1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,400 You are listening to member-supported 89.7 KACU-FM Abilene. This hour of Shickley Mix provided by special friends of KACU. 2 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:13,640 Ready and willing, here's the theme. 3 00:00:29,060 --> 00:00:37,360 Hello there, I'm Peter Shickley and this is Shickley Mix. A program dedicated to the proposition that all musics are created equal. 4 00:00:37,780 --> 00:00:47,200 Or as Duke Ellington put it, if it sounds good, it is good. And it is good that our bills are paid by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 5 00:00:47,300 --> 00:00:56,680 And it is good that this fine radio station chips in. And it is good that the program is distributed by PRI, Public Radio International. 6 00:00:57,780 --> 00:01:08,400 But you can't talk about good without also talking about evil. I don't know if that's true, but it sounds good. What's the name of that early Clint Eastwood movie? 7 00:01:08,540 --> 00:01:19,340 The Good, the Bad, and the Morally Ambiguous? Well, that's a good description of the subject of today's program, which is witches. I like that, witches, witches. 8 00:01:20,320 --> 00:01:28,540 It reminds me of that game, you know, what's the greatest number of successive repetitions of a word you can have in a coherent sentence? 9 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:41,820 The answer I remember is, it's a sentence about correcting a grammar exam in school. And it goes, Where John had had had, Jane had had, 10 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:54,260 had had, had had, had had the approval of the teacher. Did you follow that? Jane had had, had had, had had, had had the approval of the teacher. 11 00:01:54,400 --> 00:02:05,520 That's eight hads in a row. Divided, it's true, by a semicolon, but that is definitely a legitimate semicolon because it's... Oh, oh, come on. 12 00:02:05,900 --> 00:02:12,100 I know it's irrelevant, but can't we have a little fun here? I'm not sure I want to know the answer. 13 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:20,640 I'm not sure I want to know the answer to that question, but speaking of fun, in preparation for this show, I went out and bought a recording of the opera Hansel and Gretel. 14 00:02:21,140 --> 00:02:34,860 It's a Phillips recording, and it's, you know, one of those boxes with a couple of CDs in it, and I opened up the box, and there, in addition to the two CDs in the booklet, was a plastic bag with the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. 15 00:02:35,340 --> 00:02:48,020 I guess the idea is that your kids can work on the puzzle while they're listening to the opera, right? Well, that's a nice idea. And it occurs to me that the recording companies are missing out on a terrific marketing gimmick here. 16 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:51,520 This could really be extended to all sorts of operas. 17 00:02:51,620 --> 00:03:04,000 I mean, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat could have a coloring book in it, and, uh, let's see, the box would have to be a bit larger than usual, but Fidelio could come with prison chains. 18 00:03:04,220 --> 00:03:13,900 Kids would love that. Pagliacci, a little miniature bass drum you could bang along with the music. And it wouldn't have to only be for kids, either. 19 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:20,740 I mean, Carmen worked in a cigarette factory. You open up the CD box, and there's a pack of Marlboros. 20 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:30,220 Or, uh, Verdi's Falstaff contains a little can of Molson's or a Jack Daniels miniature. Uh, The Trojans by Berlioz. 21 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:42,100 We'll skip over that one and move right along to, uh, okay, Samson and Delilah. A little pair of scissors in there. Hey, the possibilities are endless. And I think the recording companies should get with it. 22 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:53,720 Oh, here's a good one. Lohengrin, you open up the box and a swan flies out. Okay, okay, back to business here, which is, as we said before, witches. 23 00:03:54,640 --> 00:04:06,980 As anybody who has seen The Wizard of Oz knows, there are good witches and bad witches, but most people think of witches as bad. Either actively bad, or at least the bearers of bad tidings. 24 00:04:07,460 --> 00:04:17,620 We're going to start with a gaggle of witches. Or three gaggles, actually. Scenes from three operas featuring the kind of women's group you approach with trepidation. 25 00:04:17,860 --> 00:04:24,600 Uh, the first and third are thunder and lightning type scenes. Both have shrill piccolo parts. 26 00:04:24,980 --> 00:04:35,540 But in the middle one, the witches, although they are completely evil at heart and born to raise hell, often sound quite jolly. They prance around going ho, ho, ho, ho. 27 00:04:35,700 --> 00:04:48,680 You'd think they'd studied singing with Santa Claus. They sound like the students at a girls' school. Which is where, actually, the opera was probably first performed. It's in English, and the last selection is also in English. 28 00:04:48,860 --> 00:05:00,980 But don't strain yourself trying to understand the text of that one. After Hail Satan, it's mostly nonsense words. And here's the libretto for the first selection. It's, uh, hold on here. 29 00:05:01,900 --> 00:05:12,960 It goes, uh, these are witches. What have you been doing? Tell us. I slit the throat of a boar. And you? There crossed my mind a helmsman's wife. 30 00:05:13,180 --> 00:05:25,400 That helmsman's wife sent me to the devil. But her husband, who sets sail, I'll drown him with his ship. I'll give you a north wind. I shall raise stormy seas. I shall drive him onto shoals. 31 00:05:26,060 --> 00:05:35,820 And, uh, then they join hands and go into a wild dance. Our first suite is called Covenly Choruses. I'll see you in about 12 minutes. 32 00:07:46,810 --> 00:07:56,310 Que sera? Bien, quand… . 33 00:07:56,310 --> 00:11:18,100 The late of all, the sharing of their sunset shall move fame. 34 00:11:18,420 --> 00:11:51,120 Of the great of sun by fate to seek Italian ground. 35 00:11:51,720 --> 00:12:01,900 The queen and he are now in chase. Hark! Hark! 36 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:07,060 We'll face him. 37 00:12:08,020 --> 00:12:19,650 When they've done, my trusty elf, in form of Mercury himself, 38 00:12:20,530 --> 00:12:30,550 a scent from Jove shall chide his stay, and judge himself right with all his fleet away. 39 00:12:31,930 --> 00:12:50,040 It is my love, it is my love, it is my love, it is my love, it is my love. 40 00:12:51,720 --> 00:13:12,490 We'll hunt them for a storm, we'll hunt them for a storm, we'll hunt them for a storm. 41 00:13:13,390 --> 00:14:06,810 In a deep forest cell, we'll be there. 42 00:14:11,310 --> 00:14:12,650 To dream. 43 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:40,880 Covenley Choruses with scenes from Verdi's Macbeth Purcell's Dido and Aeneas and Marshner's The Vampire In the Verdi we heard Riccardo Mutti conducting 44 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:53,300 the Ambrosian Opera Chorus and the New Philharmonia Orchestra In Dido and Aeneas we heard Nigel Rogers as the Sorceress Don't ask me why the Sorceress 45 00:18:53,300 --> 00:19:05,820 is being sung by a man in the baritone range I don't get it myself even after reading the explanation in the booklet Anyway, the English concert and its choir were conducted by Trevor Pinnock 46 00:19:05,820 --> 00:19:18,260 It's a terrific recording Heinrich Marshner's The Vampire dates from 1827 Apparently Wagner admired the work What we heard comes from the soundtrack of a British television version 47 00:19:18,260 --> 00:19:30,220 updated to the 1960s London art scene We heard David Perry conducting the Britain Singers and the BBC Philharmonic Well, I guess that 48 00:19:30,220 --> 00:19:35,120 I hate it when the phone rings Excuse me 49 00:19:36,120 --> 00:19:36,640 Hello? 50 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:50,320 Oh yeah, that silly little game about repeated words It was eight The word had occurred eight times in a row Oh, you have a sentence with more? 51 00:19:50,440 --> 00:20:02,780 Okay, what is it? No, no, a thousand times no? Well, am I being dense here? That only has two no's in a row Oh, come on 52 00:20:02,780 --> 00:20:14,440 Give me a break Of course, if you actually said no a thousand times You're not going to do that, are you? Will you please stop? Stop it 53 00:20:15,580 --> 00:20:27,720 Hey, listen I'm hanging up if you don't stop Okay, here I go I'm hanging up Brother Takes all kinds, I guess Anyway 54 00:20:28,580 --> 00:20:39,040 Oh man This is going to be one of those days Hello? I can't believe this Here, I'm going to hold the phone up to the mic 55 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:52,020 Can you believe that? Okay, Dr. No I was always taught not to take no for an answer So I'm hanging up No kidding 56 00:20:52,880 --> 00:21:02,480 Have a nice day And please don't call again Boy There are some people who I wish did not have this number 57 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:16,600 I don't know who he is But I'm Peter Shickley And the show is Shickley Mix From PRI Public Radio International Today's show is called 58 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:28,720 Every Witch Way And I was thinking about the fact That the English word hex Is related to the German word for witch Which is hexa And it occurred to me That the word hexameter 59 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:39,780 Might not only mean a poetic line With six metric feet It might also mean a device For measuring how many spells per month A given witch has cast 60 00:21:39,780 --> 00:21:44,780 Can't you imagine an old hag Puttering around her hut in the forest? 61 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:53,340 Who is it? 62 00:21:53,520 --> 00:22:05,360 Hexameter reader, ma'am Well, come right in, young man I've been very good this month I've only cast one spell And believe me 63 00:22:05,360 --> 00:22:14,500 He looks better as a frog Than he did as a prince Now, don't you overcharge me You young whippersnapper 64 00:22:14,500 --> 00:22:17,140 Or I... You don't scare me, ma'am 65 00:22:17,140 --> 00:22:27,820 I'm bigger than you And besides, I use hexoff Hexoff? That's right, ma'am Hexoff repels a spell Before it has a chance to get under my skin 66 00:22:27,820 --> 00:22:39,900 And there's no toxic residue either So I don't have to worry about Rover licking me when I get home I feel relaxed and self-confident Now that I know That any spell you try to cast 67 00:22:39,900 --> 00:22:44,840 Will roll off me like Water off a duck's back 68 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:48,500 You leave Quacksilver alone, you Bye, ma'am 69 00:22:48,500 --> 00:22:56,880 Have a nice day Curses Filed By Hexoff That's right By Hexoff 70 00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:57,480 Out! 71 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:10,960 You can't be too careful Okay, we've heard from witches in groups Now let's consider individual witches Okay, let's consider individual witches Here are three songs 72 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:22,260 Dealing with three powerful sorcerers The lyrics of the second number in English Go like this The pastry is ready Done to a turn 73 00:23:22,260 --> 00:23:34,560 Oh, how the firewood crackles and burns Gretel, my sweet You'll soon be roast meat Well, I never Very clever In the oven soon You'll look to see my biscuits cook 74 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:45,480 When you're in Slam! Shut the door Wham! Then Gretel will be out of here I'll be a cake for my tea The cake in little bits I'll slice With nuts and sugar Make it nice 75 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:57,480 My magic oven glowing red Will turn you into gingerbread Well, I never Very clever Hi, hi, hi, hi In wild delight She seizes a broomstick 76 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:09,360 And sits astride it Her hop, hop, gallop, lop, lop My broomstick nag Giddy up, don't lag And she goes on like that for a while Three formidable sorcerers here 77 00:24:09,620 --> 00:24:20,900 But they all get vanquished in the end So their sorcery comes to naught That's why I call this sweet Witchcraft Ebbing See you in about ten minutes 78 00:24:20,900 --> 00:24:43,370 Blood, red moon 79 00:24:43,370 --> 00:24:55,110 Find your woman Singing a zombie tune Lightning crash Thunderbolt 80 00:24:56,740 --> 00:25:06,880 Standing alone At the crossroads of doom She paint my holy cross red 81 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:14,730 Burned black candles At the corners of my bed 82 00:25:15,940 --> 00:25:18,310 Ain't never been so afraid 83 00:25:18,310 --> 00:25:31,070 Of the living or the dead As I am of the woman Witchery, witchery 84 00:25:34,750 --> 00:25:36,240 Hang my picture 85 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:48,520 Upside down Swampwood vine Keep me bound Soft to grass 86 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:51,460 On my crown 87 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:58,080 On my trail Yeah, I'm 88 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:08,860 She paint my holy cross red Burning black candles At the corners of my bed 89 00:26:08,860 --> 00:26:27,210 The condors of my bed ain't never been so afraid of the living or the dead as I am of the woman which you raised. 90 00:26:33,130 --> 00:27:06,160 Black cat bone, dress in bathtub gin, Mojo Satchel bit out a human skin. 91 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:18,460 Damn byler and his Mexican, bid his fool get religion and give up his sin. 92 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:22,140 She paid my holy cross. 93 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:45,920 Burned black candles in the condors of my bed ain't never been so afraid of the living or the dead as I am of that woman which you raised. 94 00:27:46,420 --> 00:27:48,260 Which you raised. 95 00:27:51,160 --> 00:28:03,670 Which you raised. 96 00:28:08,340 --> 00:28:09,750 Which you raised. 97 00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:32,440 You're in there, shut up, close the door. 98 00:29:34,720 --> 00:30:35,320 There's a little girl who's turned into a witch. 99 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:37,040 She's in there, shut up, close the door. 100 00:30:37,920 --> 00:31:03,110 She's free tomorrow. 101 00:31:59,740 --> 00:32:12,350 Ding dong, the witch is dead. Witch, old witch, the wicked witch. Ding dong, the wicked witch is dead. I'll say it high and say it low. 102 00:32:12,570 --> 00:32:25,450 Ding dong, the wicked witch is dead. She's gone where the god was told she'd be. Ding dong, ding dong, the witch is dead. Ding dong, ding dong, the witch is dead. She's gone where the god was told she'd be. Ding dong, ding dong, the witch is dead. I'll say it high and say it low. 103 00:32:25,590 --> 00:32:38,500 Ding dong, ding dong, the witch is dead. Witch, old witch, the wicked witch. Ding dong, ding dong, the wicked witch is dead. She's gone where the god was told she'd be. Ding dong, ding dong, the witch is dead. 104 00:32:38,500 --> 00:32:46,850 I'll say it high and say it low. She's gone where the god was told she'd be. Ding dong, ding dong, the witch is dead. 105 00:32:47,030 --> 00:32:51,730 I'll say it high and say it low. 106 00:33:07,070 --> 00:33:17,960 She's gone, there's a goblin, she'll be mine He knows he won't go out Now take off the wicked thing 107 00:33:20,230 --> 00:33:31,180 Take off the wicked wicked thing Sing it high, sing it low Take off the wicked wicked thing 108 00:33:31,180 --> 00:33:35,560 Take off the wicked wicked thing 109 00:33:53,230 --> 00:34:04,850 Witchcraft Ebbing Our suite began with Dr. John singing Witchy Red from the television album. Then, of course, the Witches Aria from Hansel and Gretel, sung by Chris. 110 00:34:04,870 --> 00:34:14,469 and Krista Ludwig, with Sir Colin Davis conducting the Dresden State Opera Orchestra. Apparently there's been at least one production of Hansel and Gretel 111 00:34:14,469 --> 00:34:26,830 in which the roles of the mother and the witch are sung by the same person, illustrating Bruno Bettelheim's view that they represent the good and evil sides of the parent. That's gingerbread for thought. 112 00:34:27,570 --> 00:34:40,489 Then last we heard Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead from The Wizard of Oz in the 1967 version by the Fifth District. And that's the fifth estate. By the way, what is that? Does that mean anything? What does the fifth estate mean? 113 00:34:41,110 --> 00:34:53,710 You know, in the old division of classes of society with specific powers, the first estate was the clergy, the second was the nobility, the third was the commons, and the fourth was the press, the public press. 114 00:34:54,010 --> 00:35:04,850 What was the fifth estate? Now, the guys in that rock group were college boys. Did they just decide to be a new estate, the fifth? Or does the fifth estate mean something that I don't know about? Well, I don't know. 115 00:35:04,850 --> 00:35:13,470 If you can enlighten me on that, please do so. You know, I like to regard this program as a fount of knowledge in general, not just musically. 116 00:35:14,190 --> 00:35:15,630 Oh, man. Hold on a minute. 117 00:35:16,590 --> 00:35:25,110 Hello? No, no, no, no. Sabotage. You're thinking of a fifth column. I'm talking about fifth estate. Okay, bye. 118 00:35:26,810 --> 00:35:27,290 Okay. 119 00:35:28,630 --> 00:35:36,390 Hello? Yeah. No. Superfluous person. You're talking about a fifth wheel. That's not it. Okay, bye. 120 00:35:40,160 --> 00:35:40,640 Hello? 121 00:35:41,280 --> 00:35:43,580 No, that's the fifth amendment. Thank you. 122 00:35:44,820 --> 00:35:48,100 Oh, this is getting out of hand. Hello? 123 00:35:50,340 --> 00:36:03,000 Hey, that's plausible. Yeah. The bottles you inherit when your alcoholic uncle dies. Maybe that's it. Okay, thanks. Well, it's possible. You know, the fifth estate could be... 124 00:36:04,400 --> 00:36:05,800 This has got to stop. 125 00:36:05,880 --> 00:36:17,990 No more calls. Oh, man. Okay, everybody. Listen to this. Can you believe that? No, no, no, no, no, no. I'm not even kidding. 126 00:36:19,370 --> 00:36:29,710 Man, I hope that phone stops ringing. Name and ID. That's all anybody's going to get out of me. The name's Peter Shickley. The show's Shickley Mix from PRI, Public Radio International. 127 00:36:33,740 --> 00:36:43,380 Every Which Way is the name of today's show. And you may remember back there earlier in the show, I went for a cheap laugh by making a gratuitous slur on women's groups. 128 00:36:43,660 --> 00:36:51,680 But you know, I think one of the most interesting things to come out of the women's movement is the revival of the idea of witches as a positive force. 129 00:36:52,660 --> 00:37:04,180 Everyone, except those who think in terms of the most simple-minded stereotypes, knows that in many cultures, what we call witch doctors are actually involved in healing instead 130 00:37:04,740 --> 00:37:15,920 of, or at least in addition to, putting bad spells on one's enemies. Witchcraft is a matter of plugging into channels of energy that most people don't have access to. 131 00:37:16,540 --> 00:37:27,880 I'm not sure what that means, but some people do seem to have some kind of a gift. Now, personally, I'm a pretty rational kind of guy. Weird things don't tend to happen to me. 132 00:37:28,220 --> 00:37:39,680 I have a very mechanical mind when it comes to cause and effect. But I'm also in favor of humility when it comes to contemplating the extent of our knowledge. But enough of that. Enough about me. 133 00:37:39,840 --> 00:37:47,660 What do you think of my world outlook? If we're in agreement, then it seems to you that whether or not it's taken literally in 134 00:37:47,660 --> 00:37:58,640 the supernatural sense, the idea of sorcery can be used whimsically, metaphorically, and even instrumentally, as in dance music for a witch. 135 00:37:59,480 --> 00:38:08,720 This suite is called Whiffs of Witchcraft. It has three numbers and lasts about nine minutes, after which the spell will be broken. 136 00:38:18,970 --> 00:38:36,730 So, the children have seen them In quiet places where the moss grows green 137 00:38:39,410 --> 00:38:51,970 Colored shells jangle together The wind is cold, the year is old The trees whisper together And bend in the wind 138 00:38:52,490 --> 00:38:53,590 They leave 139 00:38:53,590 --> 00:39:17,670 For next week a monkey Is coming to stay 140 00:39:19,870 --> 00:39:29,850 I was a witch's hat Sitting on her head like a paraffin stove 141 00:39:32,610 --> 00:39:40,330 I'd fly away and be a bat Across the air I would roam 142 00:39:43,230 --> 00:39:52,970 Stepping like a tightrope walker Putting one foot after another 143 00:39:54,070 --> 00:39:57,190 Wearing black cherries for rings 144 00:41:16,480 --> 00:42:55,040 Many sights to see And when I look in my window 145 00:42:57,460 --> 00:43:00,460 So many different people to be 146 00:43:01,880 --> 00:43:14,840 That it's strange So strange You've got to pick up every stitch 147 00:43:16,520 --> 00:43:26,900 You've got to pick up every stitch You've got to pick up every stitch Mmm Mmm 148 00:43:26,900 --> 00:43:37,400 Must be the season of the witch Must be the season of the witch Yeah 149 00:43:37,400 --> 00:43:41,440 Must be the season of the witch 150 00:43:41,440 --> 00:43:58,800 On her shoulder, do you think I see her? 151 00:44:00,640 --> 00:44:11,920 Summer cat looking over His shoulder at me And he's strange 152 00:44:14,800 --> 00:44:22,800 Sure is strange You've got to pick up every stitch 153 00:44:24,500 --> 00:44:32,280 You've got to pick up every stitch, yeah Beatniks are out to make it rich 154 00:44:36,890 --> 00:44:49,050 Must be the season of the witch Must be the season of the witch Yeah Must be the season of the witch 155 00:44:51,280 --> 00:45:20,320 Pick up every stitch 156 00:45:22,980 --> 00:45:29,980 Bits running in the ditch Beatniks are out to make it rich 157 00:45:31,610 --> 00:45:41,450 Oh, the season of the witch The season of the witch 158 00:45:41,450 --> 00:45:45,900 The season of the witch 159 00:45:45,900 --> 00:46:08,280 Do you think I see 160 00:46:10,280 --> 00:46:21,200 And when I So many different people to be It's strange 161 00:46:24,750 --> 00:46:37,220 Sure is strange Pick up every stitch You've got to pick up every stitch 162 00:46:38,520 --> 00:46:48,760 Do rap it's running in the ditch Oh, no Must be the season of the witch 163 00:46:50,200 --> 00:46:57,660 Must be the season of the witch Yeah Must be the season of the witch 164 00:46:57,660 --> 00:47:18,780 The whiffs of witchcraft, sweet. 165 00:47:18,940 --> 00:47:29,960 began with Witch's Hat by The Incredible String Band from their album called The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter. Then came the first section of Witch of Ender, 166 00:47:30,470 --> 00:47:42,660 part of a dance score that Moondog composed for Martha Graham. It was performed by a motley bunch of New York freelancers. And last was Donovan singing Season of the Witch, 167 00:47:42,800 --> 00:47:53,910 which brings us to tidbit time at the old... Should I answer that? What if it's the no man? 168 00:47:56,990 --> 00:48:08,670 Well, hello. It is the no man, right? But you've finished doing your sentence with the greatest number of consecutive repetitions of a word, I assume. 169 00:48:09,270 --> 00:48:21,610 No, no, a thousand times no. Look, I've got a... Yeah? Okay. I like a good intellectual challenge as well as the next man. Shoot. 170 00:48:25,720 --> 00:48:37,140 Okay. You're saying that I should be able to guess your name on the basis of what you've just done. Okay, fair enough. So, let's see. Okay. 171 00:48:37,700 --> 00:48:50,520 I'm going to guess that your name is Hal. Yes! All right, how about that? Woo-hoo-hoo! Well, no, I didn't use any sorcery. I just... 172 00:48:51,060 --> 00:49:02,740 Okay, at first I was thinking that you were going to say no a thousand times. But then I thought, wait a minute. No, no, a thousand times no. Which isn't a complete sentence, by the way. Okay, okay, that's okay. 173 00:49:02,960 --> 00:49:11,640 But then I figured you said no, no a thousand times. That's 2,000 no's plus the one at the end of the sentence. 174 00:49:12,120 --> 00:49:23,480 So, I computed that you said no 2,001 times and the name of the computer in 2,001 is Hal. Right? Okay. 175 00:49:24,640 --> 00:49:36,720 Well, I don't know about genius, but... Look, I... Okay, look, I got to go back. Okay, bye. Well, you lose some and you win some. Okay, where were we? 176 00:49:36,940 --> 00:49:45,000 Tidbit time. Okay. Okay, now, I have to say that tidbit time today brings a tear to my eye 177 00:49:45,000 --> 00:49:56,700 because I'm more or less repeating the tidbit from Sickly Mix number one. This is show number 161, and way back there on show number one, 178 00:49:56,700 --> 00:50:07,820 I pointed out that the instruments... The instrumental break in the Fifth Estate's version of Ding Dong the Witch is Dead was a bourree by the 17th century composer Michael Pretorius, 179 00:50:07,980 --> 00:50:16,520 played on Renaissance instruments. But since then, a CD has been released with everything the Fifth Estate ever recorded. 180 00:50:16,980 --> 00:50:28,100 And the liner notes fill in some nice details on how their big hit came to pass. I'm going to read this. As 1966 neared its end, 181 00:50:28,100 --> 00:50:40,200 Don Askew attended a Christmas party at which he advanced the theory that any song properly presented could become a hit record. Other partygoers doubted Askew's idea and challenged him to this wager. 182 00:50:40,400 --> 00:50:53,060 Bet your group can't get a hit with a song from the Wizard of Oz soundtrack. Askew took on the friendly wager and bounced the idea off the group. Wadhams, putting his Dartmouth education to pop music advantage, 183 00:50:53,360 --> 00:51:04,020 worked out an unusual arrangement. At the time, Wadhams said, I was studying... Renaissance dance music. There is no happier or more entertaining music. So I thought, why not use it? 184 00:51:04,240 --> 00:51:15,760 And so Wadhams embellished Ding Dong with the bourree movement from the famous dance suite Terpsichore by the 17th century composer Michael Pretorius. For our basement demo, this is a quote, 185 00:51:15,940 --> 00:51:27,920 we literally dubbed the band over a full Renaissance orchestra playing the piece on an LP. Then we taped the verses and bridge from Ding Dong in the same key at the same tempo and spliced it out. 186 00:51:28,100 --> 00:51:38,460 together. You couldn't listen to the result without laughing. Everybody knew it was a hit. So here's the part of the archive LP that they dubbed over. It's performed by the 187 00:51:38,460 --> 00:51:46,420 Collegium Terpsichore, conducted by Fritz Neumeier, followed by the actual demo made by the group, dubbing over the LP. 188 00:54:04,710 --> 00:54:05,230 The 189 00:54:32,080 --> 00:54:44,300 original demo for Ding Dong the Witch is Dead by the Fifth Estate with the Pretorius Bourree they so dearly loved. Delightfully appropriated. You know, in a way, I like the demo better. For the released 190 00:54:44,300 --> 00:54:54,660 recording, they brought in members of the New York Pro Musica, but it's not as big a renaissance band as on the archive LP, and it doesn't have that great rasping bass instrument that's on the LP. 191 00:54:56,000 --> 00:55:08,440 Okay, we gotta get on our broomsticks here. We're going to go out with some Mendelssohn, as much as we can hear of the overture to Die Erste Walpurgisnacht, a cantata or oratorio or whatever it is. 192 00:55:08,440 --> 00:55:16,780 Based on a Goethe poem about the first Walpurgis night, which is May Day Eve. May Day Eve is 193 00:55:16,780 --> 00:55:29,100 not a cry of help from Adam. It's the night before the first of May, when in German tradition, all the witches fly to a rendezvous. Christoph von Dochnany is conducting the Cleveland Orchestra. 194 00:57:08,420 --> 00:57:18,860 And that's Sickly Mix for this week. Our program is made possible with funds provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by this radio station and its members. And our program 195 00:57:18,860 --> 00:57:28,720 is distributed by PRI, Public Radio International. We'll tell you in a moment how you can get an official playlist of all the music on today's program with album numbers and everything. 196 00:57:29,000 --> 00:57:38,340 Just refer to the program number. This is program number 161. And this is Peter Sickly saying goodbye and reminding you that it don't mean a thing. 197 00:57:38,420 --> 00:57:42,980 If it ain't got that certain je ne sais quoi. You're looking good. See you next week. 198 00:57:55,290 --> 00:58:07,890 If you'd like a copy of that playlist I mentioned, send a stamped self-addressed envelope to Sickly Mix. That's S-C-H-I-C-K-E-L-E, Sickly Mix. Care of Public Radio International, 199 00:58:08,330 --> 00:58:15,690 100 North 6th Street, Suite 900A, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55403. 200 00:58:17,970 --> 00:58:20,670 PRI, Public Radio. International.