Uploaded September 2014 | Updated September 2026, 10 hours ago
Three Paraprosdokians - Luis Ramirez
1. Jamais vu
What is a Paraprosdokian? Fancy word indeed, and yet rather simple: a sentence in which the last part is totally unexpected, making the reader reinterpret the first part. Much easier to understand than to pronounce. Due to its surprising nature it is regularly used for comical purposes, and now that you know its meaning you will notice their often occurrence in conversations; they are everywhere. Phrases like "I have had a perfectly wonderful evening; but this was not it" by Groucho Marx, or "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go" by Oscar Wilde, are classic examples that represent its witty and satirical nature.
The essence and purity of this linguistic wordplay is present as a common structure among the three movements of this work, each one with its particular manner of approaching it. In addition, the three movements connect from top to bottom through a rhythmic pattern they all share.
1. Jamais vu. Have you ever repeated a word so many times that you start questioning if it is even a real word? Try it now. "Door". Repeat it several times. Are you sure that is a thing? There is a name for that: Jamais vu. It is a semantic satiation that confuses even the greatest wordsmith. I look for the same effect in the music; the bass line and the chord progression are repeated throughout the entire movement, and the melodies between the clarinet and violin are also being recycled constantly, eventually making you question their meaning. Depending on the context created by the melodies, your ears will shift from a joyful waltz to a jazzy cumbia. And of course you are not expecting what happens in the last part.
Commissioned by David Wilson for the AugustFest in Brandon, MB.
Premiered on August 12th, 2014.
Clarinet, Chris Byman
Violin, Gillian Carrabré
Cello, Ariel Carrabré
Piano, Luis Ramirez
Lorne Watson Recital Hall
Brandon University
Brandon, MB, Canada
Three Paraprosdokians - Luis Ramirez
1. Jamais vu
What is a Paraprosdokian? Fancy word indeed, and yet rather simple: a sentence in which the last part is totally unexpected, making the reader reinterpret the first part. Much easier to understand than to pronounce. Due to its surprising nature it is regularly used for comical purposes, and now that you know its meaning you will notice their often occurrence in conversations; they are everywhere. Phrases like "I have had a perfectly wonderful evening; but this was not it" by Groucho Marx, or "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go" by Oscar Wilde, are classic examples that represent its witty and satirical nature.
The essence and purity of this linguistic wordplay is present as a common structure among the three movements of this work, each one with its particular manner of approaching it. In addition, the three movements connect from top to bottom through a rhythmic pattern they all share.
1. Jamais vu. Have you ever repeated a word so many times that you start questioning if it is even a real word? Try it now. "Door". Repeat it several times. Are you sure that is a thing? There is a name for that: Jamais vu. It is a semantic satiation that confuses even the greatest wordsmith. I look for the same effect in the music; the bass line and the chord progression are repeated throughout the entire movement, and the melodies between the clarinet and violin are also being recycled constantly, eventually making you question their meaning. Depending on the context created by the melodies, your ears will shift from a joyful waltz to a jazzy cumbia. And of course you are not expecting what happens in the last part.
Commissioned by David Wilson for the AugustFest in Brandon, MB.
Premiered on August 12th, 2014.
Clarinet, Chris Byman
Violin, Gillian Carrabré
Cello, Ariel Carrabré
Piano, Luis Ramirez
Lorne Watson Recital Hall
Brandon University
Brandon, MB, Canada
![Mozart piano concerto no. 27, 1st mov. [2nd part]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5041LqkXAOo/mqdefault.jpg "Mozart piano concerto no. 27, 1st mov. [2nd part]
me playing mozarts piano concerto no. 27
with ensamble real de jóvenes universitarios
from the UAA
conducting Dalia Leyhva Jones
november 27, 2008
sorry about the bad quality...")
