The Golden Noisette
Louis XII
Bach
Beethoven
Mozart
Adolf
Napoléon
Mr. Orange*
Our story takes place on the occasion of Louis XII's birthday
Louis’ birthday party was soon, so soon that it was tomorrow. He wanted a special cake but he did not know how to bake a cake. So Louis called his friend Risu-chef (a squirrel expert chef).
R : Hello, it's Risu-chef
L : Risu-chef, I need your help! Please bake a galette for my birthday party tomorrow.
R : Ok
L : Thank you Risu-chef!
Risu-chef prepared a galette noisette (hazelnut cake). He delivered the galette noisette to Louis’ Palace, Chateau de Blois. It was a very fine galette, fit for a king. Louis patted Risu-chef on the head. Happy little squirrel.
Part I—The Castle Salon
Louis was preparing the invitations for his birthday party. Everyone was invited, except for Mr. Orange. Unfortunately Napoleon could not attend to Louis’ birthday party as he was stuck on an island somewhere.
On the morning of Louis’ birthday, his friends arrived at the Palace. Cake first, naturally. Louis brought the galette noisette to the table. Louis cut the cake and served it on the very fine plates sent by Napoleon, as a birthday gift.
It was the tradition to hide a small prize in the galette, or so Louis said. He could have made this up, but no one questioned the King's authority in such matters. The prize was found in Bach’s piece. It was a noisette dorée, which means, a hazelnut made of gold.
Everyone was satisfied with the galette, except Adolf. He didn’t finish his part. He wanted the prize. Adolf whispered something in Mozart’s ear. Mozart laughed.
“ Time for music! ”
Louis pronounced.
Bach wrote a piece of clavecin* music especially for Louis XII’s birthday. Beethoven offered to play it.
(*French for ‘harpsichord’).
Everyone wanted to hear Bach’s new music. The palace was quiet, except for the sound of birds outside the open window. What a glorious day. Beethoven studied the score for a moment, and raised his eyebrows.
He started to play. It was very good. The counterpoint was perfect, the phrasing very 'Bach', but then suddenly... ‘DA DA DA DUM’!, just like that.
Bach fell off his chair. Bach's wig fell off his head.
Beethoven stopped playing. Louis helped Bach stand up. Bach was angry. There was a very serious problem with the music. Bach adjusted his wig and walked over to the clavecin to see what the problem was. Bach looked at the page of music.
B : 'I didn’t write this part!'
Everyone looked at Mozart.
B : 'Mozart, you ruined my music!'
M : 'It wasn’t my idea! It was…'
Mozart looked for Adolf, but Adolf was gone… and so was Bach’s prize noisette!
Louis was sad. Bach was sad. Mozart was having another piece of cake. Adolf was gone…and Beethoven was inspired. Bach took a pencil out of his wig to correct the music, but Beethoven would not give him the score.
The beginning of Ludwig Van's fifth symphony, composed by Mozart
Part II —The forest
Mr. Orange was walking in the forest. He was upset that he was not invited to Louis’ birthday party. He sat down under a tree.
Then there was a sound. Something was in the tree. Was it a bird? No, it was not a bird. Was it a squirrel? Maybe it was a squirrel.
G : Hello, who is there? Is that you Risu?
A : No, it is me Adolf.
G : Adolf, what are you doing in the tree? Why aren’t you at Louis’ birthday party?
A : I was scared.
G : Why were you scared?
A : I thought you were a bear.
G : I’m not a bear. Come down from the tree.
Adolf came down from the tree. Suddenly Mr. Orange felt a pain in his leg.
G: Ouch!
A very adorable bunny bit Mr. Orange's leg. The small bunny was Lapinou, a forest regular.
G : Lapinou, why did you bite me? That hurt!
L : I’m sorry. Your orange stockings looked like a carrot.
G : I’m not a carrot! You ruined my stockings.
It was true. Lapinou ruined Mr. Orange's stockings. There was now a small hole.
Mr. Orange wanted to complain about his stockings to Adolf, but… Adolf was gone.
Part III—Le salon du Château
Bach was sitting at the table, depressed. But then he finished correcting his music and made 4 more variations. Louis and Risu-chef were opening Louis’ presents. Risu-chef liked the wrapping paper very much.
Just then, the phone rang.
Louis left the room to answer it. It was Lapinou. Mozart was taking a nap. He ate too much cake!
Beethoven was sitting at the clavecin, playing the 4 notes over and over. Da da da dum!
It was surprising that Mozart could sleep with all the noise Beethoven was making. Louis returned to the room. He put on his jacket and said he had to go to the forest.
Risu followed Louis. They left the Palace together.
It was a very interesting birthday party, but what happens next is even more interesting...keep reading to find out!
Part IV—The lake
Adolf arrived at the forest lake. It was a big lake, too big to swim across, so he borrowed Louis’ sailboat. Adolf crossed the lake but there was no wind so it took a very long time.
On the other side of the lake Adolf tied the sailboat to the dock. Louis, Lapinou and Risu were waiting for him to arrive.
L: Adolf! Give me the golden noisette! I know you stole it!
Adolf opened his jacket. There was a secret pocket. Inside the pocket was a baby squirrel. Louis saw the baby squirrel.
L : Is that a baby squirrel?
A : Yes.
L : He is cute.
A : Please be quiet, he is sleeping.
L : Oh sorry (whispers)
Adolf did not steal Bach’s prize noisette. It was Adolf's baby squirrel. Louis was not angry anymore. Adolf offered to give back Bach’s noisette.
A : I’m sorry. Here is the golden noisette.
L : It’s ok. You can keep it. I will find another golden noisette for Bach.
At that moment Mr. Orange arrived. He was still upset about the hole in his stockings.
L : Hello Mr. Orange.
G : Hi Louis. Happy Birthday. Have you seen Adolf?
Louis turned around… but Adolf was gone! He was late for another birthday party.
Fin.