to want to use Bach's Goldberg Variations for pass the parcel music? dh has two objections...

[Lio]

1. We would have to make the parcel 32 layers thick, which obv has environmental implications.

1. He thinks the children would get bored, what with some of the variations being quite long. I say we just use the Glenn Gould 1955 recording, which is very zippy.

Any thoughts?

ds is going to be 5, btw. He is very advanced for his age.

ooh I can play the opning to Hong Kong Garden on a glokenspiel (sp) shaped like an alligator
I was obviously pushed as a child to fulfil my potential

Ah, the uke. My local music shop has an array of them seeker and I am mighty tempted.

I can get you Ian Bostridge, Emma Kirkby or John Tomlinson's number

witchandchips - I just sprayed tea over the keyboard lol

great thread

Wot no Simon Keenlyside bundle? You're fired.

that was organic rooibosh btw

sheesh marina (actually I think one of dh's mates from manchester was messed around big time by keenlyside, so we don't mention his name in our house..)

As an alternative, might you play Pin the Fox Fur Stole on Last Year's Glyndebourne Programme?

Could you hum it?

Oh no Swedes, it needs to pin the tiny little annoying designer specs on the early music opera director, surely
(sorry bundy, I remember now, will not mention sk again)

Are you sure about Goldberg variations? Die Zauberflotte just screams "A terrific birthday bash for a 5 year old". I think.

Short Ride in a Fast Machine? Gnarly Buttons? I was looking at the ceiling then I saw the sky? I think John Adams is the man for children's parties!

Marina - seriously - the Uke is brilliant. Best 13 quid I ever spent. We bought it some new better strings and they stay in tune much better than the ones that came with it, and ds is having a much better time with it than with his guitar. Go for it. Get a red one - red is the best!

what about the messiah?

I'd have to buy three seeker - one for ds, dd and me. Dh could be the appreciative audience. I have heard they are such fun.
You have seen the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain live, have you? Their version of Silver Machine is...jaw-dropping

The Messiah - on Ukeleles? Now that's a thought!

Have you looked on Youtube? There's some fab ukelele stuff on that!

they were on Broadcasting House last weekend Marina, in credit-crunch busting "you have to smile when you hear one" kinda way

(Have you found The Ukele Orchestra of Great Britain - I think some Utube bits - ds addicted to it and wants to play..., dh is desperate to get to a concert somewhere!)

why 32 layers... aaanyway: i used platic bags for packaging the "pass the parcel"-parcel (which we then use for rubbish) for DS birthday party on sunday...

as for the choice of music, why not? we don't have any kids music in the house so DH plays his - HEAVY - metall at our kids' birthday parties...

Thank you all, and some brief responses:

bundle: I have a crush on Howard Goodall and would like his phone number, please.

everyone else: I have now re-issued invitations on origami copies of Messiah and a Google Earth image showing their nearest ukelele stockist.
Marina: the mummies and daddies will provide the entertainment: a scratch performance of Sperm in Aspic.

And I have introduced a new fancy dress theme: everyone has to wear a black polo neck jumper and guess which composer, conductor or architect the other guests are pretending to be, through the medium of mime. You haven't got Lionel Blair's number by any chance, bundle?

PMSL at this thread - genius!

Hmm my CD of the Glenn Gould 1955 recording includes the out takes - so you'd need more environmentally friendly wrapping paper.
But don't you think the Goldbergs are a bit over done? I'd go for some Alkan etudes

I want witchandchips to be my party organizer

Schnittke invariably popular at children's parties, I find.