Songs of a little Bear - for string sextet.wmv

Songs of a little bear
This string sextet is based on the themes of my 1976 cantata "Poohratorio" - due for publication on or after the year 2031, when the works of A A Milne go into public domain.
The cantata itself was based on Milne's "Expotition to the North Pole" (from the Pooh book "Now we are six") and reflects each character and Pooh-song with characteristic leitmotfs.
These leitmotifs are re-used both here in the string sextet and in the vocal piece "Canticula Ursae Minoris" ie the canticles Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, for six-part men's choir (ATB-ATB),
Thus do simple tunes become fairly complex yet transparent structures.

The fact that the constellation Little Bear (or Little Dipper) has its tail pointing to the (North) Pole Star is a happy coincidence!

The images all relate to the original story, but they are removed from the children's fairy-tale land into the wilds of nature itself. Eeyore's tune (the donkey's tune, which is used for the lesser doxology (Glory be to the Father) in the Canticles is a particular favourite of mine and gives rise to the richest of the harmonies.


The score and parts are available at:
http://www.archive.org/details/SongsOfALittleBearForStringSextetBasedOnThePoo...

The footage comes from the Prelinger Archive and the stills of bears and donkeys are from Joel8x at Flickr.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Winnie the Pooh
• expotition
• strings
• sextet
• violin
• viola
• cello
• eeyore
• north pole
• original music
• david w solomons
• canticles
• magnificat
• nunc dimittis
• milne
• poohratorio
• Winnie-the-Pooh
• Classical
• Bear
• Classical Music
• Strings (music)

[SheilaSong]

I am charmed by the themes and imagery of Pooh come to life.