A dedication to Gurn on his upcoming birthday

[Florestan]

In the tradition of Liszt's paraphrases, here's one on Wordsworth's The Tables Turned, dedicated to my, and our, good friend Gurn Blanston.

Up! up! my Friend, and quit your books
On Haydn and rhetoric:
Up! up! my Friend, and clear your looks;
Let's have it more plethoric.

Sonata form! an endless strife:
Come, hear the Huns in battle,
How sweet the music! on my life,
With BPO and Rattle.

And hark! how blithe Herr Wagner sings!
He, too, is no mean preacher:
Put tubas far above the strings,
Let Berlioz be your teacher.

Liszt has a world of pictures full,
Our ears and hearts to bless—
He's at his best when breaks the rule,
And brings excessiveness.

Four hundreds bars from Mahler's Third
May teach you more of man,
Of flowers, of angels and of birds
Than Papa Joseph can.

Sweet are the tunes which Bruckner brings;
Your Classic f'naticism
Informs the cruelest of things:—
To hate Romanticism.

Enough of Sonata and Form;
Join Karl and me and Sarge;
Come forth, and wallow in the storm
Of passions written large.



Happy Birthday, Gurn!

[Opus106]

Very nicely done, Andrei. But will he?

And here I was planning to listen to Hob. 1/61 in his honour.

[Brahmsian]

Happy Birthday to you (early one, that is), dear Gurn!

Thank you so much for your advice last year.

I am now thriving in a wonderful job, for a great company, great people, in a new challenging and very exciting and interesting role! 

[Brian]

Excellently done, Florestan! A wonderful poem; Gurn certainly will not be able to resist.  0:)

[bhodges]

Excellently done, Florestan! A wonderful poem; Gurn certainly will not be able to resist.  0:)

I agree, such a lovely tribute! (However, though the thesis is well-intended, I doubt that any of the other names mentioned in the poem will be able to dislodge Haydn.    )

--Bruce

[springrite]

Perhaps it would be even more appropriate for Gurn if we use composers most listeners have never explored instead of the usual suspects, no?

Up! up! my Friend, and quit your books
On Pichl and rhetoric:
Up! up! my Friend, and clear your looks;
Let's have it more plethoric.

Sonata form! an endless strife:
Come, hear the Huns in battle,
How sweet the music! on my life,
With BPO and Rattle.

And hark! how blithe Herr Marschner sings!
He, too, is no mean preacher:
Put tubas far above the strings,
Let Kozeluch be your teacher.

Sorabji has a world of pictures full,
Our ears and hearts to bless—
He's at his best when breaks the rule,
And brings excessiveness.

Four hundreds bars from Sauguet's Third
May teach you more of man,
Of flowers, of angels and of birds
Than Papa Joseph can.

Sweet are the tunes which Brian brings;
Your Classic f'naticism
Informs the cruelest of things:—
To hate Romanticism.

Enough of Sonata and Form;
Join Karl and me and Sarge;
Come forth, and wallow in the storm
Of passions written large.

[SonicMan46]

Gurn - HAPPY BIRTHDAY & best wishes for many more to follow!  Dave 

[Brian]

Can't help noticing Florestan's birthday is a day before Gurn's!

[kishnevi]

Happy Birthday to both Andrei and Gurn, early, belated, or whatever.....

Santa Bach assures you that both of you birthday boys are on his "Nice" list.

[Florestan]

Can't help noticing Florestan's birthday is a day before Gurn's!

Happy Birthday to both Andrei and Gurn, early, belated, or whatever.....

Santa Bach assures you that both of you birthday boys are on his "Nice" list.

Thank you, guys! 

[Karl Henning]

Woo-hoo!

[mc ukrneal]

I agree, such a lovely tribute! (However, though the thesis is well-intended, I doubt that any of the other names mentioned in the poem will be able to dislodge Haydn.    )

--Bruce

And Happy B-day to you too! And to Gurn and Florestan and to all the others on that day (there are a bunch!)...

[Gurn Blanston]

Aw, you guys....   

Thanks for the kind wishes though. And that poem.

I'm grateful that this little pome
was shorter than a Wagner epic.
But Mahler Lied nor Tolstoy tome
can stir me from the truly Classic.

Just sayin'.... 

Hey, other than Florestan (on the 13th) and myself, there is yet another birthday on the 14th. 'fess up, Bruce.

[bhodges]

And Happy B-day to you too! And to Gurn and Florestan and to all the others on that day (there are a bunch!)...

Why, thank you! 

Aw, you guys....   

Thanks for the kind wishes though. And that poem.

I'm grateful that this little pome
was shorter than a Wagner epic.
But Mahler Lied nor Tolstoy tome
can stir me from the truly Classic.

Just sayin'.... 

Hey, other than Florestan (on the 13th) and myself, there is yet another birthday on the 14th. 'fess up, Bruce.

(I like that little reply poem.  )

Busted!    Am honored to share the natal anniversary with such fine folks.

--Bruce

[Karl Henning]

Let us now celebrate our esteemèd Gurn,
For the Classical Graces his spirit doth burn.
Than any other biped yet alive,
He may well have more recordings of the Opus 125.
And of recordings of Haydn, if they be PI,
Scarce a one doth he not own, which I might descry.
Not the eagle in her eyrie, nor the sparrow on his perch,
Could seek more sharply, when Gurn doth refine his search.

[Florestan]

I'm grateful that this little pome
was shorter than a Wagner epic.
But Mahler Lied nor Tolstoy tome
can stir me from the truly Classic.

My dear Gurn, if you would give
Romanticism a chance,
I'd drink to you!... and dance!...
But would Haydn believe 't?

EDIT: Time concordance modified for better, I hope... 

Am honored to share the natal anniversary with such fine folks.

Likewise, Bruce!

[Brian]

There once was a man named Joe Biden
Who took many sports cars a-ridin'
Ask him what to play
On a joy-riding day
Nothing says cruisin' like Haydn!

...sorry, that makes no sense. 

[RJR]

Excuse the belated birthday greeting. When I saw the topic was your birthday I immediately heard the Ode to Joy in my head. Freude Schone Gotterfunken...

[Gurn Blanston]

Excuse the belated birthday greeting. When I saw the topic was your birthday I immediately heard the Ode to Joy in my head. Freude Schone Gotterfunken...

Thank you so much, and an apt verse it was.

[Karl Henning]

Huzzah for our Gurn!