Wednesday MadLibs
Concert season is starting soon in this corner of the universe and with that comes the task of reviewing. This is a job Miss Mussel finds to be futile and fascinating in equal measure.
The OM reviewing muscles, atrophied to the point of uselessness by the summer sun, need to be exercised immediatement in preparation for the season ahead.
What better way than to try one of Jeremy Denk’s madlibs?
HEADLINE: Chamber Concert Culminates In Applause, Bows
Felix Mendelssohn’s Octet is not the freshest work to sully our ears in recent times, comprising self-evidently a well-worn chestnut, but one assumes it was fresh when it was written. Such, if any, seemed to be the contention of the luscious musicians who performed with manifold verve last evening at the Kermit McCharriagin Performing Arts Center. Whether this verve was obsequious, this critic is not yet prepared to offer judgement.
If the musicians seemed a bit green at the first, perhaps this was due to the bowstrokes of Kowalszczanka, reminiscent more of white chocolate mousse with raspberry puree than a monster truck showdown. This critic, let me tell you, will be none too eager to hear the music of Pierre Boulez, as his obliteration of dissonance seems merely an infantile rehash of Franz Strauss. But, I don’t wish to be critical. Tender moments laughed, and the able musicians were not entirely catatonic.
The concert proceeded onwards, after its first piece, to the second, and to the rhythmic froissement of the duo pianists in Villeneuve’s Decolletage, Though their accuracy did not always have the bouquet of a fine Scotch, their jeunesse and respective sourcils somewhat sagged. Mr. Iusuk seemed to approach the 88 keys with a bit more clotted cream, but this was more than grounded by Mr. Ayregant’s aggressive, prosciutto-like sensibilities.
However, all Gallic insouciance was forgotten in the welcomed aftermath of intermission, when, refreshed, the musicians strutted Germanically back onstage to somewhat deserved applause to play the third and final previously mentioned work. Kawalszczanka soared through the familiar work with geysers of virtuosic skiing which reminded us of none more than the youthful Dan Marino. Other players also snored with aplomb, particularly Mysti, whose vibrato was not unlike her fauxhawk. The Scherzo especially oozed with humor and joie de vivre, yet no one was laughing, least of all this listener, when the players dedicated the gooey encore to the memory of Anna Nicole Smith
All in all, the evening, despite certain caveats, was a musical toad, and made a convincing thumb-twiddler, if nothing else.
Right, then…looks about right. Miss Mussel is ready to declare herself officially ready the new season.
The list of required words is after the jump. What can you come up with?
(ADJECTIVE)
(QUANTITY, PLURAL)
(MUPPETS CHARACTER)
(SCOTTISH SURNAME)
(MILDLY DISPARAGING ADJECTIVE)
(ADJECTIVE)
(EASTERN EUROPEAN SURNAME)
(DESSERT)
(ATHLETIC EVENT)
(20th CENTURY COMPOSER)
(BLENDER SETTING)
(EXTREMELY DISPARAGING ADJECTIVE)
(19th CENTURY COMPOSER).
(VERB PAST TENSE)
(VEGETATIVE STATE).
(FENCING MANEUVER)
(FRENCH SURNAME, POSSESSIVE)
(FRENCH NOUN).
(BEWILDERING PHRASE VAGUELY MEANING “GOOD”),
(FRENCH ADJECTIVE)
(FRENCH BODYPART)
(VERB, PAST TENSE)
(SILLY SURNAME)
(DAIRY PRODUCT)
(ANOTHER SILLY SURNAME)’s
(MEAT PRODUCT)
(PRETENTIOUS NOUN)
(EASTERN EUROPEAN SURNAME)
(BODY OF WATER, PLURAL)
(NOUN)
(FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES or NFL QUARTERBACK). (VERB, PAST TENSE)
(FEMALE PORN STAR NAME)
(HAIRSTYLE).
(PRETENTIOUS SYNONYM FOR HUMOR
(SENTIMENTAL ADJECTIVE)
(RECENTLY PASSED AWAY CELEBRITY)
