Friday 12 March 2021

Tosca Puccini

 

I was on the train the other day. It was a long journey and I was a little tired after a hard day at work counting paper clips. I had to write a report estimating how many paper clips we will need over the next three years so we can order them now before the price goes up. 

The train was rocking to and fro as it danced to the clicketty clack clicketty clack music of metal wheels on metal rails. 

I closed my eyes and somehow a tune came to my head. You know how sometimes, out of the blue, you remember a tune and it keeps playing on and on in your head all day? Well this happened to me. A piece of music came to mind. I think it was opera. I have never been a fan of opera really. I don't see the point of people singing instead of talking.

Imagine you're at the supermarket and you sing to the assistant, "How much is that doggy in the window?" You would not do that would you? Besides, they don't sell dogs in supermarkets, so why would you ask for it in song?

Anyway, this opera tune came to my head, and with eyes closed I moved a finger in the air as if holding a baton and conducting an opera. My index finger went up and down in the air in tune with the music's increasing crescendo in my head. (Have you noticed how I used the word "crescendo"? It makes people think I'm educated!)

So, as the music decelerated to a slow ending I opened my eyes satisfied with my talents as an opera conductor.

The man sitting opposite me on the train smiled too and said, "that was E lucevan le stelle from Tosca by Puccini!"

"What?" I said.

"The tune you were conducting with your finger. It's from Tosca by Puccini!" he said.

"Eh? I don't know ..." I hesitated.

"Yes ... I'm sure of it," he insisted, "It goes like this ..." and then, to my surprise, he started humming a tune which was exactly what I had been playing silently in my mind.

I was flabbergasted. All my flabber was truly gasted, I tell you. I was besides myself. I was sitting there and again sitting beside myself. Has it ever happened to you? A strange feeling I tell you.

"How did you know what tune I was playing in my head?" I asked.

"I followed your finger!" he said, "I could see your finger going higher, and then lower in the air. Then fast and slow. So I followed the tune you were playing in your head."

"Surely not?" I retorted incredibly and incredulously.

"It's true," he insisted, "and before that you were playing in your head Nessun Dorma from Turandot, also by Puccini. Am I right?"

"Yes ..." I hesitated again. How could this man read the music in my head by the movement of my finger in the air?

He smiled.

I had to prove him wrong. I just had to. So I challenged him.

I closed my eyes, folded my arms tight, and tried to clear my head of any thoughts whatsoever. No thoughts at all. Not always easy to do. But I can do it when I think about it.

"All right," I said, "what music was I playing then?"

"The Sound Of Silence" he smiled again.  

23 comments:

  1. ...sometimes silence is golden.

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    1. Silence is golden ... by The Tremeloes ... 1967 ... and The Four Seasons ... 1964.

      God bless, Tom.

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  2. All my flabber is truly gasted, too, Victor! Love the ending here.
    Blessings!

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    1. Glad you liked my offering, Martha. Thanx.

      God bless you and yours.

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  3. Victor your body language is giving away your thoughts it seems.
    If you are smart you will curb this energy as much as possible when you are around a gorgeous woman or you could wind up with a black eye!

    Thank you for the laughs!

    God Bless 💮

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    1. Aha ... I will not mention my body language when next to a gorgeous woman!!!!!!!

      God bless, Jan.

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  4. That man is a musical marvel!

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    1. He was a bit out of tune though.

      God bless you, Kathy.

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  5. If you could read my mind, he surely did. :)

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    1. If you could read my mind, love
      What a tale my thoughts could tell ... (Gordon Lightfoot - 1970)

      God bless, Bill.

      Delete
  6. Dearest Victor,
    GOOD that you were flabbergasted; that is a nice stage for being in for that reason!
    Thanks for The Tremeloes reminder as I've danced many steps on their music!!!
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    Replies
    1. The Tremeloes were a fun group, were they not? What other groups do you like, Mariette?

      God bless.

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    2. Haha, Uriah Heep - Lady In Black 1971 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/375980268883705487/

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  7. Ha! Observant critter, wasn't he? My Tom has always been enamored of symphony conductors. I don't 'get it', but would never discount their abilities.

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    1. Do conductors actually conduct the orchestra, Mevely? Or do they just wave a stick around and the musicians read from their music sheets anyway. If the conductor is doing the conducting, then why have the music sheets? Can the musicians play the music without the conductor? If so why have the conductor? These, and many other questions, will remain unanswered till the end of time!

      The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind. (Bob Dylan - 1963).

      God bless, Mevely.

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  8. That sounds like an interesting encounter. Perhaps an encounter of the third kind!! Blessings.

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    1. Musically so, Nells. Even silent music.

      God bless always.

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  9. You sure do run into all kinds of strange people. :)
    I must admit I like to watch the conductor!

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    1. That's true, Happyone. The world is full of strange people.

      God bless you.

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  10. Yes, but could he tell you what key you were conducting in?
    That would be even more astounding.

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    1. I was conducting with my index finger; and kept my keys in my pocket in case anyone stole them!!!

      God bless, Mimi.

      Delete

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