Musical Desserts

[Dave2002]

I was amused at the putting of words to Beethoven's violin concerto in last week's BAL. I think the words were "we must have jelly ...."

Sometimes putting words to music may ruin the music for those who've never associated words with music. I recall a sentence relating to the last movement of Tchaikovsky's 4th symphony, though I can't remember it. Something to do with "da da da da daaa dada Russian" - fill in the "das" with appropriate words.

Another sentence fits Prokofiev's flute sonata at one point - "If you want to know the time ask a policeman".

Happy listening!

[Curalach]

There is a round associated with the scherzo of Bruckner 7 which goes something like-
I've just stepped in the s*it followed by, He's just etc, She's just etc.
I'm sure one of our (ex) orchestral players will be able to quote it correctly.

[MrGongGong]

There are many of these (Brahms 2 springs to mind) that Orchestral players have been known to sing
but i'm far too polite to post them here

did you like the Dessert Music ? Shame they aren't doing that at the proms

[3rd Viennese School]

It’s Tchaikovsky 5. Motto theme.

“I’ve lost the key to the toilet”

And the finale is

“I’ve FOUND the key to the toilet!”

Not that I know this. The lead violinist told us at a concert once.

3VS

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Schubert's Unfinished Symphony, 1st movement, 2nd subject:
"This is the symphony that Schubert wrote and never fin-ished."

[Norfolk Born]

I heard that the words to the last movement of the Beethoven violin concerto, taught to dilatory conductors by the first violins, were: 'The bar is open, the bar is open, so move along before closing time'

[Nick Armstrong]

I think my favourite is Beecham's for the march theme of Tchaikovsky 6 third movement: "I'm - on my way to Paris... and the wife's - going to stay - at - home!"

[amateur51]

There is a round associated with the scherzo of Bruckner 7 which goes something like-
I've just stepped in the s*it followed by, He's just etc, She's just etc.
I'm sure one of our (ex) orchestral players will be able to quote it correctly.

Such a shame no-one passed this invaluable piece of advice on to Glorious John, seen here struggling to get a recalcitrant Hallé to pick up its skirts with menace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKleyVaXMhA

[Nick Armstrong]

Such a shame no-one passed this invaluable piece of advice on to Glorious John, seen here struggling to get a recalcitrant Hallé to pick up its skirts with menace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKleyVaXMhA

Long been one of my favourite conducting clips, that... Why on earth don't the bloody strings pick it up quicker?!! Even at the end they're not doing what he wants. Cold morning in Manchester, perhaps, and excessive consumption of Boddingtons...

[Nick Armstrong]

Another rather ruder words-to-orchestral number has just occurred to me, from German orchestral playing friends - the big brass theme in the Wagner Prelude to Act 3 of Lohengrin, which ideally accompanies the words "Leck mich am Arsch, Herr Direktor"...

For German speakers: apologies. For non-German speakers: a disobliging remark at the expense of the conductor...

[Petrushka]

I remember Sir Georg Solti fitting repetitions of 'Barbican, Barbican' to the finale of Beethoven 7. He had an impish grin on his face as he said it but, alas, I think of his little joke every time I hear rhe piece.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Talking of George Solti, there's a reference in John Culshaw's Ring Resounding to Solti's insistence on getting the accents right in the Ride of the Valkyies, demonstrating this with the words: "I'm sick on a seesaw, sick on a seesaw, sick on a seesaw, sick on the sea". The point was that the accent should be on "sick", rather than see...(sea).

[3rd Viennese School]

And, of course, who can forget that Nursery Rhyme in Prokofiev Symphony no.2 mvt 2 Variation 5.

Pattercake man!
Pattercake Man!
Pattercake Pattercake
Baker’s Man!

3VS

[Norfolk Born]

Another rather ruder words-to-orchestral number has just occurred to me, from German orchestral playing friends - the big brass theme in the Wagner Prelude to Act 3 of Lohengrin, which ideally accompanies the words "Leck mich am Arsch, Herr Direktor"...

For German speakers: apologies. For non-German speakers: a disobliging remark at the expense of the conductor...

I don't think much knowledge of German is required to get more than just the gist of your quotation. It occurs to me that the words 'Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant-Major' would also fit the tune.
Many years ago, I had the unalloyed pleasure of watching Timothy West recite the line about Paris when he played Sir Thomas in Ned Sherrins's 'Beecham'.

[Nick Armstrong]

It occurs to me that the words 'Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant-Major'

Are you too young to have done National Service, Ofca? Or is this a flashback to happy days... and nights?!?!