good for a laugh

Subject: good for a laugh
From: judy
Date: 30 Dec 97 - 01:45 AM

Here are some excerps from Fractured English, published by Pocket Books in October, 1996.

When it comes to writing about classical music, students across our nation show themselves to be fit as fiddles. They pull out all the stops and never soft-pedal the facts about our musical heritage. Without blowing their own horns, chiming in, or harping on the subject, they strike a responsive chord.

Stop the Music! - September 16, 1996

* Caruso was the first Italian. Then someone heard his voice and said he would go a long way. And so he came to America. * Stradivarius sold his violins on the open market with no strings attached. * The principle singer of 19th-century opera was called pre-Madonna. * At one time, singers had to use musicians to accompany them. Since synthesizers came along, singers can now play with themselves.

Young scholars have expressed their rapture for the Bronze Lullaby, the Taco Bell Cannon, Beethoven's Erotica, Tchaikovsky's Cracknutter Suite, and Gershwin's Rap City in Blue. In defining musical terms, they also demonstrate that they know their brass from their oboe:

* Music sung by two people at the same time is called a duel. If they sing without music, it is called Acapulco. * Diatonic is a low-calorie Schwepps. * Probably the most marvelous fugue was the one between the Hatfields and the McCoys. * A harp is a nude piano. * An interval in music is the distance from one piano to the next. * The correct way to find the key to a piece of music is to use a pitchfork. * Agitato is a state of mind when one's finger slips in the middle of playing a piece.

And MY FAVORITE:

* Refrain means don't do it. A refrain in music is the part you'd better not try to sing.

Happy, happy judy

Subject: RE: good for a laugh
From: Helen
Date: 30 Dec 97 - 04:25 AM

Judy,

I like it. I'd like to pass it on to the Harp Mailing list. I'm sure they will appreciate it too.

"....... the Bronze Lullaby, the Taco Bell Cannon, Beethoven's Erotica, Tchaikovsky's Cracknutter Suite, and Gershwin's Rap City in Blue."

This reminds me of a request for a novel when I worked in a public library. It took a while for us to stop rolling around laughing so that we could go back to talking to the customer. The title we were told was: Tequila Mockingbird

Helen

Subject: RE: good for a laugh
From: judy
Date: 07 Jan 98 - 01:15 AM

I just love Richard Lederer since I heard him a few years back on NPR. I've never laughed so much as when I read his books. There's quite a few of these now out on the net. I like word origins too and think it well worth mentioning www.word-detective.com for you etymolophiles (is that a word?

judy

Subject: RE: good for a laugh
From: keberoxu
Date: 18 Nov 21 - 08:16 PM

Good for the BS section, no doubt

-- or at least, it will be good for BS after my contribution,
which is non-musical but comes from
Then Some Other Stuff Happened, a book about the howlers
that students write on test essays.
It is:


Sir Francis Drake circumcised the world with a one-hundred-foot clipper.

(renders me speechless)

Subject: RE: good for a laugh
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Nov 21 - 02:05 AM

[sigh]

Subject: RE: good for a laugh
From: Mr Red
Date: 19 Nov 21 - 03:45 AM

OK
From a "Daily Telegraph" obituary of Graham Edge, drummer of the Moody Blues (Rolling Stone obit)

His second wife declined marriage for quite a time because her first name was Sue .................... (True). But they did marry in the end.

You have to say married name out loud

Subject: RE: good for a laugh
From: Donuel
Date: 19 Nov 21 - 05:56 AM

Rap City :^)

Subject: RE: good for a laugh
From: Mr Red
Date: 20 Nov 21 - 02:17 AM

In Blue?

Subject: RE: good for a laugh
From: Mrrzy
Date: 22 Nov 21 - 10:58 AM

A harp *is* a naked piano!

Subject: RE: good for a laugh
From: Mr Red
Date: 23 Nov 21 - 04:37 AM

er technically (yea not as funny) but a Harp is a naked harpsichord. Fer plucks sake!

Subject: RE: good for a laugh
From: Donuel
Date: 23 Nov 21 - 08:13 AM

Mr. Red have ever read a thread within a thread"
RE: good for a laugh

NON-FAMOUS LAST WORDS: "Surge smirge".