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Uttered Nonsense (The Owl and the Pussycat)
John Sangster, Music - Edward Lear, words
"Anyone lucky enough to have made music with John Sangster will likely refer to him as a creative genius. He certainly was that in my view and much more. His compositions, his humour and general attitude towards life were inspirational. This collection demonstrates all these qualities to be sure. It is a collectors item and one which will give great listening pleasure for a very long time." Tony Gould
Uttered nonsense (the Owl and the Pussycat), consists eight works of Mr Edward Lear, spoken with the utmost gravity by Mr Ivan Smith, and set to music of the most nonsensical nature by John Sangster. These eight word-pieces embedded within fourteen more instrumental excursions which take their titles and their inspiration from the Nonsense Books of Edward Lear (the first published in 1846). The original double LP, was published in 1980 by Rainforest Records Australia (RF LP001). Closing the LP notes, John Sangster (1928-1995) wrote what he probably considered some sort of manifesto for Nonsense music: "From the enjoyment of and love for [Edward Lear's] works comes the Uttered Nonsense. Nonsense-Music. Goodness knows there's not much of it about. Things being what they are nowadays. Nonsense-Music I guess should be at the same time provocative, silly, amusing, curious, thought-provoking, complex and direct, full of quotes and mis-quotes, puns, malapropism, musical spoonerisms, tight-ropes negotiated and bear-traps set up and then avoided, satisfying, adroit, nimble, fanciful, and above all entertaining and jolly." The original Uttered Nonsense LP as reviewed by DJ Kinetic: "Sangster's only double album outside of his 'Lord of the Rings' series, and a rather more ambitious effort. In the words of the album's cover: Eight works of Mr. Edward Lear, spoken with the utmost gravity by Mr. Ivan Smith, and set to music of the most nonsensical nature by John Sangster. That's what I mean when I saw ambitious! The music has Sangster's signature sparseness, reminiscent of his 'Lord of the Rings' albums, even 'Ahead of Hair', but with a much more Modern sound. Doug Gallagher's on drums and Tony Gould plays piano, and there's a long list of more notable jazz musicians on the inside cover. I really dig the funky vibes and sitar interplay on 'The Akond of Swat'. There's also a great breezy funk vibe on 'Incidents in the Life of Uncle Arly', before the poetry interrupts the mood. That's not always the case though. A great listen throughout." Press quotes:
“On these CDs both he and John Sangster and his players seem to have made connections for everybody. Uttered Nonsense is a collector's item.”
— Margaret McNamara, 4MBS website Audio previews:
Track Listing:
CD one
1. Propter's Nicodemus Pills 2. The Owl and the Pussy-cat 3. The Akond of Swat 4. The Pobble Who Has No Toes 5. The Yonghy Bonghy Bo 6. The Heraldic Blazon of Foss the Cat 7. The Runcible Hat 8. The Jumblies 9. The Beautiful Pea Green Boat 10. Gosky Patties 11. Mr and Mrs Discobbolos CD two 1. Incidents In the life oy My Uncle Arly 2. Phits of Coffin 3. The Cummerbund 4. The Pmblomphous Dolomphois Ptilinorhynchus 5. The Diaphanous Doorscraper 6. Mary Squeen of Cots 7. The Otion Blue 8. The Dong with a luminous nose 9. Learizing 10. The Quangle Wangle's Hat 11. The Co-Operative Cauliflower Catalogue Number: MD3321
Price: AU$26.00
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Uttered Nonsense (The Owl and the Pussycat) can be purchased through Buywell Just Classical who offer secure on-line ordering. |
 Featured Artists:
"one of a rare breed of pianists not frightened of showing his emotions when he plays"
(Leon Gettler, The Age 'Green Guide') Melbourne born musician Tony Gould is well known and admired in both classical and jazz musical circles. As a musician, Tony Gould is characterised by a desire to encompass as broad a range of activities as possible, aiming to reduce often prejudiced judgements about the relative worth of different musical styles. John Sangster was one of the most talented of all Australian jazz musicians, a technician and creator who embraced and understood more styles of the music than any other. He was an expert drummer and vibraphone player, a soulful trumpeter and, in arranging and composing, he always took into account the personality of the exponent.
Composers:
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