A Bell Is No Bell - June Bronhill & Petula Clark

A unique song from the rare 1981 London revival cast recording of "The Sound of Music." This production followed the film by setting "My Favorite Things" in the thunderstorm scene and moving "The Lonely Goatherd" elsewhere. However, they must have felt that a song was still neccessary in the scene where the Mother Abbess informs Maria that she is to be sent ot the von Trapp villa as a governess (the original location of "My Favorite Things"). So they borrowed the introductory verse from the reprise of "Sixteen Going On Seventeen" and made it a duet for Maria (Petula Clark) and the Mother Abbess (June Bronhill):

A bell is no bell till you ring it
A song is no song till you sing it
And love in your heart wasn't put there to stay
Love isn't love till you give it away.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Sound
• of
• Music
• Broadway
• London
• musical
• revival
• Rodgers
• Hammerstein
• Petula
• Clark
• June
• Bronhill

[LaMusicaVa]

My guess is that is was meant to be connected somehow to the Mother Abbess' telling Maria to not be afraid of living life outside the Abbey on her own - a sort of "you'll never know till you try" message. Like you said, not perfect, but it makes partial sense at least! It's better than trying to add a new song to a Rodgers and Hammerstein score. :)

[JerseySurvivor]

Saw thw show in London in October 81. Remember it vividly. No problem with Pet's age as she looked 20 years younger then-- and still does! Saw her at Feinsteins the other night and she had ME duet with her on Downtown! If it wasn't her, I've no doubt that from the gallery they'd be throwing fruit!. Love Pet. Hope she comes back soon.

[steph36uk]

I was in the audience on the first Saturday Night performance of this show in 1981, I was 16, Pet Clark was far better than I ever imagined she would be, after seeing Julie Andrews in the film. We all gave June Bronhill a standing ovation after her singing of ' Climb Ev'ry Mountain', for me it was a totally unforgettable show and performances and I still remember it all these years later, and I'm so glad to have seen it and been a part of it. That first Saturday night was packed to the rafters

[iancv]

I adored June Bronhill from a very young age - saw here perform many many timesin the UK and Australia. She was a great treasure.

[danilo22uk]

saw this production & have both programmes

[mourillio]

Stunning...and so glad that it's now available on CD, for the first time.  You can get it on Amazon.

Definately a must-buy.

[4260laurel]

in my version Mother never sang this....did they re-arrange for this production- Pet Clark...one of my favorites....she must have been a terrific Maria.!

[4260laurel]

in my version Mother never sang this....did they re-arrange for this production- Pet Calrk...one of my favorites....she must have been a terrific Maria.!

[rickyross3359]

The soundtrack from this production is out for the first time on CD later this month. The full 1981 cast album plus 2 bonus tracks.

[emmapett1]

Hi I played Marta (orange group). I remember hearing this song through the speaker in our dressing room while we were having the finishing touches done to our makeup and hair!