On American Public Media/MPR's Performance Today

[Steve Marcus]

I read that a young tubist, Coco Wieprecht, is scheduled to perform on National Public Radio's "Performance Today" this Wednesday, April 1.

What is known about her (with whom is she studying, how long has she been playing, etc.)?

What will she be playing on the program?

[Tubainsauga]

Between the date and the last name, call me suspicious. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Fr ... _Wieprecht

[eupher61]

The kid's teacher sent a message to the show's reducers alerting them to her. That's all I know about it. But there's no reason for suspicion.

[Michael Bush]

Link?

[Steve Marcus]

http://www.yourclassical.org/programs/performance-today

[Michael Bush]

Thanks. I think I looked pretty carefully at that site, but didn't find any mention of this young tubist...? I was hoping for a specific link to a mention of that particular performer's coming appearance.

[TubaKen]

I'm suspicious as well. Googling the name comes up with nothing. However, just for fun I looked at the images Google found, which led me to a Spanish page about...the tuba. Using Google translate comes up with these gems:
Separation into syllables and PRONUNCIATION OF TUBA:
Your · ba
Tuba is a word flat of two syllables.
And:
Definition which means tuba:
The definition of tuba in the Castilian dictionary is sap is collected from the coconut palm tree, cutting the upper end of the spathe before the flowers open. Another meaning of tuba in the dictionary is soft and somewhat viscous liquor that distilled from the tuba. Freshly distilled, it is refreshing drink, and after fermentation used to make vinegar or brandy.

[jsmn4vu]

The definition of tuba in the Castilian dictionary is sap is collected from the COCOnut palm

Emphasis added.

[David Richoux]

Another interesting word that tricks Google search a lot is Lusophone.

[Heavy_Metal]

The kid's teacher sent a message to the show's reducers alerting them to her. That's all I know about it. But there's no reason for suspicion.

On a production team, what does a "reducer" do?

http://www.damnyouautocorrect.com/" target="_blank

[Three Valves]

http://www.yourclassical.org/story/2015 ... -wieprecht" target="_blank

This week on PT, Wieprecht will join Fred as our first-ever Young Artist in Residence born in the 21st Century. Listen as she and Fred discuss her budding music career and how she gets her 40-lb instrument to and from school. Plus, we'll hear her play a solo piece by Philadelphia-born composer, Vincent Persichetti.

[Steve Marcus]

This is either a VERY elaborate and clever April Fool's scheme (in which case, it'll be fun to discover who is responsible), or this scenario is simply beyond belief.

On Wednesday morning, 4/1/15, this appears on the Performance Today website:

And speaking of child prodigies, we'll also meet our newest PT Young Artist in Residence; Coco Wieprecht joins us in the studio as our first ever Young Artist born in the 21st century.

Episode Playlist

Hour 2

LEOS JANACEK: In the Mists: 1. Andante Leif Ove Andsnes, piano Janacek: Piano Sonata 1.X.1905 - In the Mists Virgin - 91222

ANTONIN DVORAK: Slavonic Dances from Opus 46 & 72 Bellingham Festival Orchestra; Michael Palmer, conductor

VINCENT PERSICHETTI: Serenade No. 12, Op. 88: 1. Intrada; 2. Arietta; 4. Capriccio Coco Wieprecht, tuba

At the http://www.classicalmpr.org website:

Young Artist in Residence: Coco Wieprecht

This week on PT, tubist Coco Wieprecht joins Fred in the studio as our first-ever Young Artist in Residence born in the 21st Century. Wieprecht will discuss her budding musical career, and we'll hear her play a solo piece by Philadelphia-born composer, Vincent Persichetti.

Then there is a link to a 9 minute, 36 second audio feature. Hovering the cursor over the link, the screen reads, "Coco Wieprecht Interview."

Host, Fred Child, talks with someone whose voice and speech pattern definitely sounds like that of the announced "5 3/4-year-old" girl. He comments that she is a student in the Pre-K Division of the "Walnut Creek School for the Arts" in "Nature Valley, VT," neither of which appear in a search. He says that both of Coco's parents are tuba players, too [Beyond the coincidence of the name with the inventor of our instrument, has any of us ever heard of a Mr. and Mrs. Wieprecht who both play tuba???].

The pièce de résistance is the performance of the 3 Persichetti movements. Not only are they of excellent professional quality, (the Capriccio itself has a range from E above the staff down to D 5 ledger lines below the staff) the tone quality of the player/instrument is laudible by any standards for a player of any age. But listen to the player inhale--that's no 5 3/4-year-old pair of lungs!

The final "spoof" is when Fred Child gives credit to "www.tubarental.com" for provision of the instrument. Don't bother; there's no such site.

C'mon...Who did this? (It's great!)

[bort]

This picture is so adorable, I can't stand it.

[Steve Marcus]

C'mon...Who did this? (It's great!)

bloke has been uncharacteristically silent on this matter...

[Heavy_Metal]

Too bad they didn't pick the tuba line from the fourth movement of "Divertimento for Band"............. that would have been much more believable...........

[bighonkintuba]

This is great!

[jsmn4vu]

The final "spoof" is when Fred Child gives credit to "www.tubarental.com" for provision of the instrument. Don't bother; there's no such site.

I had to bother. There IS such a domain, just no web site:

jsm@calvin:~$ host tubarental.com
tubarental.com has address 97.74.5.102
tubarental.com mail is handled by 10 mailstore1.secureserver.net.
tubarental.com mail is handled by 0 smtp.secureserver.net.

[greenbean]

This was great. She is a total 5-and-3/4-year-old! My daughter was there not too long ago. I was glad that she pointed out that she wished her pink scooter were purple. I understand.

[TubaZac2012]

Well, I haven't on the Forum until now. Freaking April Fools. I was extremely excited when I heard the interview, of course, I'm slightly gullible. When I heard what she was playing I knew something was odd, but eh, 9 minutes I won't get back.

[bort]

Tuba on the radio.
Cute kid.
Win-win.