Le Jongleur De Notre Dame

Three Poems. Par HAKIM NAJI. The edition is the second part of the commissioned work Our Lady’s Minstrel. The through-composed music of Three Poems takes up verses from the English translation of Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame, a tale from medieval France. The piece Prelude and Dance for clarinet and organ (ED 22298) is the first part of the whole work and separately available. / Niveau : Intermédiaire / Répertoire / Soprano et Orgue

This is the sacred comedy among Manwell Davies' pieces of music-theatre. Brought on by a children's wind band in a 7/8 march the juggler presents himself at an abbey and is accepted by the abbot the only singing character.The other monks are the clarinettist percussionist and flautist all of whom play 'duets' with the juggler as he is put to mundane tasks; sweeping preparing food washing clothes all done with much horseplay. The same threemonks then present their offerings to the Virgin in the form of flamboyant instrumental arias. Left alone the juggler offers his own skills to the accompaniments of Renaissance dances for piano with cello (who also providesupport and commentary throughout). The other members of the community return and are appalled but the image of the Virgin suddenly springs to life as a violinist who plays her own solo acceptance. The abbot acknowledges herjudgement and the juggler is escorted boisterously out by the band.