and now, somthing completely different...

yes, i know, it's been awhile. i've been incredibly busy with all the publicity, program planning and design for my friend's recital later this month [so i have been doing something musical, you see] and with my closest friend being in the hospital going back and forth to be with her. on top of that, the charitable organization, HEDAC, of which i'm a board member and secretary, is in the midst of planning our big annual fundraising event. life is great when it is busy and you're doing things you like...

well, here is something very, very different. it's an instructional video on how to design and build a very special cake - very special. what caught my ear is the music they chose for background. it's Rossini's La Danza. most people think of Rossini for opera, and he is most noted for it, but he also wrote a lot of other things. as a matter of fact, Rossini lived for 76 years; he wrote 39 of the most famous operas in repertoire; yet, he stopped writing operas when he was 37 years old!

there are a lot of stories as to why he stopped writing opera. my favorite [and it's probably not true] is that he became tired of his mistresses and other singers bugging him to write things for them. in fact, he often rewrote lyric to music, stealing from himself quite often, each one better than the previous.

so, here's some fun...





and here's a vocal version of the song...



Enrico Caruso
amazing recording from 1912.

Già la luna è in mezzo al mare,
mamma mia, si salterà!
L’ora è bella per danzare,
chi è in amor non mancherà.
Già la luna è in mezzo al mare,
mamma mia, si salterà!
L’ora è bella per danzare,
chi è in amor non mancherà.
Già la luna è in mezzo al mare,
mamma mia, si salterà!

Presto in danza a tondo, a tondo,
donne mie venite quà,
un garzon bello e giocondo
a ciascuna toccherà,
finchè in ciel brilla una stella
e la luna splenderà.
Il più bel con la più bella
tutta notte danzerà.

Mamma mia, mamma mia,
già la luna è in mezzo al mare,
mamma mia, mamma mia,
mamma mia, si salterà.
Frinche, frinche, frinche,
frinche, frinche, frinche,
mamma mia, se salterà.
Frinche, frinche, frinche,
frinche, frinche, frinche,
mamma mia, se salterà.
La la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
la la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
au la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
la la ra la ra
la la la la ra la!

Salta, salta, gira, gira,
ogni coppia a cerchiova,
già s’avvanza, si ritira
e all’ assalto tornerà.
Salta, salta, gira, gira,
ogni coppia a cerchiova,
già s’avvanza, si ritira
e all’ assalto tornerà.
Già s’avvanza, si ritira
e all’ assalto tornerà!

Sera, sera, colla bionda,
colla bruna và quà e là
colla rosa và a seconda,
colla smorta fermo stà.
Viva il ballo a tondo a tondo,
sono un Re, sono un Bascià,
e il più bel piacer del mondo
la più cara voluttà.

Mamma mia, mamma mia,
già la luna è in mezzo al mare,
mamma mia, mamma mia,
mamma mia, si salterà.
Frinche, frinche, frinche,
frinche, frinche, frinche,
mamma mia, se salterà.
Frinche, frinche, frinche,
frinche, frinche, frinche,
mamma mia, se salterà.
La la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
la la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
au la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
la la ra la ra
la la la la ra la!


(trans.)

Now the moon is over the ocean;
Mamma mia, we're going to leap!
The hour is beautiful for dancing,
Anyone in love will not miss it.
Now the moon is over the ocean;
Mamma mia, we're going to leap!
The hour is beautiful for dancing,
Anyone in love will not miss it.
Now the moon is over the ocean;
Mamma mia, we're going to leap!
Soon we’ll be dancing, round and round,
my ladies, come here,
A beautiful and playful lad
will have a turn with everyone.
As long as in heaven sparkles a star,
And the moonbeams will shine
The most beautiful boy and girl
will dance all night.
Mamma mia, Mamma mia,
Now the moon is over the ocean;
Mamma mia, mamma mia,
Mamma mia, we're going to leap!
Faster, faster, faster,
faster, faster, faster,
Mamma mia, we're going to leap!
Faster, faster, faster,
faster, faster, faster,
Mamma mia, we're going to leap!
La la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
la la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
la la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
la la ra la ra
la la la la ra la!
Hopping, jumping, turning, spinning,
every couple have a turn,
now advancing, now receding,
and returns to the excitement.
Hopping, jumping, turning, spinning,
every couple have a turn,
now advancing, now receding,
and returns to the excitement.
Now advancing, now receding,
and returns to the excitement.
Dance, dance with the blonde,
with the brunette of here and there,
with the redhead follow along.
with the pale one, keep still.
Long live dancing, round and round!
I am a king, I am a lord,
It is the world’s greatest pleasure
The most beautiful delight!
Mamma mia, mamma mia,
now the moon is over the ocean;
Mamma mia, Mamma mia,
Mamma mia, we're going to leap!
Faster, faster, faster,
faster, faster, faster,
Mamma mia, we're going to leap!
Faster, faster, faster,
faster, faster, faster,
Mamma mia, we're going to leap!
La la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
la la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
la la ra la ra
la ra la la ra la
la la ra la ra
la la la la ra la!