Mike Westbrook - Recordings

The Ass

Westbrook Music Theatre

Scenario by
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

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

'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

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

1. The Ass Dreams
2. The Long Drawn Bray
3. His Big Furry Head
4. The Steppes Of Tartary
5. The Rut Of Love [listen below]
6. The Triumphant Entry
7. Porta Cappuccini
8. Lu Me Sceccu [listen below]
9. Sciccareddu
10. Escaping To Egypt
11. All Mares Are Dead

Mike Westbrook Recordings

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