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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

DENNIS PATRICK: TUNING IN TO A DIFFERENT KIND OF DEVOTIONAL

Identify the famous jazz artist kidnapped at gun point and forced to play music at Al Capone’s birthday party.

 Name the composer who wrote a new piece of music each year for his dog’s birthday.

 

Which music critic incurred the threat of physical violence from a US President?

 

Each of these little known but interesting anecdotes, and more, comprise a remarkably unique devotional book compiled by Dr. Patrick and Barbara Kavanaugh titled appropriately “Devotions from the World of Music” (Cook, 2000).

 

For as long as I’ve known Pat he has been one of the most industrious men, bar none. Maybe “driven” is a better word. My wife and I got to know Pat and Barbara when we worked together forming the Christian Performing Artists’ Fellowship (www.christianperformingart.org) in Washington, DC. In later years Pat assembled the MasterWorks Festival (masterworksfestival.org) for young, aspiring musicians. He eventually wrote seven books including “Devotions.”

 

Fortunately for us, Pat visited us this summer. Pat rose from humble roots. He was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and grew up across the street from Little Jimmy Dickens and down the street from George Morgan. Dickens and Morgan were country through and through. Not Pat. He went on to a serious study of music earning a Ph.D. in musicology from the University of Maryland. Pat did extensive post-doctoral work in musicology, music theory, and conducting.

 

I’m not a big fan of daily devotional literature. Pat’s book “Devotions” is the one exception. “Devotions” center on a Christian truth, is exemplified by an event or person in music history and concludes with a suggestion for personal application.

 

Entries, although weighted toward classical music, are by no means limited to serious music and musicians. Garth Brooks, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Count Basie, Dave Brubeck and many other artists and artisans find their way into these pages.

 

Here are the answers to the challenges posed earlier at the beginning.

 

The jazz musician kidnapped for Al Capone’s birthday bash was none other than Thomas “Fats” Waller (1904-1943). In 1925 “Fats” was playing a gig at a hotel. During a back stage interlude a gunman stuck a gun in Waller’s stomach and ordered him into a car. “Fats” was taken to a guarded saloon where he was forced inside the headquarters of Al “Scarface” Capone. Once “Fats” found out that “Scarface” and some of his henchmen were his biggest fans, “Fats” loosened up and played the best he could. After every request Capone stuck a hundred dollar bill in Waller’s pocket. By the time he was set free, “Fats” had collected thousands of dollars.

 

Gioacchino Rossini was a prolific composer including the operas “William Tell” and “The Barber of Seville” to his credit. Rossini displayed some eccentric habits. A fellow composer, Sir Arthur Sullivan, once visited him when Rossini was busy at work. When Sir Arthur inquired about the piece, Rossini responded seriously, “It’s my dog’s birthday and I write a little piece for him every year.”

 

On December 8, 1950, President Harry S. Truman wrote a terse letter to the “Washington Post.”  His daughter, Margaret, had received a particularly uncomplimentary review of her recital by critic Paul Hume. President Truman wrote the following. “Mr. Hume, I have just read your review of Margaret’s concert....Some day I hope to meet you. When that happens you’ll need a new nose, and a lot of beefsteak for black eyes....”

 

Whether your preference is classical, jazz, gospel, rock or country music “Devotions” has something for everyone. Each day brings a fascinating tidbit that is always informative and entertaining.

 

This book is a worthwhile read for young and old alike and would make a nice addition to anyone’s library.

 

 

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at P. O. Box 337, Stanley, ND 58784 or 

Identify the famous jazz artist kidnapped at gun point and forced to play music at Al Capone’s birthday party.
Name the composer who wrote a new piece of music each year for his dog’s birthday.
Which music critic incurred the threat of physical violence from a US President?
Each of these little known but interesting anecdotes, and more, comprise a remarkably unique devotional book compiled by Dr. Patrick and Barbara Kavanaugh titled appropriately “Devotions from the World of Music” (Cook, 2000).
For as long as I’ve known Pat he has been one of the most industrious men, bar none. Maybe “driven” is a better word. My wife and I got to know Pat and Barbara when we worked together forming the Christian Performing Artists’ Fellowship (http://www.christianperformingart.org) in Washington, DC. In later years Pat assembled the MasterWorks Festival (masterworksfestival.org) for young, aspiring musicians. He eventually wrote seven books including “Devotions.”
Fortunately for us, Pat visited us this summer. Pat rose from humble roots. He was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and grew up across the street from Little Jimmy Dickens and down the street from George Morgan. Dickens and Morgan were country through and through. Not Pat. He went on to a serious study of music earning a Ph.D. in musicology from the University of Maryland. Pat did extensive post-doctoral work in musicology, music theory, and conducting.
I’m not a big fan of daily devotional literature. Pat’s book “Devotions” is the one exception. “Devotions” center on a Christian truth, is exemplified by an event or person in music history and concludes with a suggestion for personal application.
Entries, although weighted toward classical music, are by no means limited to serious music and musicians. Garth Brooks, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Count Basie, Dave Brubeck and many other artists and artisans find their way into these pages.
Here are the answers to the challenges posed earlier at the beginning.
The jazz musician kidnapped for Al Capone’s birthday bash was none other than Thomas “Fats” Waller (1904-1943). In 1925 “Fats” was playing a gig at a hotel. During a back stage interlude a gunman stuck a gun in Waller’s stomach and ordered him into a car. “Fats” was taken to a guarded saloon where he was forced inside the headquarters of Al “Scarface” Capone. Once “Fats” found out that “Scarface” and some of his henchmen were his biggest fans, “Fats” loosened up and played the best he could. After every request Capone stuck a hundred dollar bill in Waller’s pocket. By the time he was set free, “Fats” had collected thousands of dollars.
Gioacchino Rossini was a prolific composer including the operas “William Tell” and “The Barber of Seville” to his credit. Rossini displayed some eccentric habits. A fellow composer, Sir Arthur Sullivan, once visited him when Rossini was busy at work. When Sir Arthur inquired about the piece, Rossini responded seriously, “It’s my dog’s birthday and I write a little piece for him every year.”
On December 8, 1950, President Harry S. Truman wrote a terse letter to the “Washington Post.”  His daughter, Margaret, had received a particularly uncomplimentary review of her recital by critic Paul Hume. President Truman wrote the following. “Mr. Hume, I have just read your review of Margaret’s concert....Some day I hope to meet you. When that happens you’ll need a new nose, and a lot of beefsteak for black eyes....”
Whether your preference is classical, jazz, gospel, rock or country music “Devotions” has something for everyone. Each day brings a fascinating tidbit that is always informative and entertaining.
This book is a worthwhile read for young and old alike and would make a nice addition to anyone’s library.
Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at P. O. Box 337, Stanley, ND 58784 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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