An Infinite Number of Monkeys

Kurt Weill (1900-1950) wrote Die Dreigroschenoper or The Threepenny Opera in 1928. But the plot was stolen lock, stock and barrel from Gay's The Beggar's Opera. Die Dreigroschenoper is notable in that it is neoclassic in style, and is the foremost example of how a German classical composer interpreted American jazz, which was all the rage in Europe at the time. Listen to the orignal sometime it is quite strange, since it doesn't actually swing. "Mac the Knife" was stolen back by jazz musicians, and is now something of a standard, thanks to Armstrong, Ella, et. al.