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Give me a good tid-bit
Lemmie hear something interesting, odd, or just cool. Also, tell me how you know that nugget of what may be little known facts. Keep it rated PG, please. Short and simple is great- or a bit longer with a story is always satisfying as well. The fact must be something you already knew... no asking uncle google for help... be honest fellow wordsmiths! Start your post with 'Did you know...' and then free type that knowledgeable little crumble. If I did not know your little known fact, I may drop ya a buck or two. :D I will go first to set the bar. Did you know... cashews are not actually a nut? They grow on a tree and produce fruit that sort of resembles a colored pepper (or capsaicin if you are not in the US) and on the fruit grows what people THINK is a nut, but it isn't. A quick google search can take you to a fantastic photo. I learned this from trying to tell my Gram why cashews cost more than peanuts and why there was never 'heavy cashew' in the mixed nuts she was so fond of. :)

Did you know?

symphonic music, with its large orchestra did not come about until the beginning of the 19th century.

bach, mozart, heiden, and many more did not compose many pieces for ensambles , greater than a dozen players. the reasons for that are:

1) there were no venues- 'classical' music,until the age of beethoven was either reserved for small ensambles that could fit in someone's chatau, OR it was operatic work. large polyphonic ensames were mostly reserved to choirs where there was room to place so many musicians, but limited subject matters and highly formalised music. only when there was an increase in people that could pay for concert tickets, was there construction of large concert halls, to fit so many. earlier attempts at large orchestras, like mizarts open-air ensames were still limited in size and scope.

2) use of new instruments- clarinets, saxophones, trombones, and starring them all-grand pianos were introduced gradually upon the stage. furthermore- not until the time of bach (early 18th century), did people consider tuning instruments with a universal scale. this means that some instruments hardly ever played with each other, as their mode of tuning tended to clash. brass and woodwind instruments, for example used to be like beer and wine.

3) composers and musicians wanted to be their own masters. until the 19th century, composers earned tjeir keep primarily doing commisioned work. aristocratic patrons tended to treat artists like servants. they were not even offered to dine at tbe table with the guests. symphonic music, along with a greater opportunity to tour as conductors, or lead virtuossos gave musicians for the first time economic freedom.

3)

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