Tamezō Narita (1893-1945) was a Japanese violinist, composer, and teacher. While attending the Tokyo Music School, he concentrated his studies on European classical music, and began creating some of his own compositions in the style of those masters. He was especially influenced by the Austrian composer Johann Strauss II. One of Narita’s earliest compositions was a waltz melody he named “Hamabe no Uta”, or “Song of the Seashore”. It was inspired by the words of a poem written by Kokei Hayashi, which evokes the serene and reflective feelings of gazing at the vast expanse of the sea.

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Charles Wesley (1707–1788), a co-founder of Methodism alongside his brother John Wesley, was one of the most prolific hymn writers of the 18th century. Known for his theological depth and poetic finesse, Wesley penned over 6,000 hymns during his lifetime. Among his well-known works is the Easter hymn “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise,” which celebrates the ascension of Christ.

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In honor of St. Patrick’s day, this month’s tab is an arrangement of the traditional Irish ballad “Teddy O’Neill”. The words were written by the Victorian poet Eliza Cook in 1840 in response to the emigration wave that saw many Irish people leaving their homeland during and after the Great Famine. It became a favorite among music hall performers.

James Gaspard Maeder was a musician, composer, and director in the Irish American community in Boston. He was married to the singer and actress Clara Fisher, and wrote much of the music for the various stage productions she was involved in. He found the words to “Teddy O’Neill” in a book of Eliza Cook’s poetry, and decided to write music for it to better suit his wife’s vocal range.

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