On this day, July 22nd, in 1870, Josef Strauss had died a day previously, and he was still dead. Basil Rathbone, too, died on the 21st, and a day later, 28 years ago today, he showed no signs of getting better. Marshall McLuen, Isaac Stern and Ernie Hemmingway were all one day old on the 22nd, and were none the worse for wear. Robert Burns had been dead a day and hadn't changed his mind. Saint Bridget of Sweden, D.W. Griffith, and Guiseppe de Lampedusa each had a day to live, preparing to check out on the 23rd, though if you had asked them, they'd probably try to deny it.

Today is, however, the birthday of Gustav Hertz, without whom we'd have neither the rental car nor the radio wave over which you're listening to the New Music Sesquihour, assuming you are, in fact, listening and don't merely have the radio on as perfunctory background noise for your laundromat. It's also the 517th anniversary of the birth of Philip the Handsome, King of Castile, who invented the facial massage and nasal douche. Before King Phil, men were inherently ugly and frequently their noses were congested for years at a time.

On July 22, 1757, Domenico Scarlotti was alive but dying in front of an audience as he attempted a new career as a stand-up comedian. When he attempted an impression of playing a cement pianoforte, he was booed off the stage. As fate would have it, while Dom was lunching at a café called le Flambeau Oriange the next day, a cement pianoforte suddenly materialized above him, fell to the ground and crushed him.

But enough about history. Today's episode, Episode 9, is entitled "The Pilgrims Leave Holland," for it is indeed the 375th anniversary of that important event, important because without it, we wouldn't have a theme for todays show. Today's composer-o-the-week is Gwynneth Walker of Randolph (what, Braintree?, or is it Braindolph), some of whose music I am delighted to be speaking over at this moment. She'll be incorporally along later in the broadcast. We also have another new music quiz, plenty of zany new non-quiz music, and the following announcement.

Today's New Music Sesquihour is sponsored in part by today's New Music Sesquihour, bringing you Goddard-brand new music on Saturday afternoons right here over many of these same sesqui-stations. And now, to tell you about the 197th anniversary of the day after the Battle of the Pyramids and how it relates to today's Sesqui-quiz, here's Kalvos.