http://jeff.nadens.com Some People One Ought to Know - arrangements of some of the poems by Christopher Isherwood, for voice and piano. Isherwood wrote these poems in 1925 in England, whilst working as secretary at the home of violinist Andre Mangeot; at the behest of Mangeot's young son, Sylvain, to accompany his series of animal sketches. Badger The only fault I find with badgers Is that they're such appalling cadgers. If you ask one out to dine He'll want a dozen of your wine To take home. If he likes your prints He'll bother you with clumsy hints: "I say, who's that picture by?... It's my birthday next July..." Once, one asked me for my car - This was going rather far - So I said, "Wouldn't you rather Take this ring? It belonged to my father; It's set with diamonds." Calm and bland, He thanked me and held out his hand. I had an apoplectic fit: The Badger walked away with it. Vocalist: Adele Johnston play Badger Badger score Snake This is an ordinary kind of snake. You may find one if you shake Almost any pillow or mat, Or the gardener's dirty old straw hat, Or a fur rug that you've kept a cat on. He looks so floppy because he's been sat on; But beware - a nip from the creature's molars Will give you an ache like four steam-rollers. However, if a person handles Him kindly and feeds him on chopped candles, He will be gentle as a dove And show an almost filial love. play Snake Snake scoreSnake pdf Giraffe Ill-mannered boys perhaps may laugh At the curious spots on this giraffe. "What are they for?" you ask. Well, I Will tell you; each is a bull's-eye And has afforded constant practice To many marksmen. For the fact is During the War, this creature was mascot To a regiment quartered at Ascot, And every morning they would shoot All over it, from head to foot; Such was the toughness of its skin That not one bullet entered in. Now that you've heard this, you'll at least Not laugh at the patriotic beast. play Giraffe Giraffe scoreGiraffe pdf Butterfly The Patchwork Admiral Butterfly Likes to find some warm and dry Parlour or drawing-room, and there Settle. It hates the open air. It does not waste its youthful powers Fluttering over pretty flowers. It would far prefer to rove Round a gas-fire or a stove. This may be why, as I am told, Some live to be seventy-five years old. play Butterfly Butterfly score Whale He's trying desperately, this whale, To put his head beneath his tail. He's frightened because someone's told Him that his stomach's turning gold - And as you know, with whales and weasels, When one turns gold, he's got the measles. As a matter of fact, our friend has not. He's only slipped on a treacle-pot Dropped from the deck of a submarine By the cabin-boy, who was feeling green. Vocalist: Jane Pinkerton play Whale Whale scoreWhale pdf Ferrets Why do ferrets fish in tubs With brand-new rods and worms and grubs? Really, there's something of the mystic About them, they're so optimistic. From twelve inches of clear water They expect to find they've caught a Fish, at least, if not a trout. And if they got a salmon out, Their ignorance of Nature's such, It would not surprise them much. Vocalist: Adele Johnston play Ferrets Ferrets scoreFerrets pdf Snail The snail has a telephone and bell Fitted up inside his shell. He says the thing's a perfect pest: "When I come out to digest For forty seconds in the sun, The bell rings, and in I run. But usually, it's just a call, For St. Thomas' Hospital, Or, 'Is that Harrods?', 'Is that Alice?' 'Is that George at Buckingham Palace?' I never have a wink of slumber - Somebody always gets my number." Vocalist: Jane Pinkerton play Snail Snail scoreSnail pdf Squirrel This squirrel, although so young and small, Doesn't live in a tree at all. One day he left the woods for the town And now he's climbing up and down The telegraph-pole outside our house. He hears us grumble, her hears us grouse, He hears us gnash and rage and curse, He hears us quarrel; and, what's worse, He sometimes jumps on the sill and pokes His head inside and hears our jokes. Oh, if that squirrel ever returns To his native forests, my cheek burns To think of the tales he'll spread about - It'll make his parents' fur drop out. Vocalist: Jane Pinkerton play Squirrel Squirrel scoreSquirrel pdf Elephant Don't argue with an elephant. It's no use, for you simply can't Convince any of these stupid creatures; Just look at the brute's stolid features - Not a gleam of common sense. In fact, the elephant's so dense That if you tell him white is white, And go on saying so all night, And prove it with a piece of string And three rulers, if you bring Learned books on Maths and Stinks - Still he only sits and blinks And murmurs, "Oh yes, yes...I've seen Your arguments; but white is green. Vocalist: Meera Bell Thomson play Elephant Elephant scoreElephant pdf Doe Here is Titus, our pet doe, The biggest hypocrite I know. When visitors come to the house, He's quiet and gentle as a mouse. They say, "Oh, the pretty lamb, Would he like some break and jam?" And the artful creature stands And lets them feed him from their hands. Maiden ladies stroke his ears And murmur, practically in tears, "Look at his great wistful eyes...." They would get a slight surprise If they saw him bite the cook. As for those great eyes - well, look A little closer, and you'll see That one of them is black. That's me. I hit him with a rolling pin To stop him hacking at my shin. Yesterday he killed a cat, And ate the mutton, lean and fat, And smashed the china in the sink. Why we keep him, I can't think - Except that it's sometimes amusing To hear the visitors enthusing. play Doe Doe scoreDoe pdf Crocodile Here Mr. Z-, a crocodile, Boards the boat-train for Carlisle. Living is cheap there, that's the reason So many are visiting it this season. The careless shopmen leave large chops Hanging outside the butchers' shops, And if you're clever, you can lunch, Without paying, off a bunch Of liver sausages, or maybe A stupid nursemaid's left a baby Unprotected in its pram - (Babies are very nice with ham) - Hence the sleek and jolly smile On the face of this crocodile. Vocalist: Meera Bell Thomson play Crocodile Crocodile scoreCrocodile pdf Weasel King When I am old and feeble grown And children ask me who I've known Among the novelists and peers And great men of my early years, I shall reply, with haughty look, "I've never met an earl or duke Nor a marquis, but I'll sing About my friend the Weasel King." His Majesty was small but vicious - He thought a rabbit's ear delicious To eat for breakfast, and could bite Through leather or through vulcanite. If he ever saw a stoat He jumped and caught it by the throat. He led his people into battle And cut the badgers down like cattle. Blood was his favourite drink, then cider, He was no temperance-pledge abider. His scream was louder than ten geese, When angry; But in times of peace, He passed a life of ease and culture With his favourite pet, a vulture. He didn't live - quite the contrary - In a palace like George and Mary. He scorned vast throne-rooms, and instead Spent nearly all the day in bed. Just after tea-time he'd begin To practice on his violin - He had composed a fine lament On one note, on this instrument - And when the music soothed his soul, He'd take his pipe and fill the bowl And light it up, and call for lamps, Chatting of heraldry and stamps. And once, after a solemn feast, He rose and pinned upon my breast A cross awarded for great merit - The Order of the Woollen Ferret. So that is why I always sing, "God bless our gracious Weasel King.". Vocalist: Adele Johnston play Weasel King Weasel King scoreWeasel King pdf Hare A ballet-dancer was Miss Hare - Her attitudes made people stare, Until she caught her face a crack Doing a high kick round in back While impersonating Cupid. Since then, she's been a trifle stupid. Out there in the street you may See her almost any day, Wandering with hands tightly clasped In front of her. I've often gasped To watch the vague and dreamy way She steps before a cart or dray, In spite of the drivers' objurgations And the things they say about her relations. Vocalist: Adele Johnston play Hare Hare score Parrot "I don't know how I'd stand the strain," Said a parrot we met once in the train, "Of being cooped up day after day And shouting, 'Pretty Poll!'; 'Hip hooray!'; 'Chawley!' and 'Damn you' and 'Mind your eye!' Hanging in that conservatory, While silly people drink their tea And make idiotic remarks to me - If it wasn't that I sometimes get Out to the country with a net. Then I'm happy. No doubt you've guessed I'm an ardent lepidopterist. At home, I should think that I have quite Four thousand examples of Cabbage White. I can collect no other kind, For unfortunately, I'm colour-blind." Vocalist: Rachael Cunningham play Parrot Parrot scoreParrot pdfCamel "I confess," said the camel, "I sometimes wish My hump wasn't shaped like a pudding-dish. We might have been fitted with something pretty - Like the Turkish mosque at the old white city; Or why not a statue or a flower, Or a helmet and crest or a tree, or a tower Carved with scenes from some classical story, all In marble and gold, like the Albert Memorial?" "Well, well," I said mildly, "there's no deciding - But a tree'd be rather a nuisance when riding." Vocalist: Rachael Cunningham play Camel Camel scoreCamel pdfCormorant The common cormorant (or shag) Lays eggs inside a paper bag. You follow the idea, no doubt? It's to keep the lightning out. But what these unobservant birds Have never thought of, is that herds Of wandering bears might come with buns And steal the bags to hold the crumbs. Vocalist: Julien Mueller JulienMueller/myspace play Cormorant Cormorant score Others The Banker's Daughter She told a friend of mine last spring She found me very int'resting, Meaning she deigned to feel inclined To keep me in her beautiful mind Maybe a minute, maybe a day, Until the interest wore away Its principal to normal blank: But I preferred a safer bank. Poet: Ronald McCuaig Vocalist: Julien Mueller JulienMueller/myspace play The Banker's Daughter The Banker's Daughter scoreThe Banker's Daughter pdf Bleak Mid-Winter In the bleak mid-winter, frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone. Snow had fallen, snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter, long ago. Our God Heav'n cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain. Heav'n and earth shall flee away, when he comes to reign. In the bleak mid-winter, a stable place sufficed The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ. Angels and arch-angels may have gathered there. Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air. But only his mother in her maiden bliss Worshipped the Beloved with a kiss. What can I bring Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb. If I were a wise man, I would do my part Yet what I can I give him, give my heart. Poet: Christina Rossetti play Bleak Mid-Winter Bleak Mid-Winter score