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Introduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 September 2011

Simon P. Keefe
Affiliation:
City University London
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Summary

In a famous, oft-repeated British TV comedy sketch, first broadcast on 25 December 1971, the classic duo of Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise wreak havoc in a performance of the opening of Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor, conducted by André Previn. Pianist Morecambe and his ‘manager’ Wise make a string of ridiculous demands: they want to perform what Morecambe calls a ‘special arrangement’ of the concerto with the orchestra playing the opening flourishes and the piano the main theme (Previn reluctantly agrees); they deem the new orchestral introduction ‘too short’ and suggest contacting Grieg to get him to lengthen it; and, after missing Previn's cue on account of a poor sight-line to the conductor, ask him either to wear high heels or to ‘jump up in the air’ in order to be visible. Finally entering at the appropriate moment at the third attempt, Morecambe delivers a grotesquely butchered version of the main theme. Reprimanded by Previn for ‘playing all the wrong notes’, Morecambe purses his lips, grabs his conductor by the lapels and, with the exquisite timing that made him one of Britain's greatest post-war comedians, delivered his coup de grace: ‘I'm playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order’.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2005

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  • Introduction
  • Edited by Simon P. Keefe, City University London
  • Book: The Cambridge Companion to the Concerto
  • Online publication: 28 September 2011
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CCOL9780521834834.002
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  • Introduction
  • Edited by Simon P. Keefe, City University London
  • Book: The Cambridge Companion to the Concerto
  • Online publication: 28 September 2011
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CCOL9780521834834.002
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Introduction
  • Edited by Simon P. Keefe, City University London
  • Book: The Cambridge Companion to the Concerto
  • Online publication: 28 September 2011
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CCOL9780521834834.002
Available formats
×