Tommy - (2017)    

Charles Dodgson

for high voice and piano

 

Diu patiens Felis,
Tuis victima telis,
Mitto tibi, crudelis,
Multis surdus querelis,
Hanc picturam, sivelis
Id habere, abomi —
— nabilissime domi —
— ne et passime homi —
— num quos vidi !

Miao!

2 pages, circa 2' 00"

  

The original text ends not with "miao," but with Dodgson signing as if the cat:  "(signed) Tommy."  [ 1 ]   Janet McMullin from Christ Church Library wrote an article entitled "The 'Real' Alice and a new collection on deposit in the Library" in which this text is included. She published a translation in the library newsletter, but first commented:  "After some struggles, I managed to come up with a translation of the text, 1 which retains seven syllables per line as in the original and manages rhymes in both stanzas - poor rhymes, I will admit, but the original is not great art either!"

 

McMullin's translation (with explanation of a term marked by asterisk below, "Dominie is an old term (Scots) for a schoolteacher or
pedagogue") is:

 

Long suffering feline, poor
Cat, I, victim of your claw,
Send to you, cruel, ignor -
- ing your complaints, deaf to more,
This photograph, if 'tis your
Wish to have it, abomi -
- nable (most by far) domi -
- nie*, worst of all the nomi -
- nate race I've seen.
(signed) Tommy.

 

 

 

The texture of the opening suggests perhaps distant bells, in a lightly polytonal color. For the Anglican flavor to those in Carroll's circle of that time, a chant-like melodic line intones, before becoming more intense and comical at its "meowing" end.

 

 

 

 

For other setting of the texts of Charles Dodgson -- Lewis Carroll -- click here .

 

The score 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.

 

Tommy

                    

 

[ 1 ]  A color facsimile is found in the Christ Church Library Newsletter,

Volume 9, Issues 1, 2 and 3, 2012-2013, p. 33, which is available online.