[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 139 (Wednesday, September 30, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING CONDUCTOR ERICH KUNZEL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN B. LARSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 30, 2009

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
great loss in the world of music. I ask that this tribute penned by 
Albert Caswell of the Capitol Guide Service be placed in the 
Congressional Record. The Conductor Erich Kunzel, known as ``The Prince 
of Pops,'' was always a colorful showman who sold well over ten million 
recordings and for over two decades conducted the National Symphony on 
Memorial Day and Fourth of July concerts at the United States Capitol 
in Washington. As the founding conductor, he has directed the 
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra since its inception in 1977. He will be 
missed.

                          Orchestrating a Life

     Orchestrating, a life . . .
     The beats and measures, that which now forever so burn bright 
           . . .
     All in the rhythms of our lives . . .
     Are all of those songs which we now so leave behind . . .
     Are all of those beats of our lives so in 
           time . . .
     Composing, something so sublime . . .
     All in how we lead, all in these our life-
           times . . .
     Composed, all in these our short lives . . .
     In this, The Symphony of our lives . . . which we so now 
           leave behind!
     Of this the leader of The Band, so very 
           fine . . .
     As Erich, you so stood there so waving your baton . . .
     All in what you so invoked, so inspired, so beautiful we now 
           so find . . .
     Such emotion and masterpieces, with such rhyme . . .
     As one of the greatest of all Maestros of our time . . .
     As why Eric, for you the violins now so 
           cry . . .
     And the drums so beat, for you now that you've died . . .
     As that lone bugle plays taps, one last 
           time . . .
     Thinking of you, the smiles and the tears we now so find . . 
           .
     Of a gentle warm man, so very kind . . .
     All because of the life you so conducted, which now so comes 
           to mind . . .
     Like a great symphony Erich, what you so orchestrated all in 
           your time . . .
     Thinking of you, we hear a rhapsody in blue . . . and now so 
           cry . . .
     Knowing, that we have so lost such a wonderful guy . . .
     But life, has only so many beats . . . and measures to define 
           . . .
     What it is, that we have so left behind . . .
     All in what we have so composed, all in these our times . . .
     Magnifica, Maestro as is your life's Masterpiece so very 
           fine!
     And now, Erich . . . there is music in Heaven so sublime . . 
           .
     All because of the kind of life, that you have so 
           orchestrated in your time!
     In heaven now, waving his baton . . .

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