Pied Piper of Hamlen---What do you think he played?

Whistle
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The most commonly known rat story is the Pied Piper of Hamlen. This is a very interesting story, not only is it recorded to have actually happened in 1284, but there are very similar stories from other European countries and one from China.

The original story tells of the town of Hamlen being over run by rats and from no where a mysterious man appeared claiming he could rid the town of their plague. The man requested a sum of money for doing this, the courts agreed to pay him and he took his fife and stared playing a tune. All the rats in the city ran out from their hiding places and followed him. He led the rats to the River Weser, where they all fell in and drowned. The man returned to the town for this money. The courts refused to pay him and he left the city. The mysterious man returned on June 26th Saint John’s and Saint Paul’s Day at seven in the morning, took out his fife and stared to play. But this time, instead of rats all the children came running into the streets and followed the man. He led them in to a mountain, and was never seen again. Witnesses had seen the event and one had followed the piper, returning to Hamlen with the news. In total 130 children had followed to piper and were lost. Some say there were two children that did come back as they were to far be hind and got lost, one was a mute and could show the point the children were led and the other deaf and could tell of what he heard, but saw nothing. One child had forgotten his coat and had turned back to get it, when he returned all the other children had already vanished into the mountain. This event was recorded in the town register and the following lines inscribed on the town hall:

What tune do you think he played to lure away rats and children? any speculations?

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Well, clearly it was different tunes for the two instances (or else he would have drawn both rats and children away the first time)… I think he made a terrible mistake though, he -should- have played a tune for luring fat money-counters and politicians and dumped them in the river… :wink:

–Chris

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what was inscribed on the town hall?

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http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004T39X.01.LZZZZZZZ.gif

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Mayhaps he played the tune “Slane.” I think I’d have followed him if he had. :slight_smile:

A beautiful 19th Century edition of the “Pied Piper of Hamelin” is online at http://www.indiana.edu/~librcsd/etext/piper/contents.html

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On 2002-06-10 18:43, ChrisA wrote:
Well, clearly it was different tunes for the two instances (or else he would have drawn both rats and children away the first time)… I think he made a terrible mistake though, he -should- have played a tune for luring fat money-counters and politicians and dumped them in the river… > :wink:

and lawyers!

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On 2002-06-10 19:06, blackhawk wrote:

On 2002-06-10 18:43, ChrisA wrote:
Well, clearly it was different tunes for the two instances (or else he would have drawn both rats and children away the first time)… I think he made a terrible mistake though, he -should- have played a tune for luring fat money-counters and politicians and dumped them in the river… > :wink:

and lawyers!

And how would that punish the townsfolk for not paying him?

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I dunno…maybe I ought to practice on Bart and Larry (our pet rats) and see if they have a tune preference! If I hit on something that has them following me around the house, I’ll let you all know. :wink:

Redwolf

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I copied this from a website:

“Rats were allowed to freely move between two boxes that were connected by a passageway. In each of the boxes a speaker was playing one kind of music. Johann Sebastion Bach’s music was played into one box and rock music into the other. Even though the boxes were identical in all respects except for the type of music played through the speakers, the rats spent all of their time in the “Bach box”. To further verify their results, the scientists switched the music that was playing in each box. The rats then all migrated away from the rock music to the box where the Bach was playing. Doesn’t it seem as if nature is trying to tell us something here?”

Note that this doesn’t tell us that the rats actually liked Bach. It may have been the lesser of two evils. In any case the pied piper couldn’t have played Bach since Bach lived later.

Here’s the website.

http://www.vanillafudge.com/link_backups/music2.htm#animals

Steve

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On 2002-06-10 18:28, cerrabus wrote:
What tune do you think he played to lure away rats and children? any speculations?

The only one I can think of that would work would be Dance of the Gypsy Queen.

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Im shocked, simply shocked that some of you would impune the image and reputation of the legal community. Why, many of us lawyers are fine, upstanding…

gee, thats beautiful music..

citizens and we contribute much to…

beautiful music…must follow the beautiful music, must follo

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What tune do you think he played to lure away rats and children? any speculations?

“It’s a Small World After All”?

Kim

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Quote:

What tune do you think he played to lure away rats and children? any speculations?

“It’s a Small World After All”?

Kim

Maybe.

Let me check whether it was written by 1284.

Nope. After much searching of the Internet I found this information about It’s a Small World After All, “Written by: Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman - © 1963.”

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Yeah, it really happened. Amazing how an actual date makes it sound more real…

Either Barney theme song or Its a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Mind you, Kim in Tulsa already gave the CORRECT answer.

Hey, Walden, don;t give me no stinkin’ copyrights. I suppose you found one for the 12 bar blues too…Besides, everybody knows that SATAN has been around since, well, way before 1963.

Nothing like a new topic to bring out the smartaleck (me)… This could go so long that we would say, “It’s Sickening.”

But (in authoritative voice), recent research indicates that the pyschological result of the execution of the above-mentioned melody was most likely a classic round, rendering rodential subjects helpless by repetitive, hypnotic musical effect.

Either that of a visiting spirit from Castle Chariot left the all-nighter to inflict similar damage in the outside world (email me if you DON’T know about Castle Chariot).That’s for the Whistlin Elf.

“Why doesn;t my goose sell as well as thy goose, when I paid for my goose twice as much as thou?”

It’s catchy, honest.It’s better than “Cats”. I want to sing it again and again…

Hmm, Castle Chariot, Crystal People, hmm..

“I hate ‘working,’ it takes away from my valuable whistling time.” -LB


[ This Message was edited by: The Weekenders on 2002-06-11 01:29 ]

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Something in a minor key? The Monaghan Jig, played slowly? It would have to be at least a 4-parter, so the kids wouldn’t get so easily bored.

[ This Message was edited by: JimmyM on 2002-06-11 02:57 ]

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The Weekenders wrote:

Hey, Walden, don;t give me no stinkin’ copyrights. I suppose you found one for the 12 bar blues too…Besides, everybody knows that SATAN has been around since, well, way before 1963.

¿El Diablo?

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Actually, it is not sure at all if the Hameln (correct spelling) incident took place at all. It is more likely that this tale emerged in the wake of the so-called “Children’s Crusade” of 1212 when thousands of children in Western Germany and the east of France followed a boy named Nikolaus to make their way to the Holy Land (and never got there). A truly sad story which certainly had a great impact on people then. It is quite probable that this incident made its way into folklore.
What tune the piper played? Certainly one of Christian origin.

Christian

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Credible story, Christian.

I didn’t want to pick up the spelling question in case Peter Laban might still think I’m challenging his resident pedant status, but while we’re at it, in English the spelling “Hamelin” is well-established, particularly in children’s story books. I’d use that spelling in referring to the pied piper story, but would otherwise use the standard German spelling.

Memo to self: must get a life.

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dditional information, says that the tune consisted of three notes, another says nine notes.

Once more he stept into the street;
And to his lips again Laid his long pipe of smooth straight cane;And ere he blew three notes (such sweet Soft notes as yet musician’s cunning Never gave the enraptured air)There was a rustling, that seemed like a bustling Of merry crowds justling at pitching and hustling,Small feet were pattering, wooden shoes clattering,
Little hands clapping, and little tongues chattering, And, like fowls in a farm-yard when barley is scattering,Out came the children running.All the little boys and girls,With rosy cheeks and flaxen curls,
And sparkling eyes and teeth like pearls,
Tripping and skipping, ran merrily after
The wonderful music with shouting and laughter.

I guess the facination with this is,the question of what tune could you play that has only three or say nine notes and is so addictive an lively that it would captivate your audience.

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On 2002-06-10 19:12, Walden wrote:

On 2002-06-10 19:06, blackhawk wrote:

On 2002-06-10 18:43, ChrisA wrote:
Well, clearly it was different tunes for the two instances (or else he would have drawn both rats and children away the first time)… I think he made a terrible mistake though, he -should- have played a tune for luring fat money-counters and politicians and dumped them in the river… > :wink:

and lawyers!

And how would that punish the townsfolk for not paying him?

Aaahhhh Walden you should know the deviousness of pipers…

He simply plays the fat cat, politician, and lawyer tune around town. Up and down each merchant aisle, through the farmers market, in and out of each craftsmen’s shops and finally to the waters edge where he …

Stops playing and disappears.

The next day at noon he proceeds to the town square. There he addresses the farmers, craftsmen and various merchants. They’ll be gatherd there to review the various suits, pending ordinances, and interest rate increases posted on the town hall.

The piper indicates that for an adequate upfront retainer, he could resolve all the issues ‘out of court’. He would point out that such financial outlays could be recovered from the liquid assets of the financial lords. In appropriating such assets, of course, the towns-folk would have to wait for a suitable amount of time. At least enough time for the appropriate celebrating … er mourning of said lords disappearance in conjunction with said ‘out of court’ settlement.

Thus the Piper becomes rich in the hearts of the town of Hamlin.

Enjoy Your Music,

Lee Marsh

[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2002-06-11 15:50 ]