--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So it became in my mind a nine-carol…" description: "\"So it became in my mind a nine-carol service; an oratorio and orchestral concert all in one, but with narration. That's something I've learned about, b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/628/eric-idle-3734_carols_so-it-became-in-my-mind-a-nine-carol-ser_2825936.jpg" --- # So it became in my mind a nine-carol service; an oratorio… ![“So it became in my mind a nine-carol service; an oratorio and orchestral concert all in one, but with narration. That's something I've learned about, because it's the story that keeps you in there. I wrote a libretto and I gave it to John Du Prez. We normally don't work in this fashion but I said…” quote by Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/628/eric-idle-3734_carols_so-it-became-in-my-mind-a-nine-carol-ser_2825936.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/628/eric-idle-3734_carols_so-it-became-in-my-mind-a-nine-carol-ser_2825936.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/628/eric-idle-3734_carols_so-it-became-in-my-mind-a-nine-carol-ser_2825936.jpg) > “So it became in my mind a nine-carol service; an oratorio and orchestral concert all in one, but with narration. That's something I've learned about, because it's the story that keeps you in there. I wrote a libretto and I gave it to John Du Prez. We normally don't work in this fashion but I said off you go, and he went off for about three months. He brought me back this demo which blew my mind.” [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes a hybrid musical‑narrative project, emphasizing story as the unifying element. **In simple terms:** Story ties together music and narration. Key Takeaway Let narrative guide your creative process. Themes creativity collaboration storytelling Mood inspired analytical Type process creative When to use this quote - stage productions - audio‑visual projects - creative workshops Key Concepts musical theatre libretto writing Questions to Reflect On - What story drives your current project? - How do you balance narrative and musical freedom? A Different Perspective Too much focus on story can limit musical innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Carols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carols/) [Concert Narration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concert-narration-3622716/) [Concerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concerts/) [Demos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demos/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [I've learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-ve-learned/) [Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idle/) [Libretto Gave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libretto-gave-3622714/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Months](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/months/) [Narration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narration/) [Nine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nine/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Service Oratorio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service-oratorio-3622715/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Three months](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three-months/) [Wrote Libretto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrote-libretto-3622713/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [The narration, in fact, doubles the drama with a commentary without which no mise en scene would be possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lacan/the-narration-in-fact-doubles-the-drama-with-a-commentary-without/) [Jacques Lacan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lacan/) > [“If at that moment Clement had caught sight of the dog and had managed to capture him, the fates of a number of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/if-at-that-moment-clement-had-caught-sight-of-the-dog-and-had-managed/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [“The children were fond of stories, of hero soldiers and buccaneer bounties as muttered by the village elders; but they were especially fond of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-k-cross/the-children-were-fond-of-stories-of-hero-soldiers-and-buccaneer/) [E. K. Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-k-cross/) > [I like to blow up this notion that all we have to do as writers and artists is represent reality, which is presumably solid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/i-like-to-blow-up-this-notion-that-all-we-have-to-do-as-writers-and/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [“...Quite the narration in your head, even for a moment, and see for yourself that life is life, and not one minute of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-maezen-miller/quite-the-narration-in-your-head-even-for-a-moment-and-see-for/) [Karen Maezen Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-maezen-miller/) > [In 'Labor Day Hurricane, 1935,' Douglas Trevor vividly recreates a historical event. While that is the only story in A THIN TEAR IN THE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-dybek/in-labor-day-hurricane-1935-douglas-trevor-vividly-recreates-a/) [Stuart Dybek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-dybek/) > [If I write nothing but fiction for some time I begin to get stupid, and to feel rather as if it had been a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-mary-yonge/if-i-write-nothing-but-fiction-for-some-time-i-begin-to-get-stupid/) [Charlotte Mary Yonge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-mary-yonge/) > [The ‘I’ character in journalism is almost pure invention. Unlike the ‘I’ of autobiography, who is meant to be seen as a representation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/the-i-character-in-journalism-is-almost-pure-invention-unlike-the-i/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [I use a lot of narration; I have a very prosaic style. I like to get you invested in the character first and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-snyder/i-use-a-lot-of-narration-i-have-a-very-prosaic-style-i-like-to-get/) [Scott Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-snyder/) > [I couldn't sit down and write a novel or a short story - even now - because of my dyslexia. But I learned narration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benton/i-couldn-t-sit-down-and-write-a-novel-or-a-short-story-even-now/) [Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/) > [Narration is as much a part of human nature as breath and the circulation of the blood… storytelling is intrinsic to biological time, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt-2/narration-is-as-much-a-part-of-human-nature-as-breath-and-the/) [A. S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt-2/) > [I had never done a Director's Cut narration on Beaches so I did in time for the release of the DVD. It was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-marshall/i-had-never-done-a-director-s-cut-narration-on-beaches-so-i-did-in/) [Garry Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-marshall/) > [ I got used to \[ Lars Von Trier\] doing the narration for 'Dogville' and 'Manderley.' And I said to him I do these narrations… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/i-got-used-to-lars-von-trier-doing-the-narration-for-dogville-and/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [Time is the nervous system of narration, whether factual or fictive. If it gets confused some of the minutiae of human nature are certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenway-wescott/time-is-the-nervous-system-of-narration-whether-factual-or-fictive-if/) [Glenway Wescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenway-wescott/) > [The symmetry of form attainable in pure fiction can not so readily be achieved in a narration essentially having less to do with fable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-symmetry-of-form-attainable-in-pure-fiction-can-not-so-readily-be/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## More by Eric Idle > [“Life's a piece of shit, when you look at it, life's a laugh and deat's a joke, it's true: You'll se it's all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/life-s-a-piece-of-shit-when-you-look-at-it-life-s-a-laugh-and-deat-s/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [Having little money to spend was a valuable learning experience. My schooling also shaped my work ethic because while other children were listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/having-little-money-to-spend-was-a-valuable-learning-experience-my/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [Americans like to think 'Python' is how English people really are. There is an element of truth to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/americans-like-to-think-python-is-how-english-people-really-are-there/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [ If you're famous, you have to \[be overly generous\], otherwise people say, "Eric Idle came in and only left me $4." I always tip… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/if-you-re-famous-you-have-to-be-overly-generous-otherwise-people-say/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [At least in America, you have freedom of speech, which is a good thing. It's just a question of whether you're allowed to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/at-least-in-america-you-have-freedom-of-speech-which-is-a-good-thing/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [You look just like you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/you-look-just-like-you/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [Many years ago I also bought a house in Provence for about 70,000 francs. It had no electricity or running water, and no road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/many-years-ago-i-also-bought-a-house-in-provence-for-about-70-000/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [No day of my life passes without someone saying the words 'Monty Python' to me. It's not bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/no-day-of-my-life-passes-without-someone-saying-the-words-monty/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [“sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will make me cry by myself in a corner for hours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/sticks-and-stones-will-break-my-bones-but-words-will-make-me-cry-by/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [I believe in the separation of church and planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/i-believe-in-the-separation-of-church-and-planet/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [I've got soggy thighs. It must be dinner time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/i-ve-got-soggy-thighs-it-must-be-dinner-time/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [At least one way of measuring the freedom of any society is the amount of comedy that is permitted, and clearly a healthy society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/at-least-one-way-of-measuring-the-freedom-of-any-society-is-the/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [The Minister of Transport issued this appeal to motorists: Can anyone give him a lift to Leicester?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/the-minister-of-transport-issued-this-appeal-to-motorists-can-anyone/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [I think the special thing about Python is that it's a writers' commune. The writers are in charge. The writers decide what the material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/i-think-the-special-thing-about-python-is-that-it-s-a-writers-commune/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [ There's no gap between the writer and the performer, which is what I think makes \[Monty\] Python unique. Five or six people who write… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/there-s-no-gap-between-the-writer-and-the-performer-which-is-what-i/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) [Explore all 122 Eric Idle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) ## More Carols quotes > [When I was 17, I read a profile of Carol Leifer. Since then, I wanted to be her. I still want to be her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/when-i-was-17-i-read-a-profile-of-carol-leifer-since-then-i-wanted-to/) [Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/) > [Spring comes with joyous laugh, and song, and sunshine, and the burnt sacrifice of the over-ripe boot and the hoary overshoe. The cowboy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-wilson-nye/spring-comes-with-joyous-laugh-and-song-and-sunshine-and-the-burnt/) [Edgar Wilson Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-wilson-nye/) > [For the first time in my life I actually feel sorry for Carol. I'm only seventeen years old, and I already know something she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-actually-feel-sorry-for-carol-i-m/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [A lot of the carols were not as you hear them now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/a-lot-of-the-carols-were-not-as-you-hear-them-now/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [Christmas was a miserable time for a Jewish child in those days, and I still recall the feeling. ... Decades later, I still feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-moskowitz/christmas-was-a-miserable-time-for-a-jewish-child-in-those-days-and-i/) [Faye Moskowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-moskowitz/) > [Unfortunately there is nothing more inane than an Easter carol. It is a religious perversion of the activity of Spring in our blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/unfortunately-there-is-nothing-more-inane-than-an-easter-carol-it-is/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [Civilizations evolve over time, and most scholars of civilization, including people like Carol Quigley, argue that they go through periods of warring states, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-p-huntington/civilizations-evolve-over-time-and-most-scholars-of-civilization/) [Samuel P. Huntington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-p-huntington/) > [Carol Guess's poems are sexy, intuitive, angry, and hopeful. These lyrical narratives measure the impossibly small distance between love and fear. They are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-schomburg/carol-guess-s-poems-are-sexy-intuitive-angry-and-hopeful-these/) [Zachary Schomburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-schomburg/) > [Only with great care. For thousands, carols will be their only link with a church. At the same time, sentimentality is perhaps the single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-begbie/only-with-great-care-for-thousands-carols-will-be-their-only-link/) [Jeremy Begbie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-begbie/) > [I took my first acting class at age 6 because I found out that's what Carol Burnett was doing - acting. Also she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-lakin/i-took-my-first-acting-class-at-age-6-because-i-found-out-that-s-what/) [Christine Lakin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-lakin/) > [Orson Welles lists Citizen Kane as his best film, Alfred Hitchcock opts for Shadow of a Doubt, and Sir Carol Reed chose The Third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cotten/orson-welles-lists-citizen-kane-as-his-best-film-alfred-hitchcock/) [Joseph Cotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cotten/) > [I took a couple of creative writing classes with Joyce Carol Oates at Princeton University, and in my senior year there, I took a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/i-took-a-couple-of-creative-writing-classes-with-joyce-carol-oates-at/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [I put the copy of 'A Christmas Carol' that my grandfather had first read to me 60 years ago on my desk, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitley-strieber/i-put-the-copy-of-a-christmas-carol-that-my-grandfather-had-first/) [Whitley Strieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitley-strieber/) > [A Christmas Carol is such a fool-proof story you can't louse it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-maltin/a-christmas-carol-is-such-a-fool-proof-story-you-can-t-louse-it-up/) [Leonard Maltin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-maltin/) > [I'm very surprised at Carol didn't get a best picture. Todd Haynes is an Academy darling, his period pieces are nothing short of brilliant,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bun-b/i-m-very-surprised-at-carol-didn-t-get-a-best-picture-todd-haynes-is/) [Bun B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bun-b/) [Browse all 127 Carols quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carols/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "So it became in my mind a nine-carol service; an oratorio and orchestral concert all in one, but with narration. That's something I've learned about, because it's the story that keeps you in there. I wrote a libretto and I gave it to John Du Prez. We normally don't work in this fashion but I said off you go, and he went off for about three months. 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