[Ads-l] Rossini Quotation

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Here is an Italian anecdote from 1864 that features Gioachino Rossini
delivering a version of the quotation: Give me a laundry list and I
will set it to music.

Perhaps a list member can improve the Google translation.  The
anecdote was published while Rossini was still alive. He died in 1866.

On Saturday I shared a 1751 letter containing a statement attributed
to Rameau that fit within the same family of sayings.

Date: 2 Giugno 1864 (June 2, 1864)
Periodical: La Scena: Giornale di Musica, Drammatica e Coreografia
Periodical Location: Naples, Italy
Year II, Number 5
Article: Galleria Artistica: Giovacchino Rossini

https://books.google.com/books?id=7V5_04kxkWQC&q=%22lista+del%22#v=snippet&

[Begin excerpt]
-- Domando mille volte perdono... -- ripigliò l'omiciattolo -- lo sono
l'abate Tottola, e siccome sono incaricato da Sua Eccellenza Barbaia
(del quale mi protesto servidore umilissimo) di comporre le opere per
il S. Cario, così....

-- Così, l'interruppe Rossini, venite a portarmi uno dei vostri
capolavori. Va benissimo, lasciatemelo qui e a rivederci.

-- Se V.S. crederà necessari dei cangiamenti nella sceneggiatura, nei
versi od altro mi onorerà comandandomi.

-- Non vi prendete pensiero di ciò più di quello me ne prenda io
stesso. Mi sentirei capace di vestire di note anche la lista del
bucato, figuratevi poi un poema vostro.

Compresa o no l'ironia burlesca di queste parole, l'abate inchinatosi
profondamente, uscì.
[End excerpt]

[Begin Google translation]
-- "I ask a thousand times for forgiveness ..." replied the little
man-I am Abbot Tottola, and as I am commissioned by His Excellency
Barbaia (of whom I protest as a very humble servant) to compose the
works for S. Cario, so....

-- "So," interrupted Rossini, "come and bring me one of your
masterpieces." All right, leave it here and see you again.

-- If V.S. he will believe that changes in the script will be
necessary, in the verses or else he will honor me by commanding me.

-- Do not worry about it any more than I take it myself. I would feel
capable of dressing even the laundry list, then imagine a poem of
yours.

Including or not the burlesque irony of these words, the abbot bowed
deeply, he went out.
[End Google translation]

Garson O'Toole


On Sat, May 12, 2018 at 5:30 PM, ADSGarson O'Toole
<adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
> Apologies for the large number of messages, but you do get to see
> every exciting twist, turn, and revelation. This will be my last
> message on this topic for many hours.
>
> Here is a citation for a letter in French dated 1751 (published in
> 1756) that contains an instance of the remark ascribed to Rameau
> (probably Jean-Philippe Rameau who died in 1764).
>
> Year: 1756 (MDCCLVI)
> Title: Les cinq années littéraires, ou lettres de M. Clément, sur les
> ouvrages de littérature qui ont paru dans les années 1748, 1749, 1750,
> 1751, & 1752
> Tome: Second
> Imprimees: A Berlin
> Letter Number: 69
> Date of Letter: 1er Fevrier, 1751 (February 1, 1751)
> Location of Letter: Paris
> Start Page 3, Quote Page 5
> Database: HathiTrust
>
> [Begin excerpt]
> Vous sçavez, MONSIEUR, ce que disoit Rameau, que si on le fâchoit, il
> mettroit en musique la Gazette d'Hollande: . . .
> [End excerpt]
>
> [Begin Google translation]
> You know, sir, what Rameau said, that if he was angry, he would put to
> music the Gazette of Holland. . .
> [End Google translation]
>
> Garson

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