Name that tune

[shostakovich]

Hi again, Sparky. During the day it dawned on me what you meant. I was thinking only of the introduction: SME-ta-na, SME-ta-na, SME--ta--na, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da (pause, or drum stroke). Next comes Sme-ta-NA, Sme-ta-NA, Sme-ta-NA, da, da. So I guess we're both OK on this one.

[Sparky]

Morning, Shos! If two wrongs don't make a right, what do two rights make? Thanks for the update.

[ReedMan]

What do two rights make ? A never ending presidential election...

[Sparky]

Actually, I think that's a left and a right. And the twain sure aren't meeting.

[treebeau]

What do two rights make ?<P>Every school kid knows that...an airplane.<BR>(Wrights)

[Sparky]

I guess I've been out of school too long. When I was there, the Wrights were still making bicycles.

[shostakovich]

Hi ReedMan, Sparky, Treebeau. I just checked in to see the addenda. You guys made old Shos smile. Thanks

[Michael]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by treebeau:<BR><B>The answer is:<P>The "Fidelio Overture", opus 72b.<P>The first 9 notes are 3 notes repeated 3 times (followed by 2 extras). The accents are on the first note of each set of 3.<P>Next time you hear it listen for:<BR>Sme'-te-na<BR>SMe'-te-na<BR>SME'-te-na (Bump bump!)<P>I hoped that this would generate lots of discussion and guesses. I'll try to do better another time.</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Hi. I'm new to this website and there are so many topics I don't know where to begin!<BR>But your Smetana quiz reminded me of something I came across years ago in a TV programme and it concerned the correct pronunciation of the name "Smetana". Somebody on the panel suggested that the opening of the last movement of Beethoven's Eighth' Symphony could help, and he then "sang" the following words to the opening tune of that movement:<P>My name's SME-tana, SME-tana, SME-tana,<BR>My name's SME-tana, SMe-tana, SMe-tana,<BR>Not Sme-TAN-a, Not Sme-TAN-a .........<P>I don't know if it comes across the way I've typed it, but it was quite funny.<P>Michael<P>

[shostakovich]

Hi Michael and welcome. I just went to a recording of Beethoven' #8, and it doesn't seem to match up. Maybe it's all in the singing. The rhythm you suggest strikes me as something from Dvorak, but I can't think of what. It's surprising what the Smetana topic has brought about.

[Peter]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by shostakovich:<BR><B>Hi Michael and welcome. I just went to a recording of Beethoven' #8, and it doesn't seem to match up. Maybe it's all in the singing. The rhythm you suggest strikes me as something from Dvorak, but I can't think of what. It's surprising what the Smetana topic has brought about.</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>>><P>Hi, Shos!,<P>But it DOES match up perfectly! Equate each successive note with each successive syllable, thus:<P>My name is SMEtana, SMEtana, SMEtana,<BR>My name is SMEtana, SMEtana, SMEtana,<BR>NOT smeTANA, NOT smeTANA, NOT sme-<BR>TANA, NO, no, NO!.............

[shostakovich]

OK, I dig it. I had trouble thinking of the the opening Doodle-oodle as "my name is". In light of all these Smetana revelations, maybe he should be voted greatest composer since the mere rhythm of his name has generated so much music.

[Michael]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by shostakovich:<BR><B>OK, I dig it. I had trouble thinking of the the opening Doodle-oodle as "my name is". In light of all these Smetana revelations, maybe he should be voted greatest composer since the mere rhythm of his name has generated so much music.</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>If you voted Smetana as the "greatest" composer and Beethoven the next in line, you would have the unusual situation of the world's two greatest composers suffering from deafness. Maybe that's the secret ....<P>Michael<P>

[shostakovich]

You may be onto something, Michael. The 2 greatest composers went deaf, and the 2 greatest Baroque composers went blind. Maybe the key to greatness is INFIRMITY! That would clear up Peter's query under another posting asking why there are no great musical creators today. We're just too damned HEALTHY! And it took transatlantic discourse (never before possible) to come up with that so obvious solution.

[shostakovich]

As a postscript, Michael, it was you who pointed out the 5 movements of the Pastorale. By God, he couldn't count, either! He had EVERYTHING going for him! Some people may scoff at how important innumeracy might be for genius, but follow this story.<P>There's a legendary account of Albert Einstien, an amateur violinist, playing for enjoyment with his friend, the pianist Leopold Godowsky. Einstein kept losing the rhythm, and they would begin again. Finally, Godowsky lost his patience and shouted "1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2 3, 4, Albert. Can't you count?"