From: hancock@inland.com (Tom Hancock)
Newsgroups: rec.music.dementia
Subject: Re: Classical(was: Wendy Carlos (was Re: Weird Al albums))
Date: 23 Dec 92 08:32:40 CST
Organization: Inland Steel Company; East Chicago, IN

In article <1992Dec21.214225.1814@netcom.com>, bml@netcom.com (Brian Leibowitz) writes:
> I've always been fond of classical and the parodies.
> 
> One of my favorites is Hoffnumg (1925-1959).  He used to hold concerts
> at the Royal Festival Hall in London of classical parodies.
> Two were recorded -
> Hoffnung Music Festival Concert - Nov. 13, 1956 - Angel 35500
> Hoffnung Interplanetary Music Festival - Nov. 21&22, 1958 - Angel 35800
> another concert was help after his death-
> Hoffnung Astronautical Music Festival - Nov. 28, 1961 - Angel 35828
> and the more recent:
> Hoffnum Festival of Music - February 1988 - London 425 401-2 (CD)
>
	I have these albums, and if you are at all familiar with the
classics, they are a hoot.
 
> (Malcome Arnold and Donold Swann were involved in these concerts.)
> The material tends to be a bit more subtle than P.D.Q. Bach,  It is
> written for a concert going audiance.  Although some cuts are just
> as silly - Concerto for Hosepipe and Strings. (hosepipe is a garden hose)
> There is a Chopin Mazurka arranged for Tuba Quartet.

	I've *played* that piece of music.  On a tuba, as part of a quartet.  In
concert!  In front of thousands of people!

>  An opera "Horrortorio"
> which is a monster story.  Or the aria from the comic opera "The barber
> of Darmstadt"
> in german with lyrics like:
> Wer war die Dame            Who was that dame I saw you with
> mit welcher ich Sie         with whom I you
> gestern gesehen habe?       yesterday have seen?
> 
> Das war keine Dame          That was no dame
> Das war                     That was
> meine Frau                  my wife
> 
> Wer war die Dame            Who was that dame I saw you with
> mit welcher ich Sie         with whom I you
> gestern gesehen habe?       yesterday have seen?
>  
> Das war keine Dame          That was no dame
> Das war meine Bruder        That was my brother
> in dieser Weise             He walks in this manner
>
	You also must realize that this is a 12-tone song, sung in the
style called "singspiele" (sp) or 'sing-talk'.  It's a pointed jab at
all that Schoenbergian/Weberian 12-tone stuff that takes itself much too
seriously.

> 
> Or one of my favorites is the version of Handle's "Surprise" symphony
> with lots of additional surprises added (including children climbing out
> of the piano.)  This is arranged by Donald Swann (of Flanders and Swann)
>
	Some of the pieces are almost too good.  There is a piece called
"Concerto Populare" for piano and orchestra, that blends in the themes
from almost all the popular piano concerti, as well as songs like "Roll
Out the Barrel".  The composer (forgot his name) then goes on to make a
damn decent piece of music out of this mish-mash.

> - - - - - - - 
> Hoffnung was also a cartoonist and many of his cartoons were of music
> jokes
>
	He was also a fellow tuba player -- hence the tuba quartet. 
> 
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
> Other classical music comedians include:
> Victor Borge
> Beyond the Fringe - "Two Songs" first is Little miss muffet a la B. Britten
> Crossfires (pre-turtles group)-"Silver Bullet" surf version of Will. Tell Ov.
> Spike Jones - of course
> Chico Marx - "noodling around" mixes classical and pop tunes
> Mr. T Experiance - "Surfin Mozart" - hardcore Mozart
> Roto Router Good Time Christmas Band - Hungarian Dance #5"-the guys who do
>                                        the good Doctor's opening theme
>                                        "Pico & Sepulveda"
> Star Spangled Washboard Band - "Freedom March(9th Nervous breakdown)"
>                               bizzare bluegrass Beethoven!
> 
> The oldest classical dementia I have found is "Operatic Nightmare" by Arndt
> on an old 78 that is probably from the 20s.
> 
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
> Any other Classical novelty fans out there that care to comment about
> their favorites?
> 
> Batty Brian                        I jest to Oberon and make him smile-Will.S.
> 
> PS maybe next year I'll drag out my novelty jazz stuff.

	Hey, don't forget the Mozart piece called "A Musical Joke" (the
German title escapes me!).  It was a satire on the incompetent composers
of the day. (Compared to Mozart, most composers *are* incompetent. :)
	You also might try "The Coffee Cantata" by J.S.Bach.  At the
time, drinking coffee was considered very adventurous and risque.
Parents told their children to stay away from those awful coffee-houses,
and the rulers told their subjects to stay away from the foul stuff and
drink beer instead.  (The aristocracy owned the breweries,too)  It tells
the story of a father pleading with his daughter to stay away from
coffee, and the daughter saying that she just can't do without a cup or
two.
	There are also some recordings by an opera singer (soprano)
who's name escapes me. (Damn!  I'm pounding my head on the desk right
now.  What was her name?  The name "Anderson" pops into my head right
now, don't know if it's correct.)  Where she explains the whole
Wagnerian "Ring of the Niebelung" (and sings all the parts!) in a
wonderful English accent.  Very funny.
	The recordings of "At the Drop of a Hat" and "At the Drop of
Another Hat" by Flanders and Swann could also be mentioned here, I
guess.  Listen to "Have Some Meidera, m'Dear" and "The Hippopatomus
Song".

						Tom
-- 
hancock@inland.com          |My company and I agree:
Tom Hancock -- Assoc. Engr. |    I speak for myself, and not the company!
<i> Inland Steel Co. <i>    |
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