Viola joke
The viola joke has a similar status among musicians as the East Frisian joke in general in Germany . So it is a typical joke about a group of people with actual or supposed characteristics. Since most of these jokes are flat clichés and fashions, violists suffer just as little from them as the East Frisians , Burgenlanders or Belgians .
background
The viola's “reputation” stems from the fact that the viola only played a subordinate role in the classical orchestra (unlike in chamber music ) well into the 19th century . There is relatively little solo literature for them and as an orchestral part (in older compositions) it is considered to be comparatively easy to play. Since it differs from the violin only in its size and the tuning a fifth lower, it can also be played by violinists after a relatively short period of getting used to it. That is why in the past one often let worse violinists play the viola. In the high and late romantic orchestras (for example with Richard Wagner ) the viola has been upgraded, but because of its subdued, melancholy sound it is mainly used in slow, sedate passages. All of this gave rise to a not entirely serious cliché that violists cannot play properly, never practice, and are generally slow and dumb.
"The viola is as superfluous as the Pope's power."
In rock music circles , many viola jokes are aimed at electric bass players .
Examples
- Why are violists afraid of cemeteries? - Too many crosses .
- What is the name of the Devil's Trill Sonata (sonata for violin by Giuseppe Tartini ) for viola? - For Elise (the leisurely little seconds of the first bar remind of a trill in the notation ).
- What is the only thing a violinist can do better than a violist? - Play the viola.
- Says one violist to the other: "I practiced eighth notes on vacation ." Says the other: "Great, play one!"
- How many documents are available on a viola? - Three: first situation, distress and defeat.
- How is the small second defined? - Two violists play in unison .
- Why is the harp every violist's dream? - Always pizzicato and only open strings !
- For safety reasons, there is a general ban on viola performances in the mountains; every glacier is faster!
- What magazine reported that a viola was thrown out of a window? - Beautiful living !
- A violist of an orchestra takes over the direction of a sick conductor. After the concert, his colleague asks him: “Where were you at the concert? I haven `t seen you!"
- How can you tell if a violist is playing wrong? - That the bow moves!
Individual evidence
- ↑ Burgenland jokes
- ↑ Belgian jokes (Der Spiegel 1/1973)
- ↑ Rupert Schöttle: The blacks are the notes - bizarre things from the orchestra pit , Verlag Frühwirth Bibliophile Edition Vienna 2008, ISBN 978-3-9502-052-7-5
- ↑ Elisabeth Birnbaum, illustrations by Winnie Jakob: O Lord, I'm a violist! - What you shouldn't know about orchestral musicians. Amalthea Verlag Vienna, 2002, ISBN 978-3-85002-478-5