MY DOG ……. A SURPRISE FOR ME
OR
HOW I FINALLY GOT HIM!
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PAGE SIXTEEN:
CASANOVA/PUPPY …….
HIS TASTE IN MUSIC
Casanova/Puppy is now Ten Years Old
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I have been surrounded by music since my childhood. My parents had an eclectic taste in music, which ranged from Music Hall to Mozart (1756-1791) to Jazz (especially the Big Bands) and also included certain tunes of the day, which my father was able to play on the piano. However no matter what he played, it always had the same left-hand rhythm! Regardless, as a child, my parents and I enjoyed Sunday Evening Musical Evenings when we each would take a turn to sing. I remember pouring great feeling into the song, My Foolish Heart, at the age of six. I shudder when I now think of this presentation!
My Foolish Heart sung by Steve Conway (1920-1951)
My mother had a good singing voice. When others commented on it, she always smiled and joked that it was hereditary, as she was related to the great singer and entertainer Marie Lloyd (1870-1922)!
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Marie Lloyd (1870-1922), perhaps the most famous British Music Hall Singer
of her time
Marie Lloyd – A Little of What You Fancy Does You Good
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My parents had a large collection of gramophone records, which were mostly of ten-inch 78 r.p.m. discs with the occasional twelve-inch disc of one of the West End Theatre Musical Productions they had seen including Wild Violets.
78 r.p.m Gramophone Records: Left: 12-Inch; Right: 10-Inch
There were no Long Playing Records (33 r.p.m; ten and twelve-inch), seven-inch 45 r.p.m. Discs or Compact Discs (CD) at this time.
Top Left: 45 r.p.m. Disc; Top Right: 33 r.p.m.
Botton Left: CD Disc & Jewel Case; Bottom Right: The Layers of a CD
My parents had a Pie ‘n’ Mash Shop when I was a small child and my mother would often put ten 78 r.p.m. discs on the record spindle of our Radiogram for playing and turn a switch so that the music could be heard in the shop, which was always greatly appreciated by the clientele feasting. At certain times of the day, my mother would turn-on the Radio to the Light Programme for customers to listen to Music While You Work.
Eric Coates (1886-1957) & His Symphony Orchestra playing
Calling All Workers, the theme of Music While You Work
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My parents especially enjoyed listening to radio plays and certain singers. Three singers that were particular favourites of my father, as he used to enjoy singing their songs while soaking in a bath, were the duettists, Ann Ziegler (1910-2003) & Webster Booth (1902-1984) and Richard Tauber (1891-1948).
Ann Ziegler & Webster Booth – We’ll Gather Lilacs (from the musical, Perchance to Dream)
Click here to visit The Webster Booth-Anne Ziegler Appreciation Group on Facebook
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Richard Tauber – My Heart and I (from the Operetta, Old Chelsea)
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Over the years, I have continued to surround myself with the sounds of music resulting in, as with my parents, my developing an eclectic taste. Regardless of whatever I am doing in my home, I tend to maintain an ear on the sounds coming from the Radio. Today, and with grateful thanks to the Internet, I am able to hear BBC Radio at any time of the day and enjoy hearing the World News, comedy programmes from my childhood, plays, short stories, and above all, music to fit every mood.
As a result Casanova/Puppy has also been subjected to a wide variety of programming, and I can only assume, that he has also developed an eclectic taste. I am sure that there are some readers who will scoff at the idea when I suggest that he has distinct tastes in music.
Perhaps, on the whole, they are right, but since we can not actually ask him, we will not know. Regardless, I am able to recognise the type of music that does not induce him to run from the room either in horror from apparent discomfort, to sounds where he will actually come into the room and rest himself in front of where the sound is coming from.
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However, let me begin by telling of one particular tune that caused him great discomfort when he heard it. I was amazed when I discovered it was a cause of some discomfort to him.
During the visit of a friend of mine some time ago, his telephone rang and Casanova/Puppy became physically disturbed and began to whimper, which eventually led to his making high pitched screaming sounds. Fortunately, we were in the garden, and he was able to run off to the far end where he stayed until the telephone was answered and the offending sound stopped.
The tune, to me at least, was an innocuous piece entitled, Sugar Sugar! This tune was written for The Archies, cartoon characters that appeared on television from 1968 until 1978 and was once very popular.
Sugar Sugar – The Archies
Singing voices: Ron Dante (1945), Toni Wine (1947) & Andy Kim (1946)
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In the interest of scientific research (!!!), I have played various other tunes by these artists along with other artists singing in the same style (i.e. Bubblegum Genre) in an attempt to discover if it is the singers or the style of music that he finds so offensive.
Data (!!!) obtained allowed me to conclude that it is this one tune sang by the original artists that he objects to! All other examples of this Genre were met with indifference, as shown by his walking from the room!
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One type of music that Casanova/Puppy does seem to like is Choral Music including Traditional Hymns, especially older Protestant ones when sung by large Choirs, as exemplified by Rock of Ages, which was written by the Reformed Anglican Minister, the Reverend Augustus Toplady (1740-1778) in 1763 and first published in The Gospel Magazine in 1775.
Rock of Ages – sung by an unnamed choir
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On Wednesday afternoons, Casanova/Puppy and I are now in the habit of listening to and enjoying the BBC Radio 3 presentation of Choral Evensong, which is the BBC’s longest running outside broadcast having debuted in 1926. We listen to this programme via the Internet with me seated at the computer while he lays down on the carpet behind me. I notice that he does not move during the programme and does not seem to go to sleep, but appears to listen quietly with his eyes open.
One of Casanova/Puppy’s favourites – recorded on 20th January, 2016 from The London Oratory
The Choir of Norwich Cathedral during Choral Evensong on 22nd April 2018
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Casanova/Puppy has also been known to enjoy certain Jazz pieces. He does not enjoy anything too loud and prefers pieces with a definite melody that he can wag his tail to! Bebop, as exemplified by Dizzy Gillespie (1917-1993) and Charlie (Bird) Parker (1920-1955) are unfortunately not to his taste! He seems to prefer the Big Band (Swing) sounds of Duke Ellington (1899-1774) and Count Basie (1904-1984).
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In addition, he surprised me recently when I noticed that he seemed to like some pieces of Traditional Jazz, especially Si Tu Vois Ma Mere. He evidently finds this piece soothing, as he generally falls into a deep sleep towards its end!
Monty Sunshine (1928-2010) – Si Tu Vois Ma Mere (Lonesome)
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Perhaps his special favourite in this genre is a short piece by Miles Davis (1926-1991), and entitled, Here comes da Honey Man, and comes from the Opera, Porgy & Bess. He has been known to sigh deeply after listening to this piece!
Miles Davis – Here Comes Da Honey Man
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I cannot disagree if the reader were to suggest that any piece of music that Casanova/Puppy appears to like is merely a reflection of my own taste. When I am working around the house, I like to listen to Rhythm & Blues and, what I like to call Classic Rock ‘n’ Roll (up to the early 1960s).
However, he does seem to like everything that I enjoy from these genres, since he often demonstrates a marked critical response to certain tunes by getting up from the floor, sniffing loudly and walking from the room, especially if the tune is too loud! However, he does wag his tail with greater gusto when we listen to the music of Louis Jordan (1908-1975) .
Louis Jordan – Barnyard Boogie
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However, when it comes to having a Special Favourite Artist, Casanova/Puppy seems to have granted this honour, as judged by the even greater intensity of his tail wagging, to …….
FATS DOMINO (1928-2017)!
Fats Domino – The Big Beat – from the film of the same name and released in 1958
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I’m so glad Casanova/Puppy has a wide range of musical tastes – including my dear friends, the late Anne Ziegler and Webster Booth. Buster, our late Scottie, once heard a double bass recital by Gary Karr when he came to South Africa. Buster hadn’t shown any great interest in music before but she was absolutely riveted during this recital. She sat watching the TV the entire time, thoroughly enjoying the recital! Here is a link to Gary Karr playing on YouTube. Perhaps your dog might enjoy it: https://youtu.be/REoSgot-wJ4
Jean: Thank you very much for posting your comment. It is much appreciated. Casanova/Puppy did enjoy Gary Karr’s playing. Regards. Charles