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Music with a subtle message.
Pushing the envelope back when doing so was not such a fashionable undertaking. Hurrah for Tom Lehrer!
Another something that is about a million years away from my playing ability. Woo hoo!
For many classical music lovers, Beethoven’s eighth violin sonata lives in the long, fiery shadow of the ninth, better known as the “Kreutzer”. This is easy to understand, as the Kreutzer is a prime example of the stormy side of Beethoven—the one many listeners see as his most exciting and revealing trait. However, just as his eighth symphony is the kinder, gentler companion to his towering, formidable ninth, the eighth violin sonata, shorter and less aggressive than the ninth, shows a more lyrical side of Beethoven.
I just happen to have the sheet music for this piece. Now I just need to persuade TIO that she’s really an alto, and we’ll be set.
- Yakko:
- There once was a man, his name was Magellan.
- A Portuguese skipper, the girls found him cute.
- He sailed with five ships to find the East Indies
- Then come back to Spain with a bounty of loot.
- The Warners:
- Whoopi-ti-yi-yo, oh, happy Magellan!
- Starting your journey with hardly a care!
- Whoopi-ti-yi-yo, strong, brave Magellan,
- You’ll find the East Indies, you just don’t know where!
- Yakko:
- They crossed the Atlantic and spotted a country.
- Magellan said…
- Magellan:
- It’s the East Indies at last!
- Yakko:
- But then someone shouted…
- Wakko:
- Hey, that’s Argentina!
- Yakko:
- Magellan got cranky and chopped down the mast.
- The Warners:
- Whoopi-ti-yi-yo, settle down, Magellan.
- Put down that ax! There’s no time to despair.
- Whoopi-ti-yi-yo, keep trying, Magellan,
- You’ll find the East Indies, you just don’t know where!
- Yakko:
- A great storm arose in the mighty Pacific.
- The five little ships were diminished to three.
- At last, land was sighted. Magellan was happy.
- But then someone shouted…
- Dot:
- Hey, that’s Chile!
- The Warners:
- Whoopi-ti-yi-yo, cheer up, Magellan.
- Check out your map and don’t tear out your hair!
- Whoopi-ti-yi-yo, keep trying, Magellan,
- You’ll find the East Indies, you just don’t know where!
- Yakko:
- It took them five months, but they crossed the Pacific.
- They spotted a land that was dotted with palms.
- Magellan proclaimed…
- Magellan:
- Yes! That’s the East Indies!
- Yakko:
- But then someone shouted…
- Wakko:
- Hey, I think that’s Guam!
- The Warners:
- Ai yi yi yi, oops, Magellan!
- Your fun little journey’s become a nightmare!
- Whoopi-ti-yi-yo, keep trying, Magellan,
- You’ll find the East Indies, you just don’t know where!
- Yakko:
- They sailed due west to the Philippine Islands.
- Magellan was pleased as the natives drew near.
- But then someone shouted…
- The Warners:
- I think they’re attacking!
- Yakko:
- Magellan said…
- Magellan:
- What?
- Yakko:
- And got hit by a spear.
- The Warners:
- Whoopi-ti-yi-yo, farewell, Magellan!
- You almost made it! It’s really not fair!
- Whoopi-ti-yi-yo, oh, ghost of Magellan,
- The East Indies Islands were right over there!
- *Special Request – Anyone have the sheet music or finale file for this song, I’d like to learn it. :)
Tom Lehrer is a Renaissance Man of the twentieth century. He’s not only a composer, pianist, and singer, who lectures extensively on musical theatre; he’s also a published and teaching mathematician.
Mystro is a particular fan of Dr. Lehrer’s work and has performed it on several occasions, when our choir replaces rehearsal with Talent Nite.
Last week was our singing teacher’s student cabaret. Upon learning, maybe a month ago, that the Italian aria he had been working on wouldn’t do for a cabaret, Arb had to scramble for some different, lighter repertoire, and decided to follow Mystro’s example. Here’s the song Arb sang, as performed by Tom Lehrer himself:
(and yes, he brought down the house)
bleatmop
Mystro
Dead Wild Roses 
Your opinions…