The Night I Met Einstein
About the Author
Jerome Weidman (1913-1998):
- American playwright and novelist.
- Won the Pulitzer Prize in 1960 for his musical drama ‘Fiorello’.
- Worked with George Abbot, Jerry Bock, and Sheldon Harnick for the music and lyrics of ‘Fiorello’.
- His book ‘I Can Get It For You Wholesale’ was made into a movie.
Key Vocabulary
Dine: To have dinner.
- Hostess: A woman who invites and takes care of guests at an event.
- Concert: A public performance of music by singers or musicians.
- Pianist: A person who plays the piano.
- Tone-deaf: Unable to tell the difference between high and low musical notes.
- Bach: Johann Sebastian Bach, a famous German composer and organist from the 17th century.
- Gramophone: A device used to play recorded music.
- Nodded: Moved head up and down to show agreement.
- Bing Crosby: A popular American singer and actor.
Main Characters
- Narrator: A young man who doesn’t understand classical music and thinks he is tone-deaf.
- Albert Einstein: A famous scientist who is kind, patient, and helps the narrator learn to enjoy music.
- Hostess: A woman who hosts a dinner and organizes a concert at her house.
Key Events of the Story
1. Dinner Invitation:
- The narrator, a young man, is invited to a dinner at the home of a philanthropist (someone who helps others with money or resources).
- After a delicious dinner, the hostess leads the guests to a large drawing room.
2. Concert Setup:
- The hostess arranges chairs for a concert, saying a skilled pianist will perform.
- While other guests are excited, the narrator feels uneasy because he doesn’t enjoy or understand classical music and believes he is tone-deaf.
3. Narrator’s Lack of Interest:
- During the concert, the narrator sits politely but doesn’t focus on the music.
- He claps when the performance ends only because others are clapping.
4. Conversation with Einstein:
- A man with white hair and a pipe (Albert Einstein) sitting next to the narrator asks, “You’re fond of Bach?”
- The narrator honestly admits he knows nothing about Bach, has never heard his music, and feels tone-deaf.
- Einstein is surprised and compares the narrator’s statement to saying he has never taken a bath.
5. Einstein’s Teaching:
- Einstein asks the narrator to follow him to a room with a gramophone and questions what kind of music he enjoys.
- The narrator says he likes songs with words and clear tunes, like those by Bing Crosby.
- Einstein plays a Bing Crosby song and asks the narrator to sing it back, which he does correctly.
- Einstein explains that the narrator is not tone-deaf and compares learning music to learning math-you start with simple steps before tackling harder ones.
6. Gradual Learning Process:
- Einstein plays more songs, moving from simple ones with words (like The Trumpeter by John McCormack) to music without words.
- The narrator is amazed that someone as important as Einstein gives him full attention to help him learn.
7. Return to the Concert:
- Einstein brings the narrator back to the concert hall and advises him to “just listen.”
- The narrator listens to Bach’s music carefully and enjoys it genuinely, clapping sincerely at the end.
- Whenever he hears Bach’s music later, he remembers sitting with Einstein, a kind man with warm eyes.
8. Hostess’s Comment:
- After the concert, the hostess apologizes to Einstein for missing part of the performance, looking coldly at the narrator.
- Einstein says they were engaged in “the greatest activity of which a human being is capable”-“opening up the frontiers of beauty.”
Themes and Lessons
1. Step-by-Step Learning:
- Einstein compares understanding music to learning math, where you master basics (like addition) before complex topics (like division).
- This shows that learning anything new takes time and small steps.
2. Kindness and Guidance:
- Einstein, a famous scientist, patiently teaches the narrator, treating him as important, which shows the value of helping others.
3. Discovering Beauty:
- The story emphasizes opening your mind to new experiences, like music, to find beauty in them.
4. Overcoming Doubts:
- The narrator thinks he can’t understand music, but with Einstein’s help, he learns he can, showing that doubts can be overcome with support.
Important Quotes
1. Narrator: “I do not know anything about Bach. I have never heard any of his music.”
- Shows the narrator’s honesty about his lack of knowledge.
2. Einstein: “You’re not tone-deaf.”
- Reassures the narrator that he has the ability to learn.
3. Einstein: “It’s like learning maths. You have to learn addition and subtraction in order to do multiplication and division.”
- Explains the need to start with basics when learning something new.
4. Einstein: “Just allow yourself to listen, that’s all there is to it.”
- Simplifies how to appreciate music.
5. Einstein: “Opening up the frontiers of beauty.”
- Highlights the importance of exploring and enjoying new experiences.
Words Related to Music
- Concert, pianist, tone-deaf, Bach, gramophone, Bing Crosby, tune, song, music, John McCormack, melody, chorus, raga, symphony, serenade, choir, performance, duet, allegro.
Famous Personalities in the Story
- Albert Einstein: A brilliant scientist who loves music and teaches others patiently.
- Johann Sebastian Bach: A German composer known for classical music from the 17th century.
- Bing Crosby: An American singer and actor famous for popular songs.
- John McCormack: An Irish singer known for songs like The Trumpeter.
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