We're so glad you joined us for the first week of Intermezzo — thanks for being part of it! Check out all the Friday shout-outs and goofy jokes below.
So far Christy and Hazel have talked about comedic timing, teasing, physical comedy and defying expectation in classical music.
Today we're exploring exaggeration.
When you tell a story and totally exaggerate just one part of it, it becomes something totally different. For example, if you get a caricature drawn, the artist will exaggerate one part of you — glasses, hair or your nose. Or you can exaggerate elements of a story.
French composer Erik Satie has a piano piece with an overelaborate title that basically translates to "dried-out lobster embryo." During the also overelaborate ending, he exaggerates in a way you'd expect from Beethoven.
Here's Satie's exaggeration:
If you want to hear more music that uses exaggeration for humor, try this piece written by Mozart's dad, Leopold Mozart.
Listen to "Die Bauernhochzeit" (A Peasant Wedding) for Hurdy-gurdy, bagpipe and orchestra.
To make it really wild, he goes over the top and adds loud cheering and whistling.
Friday shout-outs!
Thank you to the kids and parents who sent in jokes or got correct riddles this week: Lucy, Barbara, Alex, Scott, Lisa, Jenn and Maximillian!
Feel free to use these jokes below at your next family gathering or as an icebreaker. :)
From Scott:
- Yesterday I asked my cat to get off the counter. He said, “You first.”
From Alex:
- This morning I was out feeding the chickens… to my pet alligator.
- My neighbor has been flying airplanes for years… too bad he never got a pilot’s license.
- Did you hear about the actor who got arrested? He stole the show.
From Max:
- When I was a kid, I put ketchup on everything. Even Meatloaf — until he filed that restraining order.
- Yesterday I played with my puppy… today my dogs are barking!
- Yesterday I played with my puppy... she told me it was an excellent activity for amusement and recreation.
- Yesterday I played with my puppy... but somehow she always beats me in fetch.
- Yesterday I was playing hide and seek with my puppy. Could you come over and tell him to get off the bed and that I’m hiding behind the chair?
Hear today's full episode with jokes and shout-outs by clicking "Listen" above.
Christy L'Esperance is the host and producer of Intermezzo.
Thanks to our cohost Hazel.
Scott Clemens is IPR's Digital Content Producer.
