Trivial Pursuit #108

#1

Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 4:38pm

THE MIKADO, the most popular of GILBERT AND SULLIVAN's Grand Operetta's, opened on March 14, 1885 at the Savoy Theatre, London.

Set in Japan, it has a familiar topsy-turvy Gilbert libretto, and the score is distinctly English in style.

However, twice some Japanese sneaks into the score. One is a repetition of several words in Japanese, the other is a whole song that was adapted into the show.

Name the two songs. What is a rough translation of the words in the former? What was the latter song adapted from?


GOOD LUCK!

Updated On: 4/16/05 at 04:38 PM

#2

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 4:46pm

A guess:

Were You Not To Ko-Ko Plighted
Mi-Ya-Sa-Ma, Mi-Ya-Sa-Ma

#3

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 4:49pm

A great guess, but only half correct.

In Were You Not To Koko Plighted the non-english words are either Latin or English schoolboy slang...

#4

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 4:51pm

I take no responsibility for my spelling, but O-ni-bikuri shakuri to from the first act finale means "Surprise with a hiccup" in Japanese, I believe. And I think Miya sama is correct.

---

"I am special, I am special! Please, God, please, don't let me be normal!" ---Louisa, The Fantasticks --- --- Intolerant of intolerance.

#5

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 4:51pm

And where does Miya-Sama originate?

#6

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 4:55pm

This is closed for Lael right now, unless she fails to answer.

#7

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 4:55pm

Hint #1: Played in Japan

#8

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 4:57pm

I so totally knew this when I was twelve...

---

"I am special, I am special! Please, God, please, don't let me be normal!" ---Louisa, The Fantasticks --- --- Intolerant of intolerance.

#9

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 5:00pm

Hint #2: Think M*A*S*H

#10

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 5:02pm

Never watched it...

---

"I am special, I am special! Please, God, please, don't let me be normal!" ---Louisa, The Fantasticks --- --- Intolerant of intolerance.

#11

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 5:02pm

Apologies for how cryptic that last clue was...

#12

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 5:04pm

I have just been informed that Lael has to step out due to an emergency, so the question is now open.

Where was MIYA SAMA taken from?

#13

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 5:05pm

Korean

#14

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 5:07pm

A fair guess, but incorrect.

The melody and words are Japanese.

#15

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 5:09pm

The M*A*S*H clue may have been a bit deceptive...

#16

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 5:10pm

Hint #3: ____, Navy and Airforce.

#17

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 5:16pm

Hint #4: Rhymes with Pretty

#18

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 5:25pm

Okay, so we've got something to do with music that rhymes with pretty, it has something to do with a military entity and it's Japanese.

C'mon guys, take a stab!

#19

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 5:34pm

I'm not clear on the answer you're seeking: the origins or Miya Sama, or it's meaning? Or both?

Thanks.

#20

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 5:36pm

The origins.

#21

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 5:39pm

It's an army ditty. There! And it means "Oh noble Prince, what is that thing which is fluttering in front of your Highness's horse?"


Okay, the second part I looked up.

---

"I am special, I am special! Please, God, please, don't let me be normal!" ---Louisa, The Fantasticks --- --- Intolerant of intolerance.

#22

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 5:45pm

CONGRATULATIONS LAEL!!!

That's your SECOND win with me at the helm of the Trivial Pursuits!

In Gilbert and Sullivan's score there were two songs with Japanese influence:

-In the finale, to stop Katisha from revealing Nanki-Poo's identity, the chorus sings "O ni, bikkuri shakkuri to." Which, roughly translated, depending on how one interprets the "o ni", means "Oh, suprised hiccups," or "the suprised devil with the hiccups/has the hiccups."

-Miya Sama was a ditty sung mainly in the Japanese Army, and absorbed into the score, just before The Mikado's entrance with MY OBJECT ALL SUBLIME.


Way to answer a very hard question!!!


For your bonus points:

Gilbert and Sullivan were at sixes and sevens, as Gilbert was intent on pursuing his awful "lozenge plot" (a plot involving a lozenge that changes people's personalities, causing much "topsy-turvy"). With their relationship on the rocks, and no libretto to work on, suddenly Gilbert came up with an idea.

What inspired Gilbert?

Updated On: 4/16/05 at 05:45 PM

#23

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 5:47pm

I remember that there was some sort of Japanese exhibit in London at that time...

---

"I am special, I am special! Please, God, please, don't let me be normal!" ---Louisa, The Fantasticks --- --- Intolerant of intolerance.

#24

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 5:49pm

Yes, London having a bout of "Japanese Fever" at the time, and Japanese souveniers were all the rage.

One of these souveniers inspired Gilbert.

#25

re: Trivial Pursuit #108

Posted: 4/16/05 at 5:50pm

A sword! It was a sword!!

---

"I am special, I am special! Please, God, please, don't let me be normal!" ---Louisa, The Fantasticks --- --- Intolerant of intolerance.