I got a call this morning from the Citibank fraud prevention unit about some odd charges to my Mastercard. I cleared that up in short order with one of their telephone reps, assuring me that my identity was not being stolen. Been there, done that, got the bad credit report to show for it.
As I was about to get off the call, the Citibank rep said "So Mr. Panganiban, I see that you live on Ann Street. It might interest you to know that there is a famous song about an Ann Street by the composer Charles Ives. You should look it up."
Intrigued, I went to google and indeed there it was, a quirky musical homage to my little street in the Wall Street district of Manhattan, composed by Charles Ives in 1921, based on a poem written by Maurice Morris. These are the complete lyrics to the classical song:
Quaint name Ann street.
Width of same, ten feet.
Barnums mob Ann street,
Far from ob- solete.
Narrow, yes Ann street,
But business, Both feet.
–
Nassau crosses Ann
Street
Sun just hits Ann street,
Then it quits Some greet!
Rather short, Ann Street.
It’s a very strange little ditty. You can hear most of the 50 second song on Amazon (WMA and Real Audio versions.) It’s a hoot.
Thanks Mr. Citibank Fraud Prevention Unit Customer Service Guy!
That’s awesome – how many people live on a street that had a song written about it??? Yet one more reason why NYC is as great as it is!
So when are you gonna write the next verse, Rik? (Thinking back to the Eastern Market Apple Fritter song…. good times!)
Make sure you mention the construction that’s taking up half the street!
haha
Tony
PS– you really should post the Apple Fritter song to this site!
Oh ,that old poem! I’ll see if I can find it.
Hello ! I was searching for people that could have an interest for my music with the help of the name Charles Ives (one of my gods) and found your blog.
My new album is now available for sell, but it’s still without its first reviews. In the past, I have received incredible press from a variety of sources (All Music Guide, great composers…).
See and mostly listen by yourself some Philosophie Fantasmagorique.
http://www.critiquesdisques.com/vincent/music.htm
Thank you !
Vincent Bergeron
“In the course of a lifetime, one encounters very few major musical talents. Vincent Bergeron is one of those few, a unique composer who is at the forefront of musical thinking.”
Noah Creshevsky
Composer
Professor Emeritus, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Director Emeritus, Center for Computer Music at Brooklyn College