John Rutter HIS RECORDING GATHERS TOGETHER three ‘musical fables’ T that I wrote at different times, with children – and eavesdropping adults – especially in mind. The Reluctant Dragon and The Wind in the Willows, both adapted by David Grant from Kenneth Grahame stories, were commissioned for Christmas concerts given by the King’s Singers and the City of London Sinfonia; The Reluctant Dragon was premièred in 1978, The Wind in the Willows in 1981. Brother Heinrich’s Christmas followed in 1982, written for a Christmas TV ‘special’ from Salisbury Cathedral. The story as well as the music is my own, built around the legend that the lovely carol In dulci jubilo was first sung by angels who miraculously appeared to the medieval monk Heinrich Suso one Christmas Eve. I look back on these three children’s projects with particular fondness The Wind in the Willows, Brother Heinrich’s Christmas and The Reluctant Dragon are and pleasure, not least because of the marvellous performers involved in published by Hinshaw Music, Inc. (P.O. Box 470, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514) them: two most distinguished narrators, Richard Baker and Brian Kay; the for the USA, and by Oxford University Press (Great Clarendon Street, Oxford, versatile and ever-brilliant King’s Singers (friends of mine since they first OX2 6DP, England) for all other countries. got together in far-off Cambridge days); another Cambridge friend, Richard The Wind in the Willows and The Reluctant Dragon were originally recorded by Hickox, and his City of London Sinfonia that I have worked with on so Masterchord Records and Tapes Ltd. and released on the Masterchord label. many happy occasions; and, of course, the Cambridge Singers, who have Collegium Records acknowledges with thanks Masterchord’s permission for their use. sung with me on almost every Collegium recording. Brother Heinrich’s Christmas was originally released on the Collegium album Hurry to JOHN RUTTER Bethlehem. 2 3 BROTHER HEINRICH’S CHRISTMAS (19' 17") Story and music by John Rutter Brian Kay (narrator) • The Cambridge Singers • City of London Sinfonia conducted by John Rutter 11 Introduction 12 Sigismund sings in the abbey choir with music by John Rutter 13 Sigismund is dismissed 14 Brother Heinrich and the new carol The Wind in the Willows • Brother Heinrich’s Christmas • 15 The angels appear on Christmas Eve The Reluctant Dragon 16 Brother Heinrich writes down the Angels’ Carol Total playing time 69' 24' 17 Christmas morning 18 The Angels’ Carol and Christmas dinner THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS (28' 20") Words by David Grant, based on a story by Kenneth Grahame THE RELUCTANT DRAGON (21' 27") Richard Baker (narrator) • The King’s Singers • City of London Sinfonia Words by David Grant, based on the book by Kenneth Grahame Rat: Anthony Holt Mole: Alastair Hume Richard Baker (narrator) • The King’s Singers • City of London Sinfonia Badger: Colin Mason Toad: Bill Ives Boy: Jeremy Jackman Dragon: Bill Ives Magistrate: Simon Carrington Gaoler’s daughter: Jeremy Jackman Saint George: Anthony Holt Master of Ceremonies: Simon Carrington conducted by Richard Hickox conducted by Richard Hickox 1 Introduction 19 Introduction 2 Rat and Mole meet: A life on the river 20 The boy visits the dragon’s cave 3 Scene at Badger’s house 21 The villagers and St George arrive 4 Toad’s car 22 Trio: I say, old boy 5 Court scene 23 Planning the tournament: First he waves his spear around 6 Toad in gaol: Let me tickle your fancy 24 The tournament 7 Toad’s song: I’ve got style 25 Banquet fugue 8 The recapture of Toad Hall: Let’s wallop a weasel 26 Finale: Let’s begin again 9 The banquet at Toad Hall 10 Finale: Home is a special kind of feeling 4 5 THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS In his little wooden boat? Rapture! Conceited and boastful and weak in the head, 3 Scene at Badger’s house 1 Introduction All: Cucumber sandwiches, savoury relish, He’ll go to the bad and then soon he’ll be dead: (Rat knocks on the door of Badger’s house.) What can we do to prevent him from falling? All: Listen to the sound of the wind in the willows Paté with truffles and cranberry jelly, Badger: Go away! Whispering through the branches and the leaves. Ham and tongue and beef and gooseberry pie: Rat: Last month he bought a gipsy caravan Come away and listen to a story of long ago and far Oh my! Rat and Mole: But Badger, it’s us, Rat and Mole! In bright canary yellow. away; Mustard and cress and Russian salad, Badger: Why, come in, come in! I thought you were Badger: Oh no! Not bright canary yellow! Banbury cakes and sugary doughnuts, those confounded field mice carol-singing again. When the river murmured its magical music to the Rat: The colour’s surely bad enough, scented breeze. Brandy snaps and fudge and bottles of squash: Come in, come in, and sit by the fire. (They enter.) But worse was still to follow. Listen to the echo of soft distant voices calling us away. Oh gosh! (Two field mice knock loudly.) Hard-boiled eggs, peaches and cream, Badger: Alack! Narrator: ‘Hang spring cleaning,’ said Mole, flinging Field mice (outside): We wish you a merry Christmas, Apricot flan, lemon meringue, Mole: I think that Oxford did for him – down his whitewash brush. ‘Bother and blow,’ said We wish you a merry Christmas, Venison pasty with walnuts and grapes All those aesthetic parties! Mole, and he bolted out of the house, without even We wish you a merry Christmas . Cut up in convenient little wedge shapes – Badger: I disapprove of parties. waiting to put on his coat. Something up above was Badger: Oh confound you, wretched field mice! I Just so! Our Dad says Toad gets drunk calling him into the sunlight and away . across the suppose you’d better come in. Field mice: meadows and alongside the copses . trotting along the Mole and Chorus: My heart’s all a-shiver – pit-a-pat! On brandy balls and Smarties. Field mice: Oh thank you, Mr Badger, sir, thank you! river bank where, all of a sudden, he sat down, entranced It feels all a-shiver – pat-a-pit! Badger: Hold your tongue! Badger: You may later sing one verse of some brief and bewitched. As he sat on the grass and looked across My heart’s all a-shiver – ooh! It’s a problem, it’s a problem, soothing carol. for the moment be silent while I talk Rat and Badger: the river, he became aware of a bright little star winking Just to be in a boat on the river – It’s a terrible, terrible problem! at him from the opposite bank. The star became an eye, Floating down the stream! with Mr Rat and Mr Mole. Now tell me, dear Rat: what Rat, Badger and Mole: It’s a problem, etc. and then there was another eye . then a small brown With the sighing of the breeze – ooh! is the news of the outside world? And in particular, what This month, I think you must have heard: face . with whiskers. And the birdies in the trees – quack, quack! of our reckless young friend Toad? Rat: It’s motor cars and speeding. Rat, Mole and Chorus: Now I ask, did you ever – in Rat: There’s nothing new about the Toad 2 Rat and Mole meet At more than twenty miles an hour! your life Except his latest crazes. Rat: Hallo, Mole! His reckless folly as he drives See two happier fellas – blissful! Badger: Alack! A prey to foolish crazes . Mole: Hallo, Rat! To tragedy is leading. Than Rat and Mole afloat – heigh ho! Rat: There is no end to what he’ll find; I was just going off for a trip down the river – How true! Rat: In their little wooden boat? Heaven! His stamina amazes. Badger: would you like to come? Mole: The countryside is now no longer safe; Narrator: And so the two contented animals made their Badger: Amazes? Mole: Well . I’m not sure . way slowly up the river to Rat’s house. Rat spent the His motoring’s a menace! Mole: I blame his parents – such well-intentioned folk – Oh come on, old chap – just step into the boat; summer and the autumn showing Mole the sights of the Our grandma says . Rat: but then, alas, they spoiled him. Field mice: Now you really are afloat! River Bank, and introducing him to all his friends – Badger: Shush! Put the picnic hamper under your seat, except for one . the rather grumpy Mr Badger, who Badger: I feel they must have spoiled him. Rat, Mole and Badger: We’ll have to do something Field mice: Our auntie says 'e tried to knock the village Sit back, relax, there’ll be plenty to eat! lived in the Wild Wood. about Mr Toad, policeman’s helmet off, but then they foiled him! Rat and Chorus: A life on the river – me oh my! ‘Couldn’t you invite him to dinner?’ asked Mole. His conduct is truly appalling. Yes, a life on the river – my oh me! ‘He wouldn’t come,’ said Rat. ‘Simply hates society.’ Badger: Be silent! He’s foolish and fickle and easily led, Why, a life on the river – oh my, oh me! ‘Well then, why don’t we go and call on him?’ suggested Rat and Badger: It’s a problem, it’s a problem, Conceited and boastful and weak in the head, That’s the life to set my heart all a-quiver – ooh! Mole.