“Are you aware that there is a difference? Merry-go-Rounds or Round-a-bouts as they are called in the United Kingdom, revolve Clock-wise as they do in the rest of Europe. Here in the U.S.A. our carousels (derivatives: French carrousel and Italian garosello) turn counter-clockwise. In either case, they charm their riders by revolving (one way or…

Confused about “Parade of the Tin Soldiers” or “March of the Wooden Soldiers” or “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers”??  They are all one in the same! This instrumental march (originally composed for piano)  was  written by the German composer, Leon Jessel in 1897 and called, “Die Parade der Zinnsoldaten”   (translation: The Parade of the…

Interesting information about copyright and permission to use the tune “Happy Birthday” (published in the LA Times). None of the companies that have collected royalties on the “Happy Birthday” song for the past 80 years held a valid copyright claim to one of the most popular songs in history, a federal judge in Los Angeles…

Having trouble composing a new tune? Domenico Scarlatti’s “Cat Fugue” was composed after his cat trod upon his keyboard. The cat’s name was Pulcinella, most likely inspired by the classical character well known in Neopolitan Puppetry that originated with the Commedia dell”arte in the 17th century. A later version of a similar character is commemorated…

Do you know that the correct phrase is “Music has charms to soothe the savage breast” not “beast” and that the incorrect version is more often spoken than the correct one? The phrase was coined by William Congreve, in The Mourning Bride, 1697: “Music has Charms to sooth a savage Breast, To soften Rocks, or…

  “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” ― Plato What does Music mean to you?