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Thursday, April 18, 2024

What instruments are used in the crescendo in the Beatles’ “A Day in the Life”?

By  Cecil Adams
   
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Dear Cecil: We have a Beatles trivia question on which a dinner-for-four wager rides. The question is this: on the Sgt. Pepper song “A Day in the Life,” what instruments are used for the crescendo after the singer says, “I’d love to turn you on”? David W., Chicago

Cecil replies:

The crescendo is the product of a full-scale 41-piece orchestra, conducted by one P. McCartney, with Mal Evans soloing on alarm clock.

Cecil Adams

Send questions to Cecil via cecil@straightdope.com.