Humor
Saint-Saens was a composer of the last century who composed in the late-Romantic style. One of his most famous works is entitled, Carnival of the Animals.
It occurred to me that what we have in the House of Representatives now is a carnival of animals. So, with apologies to Saint-Saens, I offer the following taxonomy. The information is organized by what are called movements, or sections of music.
Now, on to the Carnival of Animals in the House
I Introduction et marche royale du lion (Introduction and Royal March of the Lion)
The lion -- John Boehner
Description -- As in "The Lion King," the mighty ruler of the jungle really
has a heart of gold and ends
up crying at the end.
Strings and two
pianos: the introduction begins with the pianos playing a bold tremolo, under which the strings enter with a stately theme as the Speaker descends the grand staircase. The pianos play a pair of scales going in opposite directions to indicate the various Members running in different directions. The pianos then introduce a march theme that they carry through most of the rest of the introduction. The strings provide the melody of leadership, with the pianos occasionally taking low runs of octaves which suggest the roar of a lion. The two groups of instruments switch places, with the pianos playing a higher, softer version of the melody. This describes McCarthy switching places with Boehner. The movement ends with a fortissimo [very loud] note from all the instruments used in this movement, signifying excitement and sadness at once.
II Poules et coqs (Hens and Roosters)
Hens and Roosters -- The Republican Study Group and the Conservative Caucus
Strings without cello and double bass, two pianos, with clarinet: this movement is centered around a pecking theme played in the pianos and strings, which is quite reminiscent of chickens pecking at grain. The clarinet plays small solos above the rest of the players at intervals. The piano plays a very fast theme based on the crowing of a rooster's Cock a Doodle Doo.
III Hémiones (animaux véloces) (Wild Asses: Swift Animals)
Cousins of Hens and Roosters
Two pianos: the
asses depicted here are quite obviously running, an image induced by the constant, feverishly fast up-and-down motion of both pianos playing scales in octaves. These are zig-zag asses that come from forlorn places and are known for their great speed.
IV Tortues (Tortoises)
There is only one tortoise left in the House -- the Parliamentarian
Strings and piano: a satirical movement which opens with a piano playing a pulsing triplet figure in the higher register. The strings play a slow rendition of the famous 'Galop infernal' (commonly called the
Can-can) from
Offenbach's operetta
Orpheus in the Underworld. Today, only the Parliamentarian and the Democrats are interested in the House as an institution.
V L'éléphant (The Elephant)
The Elephant -- Keven McCarthy
Mr. McCarthy is the elephant for two reasons: First he
described the
elephant in the room -- the true nature of the
House Benghazi hearings;
and secondly, because he wants to be the next biggest
animal in the jungle.
Double bass and piano: this section is marked
Allegro pomposo, the perfect caricature for an elephant. The piano plays a waltz-like triplet figure while the bass hums the melody beneath it. Like "Tortues," this is also a musical joke—the thematic material is taken from the Scherzo from
Mendelssohn's
incidental music to A Midsummer Night's Dream and
Berlioz's "Dance of the Sylphs" from
The Damnation of Faust. The two themes were both originally written for high, lighter-toned instruments (flute and various other woodwinds, and violin, accordingly); the joke is that Saint-Saëns moves this to the lowest and heaviest-sounding instrument in the orchestra, the double bass.
VI Kangourous (Kangaroos)
Kangaroo -- this would be Jason Chaffetz, who wants to skip over
McCarthy on his way to the
Speaker's chair.
Two pianos: the main figure here is a pattern of 'hopping' fifths preceded by grace notes. When the fifths ascend, the tempo gradually speeds up and the dynamics get louder, and when the fifths descend, the tempo gradually slows down and the dynamics get quieter. This represents Chaffetz's mad dash to the Speakership, and the denouement when he either wins or loses.
VII Aquarium
The Aquarium -- the entire House, full of many swimming fish
Violin, Viola, Cello, (Strings without double bass), two pianos, flute, and glass harmonica: this is one of the more musically rich movements. The melody is played by the flute, backed by the strings, on top of tumultuous,glissando-like runs in the piano.
VIII Personnages à longues oreilles (Personages with Long Ears)
This movement represents the Democrats sitting in committee
who must listen to harangues by
Republican freshmen.
Two violins: this is the shortest of all the movements. The violins alternate playing high, loud notes and low, buzzing ones (in the manner of a donkey's braying "hee-haw"). Music critics have speculated that the movement is meant to compare music critics to braying donkeys.
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IX Le coucou au fond des bois (The Cuckoo in the Depths of the Woods)
Let's see -- who is the cuckoo? My remaining respect for the
House of Representatives precludes
me from identifying the Cuckoo.
Two pianos and clarinet: the pianos play large, soft chords. while the clarinet plays over and over a C and an A flat, mimicking the call of a cuckoo bird. Saint-Saëns states in the original score that the clarinetist should be offstage.
X Volière (Aviary)
Like the cuckoo these are the House birds who are ready to
fly the coop almost any day.
Strings, piano and flute: the high strings take on a background role, providing a buzz in the background that is reminiscent of the background noise of a jungle. The cellos and basses play a pick-up cadence to lead into most of the measures. The flute takes the part of the bird, with a trilling tune that spans much of its range. The pianos provide occasional pings and trills of other birds in the background. The movement ends very quietly after a long ascending scale from the flute. Saint-Saens indicated the solo bird is Webster of Florida.
XI Pianistes (Pianists)
These represent the 88 members who still want to vote for John Boehner
Strings and two pianos: this movement is a glimpse of what few audiences ever get to see: the pianists practicing their scales. The scales of C, D flat, D and E flat are covered. Each one starts with a trill on the first and second note, then proceeds in scales with a few changes in the rhythm. Transitions between keys are accomplished with a blasting chord from all the instruments between scales. In some performances, the later, more difficult, scales are deliberately played increasingly out of time. The original edition has a note by the editors instructing the players to imitate beginners and their awkwardness. After the four scales, the key changes back to C, where the pianos play a moderate speed trill-like pattern in thirds, in the style of Eric Cantor, while the strings play a small part underneath. This movement is unusual in that the last three blasted chords do not resolve the piece, but rather lead into the next movement.
Title page to "Fossils" in the manuscript including drawing by the composer
XII Fossiles (Fossils)
These are Bob Michel, Newt Gingrich, and Dennis Hastert -- former Republican
leaders and Speakers.
Strings, two pianos, clarinet, and xylophone: here, Saint-Saëns mimics his own composition, the
Danse macabre, which makes heavy use of the xylophone to evoke the image of skeletons playing card games, the bones clacking together to the beat.
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"Le cygne" performed by John Michel
Audio only Weilerstein and Yoder version
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XIII Le cygne (The Swan)
This is, indubitably, Nancy Pelosi who glides gracefully and effortlessly
past all the other animals both aquatic and land-based.
Two pianos and cello: the lushly romantic cello solo (which evokes the swan elegantly gliding over the water) is played over rippling sixteenths in one piano and rolled chords in the other (said to represent the swan's feet, hidden from view beneath the water, propelling it along.
Source: Wikipedia, with help from TMP
