so Lennon gave the song to the Beatles.








Day Tripper


We Can Work It Out / Day Tripper
cover art

*Was featured as a single, not included on a Beatles’ album
Written By: Lennon & McCartney
About: It was October 1965, and the Beatles were just about to release their album Rubber Soul, when they were told they needed to come up with a single to accompany the album release (what..). Lennon and McCartney quickly came up with this tune, reworking a blues number Lennon was working on earlier that month. The song is in reference who have a “casual interest in drugs,” hence Day Tripper. The song peaked at #1 January 22, 1965, but only for a short while before Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence” took its place.







Album: Abbey Road
Written By: Harrison
About: Harrison wrote the song while relaxing at Eric Clapton’s garden (as one does). He took the day off from the Beatles to relax. While walking through the garden, accompanied by one of Clapton’s acoustic guitars, Harrison wrote “Here Comes the Sun.”





If I Fell
 
And I Love Her / If I Fell
cover art, Italy
Album: A Hard Day’s Night
Written By: Lennon & McCartney
About: Lennon wrote the song with the assistance of McCartney, making it one of the few ballads Lennon would ever write for the Beatles (seeing as he liked writing those rockers quite a bit more). This song is interesting, as it contains a preamble—or intro verse that is not repeated anywhere else in the song. In fact, it does not even sound like the rest of the song—pretty neat. In classic Lennon style, he wrote this song on the back of a Valentine’s card. (someone keep this man away from Hallmark). This tune also went #1 shortly after being released in the UK. (of course it did)




 
Lady Madonna single cover art
*Was featured as a single, not included on a Beatles’ album
Written By: McCartney
About: McCartney found inspiration from a boogie-woogie tune by Humphrey Lyttleton called “Bad Penny Blues,” and drew this vocal styling from Fats Domino. The concept of the song is taking the Virgin mother and applying that concept to the hardships faced by women raising a family and making ends meet.  Here’s something interesting: unlike all the other singles released, “Lady Madonna” was the first to not accompany an album release….how ‘bout that! Oh, and this one also peaked at #1 on the charts…how ‘bout that x2!




Let It Be

Album: Let It Be
Written By: McCartney
About: This song was written during the difficult White Album sessions. The “Mother Mary” mentioned in the song is often speculated as the holy mother, but is in fact a reference to McCartney's own mother, Mary, who died when he was only 14. The opening lyrics heard in this song refer to a dream in which she appears to him. On April 11, 1970, this song peaked at the #1 spot.




 
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
cover art, Italy
Album: The Beatles (The White Album)
Written By: McCartney
About: The phrase “ob la di, ob la da” is a Nigerian phrase that means “life goes on.” It was often said by McCartney’s Nigerian friend, Jimmy Scott, who was a conga player from the London club scene. McCartney worked hard at trying to make this song the Beatles’ next single, but it was not turning out the way he wanted. After SEVERAL grueling rehearsals, the band ended up with three different versions. McCartney settled for the second, which appears on this album.



“Something”

See above.




“Yesterday”

See above.




Arrangement #8: (Bill Holcombe)


“Hey Jude”
 
Hey Jude / Revolution
cover art, Italy & Yugoslavia
*Was featured as a single, not included on a Beatles’ album
Written By: McCartney
About: In 1968, Lennon was going through a divorce with his first wife Cynthia, and spending a lot more time with his new girlfriend, Yoko Ono. The divorce was understandably hard on Lennon’s five-year-old son Julian. McCartney was close to Julian and spent time each week with him. One day while driving, McCartney came up with the line “Hey Jules, don’t take it bad,” later changing the name to Jude. The rest is history. This song peaked at #1 on September 28, 1968!




Welp, you've reached the end. I hope you enjoyed this piece and have gained a deeper appreciation for the Beatles and SOME their songs, I know I have. 



Let It Be - Beatles
SOLD OUT

Saturday, February 15, 2020
7:30 PM
The Village Theatre
Canton, Michigan




Facts courtesy of

Scapelliti, C. The Beatles: The Story Behind Every Album & Song. Harris Publications, Inc. New York. 2015.