Uttered Nonsense (The Owl and the Pussycat)
Uttered nonsense, (The Owl and the Pussycat), consists of eight works of Edward Lear, spoken with the utmost gravity by Mr. Ivan Smith, and set to music of the most nonsensical nature by John Sangster.
"Anyone lucky enough to have made music with John Sangster will likely refer to him as a creative genius. He certainly was that in my view and much more. His compositions, his humour and general attitude towards life were inspirational. This collection demonstrates all these qualities to be sure. It is a collector's item and one which will give great listening pleasure for a very long time." Tony Gould
These eight word-pieces embedded within fourteen more instrumental excursions which take their titles and their inspiration from the Nonsense Books of Edward Lear (the first published in 1846). The original double LP was published in 1980 by Rainforest Records Australia (RF LP001). Closing the LP notes, John Sangster (1928-1995) wrote what he probably considered some sort of manifesto for Nonsense music:
"From the enjoyment of and love for [Edward Lear's] works comes the Uttered Nonsense. Nonsense-Music. Goodness knows there's not much of it about. Things being what they are nowadays. Nonsense-Music I guess should be at the same time provocative, silly, amusing, curious, thought-provoking, complex and direct, full of quotes and mis-quotes, puns, malapropism, musical spoonerisms, tight-ropes negotiated and bear-traps set up and then avoided, satisfying, adroit, nimble, fanciful, and above all entertaining and jolly."
Track Listing:
Disc 1
Propter's Nicodemus Pills (John Sangster) 3:17
The Owl and the Pussy-cat ((John Sangster, Edward Lear) 5:04
The Akond of Swat (John Sangster) 2:56
The Pobble Who Has No Toes ((John Sangster, Edward Lear) 5:34
The Yonghy Bonghy Bo (John Sangster) 5:27
The Heraldic Blazon of Foss the Cat ((John Sangster, Edward Lear) 3:44
The Runcible Hat (John Sangster) 5:32
The Jumblies ((John Sangster, Edward Lear) 5:20
The Beautiful Pea Green Boat (John Sangster) 3:26
Gosky Patties ((John Sangster, Edward Lear) 5:38
Mr and Mrs Discobbolos (John Sangster) 3:50
Disc 2
Incidents In the life oy My Uncle Arly ((John Sangster, Edward Lear) 4:38
Phits of Coffin (John Sangster) 2:20
The Cummerbund ((John Sangster, Edward Lear) 7:28
The Pmblomphous Dolomphois Ptilinorhynchus (John Sangster) 2:40
The Diaphanous Doorscraper (John Sangster) 4:44
Mary Squeen of Cots (John Sangster) 3:34
The Otion Blue (John Sangster) 6:26
The Dong with a luminous nose ((John Sangster, Edward Lear) 6:42
Learizing (John Sangster) 3:23
The Quangle Wangle's Hat ((John Sangster, Edward Lear) 2:40
The Co-Operative Cauliflower (John Sangster) 4:11
Performers:
John Sangster · vibraphone, marimba, glockenspiel, swannee-whistle, piano, celeste, percussion
Ivan Smith · tracks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 2-1, 2-3, 2-8 and 2-10
Tony Gould · piano
Bob McIvor · trombone
John McCarthy · clarinet
Tom Sparkes · clarinet and cor-anglais
Mal Cunningham · recorders, bass-flute and piccolo
Paul Furniss · alto-saxophone and clarinet
Graeme Lyall · tenor and soprano saxophones and clarinet
Roy Ainsworth · baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
Greg Lyon · electric bass
Chris Qua · tree-bass
Doug Gallagher · drums
Ian Bloxsom · percussion
Jim Kelly · electric guitar
Terry Walker · sitar
Martin Benge · bass clarinet
Bob Barnard · cornet
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Move Records 2CD
MD3321