Q: Does humor belong in music?

[stratamania]

Scherzo is Italian for "joke".

And scherz is German for joke, which would fit more with Mozart as he was from Salzburg. Regardless the piece is mainly known in English as "A Musical Joke" though the translation is not literal which is a bit of a joke in itself.

 

[aarontunes]

There should be humor in all aspects of life.


It allows us to speak truth without making enemies.

 

[bagman67]

Mozart - A Musical Joke...

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzaQixVGoQg[/youtube]

When I was a wee lad buying my first classical CD's, I would naturally hit the bargain bin because I was in my teens and had no clue yet.  I did know I wanted a recording of one piece I actually knew the title of, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, though, so I picked one up. I was unconcerne with the fact that the remainder of the disc was a performance of Ein Musikalischer Spaß (which was not translated on the CD cover). 


I played the disc and got the happy feelings one always gets from EKM, and then the Spaß started - and I was jarred from my blissful state with the sheer WTF-ness of Mozart's crass lampoon of the clumsier composer of his day.  It was only then that I read the liner notes and realized what I had on my hands. 


I appreciate the piece as a document of the breadth of Mozart's talents and as a bit of evidence of his humanity.  But after the first few plays and having the facets of the joke explained to me through subsequent reading, I sure don't like listening to it.  Anyone who has spent significant time with an eight-year-old boy knows from hard experience that repetition of a joke usually robs it of its humor.

 

[stratamania]

@Bagman67 I know what you mean. Some things can get overplayed, there is part of the piece in question that was or has been used for years for the opening theme of "The Horse of the Year" show on TV in the UK.

 

[BroccoliRob]

does humor belong in music?

did weird Al dare to be stupid? (yes)

did Jack black teach at the School of Rock? (yes)

Did steven Martin walk like an Egyptian? (I don't remember)

So yeah i think we have ur answer, pal

 

[NedRyerson]

Did steven Martin walk like an Egyptian? (I don't remember)

Why, yes.  Sorta'....

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYbavuReVF4[/youtube]

 

[BroccoliRob]

Thank garsh for youtube so we can remember these iconic pop culture moments. RIP Steve. U R Missed