Nonsense (PDF)

"Nonsense" was composed for Dr. Hillary LaBonte and Dr. Mary Matthews. The piece uses the text found in Book of Nonsense by Edward Lear (1812-1888). The limericks are silly, whimsical, crazy, strange, fun, and should not be taken seriously. There's enough of that.

Vocal Range: D below staff to C above staff

Text
I.
There was a Young Lady of Bute,
Who played on a silver-gilt flute;
She played several jigs to her Uncle's white Pigs:
That amusing Young Lady of Bute.

II.
There was an old person of Crowle,
Who lived in the nest of an owl;
When they screamed in the nest, he screamed out with the rest,
That depressing old person of Crowle.
III.

There was an Old Lady of Chertsey,
Who made a remarkable curtsey;
She twirled round and round, till she sank underground,
Which distressed all the people of Chertsey.

IV.
There is a young lady, whose nose,
Continually prospers and grows;
When it grew out of sight, she exclaimed in a fright,
"Oh! Farewell to the end of my nose!"

V. There was an Old Man with a flute, -
A "sarpint" ran into his boot!
But he played day and night, till the "sarpint" took flight,
And avoided that Man with a flute.