AA3041
Jabberwocky
Music: Andrew Adams, Words: Lewis Carroll
Voicing: SATB, piano
Performance time approx: 3m 30s
Range S: c' – f'' / A: g – c'' / T: c – f' / B: B – d'♭
Price code: D
Complexity:
A delightfully mimsy and galumphing through-composed setting of Lewis Carroll’s famous poem based on evocative nonsense words. Tenors and basses carry the storyline, joined or commented on throughout by sopranos and altos. The piano part, by turns vamping, thumping, and rippling, adds very effective colour and chromaticism. A great piece for a moment of humour in your concert.
’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree
And stood awhile in thought.
And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
He chortled in his joy.
’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Lewis Carroll