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Since yesterday’s post about Billy Mayerl attracted some attention, here’s a follow-up with Mayerl performing his best-known composition, “Marigold” – on the Novachord.
He’s joking about his having composed it in 1865, though it was requested so much of him, it probably felt that long.
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Haven’t read this since high school, but I think it’s time for another look. From this excerpt, I suspect it still very much holds up:
“The best thing for being sad,” replied Merlyn, beginning to puff and blow, “is to learn something. That’s the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting. Learning is the only thing for you. Look what a lot of things there are to learn.”
– T.H. White, “The Once and Future King”
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Good morning!
Light music master Billy Mayerl is fondly remembered as the “Marigold Man” (after his biggest hit), or perhaps “The English Gershwin.” Mayerl gave the London premiere of “Rhapsody in Blue” in 1925.
Here, Paul Jacobs performs one of his many delightful miniatures, “April’s Fool”:
A short film of Mayerl himself, horsing around, including a brisk rendition of “Marigold”:
PHOTO: Mayerl with his best friend, Bogey
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Hardly surprising, given the circumstances, but The Princeton Festival has cancelled its June 2020 season. Some of the events may be rescheduled for the fall. You’ll find the complete press release below.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2020
PRINCETON FESTIVAL CANCELS JUNE 2020 SEASON DUE TO COVID-19 VIRUS
Events in Fall, Including Annual Piano Competition, Under Consideration
PRINCETON, NJ (April 6, 2020) – The Princeton Festival (www.princetonfestival.org) today announced that it will cancel all 22 performances in its June 2020 season, along with all lectures, workshops, and special events scheduled for April through June, due to the coronavirus epidemic.
“We are taking this action to protect our artists, staff, and audiences from the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus,” said Benedikt von Schröder, Princeton Festival board chair. “This is in accord with directives and guidelines issued by federal and state governments and health officials.”
Events canceled include the opera La Traviata, the musical Into the Woods, the Latin jazz dance band Fleur Seule, a multimedia presentation, chamber music, and Baroque orchestral and choral programs. Current ticketholders will be offered options for redeeming, transferring, or donating the value of their purchases.
Festival officials say they are looking at the possibility of presenting a few performance events in the fall, assuming the crisis is past. The popular fund-raising Gala, originally scheduled for April, has already been moved to October. The annual Piano Competition and some musical performances might also be rescheduled.
“We appreciate the tremendous support from our patrons and donors who make it possible for the Festival to continue its mission to excite and inspire our community,” said Richard Tang Yuk, Executive and Artistic Director. “We’re planning for a brilliant lineup of events next June, and a fall mini-season would help everyone transition from disappointment to renewal.”
More information on the cancellation of the June season, and on the Festival in general, is available at http://www.princetonfestival.org or by calling 609-759-1979.
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Last week, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra launched “At Home with the PSO,” a new gateway to original online content, including performance webcasts, musicians’ recipes, photo albums, and more, with fresh content being added weekly.
But my Spidey sense didn’t start tingling until they linked my program note for one of their past concerts. This week, the focus is on Felix Mendelssohn’s “Reformation Symphony.”
Read the note, enjoy the performance, and while you’re over there, learn to cook maple soy sauce glazed tofu with music director Rossen Milanov!
Look online at princetonsymphony.org, click on “At Home with the PSO,” and scroll down under “Play it Forward.”
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