A Music-Box Recital
A Music-Box Recital is a collection of humorous poems written by Gelett Burgess. The book features various characters and situations that are portrayed in a comical manner. Some of the poems include "The Purple Cow," "The Rubaiyat of Omar Cayenne," and "The Goops."
By Gelett Burgess · First published 1903 · Genre: Humor, Satire, Literary Fiction · 1,413 words
First lines
Hid secretly in my heart, I long had a passion for music-boxes. While I was innocent of the ways of the world, and thought that Art, as some think that Manners, had a ritual to which one must conform in order to be considered a gentleman, I hid this low-born taste from my friends and talked daintily of Brahms, his frozen music, of the architectural sonata, and other things I did not understand. How musicians and artists must have laughed at me when they saw my hands -- square, constructive palms, wilful thumbs and mechanical fingers! Music-box hands! But though I had long ceased cutting stencils of other people's thoughts and frescoing my own vanity therewith, I dared not confess to John this wretchedly vulgar _penchant_ for the music-box of Commerce -- the small, varnished, brass and cedar affair, which is the only instrument I can play.
What this Textopian page supports
A Music-Box Recital is listed on Textopian as a short story by Gelett Burgess, dated 1903 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Gelett Burgess
- Date: 1903 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Satire, Literary Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Realism
- Length: 1,413 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Music-Box Recital by Gelett Burgess
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Music-Box Recital?
- How does this short story by Gelett Burgess fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Plea For The Precious by Gelett Burgess
- Ad Magistrum Ludi by Robert Louis Stevenson
- My Eyes Make Pictures by George Macdonald
- The Poet In The Nursery by Robert Graves
- Mr Philosopher by Robert Graves
- The Wild Knight And Other Poems Art Colours by G. K. Chesterton
Genres
- Humor — The narrative is filled with comedic elements, including the absurdity of the characters' obsession with music-boxes and the humorous descriptions of their antics.
- Satire — The story satirizes societal norms and pretensions, particularly in the realm of art and music appreciation.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style is sophisticated and reflective, with a focus on character development and thematic depth.
- Philosophical Fiction — The text includes philosophical musings on art, music, and human behavior, adding a layer of introspection.
Tags
poetry · music · recital · imagination · childhood · whimsy · fantasy · art · creativity · narrative · illustration · playfulness