Subject: Re: animal songs
From: "jjh"
To: vocalist
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

On Mon, 24 Jan 2000, Diane M. Clark wrote:

>...which brings to mind some more songs..."Prayers from the Ark." I've sung
these in choral arrangements, but I think there are solo versions, too. And
the composer is Ivor.....Somebody? Does anyone remember? My favorite is
the one about the cat, which starts "Lord, I am the cat!" (How else?!) Can
anyone help? Since I am on sabbatical, I am working at home and am not near
my music library.

The composer for "Prayers from the Ark" is Theron Kirk. There are three
volumes, one each for soprano, bass-baritone and tenor. They're published
by MCA Music. Each song is a miniature prayer from the viewpoint of a
particular animal; the texts are very clever (Carmen Bernos de Gasztold,
translated by Rumer Godden). My favorite is the same as yours, Diane: "The
Prayer of the Cat," from the soprano volume. The cat's prayer is to put "A
curse on the whole race of dogs!"

Enjoy--miaow!

Jana
--
Jana Holzmeier
Dept. of Music
Nebraska Wesleyan University
5000 Saint Paul Ave.
Lincoln, NE 68504
jjh-at-nebrwesleyan.edu
402-465-2284