Beethoven's Ninth

The Boston Symphony recently performed Beethoven's Ninth symphony which is a wonderful piece that has a part near the end in which the bass violins do nothing. So, the bassists snuck offstage, out the backdoor, and next door to the local pub for a drink.

After quickly gulping down a few stiff drinks, one of them checked his watch and said, 'Oh no, we only have 30 seconds to get back!'

Another bassist said, 'Don't worry, I tied the last page of the conductor's score down with string to give us a bit more time. We'll be fine.'

So, they staggered and stumbled back into the concert hall and took their places just as the conductor was busily working on the knot in the string so he could finish the symphony.

Someone in the audience asked his companion, 'What's going on? Is there a problem?'

His companion said, 'This is a critical point - it's the bottom of the Ninth, the score's tied, and the basses are loaded!'

I think both you and Andrew can be replaced.

sigh

Riverwind (imported) wrote: Tue Jul 19, 2005 8:06 am I think both you and Andrew can be replaced.

sigh

Like what happened to Nixon????



Studlover

Studlover (imported) wrote: Tue Jul 19, 2005 8:28 am Like what happened to Nixon????



Studlover

River, would you rather trade the devil you do know for the devil you don't know?

Studlover

That was so bad it was good! Keep 'em coming.

Taylor (imported) wrote: Tue Jul 19, 2005 1:16 pm That was so bad it was good! Keep 'em coming.

What is so interesting about this joke is that there is nowhere in the 4th Movement of the 9th that the basses have a such a lengthy rest. Perhaps in the vocal recitative before the "alle menchen" which would only be a few measures.

Rather than to disect the joke let's leave it as such and go have a few "quafs."

Studlover