Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2014 July 4

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July 4

What African countries is the Simpsons shown or dubbed in?

What African countries is the Simpsons shown or dubbed in? Venustar84 (talk) 18:38, 4 July 2014 (UTC)

We have Non-English versions of The Simpsons, although that doesn't really help here...there is a French version that is quite good (well, the European French version, at least), I suppose that could be seen in the parts of Africa that speak French. But apparently the first time the Simpsons aired in an African country was in Angola in 2009. Adam Bishop (talk) 11:50, 6 July 2014 (UTC)

Is there really a "Ghost Symphony"?

A friend told me about a classical piece she heard on the radio years ago, something called "Ghost Symphony." She said it was by Beethoven, but when I did a search, I found a piano trio (not a symphony) called "Ghost." This piece was pretty, but I thought it was going to be absolutely spectacular. Is there a classical piece by another artist named "Ghost Symphony"; when I searched, I couldn't find anything else.Miscellaneous131 (talk) 21:39, 4 July 2014 (UTC)

I suspect your friend just misremembered. Beethoven's Ghost Trio is pretty well known among his works, though he didn't give it the nickname himself. Joseph Haydn wrote a lot of symphonies, many of which have nicknames, but not a Ghost as far as I can tell. AndrewWTaylor (talk) 18:48, 5 July 2014 (UTC)

Another faint possibility is a so-called "Gastein Symphony" by Franz Schubert, which either is lost or was transformed into another work, possibly the Symphony No. 7. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 09:36, 6 July 2014 (UTC)

Actually, it's more likely to be the Symphony No. 9 (the Great C major). Double sharp (talk) 02:48, 7 July 2014 (UTC)

Yes, you're right. "The Great" was once (and in some places still is) referred to as No. 7. One could write a book about the colossal confusion surrounding the numbering of Schubert's symphonies. And Antonín Dvořák's. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 21:03, 7 July 2014 (UTC)

possibly Beethoven's Symphony No. 2 ?

because, the Wikipedia page about the Ghost Trio says: The D major trio features themes found in the second movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 2.

So, possibly the radio announcer said something like: "this is the second movement of Symphony No. 2, which is reminiscent of 'the Ghost Trio'..." ?

( or played Symphony No. 2, and said it was reminiscent of the Ghost Trio... ? )

Or... what about Symphony No. 2 by Elgar, which contains what Elgar called "the ghost motive" ?

Or... thinking laterally, maybe not a symphony per se, but another piece of music intended to portray the supernatural, and the announcer said something flippant like: "this is for any ghosts who may be listening" ? Maybe a selection for Halloween ?

Night on Bald Mountain - by Mussorgsky ?

Danse macabre - by Saint-Saëns ?

The Sorcerer's Apprentice - by Dukas ?

90.244.131.120 (talk) 05:18, 7 July 2014 (UTC)

The Skeleton Dance was the first Silly Symphony, though almost certainly not the tune you're looking for. InedibleHulk (talk) 16:46, 7 July 2014 (UTC)