Two-set Violin World Tour
Classical music — “the perfect music… to put you to sleep.”
That is the common perception of classical music.
Believe it or not, classical music can be interesting.
I see you looking skeptical...
Classical Comedy
Can you come up with jokes about classical music? Apparently so.
Classical comedy — “a fusion of classical music and comedy”.
Today, you can find YouTubers who do classical comedy. This is what the duo from Two-Set violin does (you can check out their videos here),
Their videos usually feature skits that are relatable to instrumentalists (not counting the time when you played the recorder in primary school). Even for non-musicians, you will probably get the pop culture references, and the plus point? You get to enjoy music at the same time.
left to right: Brett Yang, Eddy Chen (Two-Set Violin)
Yang Yang (Lang Lang) (a.k.a Brett Yang)’s Chopping (Chopin) album
Both of them are violinists from Australia who aspire to reach out to young people through classical music.
So enough of the introductions, let’s get CHOPPING.
The world tour
Amazing, right? You can go on a world tour, too, if you are popular enough to get people to invest in you!
Two-Set Violin has recently gone on a world tour, in a quest to dominate the world with music (see poster).
Poster for Two-Set Violin’s world tour in Singapore on 7th October
As with most YouTubers, their world tour is wholly crowdfunded using Kickstarter and merchandise sales. Their tour destinations include Taiwan, Hong Kong and even European countries like the United Kingdom and France… and of course, Singapore.
So, we got tickets for the concert.
Our first Classical Comedy Show experience
How was it like?
The Atmosphere:
It was nothing like a normal classical music concert. The audience laughed and cheered, showing support for their beloved YouTubers.
There were mini ‘pop quizzes’ about music (there were many musicians at the concert who answered the questions).
And not to mention...The Disturbance, which came in the form of a crash. (someone dropped something!)
In response, Brett and Eddy turned around and smiled at the perpetrator in the midst of their skit.
These are moments you’ll only find in a classical comedy show. (That man would have been slaughtered in a normal concert - no noise allowed!)
Awkwardness (or lack thereof):
How do you translate YouTube video content to live-action?
Didn’t see how it was going to work out...
But it did.
The transitions between the various skits were smooth. There were so many skits that we lost count. Yet somehow, they were able to make a seamless transition from a skit about rivalry to another one about a phone application with music ‘filters’.
And somehow, everything harmonised perfectly together when they broke into music in the middle of a skit, exactly like how it works in musicals (HSM anyone?). Except, this time, it’s with classical music.
Most importantly, Brett and Eddy seemed totally comfortable in their skin ‘break dancing’ in the middle of a concert hall.
The Music:
Two-set Violin sounded even better in real life than on Youtube. You could hear the various tones (the mood) and chords (multiple notes played simultaneously) much more distinctly, compared to just watching their videos.
The piano accompanist was really good as well (those fast fingers... you’ll only be able to see their after-image!).
Just to give you an idea, this was one of the pieces she played:
The combination of violin and piano made the music all the more mellifluous. Indeed, two is better than one.
Now excuse us while we check out more piano and violin accompaniments...
The Humour:
The humour would probably appeal to those who know a little something about instruments/classical music, since the jokes mostly played on musical knowledge.
However, even if you aren’t that into classical music, you will probably still be able to enjoy the humour incorporated into it:
Jokes about the MRT (localised jokes),
Jokes about bananas...
and bad break dancing… :/
while playing the violin! :)
We were too engrossed in the skits, so these are the only pictures we got.
“2 bananas are better than 1” -Quoted from the show
(When your friend chases you off stage after unfriending you so you dress up as his favourite violinist to get back together)
We can see that it’s you, Eddy...
Two-set violin’s instagram post on the SG concert
Can’t say whether it was the comedy that made the show, or the music. Both complemented each other - just like how a great movie can’t do without its soundtrack.
Concert etiquette
What’s the number one thing that a musician does not want to hear during a classical music concert?
Squeaky violin sounds?
Babies crying?
Okay how abo- *Ring Ring*
(ARGH, STOP THAT PHONE RINGING!)
Phone ringing. The deadliest crime you could ever commit during a concert. Turn off your phones, people!
On a serious note, please silence your phone at a concert. If not, it would be disruptive and disrespectful towards the performer(s).
FYI, there is a song which pays homage to phones ringing during concerts, the Cell Phone Concerto.
Interested in classical comedy already?
Check out some of Two-Set Violin’s videos:
Different Type of Musicians’ Mothers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaZfFI8LiE4
Best Despacito Violin Cover So Sexy (IT'S TIME TO STOP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyzFuSR0H5g
How to teach music to MILLENIALS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9c_bzr6Z24
Amadeus- The Miracle Medicine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSj_qpBPLcQ
Or you can also check out other classical comedians like Igudesman and Joo on their youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/igudesmanandjoo