From Bach to Verse

I enthusiastically second Judith Thomas's opinion about how good this book is, and Heifitz's goofily inspired lyrics fit the rhythm perfectly, and hilariously, in each case. I'm thrilled to find copies in the marketplace here, since friends borrowed and kept both of mine many years ago (grrr), and for some unfathomable reason it's no longer in print, and I can't remember all of these gems. A wonderful gift for musicians, music students (a fun way for them to practice sight-singing), and classical music fans. (I gave about a dozen as gifts when it first came out, and in each case the recipient would spend the next half hour minimum nodding his/her head, singing quietly, giggling manically, and going to the next piece, while fending off with elbows all the people who wanted to look at the book too. Each time.) Check out the irreverently bombastic "Take out the Trash" lyrics to Beetohoven's 5th symphony, or the recipe for Plato's favorite sandwich to a famous Brahms symphony's theme. Or the bizarrely rhythmic lyrics to the "Golliwog's Cakewalk."

For those who enjoy silly turns of corner in humor, coupled with main themes of music, you will enjoy this compilation immensely. Not always obvious, we learn during a Beethoven Concerto theme, "Don't play chess with your daugh - ter...she knows more than you taught.....her." The great Sigmund Freud is not safe in this collection either..paired with the chorale theme from Beethoven's 9th, "Sigmund Freude never hoid a concert due to chronic slouch, All his ritzy, somewhat schitzy patients tied him to his couch." You get the idea. A delicous gift for people who get the giggles over zaney stuff.