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Reiner Torheit
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« on: 02:50:33, 19-10-2007 » |
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now here's one especially for Tommo, Strinasacci, and other fiddlers amongst us... The Incomplete History of the Funerary Violin is one of the most magnificent musical hoaxes imaginable. The book is by one-time PMD student Rohan Kriwaczek, and reads as though it is a revelatory piece of research on an ignored repertoire for the violin - complete with historical sources, bibliography etc. But it's an HIP Hoax - because the entire work and every "fact" in it is a complete spoof. However, even the publishers of the work were spoofed into printing it, believing it to be a work of scholarly research. The splendidly anal level of brain-bludgeoning detail merely adds to the verisimilitude. You come away believing in the wretched twist of fate which has swept the masterly works of "George Babcotte" and "Bulstrode Whycherly" under the musicological carpet. Would make an ideal Christmas present for any gullible authenticists you may know  The opinions of Richard Taruskin on this tome remain unknown. |
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« Last Edit: 02:52:14, 19-10-2007 by Reiner Torheit »
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"I was, for several months, mutely in love with a coloratura soprano, who seemed to me to have wafted straight from Paradise to the stage of the Odessa Opera-House"
- Leon Trotsky, "My Life"
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A
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« Reply #1 on: 08:38:36, 19-10-2007 » |
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Interesting Reiner, I could think of a lot of people I might have bought that for when I was working... not particularly people I like either!!!!!
Is it freely available? any idea where it could be found?
A
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Well, there you are.
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Reiner Torheit
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« Reply #2 on: 09:22:14, 19-10-2007 » |
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It's available on Amazon.Com from "Amazon retailers" for as little as $4.50  Full price is $16. |
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"I was, for several months, mutely in love with a coloratura soprano, who seemed to me to have wafted straight from Paradise to the stage of the Odessa Opera-House"
- Leon Trotsky, "My Life"
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A
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« Reply #3 on: 09:49:06, 19-10-2007 » |
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Thanks Reiner , I will buy this ... now !!
A
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Well, there you are.
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roslynmuse
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« Reply #4 on: 13:09:11, 19-10-2007 » |
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Not a musical hoax, but a rather fine novel: Paul Micou's Death of David Debrizzi describes the career of a concert pianist with particular and realistic description of a phenomenally difficult piano work by a totally fictional composer. (He also wrote a book, The Cover Artist, about, I think, an artist whose dog's work was feted...)
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thompson1780
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« Reply #5 on: 14:57:12, 19-10-2007 » |
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Cheers Reiner - one for the Christmas list! Would love to see someone "realise" the items in the book.  Tommo |
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Made by Thompson & son, at the Violin & c. the West end of St. Paul's Churchyard, LONDON
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Reiner Torheit
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« Reply #6 on: 15:06:03, 19-10-2007 » |
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Would love to see someone "realise" the items in the book. Now there's a thought.... "if you're going to tell a fib, tell a whopper..." I am sure we still have a few composers left on this site who could knock-up some pastiche largos in the spoof style of Arne or Stanley? |
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"I was, for several months, mutely in love with a coloratura soprano, who seemed to me to have wafted straight from Paradise to the stage of the Odessa Opera-House"
- Leon Trotsky, "My Life"
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Kittybriton
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« Reply #7 on: 15:15:16, 19-10-2007 » |
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The cover alone is magnificent! Oh! for a muse of finance, that would ascend the dark and lowering clouds of impecuniary misery!
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Click me -> About meor me -> my handmade storeNo, I'm not a complete idiot. I'm only a halfwit. In fact I'm actually a catfish. |
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MT Wessel
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« Reply #8 on: 01:19:38, 20-10-2007 » |
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... Full price is $16. Well. We all must pay the price.  |
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« Last Edit: 01:24:56, 20-10-2007 by MT Wessel »
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lignum crucis arbour scientiae
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harmonyharmony
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« Reply #9 on: 14:56:45, 20-10-2007 » |
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Would love to see someone "realise" the items in the book. Now there's a thought.... "if you're going to tell a fib, tell a whopper..." I am sure we still have a few composers left on this site who could knock-up some pastiche largos in the spoof style of Arne or Stanley? I believe that this volume has already inspired a composer to take up his manuscript paper (it's not me, before you ask) but I'm not sure how much of it is going to be pastiche (heard all of this second hand so haven't actually discussed it with him yet), certainly given his other work I don't think it will. |
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'is this all we can do?' anonymous student of the University of Berkeley, California quoted in H. Draper, 'The new student revolt' (New York: Grove Press, 1965) http://www.myspace.com/itensemble |
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strinasacchi
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« Reply #10 on: 13:23:25, 22-10-2007 » |
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This looks splendid! Thanks for sharing it with us, Reiner. I may have to overcome my reluctance to order things on-line for this one.
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martle
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« Reply #11 on: 13:28:31, 22-10-2007 » |
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The author (Rohan) happens to be an ex-student of mine. I did NOT teach him everything he knows. Honest! (And yes, it's a very good and very funny hoax.)
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Green. Always green.
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A
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« Reply #12 on: 15:43:24, 22-10-2007 » |
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My copy arrived this morning... thanks Reiner, I think I will enjoy this!!
A
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Well, there you are.
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MabelJane
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« Reply #13 on: 00:11:39, 23-10-2007 » |
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Reiner, mightn't it have been a lot funnier to encourage people here to buy, or at least read, this book for its brilliant research, fascinating discoveries etc and not let on that it's actually a hoax...  Or did most of you reading this know about it anyway? It does sound amazing! |
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Merely corroborative detail, intended to give artistic verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative.
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Tony Watson
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« Reply #14 on: 00:48:43, 23-10-2007 » |
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I find it difficult to share in everyone else's admiration for this book, even though I haven't read it (thank goodness). It might be funny for you academics or professional fiddlers but what about the poor sap - someone like me? - who buys it in good faith and wastes time and money reading it? I'd want my money back and an apology, and then leave all the smirking to those oh so clever and knowing people out there...
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