Why couldn't the string quartet find their composer? He was Haydn.
Everyone loves a good joke... or a really corny one. And classical music composers were no different.
Mozart loved pranks and jokes, in his life and in his music. His Divertimento for two horns and string quartet, also known as A Musical Joke, includes passages designed to mimic bad music notation and terrible playing as a way of having some fun.
Haydn also put jokes in his music, the most famous being his Symphony No. 94, nicknamed The Surprise Symphony for its sudden fortissimo chord in the second movement.
At WGUC, April 1st provides the perfect opportunity to celebrate the funny side of classical music.
As we look towards April Fools’ Day, Naomi Lewin gets us laughing with more musical jokes on Classics for Kids.
And there’s more – April Fools’ Day is also a day that we remember our dear friend Frank Johnson who enjoyed collecting music of all kinds, including some of the funniest interpretations of classical music from the likes of Monty Python, Bugs Bunny, PDQ Bach, Victor Borge, Spike Jones and more.
Frank put together this April Fools’ Day Playlist, not as a practical joke but as a celebration of the joy that music brings to us every day. Get ready to laugh!
Happy April Fools' Day!
Happy April Fools' Day!
