The Words to Mozart 4:3/Flanders and Swann
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.”
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.
Check out the rest of 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!
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