Which is weird, because the big innovation of the piano was that it can be a lot louder than a harpsichord (and a lot quieter…harpsichords have one volume level and that’s it).
Yep. Piano is actually short for "pianoforte", which is literally "softstrong" or, more properly in this context, "quietloud". The term "pianoforte" coexisted for a while with its alternative, "fortepiano".
No, it’s weird that anyone thinks a harpsichord is loud, because they ain’t. A badly and enthusiastically played pianoforte could match the description, but harpsichords just plink tinnily along no matter how hard you mash the keys.
Depends on what you mean by loud. Harpsichord sounds carry over conversation a lot more clearly than either a violin or a piano. And since they only have one volume, you can’t choose to play any softer, so if the harpsichord is too loud for conversations, it’s instantly a conflict between the conversants and the player.
1) Yeecch may be attributing greater volume to the harpsichord sounds than reality might reflect – as we often do with the things we don’t enjoy hearing.
2) The harpsichord, as it exists in YAFGC, is as loud as it *needs* to be, for the story. As some have intimated, this might be important!
Remember the facts from https://www.yafgc.net/comic/3516-lunch-counter/
There was something damning to her evidence. And that’s her assumption that the harpsichord event must have happened during lunch.
The thing is we know that the harpsichord was placed in its location for acoustics, so it could easily be heard
https://www.yafgc.net/comic/3519-on-your-head-be-it-2/
Which leads to the issue: how come no one heard it? And that’s the question here: was it loud? Loud enough that people would hear it being moved and it falling and crashing? At least Yeech would have been able from where he eats lunch.
So either something else is going on, or the instrument was thrown off at some time *before* lunch, when people couldn’t listen it (but after the last game of cards when Taurenil was seen). And that’s what I think Lucas and Cadugan are going to check out: verify if the harpsichord was altered in any way that could make it silent or if it had to make noise when falling.
There’s a couple more flaws with the original theory: it wasn’t just Maula and Taurenil who weren’t there, but also Yeech couldn’t have been there at lunch. If people were already not noticing. Seems like Captn Carruthers is not considering the monks as potential, and isn’t tracking them, hinting that she may not be considering all the potential suspects. That’s also why I suspect they want to check this secretly: they realize they don’t want the monks to interfere.
The other thing, if this leads to a new time for the murder, it might be at a moment that Maula has an alibi, which would be enough to actually free her.
I see the abbot’s choice of new musical instruments struck a chord with Brother Yeecch. But at least he was nice enough to offal information that advances the investigation!
I think we’ve just seen him. Given that their timeline isn’t ours, Yeecch isn’t just QUOTING Thomas Beecham…he effectively IS the Thomas Beecham of his world. And thus a pretty damned masterful bard.
I’ll be honest I’ve lost interest in this comic for a long while now since we’ll Bob and and green really arnt seen anymore I couldn’t tell you a single thing that’s happening right now
So, is this implying that the harpsichord was chosen for a specific reason other than merely a weapon of murder? Something that would confirm the killer in some Sherlock Holmes style summation perhaps…
From the very beginning, with Bob in particular, Rich has been a master of creating expressions both expressive and hilarious with non-humanoid facial features.
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Must like his solitude. That’s the only reason I can think of why he wouldn’t eat with the rest of the abbey. Yep, nooooo other reason.
Which is weird, because the big innovation of the piano was that it can be a lot louder than a harpsichord (and a lot quieter…harpsichords have one volume level and that’s it).
Yep. Piano is actually short for "pianoforte", which is literally "softstrong" or, more properly in this context, "quietloud". The term "pianoforte" coexisted for a while with its alternative, "fortepiano".
The piano has not yet been invented (assuming it ever will be). And you are expecting a character in this world to compare something to it?
In my mind, THAT is weird.
t!
No, it’s weird that anyone thinks a harpsichord is loud, because they ain’t. A badly and enthusiastically played pianoforte could match the description, but harpsichords just plink tinnily along no matter how hard you mash the keys.
Depends on what you mean by loud. Harpsichord sounds carry over conversation a lot more clearly than either a violin or a piano. And since they only have one volume, you can’t choose to play any softer, so if the harpsichord is too loud for conversations, it’s instantly a conflict between the conversants and the player.
Ah! I see.
Let us then agree on two things:
1) Yeecch may be attributing greater volume to the harpsichord sounds than reality might reflect – as we often do with the things we don’t enjoy hearing.
2) The harpsichord, as it exists in YAFGC, is as loud as it *needs* to be, for the story. As some have intimated, this might be important!
t!
If all you know is a lute, a harpsichord is loud.
You’re getting close.
Remember the facts from https://www.yafgc.net/comic/3516-lunch-counter/
There was something damning to her evidence. And that’s her assumption that the harpsichord event must have happened during lunch.
The thing is we know that the harpsichord was placed in its location for acoustics, so it could easily be heard
https://www.yafgc.net/comic/3519-on-your-head-be-it-2/
Which leads to the issue: how come no one heard it? And that’s the question here: was it loud? Loud enough that people would hear it being moved and it falling and crashing? At least Yeech would have been able from where he eats lunch.
So either something else is going on, or the instrument was thrown off at some time *before* lunch, when people couldn’t listen it (but after the last game of cards when Taurenil was seen). And that’s what I think Lucas and Cadugan are going to check out: verify if the harpsichord was altered in any way that could make it silent or if it had to make noise when falling.
There’s a couple more flaws with the original theory: it wasn’t just Maula and Taurenil who weren’t there, but also Yeech couldn’t have been there at lunch. If people were already not noticing. Seems like Captn Carruthers is not considering the monks as potential, and isn’t tracking them, hinting that she may not be considering all the potential suspects. That’s also why I suspect they want to check this secretly: they realize they don’t want the monks to interfere.
The other thing, if this leads to a new time for the murder, it might be at a moment that Maula has an alibi, which would be enough to actually free her.
Nice to see Brother Yeecch get a little more characterization %)
…but also, yeah, I’m glad he doesn’t eat with the others. Personally, I wouldn’t want to see him in the middle of a meal.
Aww, it’s not like you would see $#!+.
…. At least not for long. Hi-oooooooh!
I see the abbot’s choice of new musical instruments struck a chord with Brother Yeecch. But at least he was nice enough to offal information that advances the investigation!
Panel 4:
Yeecch is quoting Thomas Beecham.
t!
So, find out who suggested to Yeecch that the lunch gong would cover the sound of the harpsichord crashing, and you’ve got your culprit.
"Two skeletons copulating on a tin roof in a thunderstorm"–truly, a simile and image for the ages.
Brother Yeecch, ladies and gentlemen.
Body of a coprophilic, waste-eating scavenger–soul of a POET. 😀
EDIT: Missed t!’s explanation regarding the Beecham quote up above–much appreciated.
Also forgot to mention how great the eyestalk expressions and body language are.
"…using a tin can for a condom" to complete the old saw 😉
So…when does our first otyugh bard appear, then? 😉
I think we’ve just seen him. Given that their timeline isn’t ours, Yeecch isn’t just QUOTING Thomas Beecham…he effectively IS the Thomas Beecham of his world. And thus a pretty damned masterful bard.
Missed the obvious right in front of my face–classic me. (*facepalm*)
This is why I always get suckered by the twists in these things!
Interesting set of teeth to eat offal, but perfect somehow!!
I’ll be honest I’ve lost interest in this comic for a long while now since we’ll Bob and and green really arnt seen anymore I couldn’t tell you a single thing that’s happening right now
Wow, you took the trouble to log in and leave a comment just to tell us that you stopped reading it a long time ago and don’t care anymore?
Your effort is much appreciated. Thanks.
And WHO are you, again?
Oh, wait – I don’t care.
t!
So, is this implying that the harpsichord was chosen for a specific reason other than merely a weapon of murder? Something that would confirm the killer in some Sherlock Holmes style summation perhaps…
Oh wait, I’m stupid. It was so that everyone would be aware of when it fell and would assume that it was the murder weapon. It’s misdirection.
Hmm… if it was that loud…
… why did no-one hear it fall?
I’m wondering if that description is based on how it sounded when it fell rather then being played.
Gotta say about the strip title, though: the ship in it certainly doesn’t appear to be in danger of sinking 😀
Look, Cadugan and Lucas are already a pair, so there’s little sense in shipping them. Or are you just talking ship about the title?
I am tempted to make a crack about any port in a storm, but in this abbey the port is served after dinner.
Marriage is just legal permission to be shipped! %)
From the very beginning, with Bob in particular, Rich has been a master of creating expressions both expressive and hilarious with non-humanoid facial features.
That last panel stands among his all-time best.
t!
Hahah, storynotes indicated that that panel was pretty much the whole point of this strip. So I figured I should really try hard on that one.
You make it look easy!
t!