Does anyone know....?
By arkaf61
@arkaf61 (10881)
Canada
August 9, 2009 12:56am CST
OK I don't know the time. I don't know the composer. I don't know the name.
All I know is a story that I remember my music teacher telling us, about some composer and musicians that were complaining about something and while performing in the palace - I think - they each in turn would blow out the little candle lighting his score stand and leave, until there was no more musicians left.
I know it's not much of an explanation, but if someone knows this story, the composer or what it is called I would love to know.
From what I can recall, it has to be a known composer because I remember we were studying a group of composers that were well known -just can't remember which ones -.
I would love to get the whole story - I guess my teen brain only registered a few parts of the story - the composer and the name of the music.
Hope someone can help me with this one :)
2 people like this
2 responses
@GardenGerty (157546)
• United States
10 Aug 09
I checked to see if anyone else had helped before I searched for it. Is this something you knew? I had to look it up, but enjoyed the journey.
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
12 Aug 09
SO you had heard the story before as well:) It just came to my mind as I was looking for videos of victor borge and writing the discussion about him.
You're good though , you know that I asked this question to the music teachers in my school and none of them could answer it?
WHich comes to prove that when we have a question it's better to post it here LOL
Hope you're having a great day
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
9 Aug 09
This sounds like an interesting story, and I don't know it either. What would help would be if I had the name of a song, a composition by this person. I may not know the story, or be able to associate it with the composer, but a composition title might give me a clue as to this person's identity.
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
9 Aug 09
I couldn't remember anything but the bits and pieces from the story - we have to take in account that I heard it 30 years ago as a teenager and it is known that teenagers brains are not exactly geared to pay attention unless is boys/girls, fashion, etc LOL
Thankfully GG was able to chase the story, the composer and the symphony for us :):):):):)
1 person likes this
@EdibleDormouse (1)
•
1 Feb 10
The work you're referring to is Haydn's Farewell Symphony (no.45 - and he wrote well over a hundred!). It was in response to the orchestra being kept too long at Prince Nicholas' summer residence, the Esterhaza Palace, and they were missing their families, who were required to stay behind. The orchestra left their stands two by two, snuffing the candles as they went, until only Haydn and one other were left. The Prince took the hint (he can't have been that bad an employer after all), and the orchestra were allowed to return home the following day.
I love it, as all through college, Haydn was referred to as a "musician's musician", and I think this was a lovely way of using his position to stand up for his colleagues without upsetting the boss!
