Victor Borge is an enigma for me. Though many would consider him to be simply a clown, albeit a clown spoofing classical music, some of his work is, to say the least, strikingly acute and tantalizingly interesting. The present piece is proof of this. The variations form is well-known and appears in virtually any classical music period. It would seem almost impossible to do anything new with the form but Borge proves us wrong by adopting a very unusual approach. He chooses a painstakingly well-known theme, here – “Happy birthday to you”, and sets about to create variations to it. But it is only the top of the iceberg: each variation is, effectually, the way a certain composer would write the theme itself. All in all, there are eleven variations of very different composers: we start by passing through Bach and Mozart and finish with Irving and some modern composer whose name I do not know (and Borge’s hilarious pronunciation does not help :P). Some of these variations are preceded by a snatch on the composer’s original work from which Borge then proceeds to develop the variation. Moreover, some of his variations are rather charming (Brahms or Bach (in spite of a ridiculously humorous long descending line repeated two times)) or even, dare I say it, moving (Beethoven, in spite of some goofing on Borge’s part, gets one of the better treatments). I’ve marked the movements in the video itself but you can also check the title which includes all composers presented in the order …
Video Rating: 4 / 5
I’ve fixed the sound problem, hope you guys enjoy this funny video
Video Rating: 4 / 5
<3
HIpHIp
HURRAAAAAAAAAH
It is not from Die Meistersinger. It is the famous Pilgrims’ chorus from Tannhäuser.
you forgot bach
what really is the song he plays by richard wagner. i tried finding die meistersinger……….(don’t know the rest of the title). what really is the name’s song without the mouth noise
Siberia Bach~~~~~~~~ omg, so damn hilarious
Brahms backwards~~~~ HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
The Bach is just a satirical improve, not based on a specific piece but based off of Bach’s compositional style
Please, someone tell me what the Bach one is.
– If I’m not mistaken, the Brahms is the Wiegenlied, Op. 49 No. 4 (the famous Brahms’ Lullaby), and the Wagner is based on the Tannhauser overture, not Meistersinger. The Strauss has “Blue Danube” as the lead in to the tune, but “Voices of Spring” as the intro. I may be wrong about this, but this is what my instinct tells me. I don’t know about the Chopin. The Irving Berlin at 9:06 is the tune “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” Cheers.
Two people hasn’t got an ear for music – nor a heart for comedy.
In the style of Bach, what piece(s) is that descending figure found in? Is there a name for it?
@carlybbb It’s kind of adapted from Alexander’s Ragtime Band
which piece is that Berlin?
Yes yes yes!
Pure, pure class and I agree with a lot of the comment, you really don’t see comedy like that anymore. So ironically to me that is fresh comedy.
Thanks for putting it up, now to watch some more.
So some funny people are from Denmark.. 🙂
Thanks, I grew up watching this guy on TV, hadn’t heard of him for ages. Still class.
I’ve always thought that Mr. Borge could play James Bond…too bad he ain’t Brit xD
instead of lamenting about how this kind of comedy isn’t around anymore just enjoy it. Sheesh. Don’t bring everybody down.
Pure Vaudville. where has it gone?
My favorite singer, Sergio Franchi, and my favorite comedian. This is from a 1964 Concert at Carnegie Hall, filmed and televised on CBS.
I got never here, where is now? LoL…
Awesome, I love it 🙂
I couldn’t help but laugh along the music of carrousel
He is the king, so sorry he passed!!!
No it isn’t. Check Hans Liberg, he is a dutch classical music comedian.
A great performer…. thanks to YouTube for making performances like these available to the younger generation. YouTube is doing a public service and should be treated accordingly…. and mucho gracais for those who take the time to do the posting… watching Victor Borge returns me to the great era of TV… not the bovine excretion that they have on the TV today…. Cheers on 30 May 2011
love it!!!!
pure genius
lol. wen he said follow him. he took it literally. haha funny!
6:19 GO!!!
It’s not dead. Check Hans Liberg’s stuff.
Luckily the “legs” of the piano didn’t break! Once i saw a hotel cleaner broke the piano leg by pulling the piano.
Western Canada.