Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2015 September 15

Welcome to the Wikipedia Entertainment Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is a transcluded archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

September 15

Playing the alphorn

How do they vary the frequency (musical note) produced ? I see no valves (like a trumpet) or holes to cover (like a flute), or way to vary the length (like a trombone). And there don't appear to be multiple holes to blow into (like a harmonica). StuRat (talk) 15:55, 15 September 2015 (UTC)

By "altering the amount of muscular contraction in the lip formation", one would assume. Deor (talk) 17:23, 15 September 2015 (UTC)

As with a bugle, right? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 17:38, 15 September 2015 (UTC)

See Embouchure. --Jayron32 18:40, 15 September 2015 (UTC)

The Godfather

In the baptism scene the priest uses the name Michael Rizzi and not Michael Corleone. Why? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 27.255.189.42 (talk) 19:02, 15 September 2015 (UTC)

Carlo Rizzi, the father of Michael and husband of Connie, is still alive when Michael is baptized. uhhlive (talk) 19:32, 15 September 2015 (UTC)

In most American families (and indeed, most European families) the tradition is for the child to take their father's surname. The child's father is Carlo Rizzi. The Wikipedia article Carlo Rizzi (The Godfather) discusses the character's story arc, and notes the baptism scene. --Jayron32 19:38, 15 September 2015 (UTC)

I just realized another source of the confusion: there are two Michael's in the scene: the infant is named Michael Rizzi, and Al Pacino's character is Michael Corleone. At the christening, the priest is asking the question of the child "Do you, Michael Rizzi reject Satan and all his works..." Since the child cannot answer (being an infant) the questions are answered by his godparents, in this case his Godfather, Michael Corleone. I'm fairly sure this is the standard role of the Godparents in the christening ceremony. From the Wikipedia article Godparent, "By the 2nd century CE, infant baptism had become accepted as a ceremony largely for the spiritual purification and social initiation of infants.[2] The requirement for some confession of faith necessitated the use of adults who acted as sponsors for the child. They vocalized the confession of faith and acted as guarantors of the child’s spiritual upbringing." So, the priest asks the questions of the infant; while the adult Godparent answers in stead of the child. That explains in more detail why the priest asks the question of Michael Rizzi (the infant), but is answered by Michael Corleone (the Godfather). --Jayron32 15:09, 16 September 2015 (UTC)

Wilber Witt song, "Fuck You Texas"

Of course this is not supposed to be a trolling question. I was listening to a song called 'Fuck You Texas' by a guy called Wilbur Witt on YouTube, and I was wondering if any Texans in Wikipedia can verify what he is actually saying in the song as truth. Thank you. --Spoœekspaar (talk) 20:44, 15 September 2015 (UTC)

You mean besides the title? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:02, 15 September 2015 (UTC)

What do you mean if what he's saying is the truth? [1]. Whether or not a place is "hot as hell" is ultimately a matter of opinion although in US or even worldwide terms, average temperatures in Texas tend to be on the upper range. Similar comments on Texas being dry. Lone Star Beer, the Alamo and the Dallas Cowboys are obviously icons at least in some parts of Texas. Probably no where of significant size in the US has banks which are mostly too poor to rob. (Presuming a classic robbery it doesn't really matter how "poor" the bank is any way, simply how much cash they have on hand in the bank. In fact since trying to get money from the safe will complicate matters, a lot of robbers will probably just get as much cash as they can from the front line area before running away.) Unemployment in Texas [2] is currently below the national average of the US [3] and it was the same 2007 or 2006 [4] [5] when I believe the song may have been composed. "no money" is fairly unclear but List of U.S. states by GDP per capita suggests it's currently 14th in GDP per capita in terms of US states. Nil Einne (talk) 15:07, 16 September 2015 (UTC)

It appears that Wilbur Witt has just experienced a bad time in Texas, and this song can not be used in any scientific, historical or cultural context for future generations. --Spoœekspaar (talk) 16:21, 16 September 2015 (UTC)

From what I can tell, Weird Wilbur still lives in Texas. [6]. It's silly to assume his comedy songs indicate any personal dislike or bad experience of anything covered in the songs without further evidence. Plenty of comedians make fun of stuff they personally like. I'm not sure why anything I said would lead you to believe the song can't be used in "historical or cultural context for future generations". Nil Einne (talk) 20:08, 16 September 2015 (UTC)