SKU: A0.1270160

For TTBB chorus a cappella and solo voice. As performed by Arlo Guthrie.

Wanna hear something? You know that Indians never ate clams. They didn't have linguini!
And so what happened was that clams was allowed to grow unmolested in the coastal waters of America for millions of years. And they got big, and I ain't talking about clams in general, I'm talking about each clam! Individually. I mean each one was a couple of million years old or older. So imagine they could have got bigger than this whole room. And when they get that big, God gives them little feet so that they could walk around easier. And when they get feet, they get dangerous. I'm talking about real dangerous. I ain't talking about sitting under the water waiting for you. I'm talking about coming after you.

Imagine being on one of them boats coming over to discover America, like Columbus or something, standing there at night on watch, everyone else is either drunk or asleep. And you're watching for America and the boat's going up and down. And you don't like it anyhow but you gotta stand there and watch, for what? Only he knows, and he ain't watching. You hear the waves lapping against the side of the ship. The moon is going behind the clouds. You hear the pitter patter of little footprints on deck. ‘Is that you kids?’ It ain't! My god! It's this humongous, giant clam!

Imagine those little feet coming on deck. A clam twice the size of the ship. Feet first. You're standing there shivering with fear, you grab one of these. This is a belaying pin. They used to have these stuck in the holes all around the ship… You probably didn't know what this is for; you probably had an idea, but you were wrong. They used to have these stuck in the holes all along the sides of the ship, everywhere. You wouldn't know what this is for unless you was that guy that night.

I mean, you'd grab this out of the hole, run on over there, bam bam on them little feet! Back into the ocean would go a hurt, but not defeated, humongous, giant clam. Ready to strike again when opportunity was better.

You know not even the coastal villages was safe from them big clams. You know them big clams had an inland range of about 15 miles. Think of that. I mean our early pioneers and the settlers built little houses all up and down the coast you know. A little inland and stuff like that and they didn't have houses like we got now, with bathrooms and stuff. They built little privies out back. And late at night, maybe a kid would have to go, and he'd go stomping out there in the moonlight. And all they'd hear for miles around...(loud clap/belch).... One less kid for America. One more smiling, smurking, humongous, giant clam.

So Americans built forts. Them forts --you know—them pictures of them forts with the wooden points all around. You probably thought them points was for Indians but that's stupid! 'Cause Indians know about doors. But clams didn't. Even if a clam knew about a door, so what? A clam couldn't fit in a door. I mean, he'd come stomping up to a fort at night, put them feet on them points, jump back crying, tears coming out of them everywhere. But Americans couldn't live in forts forever. You couldn't just build one big fort around America. How would you go to the beach?

So what they did was they formed groups of people. I mean they had groups of people all up and down the coast form these little alliances. Like up North it was call the Clamshell Alliance. And farther down South it was called the Catfish Alliance. They had these Alliances all up and down the coast defending themselves against these threatening monsters. These humongous giant clams. Andt hey'd go out there, if there was maybe fifteen of them they'd be singing songs in fifteen part harmony. And when one part disappeared, that's how they knew where the clam would be.

Which is why Americans only sing in four part harmony to this very day. That proved to be too dangerous. See, what they did was they'd be singing these songs called Clam Chanties, and they'd have these big spears called clampoons. And they'd be walking up and down the beach and the method they eventually devised where they'd have this guy, the most strongest heavy duty true blue American, courageous type dude they could find and they'd have him out there walking up and down the beach by himself with other chicken dudes hiding behind the sand dunes somewhere.

He'd be singing the verses. They'd be singing the chorus, and clams would hear 'em. And clams hate music. So clams would come out of the water and they'd come after this one guy. And all you'd see pretty soon was flying all over the sand flying up and down the beach manmanclamclammanmanclam manclamclamman up and down the beach going this way and that way up the hills in the water out of the water behind the trees everywhere. Finally the man would jump over a big sand dune, roll over the side, the clam would come over the dune, fall in the hole and fourteen guys would come out there and stab the shit out of him with their clampoons.

That's the way it was. That was one way to deal with them. The other way was to weld two clams together. [I don't believe it. I'm losing it. Hey. What can you do. Another night shot to hell.]

Hey, this was serious back then. This was very serious. I mean these songs now are just piddly folk songs. But back then these songs were controversial. These was radical, almost revolutionary songs. Because times was different and clams was a threat to America. That's right. So we want to sing this song tonight about the one last... You see what they did was there was one man, he was one of these men, his name will always be remembered, his name was Reuben Clamzo, and he was one of the last great clam men there ever was. He stuck the last clam stab. The last clampoon into the last clam that was ever seen on this continent. Knowing he would be out of work in an hour. He did it anyway so that you and me could go to the beach in relative safety. That's right. Made America safe for the likes of you and me. And so we sing this song in his memory. He went into whaling like most of them guys did and he got out of that, when he died. You know, clams was much more dangerous than whales. Clams can run in the water, on the water or on the ground, and they are so big sometimes that they can jump and they can spread their kinda shells and kinda almost fly like one of them flying squirrels.

You could be standing there thinking that your perfectly safe and all of a sudden whop.... That's true... And so this is the song of this guy by the name of Reuben Clamzo and the song takes place right after he stabbed this clam and the clam was, going through this kinda death dance over on the side somewhere. The song starts there and he goes into whaling and takes you through the next...

I sing the part of the guy on the beach by himself. I go like this: Poor old Reuben Clamzo and you go Clamzo Boys Clamzo. That's the part of the fourteen chicken dudes over on the other side. That's what they used to sing. They'd be calling these clams out of the water. Like taunting them making fun of them. Clams would get real mad and come out. Here we go. I want you to sing it in case you ever have an occasion to join such an alliance. You know some of these alliances are still around. Still defending America against things like them clams. If you ever wants to join one, now you have some historic background. So you know where these guys are coming from. It's not just some 60's movement or something, these things go back a long time.

Notice the distinction you're going to have to make now between the first and easy Clamzo Boys Clamzo and the more complicated Clamzo Me Boys Clamzo. Stay serious! Folk songs are serious. That's what Pete Seeger told me. Arlo I only want to tell you one thing... Folk songs are serious. I said right. Let's do it in C for Clam...Iet's do it in B... For boy that's a big clam... Iet' s do it in G for Gee, I hope that big clam don't see me. Let's do it in F... For …he sees me. Let's do it back in A...for a clam is coming. Better get this song done quick. The Story of Reuben Clamzo and His Strange Daughter in the Key of A.

SKU: A0.912906

Imagine the terrifying prospect of having your fate-indeed, the fate of the entire universe-decided by the fickle whims of seven gods! This was life for all those who dwelled in the ancient society of Sumeria! They Who Decide Fate paints the picture of what living with these gods might have been like for those pitiable mortals. The introduction builds to the dreadful fate theme, which is woven within the rest of the piece. In the first episode, the Eb clarinet is highlighted depicting Enki, the magical, clever Lord of the Earth. Crafty and mischievous, one would not cross this god, so mighty he was said to have created the Tigris and Euphrates rivers between which the entire Sumerian world existed! The full orchestra comes roaring back to represent Shamash, the Lion of Justice. Bringing wrongdoers their just due, he could also be merciful, curing the faithful sick who plead for his mercy. The second episode is gently ushered in by the Basset horn. Featured here is Ninhursag, the mild, nurturing Mother Goddess. It was said that any couple who desired to be fertile would do well to propitiate themselves to herâ?¦ An explosive, percussive jolt fanfares in Inanna, wild, untamed Goddess of Primal Passions! Whether in war or in lust, Inanna stood for all things raw-and ultimately destructive! The low, rumbling voice of the contralto clarinet brings us Anu, Father of the Gods. Ancient and wise, Anu is the manifestation of the heavenly vault. Nanna, the moon god riding on the back of a bull, illuminated the night sky. Sparkling and light colors of the orchestra depict his deft, spry nocturnal motions. The sinuous lines of the Bb clarinet illustrate Enlil, fickle God of Wind and Weather. It is said that it was he who created humans, but lost interest in them and flooded the whole earth. The whole clarinet quartet reprises the fate theme one last time, ending in an exultant flurry, reflecting both the fear and ecstasy that these seven gods inspired in their mortal charges. Learn more about me: bnelsonmusic.wordpress.com.

SKU: A0.1256884

Imagine a place where cultures are blended and people of all races can laugh, play, sing, dance, and even pray together.  Colores is a musical tale in which children show us how to create such a place.

A child walks on to a deserted playground, looking for others.  Another child joins.  They introduce themselves and begin to talk to each other.  A third joins the conversation, then another, and another, until there is a large group of children, creating a colorful, contrapuntal cacophony of vocal chatter.  After the introductions and lively conversations, they pause to decide what to do next.  

As would be expected, they decide to just play.  They run races, play chase and tag, catch and kickball, and laugh and giggle until their energy is gone.  Settling down, and wondering what to do next, one child begins singing a tune that is familiar.  …but not to all of them.  So, it’s time to teach the song to everyone.

The tune is shared, bit by bit, and one by one every child learns it and joins in.  Before it’s over, their full-voiced singing creates a choral tapestry in which every child adds his or her own color to the musical palette.

After a brief conversation, they add their renewed energy to the song they just learned, pick up the pace, and dance.  They twist and spin, jump and swing, making up their moves as they go along.  But, as before, their energy wanes.  This time, as they settle down, one child feels so comfortable with these new friends, he chooses to share his faith in the form of a chant — a prayer.

Some join his prayer, as others add a familiar religious tune.  They pray and sing, and their separate experiences combine to produce a stirring, blended chorale.  As they finish, the day ends and they quickly reminisce about the blended experiences that are now behind them.  Before they go their separate ways, they share a moment of gratitude for the place where they can be free to be who they are, together.

On a musical note, Colores combines multiple scale structures and varying types of vertical harmonies to give the piece its color palette.  Each of the five voices is set in a different mode, with different tonal centers and sets of accidentals.  The harmony combines both traditional tertian chords with secondal, quartal, and quintal structures.

The colors within the music are intended to represent the racial diversity of the borderland from which the composer drew his inspiration.  It is hoped that we can learn from the example of children who talk, laugh, play, sing, dance, and pray together.  …who are grateful for the time and experiences they share.

SKU: A0.727123

The Christmas Wish
Vocal Solo for Alto
Would you like a different kind of Christmas wish this year? Here it is!
This song is based on the poem Christmas Wishes written by contemporary author and poet Mary White Pustrom. Mary wrote many poems with the theme of Christmas, including what she thought people should wish for at Christmas. While so many adults wish for a new car, a sparkling diamond ring, or celebrating with a nice vacation in the tropics, she believes that Christmas wishes should be taken a step further by considering the wishes and needs of others more so than our own. In her poem Christmas Wishes, her desire for reaching out to others and granting them their wishes for the simple things in life take on great meaning:

Christmas Wishes

by Mary White Pustrom

Now that Christmas is drawing near I cannot help but see

All the poor and needy people who are reaching out to me.

It seems that everywhere I look there is a need to fill;

I feel so inadequate when their wishes I can't fill.

Among the lights and decorations, there is hunger and despair,

Faces filled with sadness while bright carols fill the air;

Little children who are cold and hungry wait for Santa Claus,

Wishing that he would bring them food, for that's a worthy cause.

 Others laughing, smiling, singing - so completely unaware

Of all the pain and suffering that's around them everywhere;

They wish for generosity in our thoughts, time, and deeds,

And wish that here at Christmas time, someone could fill their needs.

My wish is that we reach out to our sisters and our brothers,

Who depend on us for kindness from one to another;

Fill our hearts with Christmas cheer, and teach us how to share,

So that Christmas wishes will be fulfilled all throughout the year.

It sounds like she might have the right idea. At this time of year, it is so easy to get caught up in buying and receiving presents, the lights, and the Christmas tree, without considering the simple needs of others. Maybe this year, these simple wishes will come true for some:

·        Sick little children to be healed

·        Homeless people and children to find a family

·        For the less fortunate to have enough food, clothing, shelter, and shoes on their feet

·        That no one spends Christmas lonely and alone, and spent the way it should be, with loving family and friends.

 Most of all, wish that by caring for one another, Christmas wishes would come true all year long.

~ Carol Troutman Wiggins