Music and Texts of GARY BACHLUND
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Lache nicht - (2015)
Wilhelm Busch
for bass baritone and piano
Grigory Shkarupa gewidmet
Lache nicht, wenn mit den Jahren
Lieb und Freundlichkeit vergehen;
Was Paulinchen ist geschehen,
Kann auch dir mal widerfahren.
Sieh nur, wie verändert hat sich
Unser guter Küchenbesen.
Er, der sonst so weich gewesen,
Ist jetzunder stumpf und kratzig.4 pages, circa 2' 40"
Do not laugh, if through the years
Love and kindness bid adieu;
What happened to our little Pauline
Can also happen to you.
Look and see the changes
In that dear old kitchen broom.
It, which softly swept all clean,
Is soon rough and bent with gloom.
rhymed paraphrase by the composer
The text, found in Zu guter Letzt, is flavored with a sub-textual reading as is the wont of theatrical nature. Where "laugh" is found, laughter as additional consonants decorates the melodic line. The first strophe is treated somewhat as a hymn, with the second strophe broken into two parts for bridge material, before the laughter embedded in "do not laugh" returns. For other settings of Busch's texts, 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.
