On this day of all days, perhaps a diversion by way of something funny would be useful.
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Tonight’s feature presentation: Victor Borge
I first became aware of Victor Borge almost five decades ago during my school years. One of my teachers played two tracks from a comedy album (remember those?) that I and my classmates found to be uproariously funny. As time went by, my memory retained portions of the routines, but not the titles, or the name of the performer. Years later, I rediscovered this seriously funny man, and even got to see one of his live performances.
The tracks that we teenage boys and girls giggled over were Phonetic Punctuation, and Inflationary Language.
Here is an early, and fairly dry, recitation of Phonetic Punctuation.
Over the years, Borge continued to refine this bit using different pieces of prose, even more punctuation, hand gestures, and performing it in front of a live audience. All based on the same framework. I dare you to watch this and not laugh out loud:
Somewhere along the way, he managed to teach singing punctuation to Dean Martin on Dean’s variety show:
Here is an early audio-only recording of Inflationary Language.
Of course, Victor Borge was known for much more than these two pieces. His stage performances centered around the piano. He was a classically trained pianist, conductor, and of course humorist. He could play serious classical pieces, but often would end up mangling the music, or making jokes about the composer, or having fun with an opera singer attempting to get the notes out to his accompaniment.
Some of his famous bits at the piano included:
- Meticulously adjusting the distance between the piano bench and the piano, with use of a tape measure for precision. Then sitting down, and pulling up the bench undoing all that work.
- Propping up a piece of sheet music, then playing a strange tune. Stopping to peer at the music, turning it upside down, and then playing something more recognizable.
- Playing to introduce an opera singer and at her first loud note, falling off the piano bench. Repeating this a couple of times until opening the bench, pulling out a seat belt, strapping himself in, and beginning again.
- Having a “stagehand” come to his side to turn the pages of his sheet music, then having to give the hapless fellow (usually one of his real-life sons) the proper cues on when to turn the pages.
- Instructing the singer to keep hands off his piano.
- Making fun of famous composers and compositions.
- Mugging boredom for the audience.
- Interrupting a serious musical piece for an insert of something completely unrelated.
Here, a number of these bits are combined, as Borge plays a piece by Giuseppe Verdi (that’s Joe Green to you) for frequent guest singer Marilyn Mulvey.
Back in the day, performers of all stripes visited The Muppet Show. Borge was on this show, and made several appearances on Sesame Street as well.
Some random fun with sheet music:
You have to be really good to play this kind of comedy.
At the end of his live performances, Borge would often wistfully opine:
I would like to thank my parents for making this evening possible … [pause] … and my children for making it necessary.
Go to youtube and search on Victor Borge. There’s an endless stream of clips, and whole concert shows, to choose from.
Victor Borge passed away in his sleep at home in Greenwich, CT, on December 23, 2000. He was 91.
Top comments for sunday June 12, 2016
As of 20 minutes before publication time this evening, no nominations were received. Keep those cards and letters coming, people :-)
It’s been that kind of day, though...
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