This Valentine’s Day… the phrase “hearts and flowers” came to mind… and like any word-loving librarian, I began to wonder about its origins…And, what better source for word queries than the Oxford English Dictionary (OED to the cognescenti, lol)…
As any researcher knows, one answer often leads to yet another question — just who was composer Moses-Tobani, and what was his music like?? Born in Germany in the late 1800s , Theodore Moses Tobani was a musical prodigy and his “Hearts & Flowers” sold more than 100,000 copies from its 1893 composition until his death in 1933. And for a sample of what his music was like… check out this YouTube clip…..
While you may want to heed the Bard’s advice that “Music be the Food of Love” and play “Hearts & Flowers” on your guitar to your sweetie, we suggest that you consult this guide to all matters of music licensing if you plan to copyright your performances…..
All of us at NYLI wish our blog readers & members a Happy Valentine’s Day… & whether you are celebrating with words or music… hope that a little love is coming your way!
