Music excites the passions, especially those of conductors, whose mercurial temper always seems to be in proportion to their size. So this diminutive French conductor may be the most feisty little maestro in history. These two postcards are entitled:
Le chef d'orchestre
The Orchestra Conductor
(Métier Ingrat)
(An Ungrateful Profession)
1. Suivez la mesure! (a part) Triples sots!
Follow theaction beat! (aside) -- Triple fools!
Follow the
2. Sombrioso (A part) - Abrutis!
Sombrioso (aside) -- Idiots!
3. Allegro vivace. (A part) -- Limaces! marchez donc!
Allegro vivace. (Aside) -- Slugs! march on!
4. (A part) -- Ah! les braillards! La seule chose qu'ils
sachent faire n'abusant pas, du fortissimi.
(Aside) -- Ah! theloudmouths whiners! The only thing that
they know not to abuse are the fortissimos.
Allegro vivace. (Aside) -- Slugs! march on!
4. (A part) -- Ah! les braillards! La seule chose qu'ils
sachent faire n'abusant pas, du fortissimi.
(Aside) -- Ah! the
they know not to abuse are the fortissimos.
It was the trombones that sent him over the edge, I think.
(Any suggestions for a better translation are always welcome.)
These lighthearted postcards were sent by Remy to Mademoiselle Madeleine Mercier in Bry-sur-Marne, France, a commune in Paris, on 29 September 1904.
Did Mlle. Mercier laugh at the little conductor? It's never a good idea to let a small child play with a stick.
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This is my contribution to Sepia Saturday
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