Jabberwocky

Voice + Instrumental Trio
Dramatic Cantata... with kazoos!

Some background to the piece...

This setting of Lewis Carroll's famous poem was originally written for the 18th birthday of Jane Ruckert, a.k.a Gurdy Girl, and also fulfilled an earlier request from the dedicatee for a “slightly tonal” song. It was first composed, fairly impractically, for eight multi-instrumentalists of the most unusual sort (eg. cello/piano accordion, clarinet/bassoon, mezzo-soprano/hurdy-gurdy) who were friends of the composer and dedicatee. A recording with these musicians was made in 2008 (the recording at the top of this page) and can be considered the “definitive” version.
However, in light of the near impossibility of any future performance of that original version, the composer here presents a considerably more practical arrangement for four performers: soprano, flautist, cellist and pianist. This arrangement has been carried out especially for Alondra Vega-Zaldivar, but it is hoped that other singers may also like to give the piece a go. Don’t be put off by the requirement for kazoos…

What's that? Kazoos?

Yes, all players require kazoos. Fortunately, only the soprano needs to have the ability to play their kazoo in tune. The tuning of the other kazoo parts is intended to be more or less random. Unless otherwise specified, kazoo players are asked to play something resembling the notes on the page, but are invited to randomise the transposition. Please do not play in the same key as anyone else.

Dramatic Performance

The key to a successful performance of this piece is to make it theatrical. The whole thing is one big there-and-back-again adventure, told in words and music. Drama should come naturally to the soprano (knowing what sopranos are like), but the other instrumentalists will need to get into the theatrical spirit of the piece as well. Particularly the flautist, whose ratchet kills the Jabberwock at the climax of the work.


© David John Lang
The original version of Jabberwocky was first performed on 22 August 2008 at Marryatville High School, in a lunchtime concert organised by Lucy Timbrell.

The musicians in the above recording (also made in 2008) are Jane Ruckert, Imogen Telfer, Robin Parkin, Caitlin Morrison, Jeri Foreman, Riley Sutton, Jack Schiller and Anna Butterss. Special thanks to Gavin O'Loghlen and Jane Ruckert who produced this recording (which was quite a task!).

This music is available to
PURCHASE
please contact me if interested...

Duration: 9 minutes
Difficulty: Intermediate
Instrumentation
  • Soprano (doubling kazoo, egg shaker, siren whistle, party whistle, coconut shells and melodica – or any other melodic instrument)
  • Flute (doubling piccolo, kazoo, empty balloon, inflated balloon, pin, ratchet, glass of water, random cutlery)
  • Cello (doubling kazoo)
  • Piano (doubling kazoo)

Possible concessions to the above...
If the soprano cannot access a melodica, the melodica parts may be played on another melody instrument on which the singer is proficient – preferably something distinctive and unusual, as this part represents the Jabberwock. Originally this part was written for hurdy-gurdy, but I thought a melodica should be easier to come by. As a last resort, the melodica part may be played on kazoo. But good luck with the section that is in parallel tritones with the piano. :)
Other unusual instruments marked in the score (for example, coconut shells) may be substituted at the performers’ discretion for anything that makes a similar kind of sound.