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For choir SAB
Title by uploader: The Earwig Song - for choir SAB
Instrumentation |
Mixed choir: Soprano, Alto, Bass |
Scored for |
Choir |
Type of score |
Vocal score |
Translator |
David W Solomons |
Publisher |
David W Solomons |
Language |
English |
Difficulty |
Medium |
English version by the composer of the Ohrwurmgesang, a comic poem by Wilhelm Busch.
The original German version is available at:
http://dwsolo.musicaneo.com/sheetmusic/sm-187258_der_ohrwurmgesang_for_three_part_choir.html
The thwarted poet Baldwin Baa-Lamb hopes to find inspiration in nature but the earwig and the little bird provide distractions that totally thwart his poetic aspirations.
This commissioned performance is by Matthew Curtis of www.choraltracks.com
For flute trio (SSB)
Title by uploader: The Earwig song flute trio (SSB)
Instrumentation |
Flute, Bass Flute |
Scored for |
Trio |
Type of score |
Full score, Parts |
Publisher |
David W Solomons |
Difficulty |
Advanced |
Duration |
3'30 |
Year of composition |
2015 |
Genre |
Classical/Instrumental |
The earwig song was oiginally a vocal piece based on a poem by Wilhelm Busch
in which the poet (Balduin Bählamm) lies down in a meadow full of potential inspiration
when an earwig enters his ear and distracts him somewhat!
I have re-arranged my setting for various trio versions:
(clarinet trio and various flute trio arrangements with bass or alto flute taking the bottom line)
The pdf file contains score and parts.
The sound sample is an electronic preview.
The original song can be heard on youtube
in German here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkCiqJXK21k
and in English here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfarKcuTROs
For flute trio (SSA)
Title by uploader: The Earwig song flute trio (SSA)
Instrumentation |
Flute, Alto Flute |
Scored for |
Trio |
Type of score |
Full score, Parts |
Publisher |
David W Solomons |
Difficulty |
Advanced |
Duration |
3'30 |
Year of composition |
2015 |
Genre |
Classical/Instrumental |
The earwig song was originally a vocal piece based on a poem by Wilhelm Busch
in which the poet (Balduin Bählamm) lies down in a meadow full of potential inspiration
when an earwig enters his ear and distracts him somewhat!
I have re-arranged my setting for various trio versions:
(clarinet trio and various flute trio arrangements with bass or alto flute taking the bottom line)
The pdf file contains score and parts.
The sound sample is an electronic preview.
The original song can be heard on youtube
in German here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkCiqJXK21k
and in English here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfarKcuTROs
For flute trio (SAB)
Title by uploader: The Earwig song flute trio (SAB)
Instrumentation |
Flute, Alto Flute, Bass Flute |
Scored for |
Trio |
Type of score |
Full score, Parts |
Publisher |
David W Solomons |
Difficulty |
Advanced |
Duration |
3'30 |
Year of composition |
2015 |
Genre |
Classical/Instrumental |
The earwig song was originally a vocal piece based on a poem by Wilhelm Busch
in which the poet (Balduin Bählamm) lies down in a meadow full of potential inspiration
when an earwig enters his ear and distracts him somewhat!
I have re-arranged my setting for various trio versions:
(clarinet trio and various flute trio arrangements with bass or alto flute taking the bottom line)
The pdf file contains score and parts.
The sound sample is an electronic preview.
The original song can be heard on youtube
in German here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkCiqJXK21k
and in English here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfarKcuTROs
For clarinet trio
Title by uploader: The Earwig song clarinet trio
Instrumentation |
Clarinet |
Scored for |
Trio |
Type of score |
Full score, Parts |
Publisher |
David W Solomons |
Difficulty |
Advanced |
Duration |
3'30 |
Year of composition |
2015 |
Genre |
Classical/Instrumental |
The earwig song was originally a vocal piece based on a poem by Wilhelm Busch
in which the poet (Balduin Bählamm) lies down in a meadow full of potential inspiration
when an earwig enters his ear and distracts him somewhat!
I have re-arranged my setting for various trio versions:
(clarinet trio and various flute trio arrangements with bass or alto flute taking the bottom line)
The pdf file contains score and parts.
The sound sample is an electronic preview.
The original song can be heard on youtube
in German here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkCiqJXK21k
and in English here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfarKcuTROs
For string trio
Title by uploader: The Earwig Song for string trio
Instrumentation |
Violin, Viola, Cello |
Scored for |
Trio |
Type of score |
Full score, Parts |
Publisher |
David W Solomons |
Difficulty |
Medium |
Year of composition |
2019 |
Genre |
Classical/Instrumental |
Inspired by the comical poetic novella by Wilhelm Busch about a thwarted poet called Balduin Bählamm (Baldwin Baalamb) who can never find the right peaceful spot for his poetic endeavours.
In this section (with my translation below*) the poet hopes to gain inspiration by lying down peacefully in a field, but he is thwarted by an earwig, which chooses his ear for warmth and supposed safety - he changes to lying under a tree where a bird shows no better concern for his peace of mind and apparently misplaced love of nature:
In freier Luft, in frischem Grün,
Da wo die bunten Blümlein blühn,
In Wiesen, Wäldern, auf der Heide,
Entfernt von jedem Wohngebäude,
Auf rein botanischem Gebiet,
Weilt jeder gern, der voll Gemüt.
Hier legt sich Bählamm auf den Rücken
Und fühlt es tief und mit Entzücken,
Nachdem er Bein und Blick erhoben:
Groß ist die Welt, besonders oben!
Wie klein dagegen und beschränkt
Zeigt sich der Ohrwurm, wenn er denkt.
Engherzig schleicht er durch das Moos,
Beseelt von dem Gedanken bloß,
Wo's dunkel sei und eng und hohl,
Denn da nur ist ihm pudelwohl.
Grad wie er wünscht und sehr gelegen
Blinkt ihm des Dichters Ohr entgegen.
In diesen wohlerwärmten Räumen,
So denkt er, kann ich selig träumen.
Doch wenn er glaubt, daß ihm hienieden
Noch weitre Wirksamkeit beschieden,
So irrt er sich. – Ein Winkelzug
Von Bählamms Bein, der fest genug,
Zerstört die Form, d. h. so ziemlich,
Die diesem Wurme eigentümlich,
Und seinem Dasein als Subjekt
Ist vorderhand ein Ziel gesteckt.
Sogleich und mit gewisser Schnelle
Vertauscht der Dichter diese Stelle
Für eine andre, mehr erhöht,
Allwo ein Bäumlein winkend steht.
Ein Vöglein zwitschert in den Zweigen;
Dem Dichter wird so schwül und eigen.
Die Stirn umsäuseln laue Lüfte;
Es zuckt der Geist im Faberstifte.
Pitschkleck! – Ein Fleck. Ein jäher Schreck. –
Erleichtert fliegt das Vöglein weg.
Indessen auch der andre Sänger
Verweilt an diesem Ort nicht länger.
*My translation
In open air and countryside
Where pretty flowers bloom in their pride
In fields and woods, our delectation
So far away from civ'lization
Where botany holds all its sway
We'd love to stay there ev'ry day
And Baalamb lies there nice and happy
A truly deep contented chappy
With leg raised up looks to the sky
A great big world oh me oh my!
But on the other hand we see
An earwig comes for company
His only thoughts as on he goes
Are for his comfort far from foes
And where it is so dark and small
He'll settle with no care at all!
Just as he wished and it's just right
The poet's ear comes into sight!
He thinks "In this warm fleshy fold
I'll dream secure far from the cold."
But if he thinks that he can settle
In such a world, as in a petal
He's very wrong - 'cos Baalamb's heel
Reduces him to mash and meal
From that fine form which once he had
The bug has reached an end so sad
Existence that he once enjoyed
The poet has at once destroyed.
And straight away our Baalamb goes
Away from his disturbed repose
And to a nice locality
He's beckoned by a little tree
A birdy twitters up so high
Inspires the poet bye and bye
His forehead feels the gentle breeze
It sets him sketching all the trees.
A splash, a flash, he thinks "oh Dash!"
The bird relieved flies on quite rash.
Poor Baalamb's song is now no more
He leaves no better than before.
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