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BS: Rapping The Classics

10 Jan 09 - 10:18 PM (#2537702)
Subject: BS: Rapping The Classics
From: Rapparee

My brother the actor these days supplies his wants by substitute teaching. I spoke with him the other day and he told me he got to sub teach Theater -- wherein lies his BFA, not to mention 300+ plays he's acted in.

He got the students excited when he told them he could rap Macbeth -- and did. His point was that Shakespeare, like rap, has a rhythm and all you have to do is find that rhythm.

And he's right.

I rapped some of the "Sporus" section of Pope's "Epistle to Arbuthnot" while we were on the phone. I just checked Pope's "Ode to Solitude", the open to the "Rape of the Lock," and a couple others -- iambic pentameter (or maybe Pope) is simple to rap.

Ditto for "Hamlet". Try the "What a piece of work is man" bit.

Problem is, now these have become mind worms....


11 Jan 09 - 08:46 PM (#2537765)
Subject: RE: BS: Rapping The Classics
From: Rapparee

Refresh.


11 Jan 09 - 11:26 PM (#2537817)
Subject: RE: BS: Rapping The Classics
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Oh, well. As you like it.


12 Jan 09 - 01:39 PM (#2538088)
Subject: RE: BS: Rapping The Classics
From: frogprince

much ado about nothing...


12 Jan 09 - 01:41 PM (#2538091)
Subject: RE: BS: Rapping The Classics
From: Alice

cool


12 Jan 09 - 02:25 PM (#2538141)
Subject: RE: BS: Rapping The Classics
From: Lighter

But when you rap "Macbeth," is it measure for measure?


12 Jan 09 - 03:48 PM (#2538232)
Subject: RE: BS: Rapping The Classics
From: VirginiaTam

One of the first Medieval Society Creative Anacronists events I attended had a kilted red bearded middleaged fellow rapping the prologue of the Canturbury Tales in middle English. He described it as what it might sound like if Snoop Dog met William Chaucer. We were rolling off the benches.


12 Jan 09 - 03:53 PM (#2538236)
Subject: RE: BS: Rapping The Classics
From: Rapparee

Rapping Macbeth is just as you like it; if it doesn't go over with the audience then love's labor's lost.


12 Jan 09 - 04:14 PM (#2538267)
Subject: RE: BS: Rapping The Classics
From: open mike

see also (rap also) http://dmdb.org/lyrics/shakespeare.rap.html
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/content/3656/


13 Jan 09 - 12:00 PM (#2538826)
Subject: RE: BS: Rapping The Classics
From: katlaughing

I would like to have seen that, VTam!


14 Jan 09 - 03:19 AM (#2539376)
Subject: RE: BS: Rapping The Classics
From: GUEST,Elfcall

Rap

I hope he was rapping the 'scottish play' otherwise......

Elfcall


14 Jan 09 - 04:11 AM (#2539398)
Subject: RE: BS: Rapping The Classics
From: Will Fly

Slightly off-topic, there's wonderful summary of Hamlet in a Scottish accnt - the whole play - in Oor Hamlet. It's usually sung to the tune "The Mason's Apron" - sort of a Scottish rap...