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Puzzles, Jokes, Anecdotes, and Thoughts

Discussion in 'General' started by pianolady, Dec 14, 2007.

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  1. rainer

    rainer New Member

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    I have a feeling I've seen this one before somewhere.
    Yes it can.
    Betty is either married or not. In both cases the answer which can be deduced is YES.
    Either married Betty is looking at unmarried Charles, or married Arthur is looking at unmarried Betty.
     
    rainer, Nov 20, 2012
    #1161
  2. rsmullyan

    rsmullyan New Member Piano Society Artist

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    I just read the most amazing story about the composer Puccini ! One day he heard a voice singing outside his window. It was a man's voice,

    expressing such beauty and feelling that Puccini was moved to the heart.When he looked out, he saw the man was a convict, who had been ordered to

    mend the roads. His feet were still in irons.Puccini could not believe that a man who could sing so exquisitely, with his whole soul, could really be a

    criminal. He interceded with the Queen of Italy and obtained a pardon. The condemned man was permitted to return to his wife and child, and forever

    after he revered the composer with dog-like devotion.
     
    rsmullyan, Mar 18, 2013
    #1162
  3. pianolady

    pianolady Monica Hart, Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    That's a nice story, Raymond! At first I thought there was going to be a joke at the end.

    Speaking of jokes, riddles, puzzles...do you have a new one for us? I've got a little joke:

    There was a man addicted to brake fluid. He said he could stop any time. :p
     
    pianolady, Mar 18, 2013
    #1163
  4. pianoman342

    pianoman342 Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    There was a man addicted to brake fluid. He said he could stop any time.

    hehe, :lol:

    great pun
     
    pianoman342, Mar 19, 2013
    #1164
  5. rsmullyan

    rsmullyan New Member Piano Society Artist

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    Do any of you know who wrote CHOPSTICKS ? Those who don't will be most surprised !
     
    rsmullyan, Apr 5, 2013
    #1165
  6. pianolady

    pianolady Monica Hart, Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    I think I used to know, but I've forgotten. Hmmm....thinking...
    I won't cheat (this time) and look it up now.
     
    pianolady, Apr 5, 2013
    #1166
  7. pianoman342

    pianoman342 Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Hoagy Carmichael?
     
    pianoman342, Apr 6, 2013
    #1167
  8. pianoman342

    pianoman342 Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    A quote from Love in the Afternoon directed by Billy Wilder and starring Gary Cooper and Audrey Hepburn (1957)

    "Verdi,Versini, Puccini; that’s music for an organ grinder with a monkey. But Wagner! That’s another matter entirely…"

    -Michel (Ariane's boyfriend)
     
    pianoman342, Apr 6, 2013
    #1168
  9. rsmullyan

    rsmullyan New Member Piano Society Artist

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    The composer of chopsticks was Borodin.
     
    rsmullyan, Apr 6, 2013
    #1169
  10. pianolady

    pianolady Monica Hart, Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    You are right, Raymond, I would never have guessed Borodin.

    Good guess, Riley...
     
    pianolady, Apr 7, 2013
    #1170
  11. techneut

    techneut Active Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Chopsticks (music)
    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    For a different piece of piano music often called "Chopsticks" in the UK, see Der Flohwalzer (the "Flea Waltz").
    "Chopsticks" (original name "The Celebrated Chop Waltz") is a simple, extremely well known waltz for the piano. It was written in 1877 by the British composer Euphemia Allen under the pseudonym Arthur de Lulli.[1] Allen, who was the sister of a music publisher, was supposedly only sixteen when she composed the piece, with arrangements for solo and duet.
    ...
    A group of Russian composers — Alexander Borodin, César Cui, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Anatoly Lyadov, and Nikolai Shcherbachov (with a modest addition by Franz Liszt) — collaboratively composed four-hand piano variations on this theme for Borodin's daughter Gania.
     
    techneut, Apr 7, 2013
    #1171
  12. pianolady

    pianolady Monica Hart, Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    A correction. Raymond, maybe you just learned something new.... :)
     
    pianolady, Apr 8, 2013
    #1172
  13. pianoman342

    pianoman342 Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    This curious "toe-tapping" tune believe it or not was a grammy winner in instrumental music. Originally released as "Omkring et Flygel," that is, "Around a Piano." It has classical elements, though if being a grammy winner is a show of popularity, it is then decidely a pop song (though instrumental, most pop songs aren't right?--rare, huh!) Who wrote this song? No cheating and wiki-ing it :wink: Every time I hear his name, I laugh, because it sounds like a gag name... :lol:

    For a better version than my MIDI do-up, hop on over to YouTube and see AllenDale's version :)
     
    pianoman342, Apr 16, 2013
    #1173
  14. pianolady

    pianolady Monica Hart, Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    I have not wiki'd anything, and I haven't listened to the music, but I'll just guess Engelbert Humperdink because of his funny name.

    :?: :?:
     
    pianolady, Apr 16, 2013
    #1174
  15. pianoman342

    pianoman342 Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Engelbert Humperdink haha that is very comical. "Dink" isn't that the omneonopeoic sound of a piano?! haha.

    Anyway, the answer is Danish Pianist Bent Fabric.
     
    pianoman342, Apr 19, 2013
    #1175
  16. pianolady

    pianolady Monica Hart, Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    I spelled his name wrong...it's Engelbert Humperdinck.


    Wow, that is some word. I don't know it.

    Ok, I just looked him up. I do know that song.
    And just now I found a video of Alley Cat that is sooooo weird!! Purrrrrfect for a Friday! :p

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGFBpqNBvJc
     
    pianolady, Apr 19, 2013
    #1176
  17. rsmullyan

    rsmullyan New Member Piano Society Artist

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    I recently came across a most amusing musical anecdote: When the composer Myerbeer died, a fan of his wrote an elegy for him and showed it to Rossini

    and wanted an honest opinion of it. After looking at the score, Rossini said:" To be perfectly honest, I think it would be better if you had died and he had written the elegy !"
     
    rsmullyan, Apr 21, 2013
    #1177
  18. andrew

    andrew Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist

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    Fact about Meyerbeer: he was a taphephobic (fear of being buried alive) and left instructions that he be placed in his coffin with bells attached to his limbs for him to ring in case of premature burial.
     
    andrew, Apr 21, 2013
    #1178
  19. pianolady

    pianolady Monica Hart, Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Just like Chopin. This fear of being buried alive was common in the 19th century. Makes me wonder how many times it actually occurred. Scary....
     
    pianolady, Apr 22, 2013
    #1179
  20. pianoman342

    pianoman342 Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Yeah.. :roll: I remember there was an unsolved mysteries episode about that about 10 years ago.. but the guy rung the bell and so it was a happy ending :D
     
    pianoman342, Apr 24, 2013
    #1180
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