Re: The Modern Musicologist

From: Elizabeth Crownfield (e.crownfield.1@alumni.nyu.edu)
Date: Sat Feb 03 2001 - 15:59:24 PST

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    At 11:33 AM 2/3/01 -0700, Jonathan Bellman wrote:
    >
    >I don't know how old this is, but this is the first I've seen it. It's a
    >real gem.--JB
    >
    >---------- Forwarded message ----------
    >
    >THE MODERN MUSICOLOGIST
    >
    >| SOLO
    >| I am the very model of a modern musicologist.
    >| When organizing papers I'm an excellent chronologist.
    >| I choose my words quite carefully, just like a lexicologist.
    >| I wrack my brain as thoroughly as any craneologist.

    [and more verses, all hilarious and apropos]

    I (she bowed modestly) once wrote a version of this myself; most of the
    verses were specific to the culture of the NYU music department at the
    time, but perhaps the first would bear quoting:

    I am the very model of a modern musicologist:
    My subject's more minute than a molecular biologist's,
    For in my bosom watermarks
    Keep striking ever hotter sparks
    And everybody tells me I should find a good psychologist.

    I am afraid, however, that both of us are out of date when it comes to
    cutting-edge trendy musicology; while I couldn't resist showing off my
    rhyme for "watermarks," they are not perhaps the hottest thing these days.
    (Nor are there any, present or anticipated, in my dissertation, though my
    MA thesis was full of the darn things.)

    Perhaps we can inspire a New Musicologist to take a turn?

    p.s. Hmmm.... I wrote this just before reading Bill Meredith's more serious
    comments on some related issues. Well, I'll let it stand because I *still*
    can't resist showing off my rhyme for "watermarks." :-)

    Elizabeth Crownfield
    New York University
    e.crownfield.1@alumni.nyu.edu



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