The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,843 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—8,286 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ
Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …
For this week’s Make it Easy/Music Intermediate Level Merit Badge, I had the nifty task of researching one composer and one musician from the last one hundred years. I’ve always liked research (at least when the subject matter is interesting and exciting) and it makes me feel like a scholarly detective.
Gumshoe.
An intrepid investigator of the studious type.
That’s me!
Call me old-fashioned, but I still like cracking open the ol’ books to do my detective-ing. I know, I know: Jane, you say, the whole world is at your fingertips and your laptop! Google knows everything about everyone and you never have to leave your house or change out of your pajamas.
Normally the thought of staying in my PJs most of the day is intriguing, but with Spring upon us, I love myself a good walk to the library. So off I went, spy glass and Deerstalker hat in hand (I mean, head). No, not for stalking deer, sillies – it’s what Sherlock Holmes wears, don’tcha know?
I already had my musician in mind, but narrowing down my composers was like picking my favorite child (or my favorite ice cream). Nearly impossible and dependent upon on my mood at the moment. But detectives are nothing if not ruthless and able to keep their emotions in check, so I straightened my hat and chose … drum roll, puhleeze …
George Gershwin
Want to learn what I found out about this amazing composer? Wondering who I chose to be my musician? Read on, little chickadees, read on … tomorrow.
George Gershwin’s piano music is some of the best, I think. I once heard an interview on NPR of the man who worked with Mr. Gershwin his entire life. It was so interesting to learn about the composer’s life and personal struggles which are unimaginable when you hear his perfect music.
Okie dokie! Waiting with bait on my breath for part two!