[Ads-l] Rossini Quotation

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Here is an interesting variant joke (in Italian) published in 1882.
The composer is identified as Rameau which may correspond to the
French composer Jean-Philippe Rameau who died in 1764

Date: 24 Agosto 1882 (August 24, 1882)
Periodical: La Musica Popolare: Giornale ebdomadario illustrato
Anno 1, Number 21
Article: Note Varie
Quote Page 88

https://books.google.com/books?id=dXwu5EupALIC&q=%22metter%C3%B2+in+musica%22#v=snippet&

[Begin excerpt]
«Datemi la Gazzetta d'Olanda, diceva Rameau, ed io la metterò in musica.»
[End excerpt]

[Begin Google translate]
«Give me the Gazette of Holland," said Rameau, "and I'll put it to music."
[End Google translate]

Garson O'Toole


On Sat, May 12, 2018 at 11:57 AM, ADSGarson O'Toole
<adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
> Fred Shapiro, Fred wrote:
>> I am trying to trace a quotation, attributed to Rossini: "Give me a laundry list
>> and I'll [or 'I will'] set it to music."  In a little bit of searching the earliest I have
>> found it is from 1941.  I would welcome any help in finding pre-1941 occurrences
>> of this in English or in Italian.
>
> Fun question. Here are matches in Italian in 1914 and 1913 for the
> statement attributed to Rossini. Please double check for errors. I do
> not know any Italian, so I am employing Google Translate which creates
> flawed text. Rossini died in 1868, so there is probably considerable
> room for improvement of these citations.
>
> Year: 1914
> Title: Musicisti contemporanei; saggi critici
> Author: Ildebrando Pizzetti
> Publisher: Fratelli Treves, Milano
> Section: I versi "per musica,,.
> Quote Page 272 and 273
> Database: HathiTrust
>
> https://hdl.handle.net/2027/wu.89000640581
> https://hdl.handle.net/2027/wu.89000640581?urlappend=%3Bseq=293
>
> [Begin excerpt]
> Essi potrebbero quasi ripetere, con Rossini, che anche la lista della
> lavandaia si può mettere in musica; sottintendendo solamente (come
> doveva sottintenderlo Rossini): purchè un poeta la metta prima in
> ottenari coi quali la musica possa marciare speditamente.
> [End excerpt]
>
> [Begin Google translation]
> They could almost repeat, with Rossini, that even the laundress list
> can be put into music; implying only (as Rossini had to imply): as
> long as a poet puts it first in obtainances with which music can march
> quickly.
> [End Google translation]
>
>
> Year: 1913
> Periodical: Rivista d'Italia
> Anno 16, Volume 2
> Section: Giuseppe Verdi
> Start Page 398, Quote Page 398
> Publication: Piazza Cavour, Roma
> Database: HathiTrust
>
> https://hdl.handle.net/2027/njp.32101076382314
> https://hdl.handle.net/2027/njp.32101076382314?urlappend=%3Bseq=404
>
> [Begin excerpt]
> Il Verdi intese, meglio del Rossini, il compito che alla musica è
> assegnato nel melodramma. Dio mi guardi dal prendere troppo sul serio
> l'espressione del grande Pesarese, che si dichiarava disposto a
> musicare la nota...della lavandaia.
> [End excerpt]
>
> [Begin Google translation]
> The Verdi understood, better than Rossini, the task assigned to music
> in melodrama. God look at me from taking too seriously the expression
> of the great Pesarese, who declared himself disposed to music the note
> ... of laundress.
> [End Google translation]
>
> Garson O'Toole

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