Baroque lutenists, it has been written (by Sachs?) that an early literary example of ear worms could perhaps be found in the "Confessions" by J.J. Rousseau. There he tells a nice story of a song "Les Bains de Tomery" by Batistin. The story is below. I suppose I found the piece:
Jean Babtiste Stuck alias "Batistin": Les Bains de Tomery. The opening recitative of the cantata. I made an 11-course baroque lute arr of it. You can find the tabulature and the model in my page http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/u/wikla/mus/11_courseLute/ And a played version in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71-E0Fb19TM and also http://vimeo.com/18532305 The piece actually is quite strange, but not bad: starts in F-major and ends very strongly in C-major. The story by Rousseau is below. Arto --------------------------------------------- Confessions, IV eme livre 1730-1731: [...] I arose, shook off the remains of drowsiness, and finding I was hungry, retook the way to the city, resolving, with inexpressible gayety, to spend the two pieces of six francs I had yet remaining in a good breakfast. I found myself so cheerful that I went all the way singing; I even remember I sang a cantata of Batistin's called the Baths of Thomery, which I knew by heart. May a blessing light on the good Batistin and his good cantata, which procured me a better breakfast than I had expected, and a still better dinner which I did not expect at all! In the midst of my singing, I heard some one behind me, and turning round perceived an Antonine, who followed after and seemed to listen with pleasure to my song. At length accosting me, he asked, If I understood music. I answered, "A little," but in a manner to have it understood I knew a great deal, and as he continued questioning of me, related a part of my story. He asked me, If I had ever copied music? I replied, "Often," which was true: I had learned most by copying. "Well," continued he, "come with me, I can employ you for a few days, during which time you shall want for nothing; provided you consent not to quit my room." I acquiesced very willingly, and followed him. This Antonine was called M. Rotichon; he loved music, understood it, and sang in some little concerts with his friends; thus far all was innocent and right, but apparently this taste had become a furor, part of which he was obliged to conceal. He conducted me into a chamber, where I found a great quantity of music: he gave me some to copy, particularly the cantata he had heard me singing, and which he was shortly to sing himself. [...] To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
