July 16: Strange Deaths
Jean Baptiste Lully (d. 1687): gangrene resulting from a foot wound caused by stabbing himself in the foot with a baton during a performance of his Te Deum.
Jean Baptiste Lully: Te Deum. Dies Irae
Orchestre de chambre J.F. Paillard ; Jean-François Paillard, conductor; Erato
Louis Vierne (d. 1937): stroke while performing in his 1750th organ recital at Notre-Dame de Paris.
Louis Vierne: Symphony no. 2 in E minor, op. 20, final
David Hill, organ; Helios
Ludwig van Beethoven (d. 1792): chronic lead poisoning from an unknown source
Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet No. 13 in B flat, Op. 130, Cavatina (Adagio molto espressivo)
Guarneri Quartet; RCA
Anton Webern (d 1945): shot by an American soldier in liberated Austria while stepping out to smoke. Who said smoking isn't hazardous to your health?
Anton Webern: Fünf Sätze für Streichquartett op. 5. first and second movements
LaSalle Quartet; DGG
Alban Berg (d. 1935): died Christmas Eve from an infection resulting from an insect bite or sting
Alban Berg: Violin Concerto, II. Allegro-Adagio
Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin ; Chicago Symphony Orchestra ; James Levine, conductor; DGG
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (d. 1893): from cholera or arsenic poisoning, either from accidentally drinking tainted water or deliberately poisoning himself after his homosexuality became a scandal.
P. I. Tchaikovsky: Symphony #6 in b minor, Allegro molto vivace
Concertgebouw Orchestra, Seymon Bychkov; Philips
Glenn Miller (disappeared Dec. 15, 1944): probably killed by 'friendly fire'--after releasing unexploded ordinance a bomber reported seeing a small plane go down that day.
Tchaikovsky/Miller: Tchaikovsky's Piano Concert
Glenn Miller and His Orchestra; Jazz Collector
Glenn Miller: Tuxedo Junction
Glenn Miller and His Orchestra; Jazz Collector
Chet Baker (d. 1988): defenestration, quite likely while on drugs....or was he pushed from a locked room?
Arlen/Harburg: Over the Rainbow
Chet Baker
Rodgers/Hart: My Funny Valentine
Chet Baker
Blind Willie Johnson (d. 1945): pneumonia, contacted after living in his burned out home, having sought medical help at a local hospital and being turned away.
Blind Willie Johnson: John The Revelator
Dirty Dozen Brass Band; Rope-a-Dope
Stevie Ray Vaughan (d. 1990): helicopter crash after a concert; Eric Clapton had given Vaughn his seat on the helicopter.
Doyle Bramhall: Life By The Drop
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
Mankind (d?): succumbed to air conditioning!
Bruce Fowler: Man's Epitaph
Bruce Fowler; Fossil