I have heard it played on piano,
I have heard it played on harp,
Played by some wonderful musicians,
And it was so wonderful.
And once more I heard it,
I heard it this morning,
That tune that I know so well,
But it was spoiled.
It was played on harpsichord,
And to my mind that tune was ruined.
The Goldberg Variations were awful,
Well to my mind they were
When played on this instrument,
The one that when Sir Thomas Beecham
Was asked what he thought of it
Said it was like two skeletons,
Two skeletons copulating,
Copulating on a corrugated metal roof.
It was such a pity to spoil this music
With such an awful instrument.
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Author:
Goldfinch60 (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: November 1st, 2022 02:25
- Comment from author about the poem: Bach's Goldberg Variations is a wonderful piece of music, I have recordings of it played buy several people but my two favourites are by Angela Hewitt on piano and Katrin Finch on harp.
- Category: Reflection
- Views: 25
Offline)
Comments3
A fine write Gold.
Thanks Orchi.
The whole not greater than the sum of its parts, then?
I am a musical ignoramus,
Though I still appreciate what I hear;
I hope if we listen you can help us
Find more examples we can revere.
Go Andy, Go...
PS: Loved some of the imagery - a little grouchiness sometimes can go a long way 🙂
Thank you Dave, I have been brought up with music since birth and listen to all types of music.
There are only two types of music, that which you like and that which you don't like.
Andy
Oh dear, I had to search for the harpsichord variant and must say I have heard those before. As well as (perhaps rarer) on the guitar. Sir Thomas Beecham is possessed of a sharp witted tongue. Thanks Andy.
There are a few instruments that have played the Goldberg Variations but the harpsichord is not one I would chose.
Sir Thomas Beecham had many witticisms, look him up to see them.
Andy
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