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Der Komiker - (2012)
Joachim Ringelnatz
for medium voice and piano
Ein Komiker von erstem Rang
Ging eine Straße links entlang.
Die Leute sagten rings umher
Hindeutend: »Das ist der und der!«
Der Komiker fuhr aus der Haut
Nach Haus und würgte seine Braut.
Nicht etwa wie von ungefähr,
Nein ernst, als ob das komisch wär.2 pages, circa 1' 15"
Joachim Ringelnatz
A comedian of ostensible renown
Went along a way of a road of a town.
Folks thereabouts would point, then exclaim,
"There goes Mister -- hmm -- What's-his-name!"
This ignominy stormed home, and took it out
By throttling his gal, Miss Knockabout.
Not play acting was he with his honey,
But serious: one must be earnest to be funny.
rhymed paraphrase by the composer
Copyright 2012 © Gary Bachlund All international rights reserved.
A light-hearted jaunt in 6/8 through F major to tell Ringelnatz' tale of this comedian. Lower neighbors lead to chord members, the gentle dissonant gestures merely vaudeville. The beating is given the exclamation, "Aua!" and the 6/8 duple breaks into a triple for those measures -- earnestly.
The score for Der Komiker is available as a free PDF download, though any major commercial performance or recording of the work is prohibited without prior arrangement with the composer. Click on the graphic below for this piano-vocal score.
