The Ass
Westbrook Music Theatre
Scenario by
Kate and Mike Westbrook.
Music by Mike Westbrook.
Recorded in London December 1985.
Kate and Mike Westbrook.
Music by Mike Westbrook.
Recorded in London December 1985.
Stephen Boxer as D H Lawrence
THE SICILIAN BAND
Kate Westbrook voice / tenor horn / sicilian triscaletta
Trevor Allan voice / accordion / clarinet
Lesia Melnyk voice / violin / mandolin
Peter Whyman voice / clarinet / soprano & alto saxophones
Mike Westbrook voice / piano / tuba
THE SICILIAN BAND
Kate Westbrook voice / tenor horn / sicilian triscaletta
Trevor Allan voice / accordion / clarinet
Lesia Melnyk voice / violin / mandolin
Peter Whyman voice / clarinet / soprano & alto saxophones
Mike Westbrook voice / piano / tuba
Words by D H Lawrence from his poem 'The Ass' and his letters from Taormina.
Except 'Lu Me Scecca', a traditional Sicilian song,
with English lyrics by Kate Westbrook.
Recorded in London December 1985.
Jazzprint JVPV118CD
Except 'Lu Me Scecca', a traditional Sicilian song,
with English lyrics by Kate Westbrook.
Recorded in London December 1985.
Jazzprint JVPV118CD
'The Ass' was produced for the stage by Foco Novo Theatre Company, directed by Roland Rees, designed by Ariane Gastambide. Commissioned by the D H Lawrence Centenary Festival with funds provided by the Arts Council of Great Britain. First performance at the Co-operative Arts Theatre, George Street, Nottingham, Wednesday 18 September 1985.
Westbrook Music published by Metisse Music
Westbrook Music published by Metisse Music
Musically the best thing in the show is a marvellous song about a beloved donkey that the Westbrooks ran to earth in Sicily. But their original work beautifully accommodates jazz, squeeze-box dances, and folk idioms ranging on the Moorish - all of which reflects Lawrence's idea of being on the edge of Europe.
The Times
The Times
1. The Ass Dreams
2. The Long Drawn Bray
3. His Big Furry Head
4. The Steppes Of Tartary
5. The Rut Of Love
6. The Triumphant Entry
7. Porta Cappuccini
8. Lu Me Sceccu
9. Sciccareddu
10. Escaping To Egypt
11. All Mares Are Dead
2. The Long Drawn Bray
3. His Big Furry Head
4. The Steppes Of Tartary
5. The Rut Of Love
6. The Triumphant Entry
7. Porta Cappuccini
8. Lu Me Sceccu
9. Sciccareddu
10. Escaping To Egypt
11. All Mares Are Dead
Mike Westbrook Recordings
Track Listing
Personnel
Information
Reviews
Catania - Live in Sicily 1992
Love and Understanding
Selected Recordings
Says The Duke 2022
London Bridge Live in Zűrich 1990
Says The Duke 2020
Band Of Bands
the piano and me
take one
take one
the piano and me
take two
take two
the piano and me
take three
The Birds of Dartmoor
take three
The Birds of Dartmoor
the piano and me
take four
unedited improvisations
take four
unedited improvisations
After Abbey Road
the piano and me
takes one to four
takes one to four
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photo: Sergio Amadori
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