On Fri, 18 Nov 1994, mcgeary thomas nelson wrote:
 
> Re: words to tunes.  This method of music appreciation got its
> start in an old book by Sigmund Spaeth, which included lots of
> words for famous melodies.  I've supressed the title of the
> book, but it should be easy to find in libraries.
 
The book is "Great Symphonies: How to Recognize and Remember Them,"
by Sigmund Spaeth.  First edition was copyright 1936 by Garden City
Publishing Co., Inc.
 
Here's an example: The opening of Mozart's "G Minor Symphony":
 
        With a laugh and a smile like a sunbeam,
        And a face that is glad, with a fun-beam,
        We can start on our way very gaily,
        Singing tunes from a symphony daily;
        And if Mozart could but hear us,
        He would wave his hat and cheer us
        Coming down the scale, all hale and strong in song,
        All hale and strong in song.
 
Lest you think that the book is just comprised of profound lyrics
as the above, here is the first paragraph of commentary about this
symphony:
 
"This symphony is full of melody of the most delightful sort, and it also
has some excellent dramatic touches, for Mozart loved the theatre, and
was at his best in the operatic style of music; so it is natural that he
should also put drama into his best symphonies."
 
Varda