Very Late August Bio

[shostakovich]

I've been listening lately to some band music. I have 2 of Mr X's band compositions. I also have 2 of his orchestral compositions. He wrote quite a bit in both media, but he's best known as an arranger of other people's music. He may be best known for arranging the music of a very famous composer for a medium that was alien to the more famous composer when it was produced. What was this music and who is Mr X?

"Clue guesses" preferred. PMs accepted. Good luck.
Shos

[dai bread]

By "band, do you mean brass band or military band, or both? Presumably if you'd meant pipe band you'd have called it that.

Clue-type question: is the composer British? Or am I getting too close to the 30Q format?

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

Band, I know. I cite my decades of Band Momdom: a brass band and a military band and a drum and bugle corps are pretty much the same thing: brass plus percussion. A nonspecific band is most often a school or community group and it has everything portable except the strings. Yup, they march with oboes and bassoons and USC has an empty beer keg. I've never seen a marching piano, but I've seen electronic keyboards slung around the player's neck and marching down the road.

There's an event called the Doo-Dah Parade that has some of the weirdest bands you ever saw. I think the Czymzak Polish Accordion Band was the normallest of the lot.

As yet, I'm clueless about Mr. X's identity. Off to Googleland with me.

[Peter]

Hmmm. Does the letter R feature prominently in both composers' names? Would the music have water win-gs?

[shostakovich]

By "band, do you mean brass band or military band, or both? Presumably if you'd meant pipe band you'd have called it that.

Clue-type question: is the composer British? Or am I getting too close to the 30Q format?

Selma nailed "band" as I used it: an orchestra without strings. I think Holst was the first composer who wrote serious, original music for band, and Suite #1 for Military Band was the first such composition. [Love that final march --- as recorded by the Eastman Symphonic Wind Ensemble under Fennell. Have I mentioned that?]. I won't say whether or not the composer is British, but you can eliminate Holst.
Shos

[shostakovich]

Hmmm. Does the letter R feature prominently in both composers' names? Would the music have water win-gs?

I suspect Peter has it. The second clue will probably be too obscure to help anybody, but it fits for the famous work that was orchestrated. The letter "R" should help with the composers
Shos.

[shostakovich]

Keep in mind Mr X is best known as an arranger. Most of you probably know of him in this capacity.
Shos

[shostakovich]

BIG hint.

Mr X arranged and/or orchestrated for about 300 musicals. You know his work if not his name.
Shos

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

Shos: are you checking your PMs? I sent one, it doesn't seem to have been read. It even contains a guess!

[piqaboo]

Is it a nice day in the neighborhood, sorta?

[shostakovich]

If that refers to the well known collaboration, Piq, I'd have to say "no".

Let's hear it for Selma. She has it.

"BIG hint" should actually be "GIVEAWAY" if you use it in conjunction with the "Rs" clue. Good luck.
Shos

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

Thank you, Peter. :happy:

It isn't a horrible day in the neighborhood. Where'd I put my sneakers?

[Catmando]

Thank you, Peter. :happy:

It isn't a horrible day in the neighborhood. Where'd I put my sneakers?

Congratulations Selma!

Hey, I thought Shos' first name was Dmitri?

[Peter]

I'm happy to take compliments from the ladies all day long!

[bignaf]

Did the composer make an easy living in the summertime?

[shostakovich]

Yes, and many other times.

BTW, Bones has been on vacation, but mailed in the right answer.
So what's new???
Shos

[bignaf]

ummm did you get the clue?

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

Well, *ig, I got the clue but since Peter's nudge already lead me to victory, I didn't respond to it.

'Scuse me, I need to get myself a couple of bloody Marys and a HoneyBun.

[bignaf]

so I got the right person, you think?

[Peter]

Mr B. Try thinking more RR, and less GG.