August

31 August

August 31st

Thomas Pitts Austria, Europe, Music August, Four Songs for Soprano and Orchestra, Mahler

Alma Mahler 31 August 1879 – 11 December 1964

Four Songs for Soprano and Orchestra

Alma Mahler
By Atelier D’Ora-Benda[1] – Flashbak, PD-US, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=65076748

Alma Mahler-Werfel was born on 31 August 1879 in Vienna, Austria. She was a remarkable composer, author, and socialite, known for her music as well as her influential relationships with famous artists. From a young age, Alma was passionate about music and began composing songs for voice and piano. Though many of her works have been lost, 17 songs are still known today.

Alma married renowned composer Gustav Mahler in 1902. Their marriage was marked by complexity, as Mahler did not encourage Alma to continue her composing career. Following his death in 1911, she had a passionate affair with the artist Oskar Kokoschka before marrying architect Walter Gropius in 1915. During her life, Alma continued to inspire and support many artists, hosting gatherings that became famous cultural events.

When Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, she and her Jewish husband, Franz Werfel, fled to France and later settled in Los Angeles.

30 August

August 30th

Thomas Pitts England, Europe, Music August, Loder, Voyage Joyeux

Kate Loder 21 August 1825 – 30 August 1904

Voyage Joyeux

Kate Loder
By Lawrence Alma-Tadema – Art UK, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31945849

Kate Fanny Loder, later known as Lady Thompson, was born on 21 August 1825 in Bath, Somerset. She came from a musical family; her father, George Loder, was a flautist, and her mother was likely a piano teacher. Kate showed great talent from a young age and studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. At just 17, she made her public debut performing Mendelssohn’s G minor piano concerto. In 1844, she made history as the first female professor of harmony at the Royal Academy.

On 16 December 1851, Kate married Henry Thompson, a prominent surgeon, and eventually stepped back from public performances. Despite this, she continued to compose music and taught many students, including the notable artist Sarah Louisa Kilpack. They had three children: Kate, Henry, and Helen.

In her later years, Kate experienced health issues but remained passionate about music. She passed away on 30 August 1904. In 1871, she hosted the first British performance of Brahms’ German Requiem at her home, showcasing her lasting influence on music.

29 August

August 29th

Thomas Pitts Music, North America, United States of America August, Confirmation, Parker

Charlie Parker 29 August 1920 – 12 March 1955

Confirmation

Charlie Parker
By William P. Gottlieb – https://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/4843755786/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20705291

Charles Parker Jr., known as “Bird”, was an American jazz musician born on August 29, 1920. He played the alto saxophone and became one of the most important figures in jazz history. Parker was a key developer of bebop, a style of jazz that is fast-paced and highly intricate. His innovative approach introduced new rhythms, fast chord changes, and unique harmony in his music.

Parker was raised in Kansas City, where he began playing the saxophone at the age of 11. His love for music grew as he joined local jazz bands and participated in jam sessions. He faced many challenges, including his father’s struggles with alcoholism and his own addiction to drugs later in life. Despite these challenges, Parker’s talent shone through and he made significant contributions to music.

His compositions, such as “Yardbird Suite” and “Ornithology”, are still celebrated today. Parker’s music transformed jazz into an expressive art form and he inspired many musicians.

28 August

August 28th

Thomas Pitts Europe, Music, Russia August, Lyadov, The Enchanted Lake

Anatoly Lyadov 12 May [O.S. 30 April] 1855 – 28 August [O.S. 15 August] 1914

The Enchanted Lake

Anatoly Lyadov
Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1087974

Anatoly Konstantinovich Lyadov was a Russian composer and conductor, born on 12 May 1855 in St. Petersburg. He grew up in a musical family, learning from his step-father, a conductor. Lyadov enrolled at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, initially studying piano and violin, but later focused on composition. He became known for his remarkable talent and joined a group of composers called The Five. Lyadov taught many future musicians at the conservatory, including Sergei Prokofiev, and was known for his precise teaching style.

Despite his talent, Lyadov published few compositions, partly due to his self-doubt. Among his works, the most famous is the tone poem “The Enchanted Lake.” Lyadov’s music often embraced Russian themes and showcased his love for orchestral colour. Although he struggled with large-scale projects, his contributions to music are still appreciated today. He passed away in 1914, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire musicians around the world.

27 August

August 27th

Thomas Pitts England, Europe, Music August, Clarke, Viola Sonata

Rebecca Clarke 27 August 1886 – 13 October 1979

Viola Sonata

Rebecca Clarke
By Hopkins Studio, Denver, Colorado, United States – Smaller version: http://saintpaulsunday.publicradio.org/featured_artists/rebeccaclarke.html; Larger version: http://www.fingerlakeschamberensemble.org/1.11.09.html, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4525642

Rebecca Helferich Clarke was a notable British composer and violist born on 27 August 1886 in Harrow, England. She grew up in a musical family, with her father being American and her mother German. Clarke showed talent from a young age, beginning her music studies at the Royal Academy of Music and later at the Royal College of Music. As one of the first female professional orchestral players in London, she broke barriers in a male-dominated field.

During her career, Clarke wrote many beautiful pieces for viola, which showcased her exceptional skills as a performer. Her renowned works include the Viola Sonata and Morpheus, composed under the pseudonym ‘Anthony Trent.’ After World War II, she moved to the United States and married composer James Friskin. Although she composed fewer pieces later in life, her legacy continued to grow. In 2000, the Rebecca Clarke Society was established to honour her music and ensure it is played for generations to come. Clarke died on 13 October 1979.

26 August

August 26th

Thomas Pitts England, Europe, Music August, Five Variants of Dives & Lazarus, The Lark Ascending, Vaughan Williams

Ralph Vaughan Williams 12 October 1872 – 26 August 1958

Five Variants of Dives & Lazarus

The Lark Ascending

Ralph Vaughan Williams
By E. O. Hoppé – The Bookman 61 (361), p. 48, PD-US, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64804985

Ralph Vaughan Williams was an influential English composer born on 12 October 1872. His expansive body of work includes nine symphonies, operas, and choral music, reflecting his deep connection to English folk song and Tudor music. Vaughan Williams’s approach marked a significant shift in British music away from the German styles that dominated the 19th century. Despite coming from a well-off family, he believed that music should be accessible to everyone. He wrote many pieces for amateur performers and students, aiming to share his passion for music with all.

He started composing music in earnest in his thirties, a turning point aided by his studies with the French composer Maurice Ravel, which helped him clarify his musical style. Two of his most famous pieces are “Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis” and “The Lark Ascending.” Vaughan Williams’s compositions display a wide range of emotions and are celebrated for their ability to connect deeply with the listener.

25 August

August 25th

Thomas Pitts Czech Republic, Europe, Music August, Řídký, Slavnostní Pochod

Jaroslav Řídký 25 August 1897 – 14 August 1956

Slavnostní Pochod Ceremonial March

Jaroslav Řídký
By neznámí – http://www.digitalniknihovna.cz/mzk/view/uuid:939e20b0-042e-11e7-bff9-005056825209?page=uuid:4e313d50-24e5-11e7-a890-005056822549&fulltext=Jaroslav%20%C5%98%C3%ADdk%C3%BD, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=86422307

Jaroslav Řídký, a notable Czech composer, conductor, harpist, and music teacher, was born on 25 August 1897 in Reichenberg, now known as Liberec. He studied at the Prague Conservatory from 1919 to 1923 under prominent teachers such as Josef Bohuslav Foerster. After his studies, Řídký dedicated himself to teaching at the Conservatory from 1924 until 1949, while also playing the harp for the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra for several years. In addition to his work as a musician, he conducted the Philharmonic choir during the late 1920s.

Řídký composed a wide variety of works, including seven symphonies, concertos, and chamber music. His compositions reflect a traditional style influenced by romanticism and later neo-classical elements. In 1954, he was awarded the National Prize for his Piano Concerto Op. 46, demonstrating his significant contribution to Czech music. Řídký passed away on 14 August 1956 in Poděbrady, leaving behind a rich legacy in the world of classical music.

24 August

August 24th

Thomas Pitts Music, North America, United States of America August, Prima, Sing Sing Sing (With a Swing)

Louis Prima December 7, 1910 – August 24, 1978

Sing,Sing,Sing (With a Swing)

Louis Prima
By William P. Gottlieb – This image has been extracted from another file, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15641500

Louis Prima was an American trumpeter and singer born in 1910 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up in a musical Italian-American family, with his mother ensuring that he learned to play instruments. He initially played the violin before discovering jazz and the trumpet. In the 1930s, Prima formed his own jazz band, blending different styles of music, including jazz and swing. He famously recorded the piece “Sing, Sing, Sing,” which became a huge hit for Benny Goodman.

Throughout his career, Prima embraced his Sicilian roots by incorporating Italian music and language into his songs, which was quite unique at the time. He performed in various venues, including lively clubs in Las Vegas, where he became a popular entertainer. One of his most notable achievements was providing the voice for King Louie, an orangutan in Disney’s “The Jungle Book.” Prima’s vibrant personality and fusion of styles left a lasting impact on the world of music, influencing many artists who followed.

23 August

August 23rd

Thomas Pitts England, Europe, Music August, Carthy, Cobblers Hornpipe

Eliza Carthy Born 23 August 1975

Cobblers Hornpipe

Eliza Carthy
By Maybesometime – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15474067

Eliza Amy Forbes Carthy, MBE, is a celebrated English folk musician born on 23 August 1975 in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. She is known for her beautiful singing and impressive fiddle playing. Eliza grew up in a family steeped in music, as her parents, Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson, are both folk musicians. At the age of thirteen, she formed a group called the Waterdaughters with her mother, aunt, and cousin, showcasing her talent early on.

Eliza began her professional career at 17, touring as a musician. Over the years, she has released several albums and won many awards, including the Radio 2 Folk Awards, where she won ‘Folk Singer of the Year’. Eliza also collaborated with well-known artists, demonstrating her versatility in music. In 2014, she was awarded an MBE for her contributions to folk music. Eliza’s passion for her craft continues to inspire many young musicians today.

22 August

August 22nd

Thomas Pitts Europe, France, Music August, Debussy, Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, Suite bergamasque

Claude Debussy 22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918

Suite bergamasque L75

Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune L.86 (1)

Claude Debussy
By Adam Cuerden – This file comes from Gallica Digital Library and is available under the digital ID btv1b53118843k/f1, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=144077576

Achille Claude Debussy was a renowned French composer born on 22 August 1862 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Recognised for his innovative style, he is often associated with Impressionism, although he rejected this label. Debussy displayed musical talent early on, entering the prestigious Conservatoire de Paris at just ten years old, where he studied piano and composition.

His groundbreaking opera, Pelléas et Mélisande, premiered in 1902 and earned him international acclaim. Debussy’s compositions include orchestral works like Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune and La mer. He sought to break free from traditional symphonic forms, favouring evocative imagery in his music. Inspired by a range of influences, including Russian and Eastern music, he developed unique harmonies that challenged the musical norms of his time.

Debussy’s music continues to inspire many composers today, leaving a significant mark on the world of classical music.