Name That Tune
My teen son plays trumpet in his middle school band. Last year, the band played popular music like the theme from Harry Potter, and Viva la Vida by Coldplay.
This year? They’ve gone classical, at least for the fall.
“We’re playing some Hungarian thing,” my son said.
“Hungarian Dance Number Five?” I asked.
“I think so.”
“That’s famous!”
My dad played trumpet (first chair in college!) and was a high school band director for part of his career as an educator. He was always playing music for us, taking us to concerts and musicals, having us watch the Boston Pops on TV.
“What else are you playing?” I asked my son.
“Mars, by Holt,” he said.
“You mean Holst?” I asked. “That song’s famous! It’s part of The Planets.”
I still remember my dad’s LP for The Planets, with a big illustration of the solar system on the fold-open cover.
I started singing a riff from Mars: bum-bum-bummmmm. bum. bum. bummmmm.
My son perked up, and started singing along with me. He didn’t have the tune quite right, but hey, he’s just hearing it for the first time. I was suddenly inspired to inspire my son in the same way my dad inspired me.
“I’m sure I have The Planets on CD,” I said. I poked through my collection, and sure enough, there was John Williams (Star Wars composer) conducting some orchestra in the Gustav Holst work.
I put the CD in, and hit play. Mars came to life.
We listened for a bit. Curious, there was no bum-bum-bummmmm. bum. bum. bummmmm.
“Is this what you’re playing in school?” I asked.
“Yep, exactly this,” my son said.
It was nice enough, but where the hell was the bum-bum-bummmmm part that I knew so well?
And then I realized: bum-bum-bummmmm. bum. bum. bummmmm is from Fanfare for the Common Man, by Aaron Copeland.
So much for naming that tune in seven notes.
I couldn’t even name it in seven planets.
Aaron Copeland, Fanfare for the Common Man
Gustav Holst, Mars Bringer of War, from the Planets
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Comment by krn
| September 17th, 2009
Cute post, Dad’s.
Note to self: If ever meeting Dad’s in person, do not play a musical trivia game for tequila shots.
Comment by BigLittleWolf
| September 17th, 2009
Too funny! These are wonderful moments…
BigLittleWolf´s last blog ..Radical parenting? About teens, by teens.
Comment by Just Me...
| September 17th, 2009
Hmm… Where have I heard that before (Fanfare…)? Olympics??
Anyway, it’s nice when your kid begins to realize that there are things that he does, that his father did and his grandfather did as well.. Makes for a nice ‘common thread’ to bind a family.. :) :)
Just Me…´s last blog ..Routine..
Comment by Mindy/Single Mom Says...
| September 17th, 2009
Accurately naming that tune or not, I think it’s great that you can share a common interest with your son – and one that you also shared with your father. That’s so cool.
Mindy/Single Mom Says…´s last blog ..Mirrors & Motivation
Comment by Senorita
| September 17th, 2009
One time at band camp………….
Hey, that man in the first shot is giving us quite the money shot.
Thank you for that and have a nice day !
Senorita´s last blog ..My Fantabulous Five !
Comment by Paula
| September 17th, 2009
bum-bum-bummmmm. bum. bum. bummmmm …all I could think of while reading was the little drummer boy.
Comment by Danielle
| September 17th, 2009
Your such a hip, good dad!
Danielle´s last blog ..Holy cougar, how did this happen?
Comment by Cathouse Teri
| September 17th, 2009
I’m not sure “hip” is the word.
But I can go with good. Super good, even. ;)
Cathouse Teri´s last blog ..Angels Can Fly…
Comment by dadshouse
| September 17th, 2009
Hey Cathouse Teri – don’t be jackin’ my style!
(Does that make me sound hip?)
Comment by The Exception
| September 20th, 2009
You are way ahead of me – I recognize music but don’t have a clue who wrote it.
Comment by cellogirl
| September 24th, 2009
Ahh, you make a music teacher’s heart warm. People out there really do remember and talk about and love music that was written more than 10 minutes ago. Thanks for this post.