What's the funniest music?

[Karl Henning]

Langgaard's ode to Carl Nielsen piece (can't remember title, Our Greatest Composer?). Whether intentional or not, it's funny in a way that a real bad B-movie that tries to be good, but is funny bad. Perhaps.

Yes, a hoot!

[Brian]

Langgaard's ode to Carl Nielsen piece (can't remember title, Our Greatest Composer?). Whether intentional or not, it's funny in a way that a real bad B-movie that tries to be good, but is funny bad. Perhaps.

I also forgot Beethoven's classic song, "Schuppanzigh is a Lump"!

[Karl Henning]

Oh, and Beethoven should talk! 

[Luke]

My first thought goes to various pages of Maxwell Davies, actually, but on consideration I think the cleverest, most charming and most well-wearing musical joke I know is this one, which becomes more impressive the more intimately one knows all the sources:

https://www.youtube.com/v/Xhkt3GJpg5E

Adorable!

[Luke]

Also, of course - I see Ligeti's already been mentioned, the modern master of closely-observed musical comedy, but his Aventures and Nouvelles Aventures haven't. And they must be. They are hilarious.

[James]

https://www.youtube.com/v/VLnWf1sQkjY

with the video imagery of course.

[springrite]

Langgaard's ode to Carl Nielsen piece (can't remember title, Our Greatest Composer?). Whether intentional or not, it's funny in a way that a real bad B-movie that tries to be good, but is funny bad. Perhaps.

It was intentional. He was not too happy that Copenhagen is all about Nielsen and no room for him!

[Karl Henning]

I do not offer this in serious contention of Luke's offrande très drôle, but only as an aside which came to mind this morning.

https://www.youtube.com/v/IsU_VzzVREo

[Karl Henning]

My first thought goes to various pages of Maxwell Davies, actually, but on consideration I think the cleverest, most charming and most well-wearing musical joke I know is this one, which becomes more impressive the more intimately one knows all the sources:

https://www.youtube.com/v/Xhkt3GJpg5E

Adorable!

Just had a listen, goodness is this surgically done!

[Gurn Blanston]

In the 'serious music' category, which I nonetheless find amusing, is the suite from 'The Comedians' by Dmitri Kabalevsky, with its famous Galop. I wasn't really thinking about satirical things, like Schickele or Borge, although they certainly are a hoot.

[Karl Henning]

In the 'serious music' category, which I nonetheless find amusing [...]

'Serious' but nonetheless to be taken as in part amusing, certainly applies to the live Zappa track as well 

[Luke]

Just had a listen, goodness is this surgically done!

Isn't it, though! The way he manages to align the source piece (Jeux d'eaux) and the delicately-framed quotation of Singin' in the Rain, so that at the pivotal moment (the pentatonic motive at the A major forte, 46 seconds in) they are actually the same and each seems to be quoting the other, is stunning. So is the unexpected metamorphosis into another watery Ravel piece (Une barque sur l'ocean) at the end.

[James]

Isn't it, though! The way he manages to align the source piece (Jeux d'eaux) and the delicately-framed quotation of Singin' in the Rain, so that at the pivotal moment (the pentatonic motive at the A major forte, 46 seconds in) they are actually the same and each seems to be quoting the other, is stunning. So is the unexpected metamorphosis into another watery Ravel piece (Une barque sur l'ocean) at the end.

A joke that only a narrow handful of musicians would get, perhaps. The character of the piece isn't that humorous imo, certainly not universally .. and the composer's voice is lost too.

[North Star]

A joke that only a narrow handful of musicians would get, perhaps. The character of the piece isn't that humorous imo, certainly not universally .. and the composer's voice is lost too.

I would imagine that quite a large portion of those who know who Sciarrino is, will recognize the source materials. As to it being 'universally humorous', I don't think there really is such a thing as universally humorous - tragedy seems to be much more universal. E.g. Ancient Greek comedies are almost forgotten, while Iliad, Odyssey, and Oedipus Rex are anything but forgotten. But I agree insofar that it's not as funny as it is beautiful.

[Karl Henning]

A joke that only a narrow handful of musicians would get, perhaps.

So you agree that it is great.  Good for you!

[James]

I would imagine that quite a large portion of those who know who Sciarrino is, will recognize the source materials. As to it being 'universally humorous', I don't think there really is such a thing as universally humorous - tragedy seems to be much more universal. E.g. Ancient Greek comedies are almost forgotten, while Iliad, Odyssey, and Oedipus Rex are anything but forgotten. But I agree insofar that it's not as funny as it is beautiful.

Sciarrino who? Very obscure composer. And universal humor .. yea when taken literally perhaps, but the gist of what I was saying is that most folks wouldn't laugh out loud at this or even laugh at all. Just musicians with technical knowledge (which is meaningless really) would get it perhaps. And while it may be beautiful to some, it doesn't quite stand out as a distinctive voice here. And then you have the context .. often a very pensive and serious. Epic fail all around.

[jochanaan]

P.D.Q. Bach: Cantata: Iphigenia In Brooklyn, S. 53162

Aria: "As Hyperion across the flaming sky his chariot did ride, Iphigenia herself in Brooklyn found."

Recitative: "And lo, she found herself within a market, and all around her fish were dying; and yet their stench did live on."

Ground: "Dying, and yet in death alive."

Recitative: "And in a vision Iphigenia saw her brother Orestes, who was being chased by the Amenities; and he cried out in anguish: 'Oh ye gods, who knows what it is to be running? Only he who is running knows'."

Aria: "Running knows."

Oh yes!  I played in the "orchestra" for that one in college.  2nd double reed, "without benefit of either oboe or bassoon."

[jochanaan]

To speak seriously for a moment, if that's "aloud" on this thread : Most of the "comedic" elements in music that's considered funny are actually non-musical elements.  This applies even to that master of music and comedy Victor Borge, and even to such "comedic" masterpieces as Mozart's Marriage of Figaro overture and Smetana's Overture to The Bartered Bride.  One of the rare examples where the comedic elements are in the music itself is Mozart's A Musical Joke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLjRDlnbyOw.  Haydn was also a master of musical comedy. Still, it would be a stretch to say that, for example, an Indian raga master or a West African drummer would find this music obviously funny.

[Mr Bloom]

I'm quite surprised no one mentionned Charles Ives. His music is full of jokes. I think he's one of the very few composers who manage to be funny with the music itself.

[jochanaan]

Ives actually was mentioned.  Quite early in the thread, as I recall.