13 September 25

Today we are celebrating Mom Wilma Wollenweber's 96th birthday (coming up on 16 September)! She asked me to wear my bright red music tie. We will have dinner and a party with her three children, three of her grandchildren and seven of her great-grandchildren. She lives in her own condo in Richmond, and she has excellent home helpers through the occupational therapy program at EKU.

26 October 23

Today's bright red music tie celebrates the birthday of more than a score (haha) of musicians: Hans Buchner (1483), Domenico Scarlatti (1685), Johan Helmich Roman (1694), Joaquin de Oxinaga (1719), Ernest Louis Muller (1740), Louis Charles-Joseph Rey (1758), Joseph Mayseder (1789), Nicolaos Mantzaros (1795), Henry Thomas Smart (1813), Stefano Golinelli (1818), Polibo Fumagalli (1830), Hendrick Waelput (1845), Arthur Friedheim (1859), Joseph Moorat (1864), Hermann Lohr (1871), Gustav Hermann Unger (1886), Beryl Rubinstein (1898), Giovanni Salviucci (1907), Mahalia Jackson (1911), Hans Peter Haller (1929), Hans-Joachim Rödelius (1934), Dietmar Polaczek (1942), Keith Hopwood (1946), Bootsy Collins (1951) and Keith Urban (1967). Three other celebrities not known for music are Felix the Cat (1917), Pat Sajak (1946) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (1947).

26 October 22

More than a "score" of musicians have birthdays on 26 October: Hans Buchner (1483), Domenico Scarlatti (1685), Johan Helmich Roman (1694), Joaquin de Oxinaga (1719), Ernest Louis Muller (1740), Louis Charles-Joseph Rey (1758), Joseph Mayseder (1789), Nicolaos Mantzaros (1795), Henry Thomas Smart (1813), Stefano Golinelli (1818), Polibo Fumagalli (1830), Hendrick Waelput (1845), Arthur Friedheim (1859), Joseph Moorat (1864), Hermann Lohr (1871), Gustav Hermann Unger (1886), Beryl Rubinstein (1898), Giovanni Salviucci (1907), Mahalia Jackson (1911), Hans Peter Haller (1929), Hans-Joachim Rödelius (1934), Dietmar Polaczek (1942), and Keith Hopwood (1946). Three others not known for music are Felix the Cat (1917), Pat Sajak (1946) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (1947).

26 October 21

Those born on 26 October probably have no special proclivity to become musicians. But a few years ago I noted more than a "score" of musicians' names on a list of birthdays for this date, and I'm repeating that list here: Hans Buchner (1483), Domenico Scarlatti (1685), Johan Helmich Roman (1694), Joaquin de Oxinaga (1719), Ernest Louis Muller (1740), Louis Charles-Joseph Rey (1758), Joseph Mayseder (1789), Nicolaos Mantzaros (1795), Henry Thomas Smart (1813), Stefano Golinelli (1818), Polibo Fumagalli (1830), Hendrick Waelput (1845), Arthur Friedheim (1859), Joseph Moorat (1864), Hermann Lohr (1871), Gustav Hermann Unger (1886), Beryl Rubinstein (1898), Giovanni Salviucci (1907), Mahalia Jackson (1911), Hans Peter Haller (1929), Hans-Joachim Rödelius (1934), Dietmar Polaczek (1942), and Keith Hopwood (1946). Three others not known for music are Felix the Cat (1917), Pat Sajak (1946) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (1947). My bright red tie was a present from Dave and Jill Allgier, when we were playing handbells together at Richmond First United Methodist Church in the early 2000s.

1 April 20

Celebrating the birthday (yesterday) of Johann Sebastian Bach! (1685-1750)

SDG

25 September 18

On this date in 1959, the song "Do-Re-Mi" was trademarked! It was featured in the movie "The Sound of Music," being sung by Maria (not-yet-von Trapp) and her young charges. Give yourself an earworm today with the tune and lyrics!

24 September 17

This is a very major musical day for Beth and me! First of all, I'm playing with the handbell choir at Somerset First Presbyterian Church as we offer the prelude,  a beautiful arrangement of "Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus)." Then we both have our regular musical "duties" during the worship service, and then head quickly back to Richmond to prepare for the 3 p.m. "Concert in the Key of C," a benefit for the St. Andrews Retirement Community (seeking donations to purchase "C"-curity Cameras for the Telford Terrace nursing home). Beth is playing piano and organ selections, and I am the master of ceremonies for the whole event. Of very special note -- haha -- for each of the selections for the Concert, I am wearing a different tie, coordinated with the music! Finally, at 6 p.m., I have my weekly visit with the residents of Telford Terrace where I retell Bible stories and sing several hymns. Truly "My Life Flows On In Endless Song."

26 October 16

Since every great musician and composer was born on one of the 366 days of the year, we can always find good reasons to celebrate music every single day! The list for 26 October includes Hans Buchner (1483), Domenico Scarlatti (1685), Johan Helmich Roman (1694), Joaquin de Oxinaga (1719), Ernest Louis Muller (1740), Louis Charles-Joseph Rey (1758), Joseph Mayseder (1789), Nicolaos Mantzaros (1795), Henry Thomas Smart (1813), Stefano Golinelli (1818), Polibo Fumagalli (1830), Hendrick Waelput (1845), Arthur Friedheim (1859), Joseph Moorat (1864), Hermann Lohr (1871), Gustav Hermann Unger (1886), Beryl Rubinstein (1898), Giovanni Salviucci (1907), Mahalia Jackson (1911), Hans Peter Haller (1929), Hans-Joachim Rödelius (1934), Dietmar Polaczek (1942), and Keith Hopwood (1946). Three others not known for music are Felix the Cat (1917), Pat Sajak (1946) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (1947).

9 September 15

Yesterday, my Aunt Grace York celebrated birthday number 102! She has a long history of singing with church choirs and community choruses, so I chose my "bright red music" tie to honor her today.

28 May 15

My niece Heather Joy Kleppinger Hammond was born on this date 40-some years ago! She likes my bright red music tie and requested that I wear it today.

24 November 14

Happy Birthday, Scott Joplin (1868-1917)! Today is also noteworthy (haha) as Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day. I guess one of my unique talents is uncovering obscure holidays.

1 April 14

Today's musical tie honors the 329th birthday (yesterday) of J. S. Bach (1685-1750).

25 April 13

Today in music: It's Ella Fitzgerald's birthday (1917)! More importantly for me, tonight I am helping Beth with a piano-and-organ concert to benefit an emergency generator project for McCready Manor, the assisted-living center at St. Andrew's Place in Richmond, KY. Beth's parents live in a condominium in the St. Andrew's community, and they suggested the idea of a concert to raise donations for the project. I am doing the stand-up "program notes" for Beth's music. The concert will be a lot of fun for us and for the audience!

24 February 13

Yesterday (Saturday) was the anniversary of the birth of G. F. Handel (1685). Hallelujah! By the way, yesterday was also International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day.

17 July 12

On this date in 1717, King George I of Great Britain sailed down the River Thames with a barge of 50 musicians, for the premiere of George Frideric Handel's "Water Music." Other musical notes for today include the 1928 birthday of Vince Guaraldi (most famous for creating piano music for "Peanuts" movies/TV shows) and the 1935 birthday of Peter Schickele (most famous for discovering the completely unknown works of P. D. Q. Bach, the "only forgotten son" of J. S. Bach).

22 November 11

Today's historic birthdays/debuts include Hoagy Carmichael, Benjamin Britten, "Bolero" (by Maurice Ravel), and "The White Album" (by the Beatles), so I'm wearing my bright red music tie. And now for something completely different, we note that Terry Gilliam (of Monty Python fame) was also born on this date.

31 May 11

The tie I'm wearing today was selected (from Florida) by my niece Heather Hammond, whose birthday was back on Saturday, May 28. After looking over the possibilities on my blog, she chose this one because it's so bright and musical! Heather enjoys singing at church and on stage. Happy Birthday a few days late, Heather!

23 February 10

Today marks the 325th birthday of George Frideric Handel. Sing some lines from "Messiah" to celebrate.

13 December 09

This is Christmas Cantata Day at Nicholasville Presbyterian Church. I have a brief solo part. Beth is accompanying on the piano, with Amanda as page-turner, and as a very special treat, Ben is contributing bass guitar support.

04 August 09

I share my birthday (in 1953) with the British Queen Mother (1900, died in 2002), jazz great trumpeter/singer Louis Armstrong (1901, died in 1971), Iranian Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani (1930), U. S. President Barack Obama (1961) and Major League Baseball great pitcher Roger Clemens (1962). I chose to wear my G-clef music tie for birthday.














Some people wonder how long my hair is . . . and since it's my birthday I can let my hair down . . .