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Working on the third movement of Mozart 4 with students I often bring up the topic of “the words” to the movement.
Many musical works have words that are known among players, such as the opening of Ein Heldenleben “Strauss couldn’t write for the horn,” etc. The Mozart 4 words do help in getting you in the right mood and style for the movement. They are from a 1964 album recorded by the comedy team Flanders and Swann, At the Drop of Another Hat. The title of the song is “Ill Wind.” (UPDATE: See video at end of article).
The following are the opening lines; sing to the the tune of Mozart Horn Concerto No. 4, K.V. 495, movement III:
I once had a whim and I had to obey it,
To buy a French horn in a second-hand shop.
I polished it up and I started to play it,
In spite of the neighbours who begged me to stop.To sound my horn,
I had to develop my embouchure.
I found my horn,
Was a bit of a devil to play.
So artfully wound,
To give you a sound,
A beautiful sound,
So rich and round.Oh the hours I had to spend,
Before I mastered it in the end.But that was yesterday.
And just today,
I looked in the usual place.
There was the case,
But the horn itself was missing!Oh where can it have gone?
Haven’t you, hasn’t anyone seen my horn?
Oh where can it have gone?
What a blow, now I know,
I’m unable to play my Allegro.Who swiped that horn?
I bet you a quid somebody did.
Knowing I found a concerto,
And wanted to play it,
Afraid of my talent at playing the horn.
For early today to my utter dismay,
It had vanished away like the dew in the morn.I’ve lost that horn!
I know I was using it yesterday.
I’ve lost that horn, lost that horn,
Found that horn gorn.There’s not much hope of getting it back,
Though I’d willingly pay a reward.I know some hearty folk,
Whose party joke’s pretending to hunt with the Quorn.
Gone away, gone away.
Was it one of them who took it away?
Will you kindly return that horn?
Where is the devil who pinched my horn?
I shall tell the police!I want that French horn back.
I miss its music more and more and more.
Without that horn I’m feeling sad and so forelorn.I found a concerto and wanted to play it,
Displaying my talent at playing the horn.
But early today to my utter dismay,
It had totally vanished away.
I practised the horn and I wanted to play it,
But somebody took it away!
I practised the horn and was longing to play it,
But somebody took it away!My neighbour’s asleep in his bed,
I’ll soon make him wish he were dead,
I’ll take up the tuba instead – WAA WAA !
Hat tip to Thomas Bacon for the words at Hornplanet.com.
UPDATE: It was only a matter of time until a good version of the audio of Flanders and Swann made it to YouTube, as below. Check it out!
