Welcome to "Intermezzo" — where we take a few minutes to bounce some ideas around about classical music.
Ever wonder what a song about a pet would sound like? If someone wrote a song remembering their dog — would it feel different than a song about a person? Maybe softer, funnier or just more… tail-waggy?
Christy brings up her family's old dog, Zero. He was super calm and always looked kind of mopey. Even now, years later, their whole family still talks about him and laughs at the stuff he used to do. That’s a special kind of memory.
And get this — composer Leonard Bernstein wrote a piece for a dog, and he called it "Fanfare for Bima." Bima was a black cocker spaniel, and the melody came from the whistle used to call her inside.
Leonard Bernstein also wrote several pieces for pets. When his brother’s dog Mippy passed away, Bernstein composed a tribute called "Elegy for Mippy." It’s just a trombone and a tapping foot. Honestly, it sounds like a dog’s tail thumping on the floor. Sweet and a little silly — just like pet memories often are.
** Web bonus **
George Crumb wrote a collection of pieces for 5 different dogs called "A Dog's World." The dogs featured are named Tammy, Fritzi, Heidel, Emma-Jean and Yoda.
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Christy L'Esperance is the host and producer of Intermezzo.
Thanks to our cohost Betty.
Scott Clemens is IPR's Digital Content Producer.
