INTRODUCTION
Cottongrass

CHILD	GIRL	WOMAN	OLD WOMAN
			Once upon a…
princess		princess
		Look she’s
playing, I’m
		playing
			again
	in the meadows
near home
		the lovely meadows
in my little white gown
	her crown and her
		gold heart on a chain
			When out of
the forest, look!
	an elk!	an elk!	an elk!
an elk!
		no fear
It’s coming! Look
	How big!
		and its muzzle
I’m stroking! Mum! I’m…
	stroking
			the big strong elk
Can I go with you?	Can I go with you?
			but all the dangers
but I want to see
	the world	the world
			the dangers
and you
	will protect me
		the elk thought and said	the elk thought and said
OK	OK	OK	OK
CHILD	GIRL	WOMAN	OLD WOMAN
yes!
	cool!
Mum! The elk
	says so
[PAUSE]	[PAUSE]	[PAUSE]	[PAUSE]
			the elk
and me
	go on a journey	go on a journey
			into the forest
	the hills
		and softlands
forest	hills	softlands	forest
	going through all
funny places
		a tufted marsh
			Careful princess
	it’s full of
funny people
			Careful dear
What are they, elk?
			Elves. They’re elves
elves!	elves!
		pretend
	they’re not there
		Who are you, who…? [quiet]
			Careful now
	what’s your name?	what’s your name? [getting louder]
	Come on, what’s…?	Come on, what’s…?
no!
			Careful princess!
	your name?	Who are…?
Hey, help, my crown!
	Got it [delayed echo]	Got it [delayed echo]
Help!
	And keep it	And keep it
CHILD	GIRL	WOMAN	OLD WOMAN
	First Time Around	First Time Around	First Time Around
	The Princess Lost Her Crown	The Princess Lost Her Crown	The Princess Lost Her Crown
[PAUSE]	[PAUSE]	[PAUSE]	[PAUSE]
	Then in the marsh
		an island where
My Elkie lives
		please
let me sleep
	the princess put
near to you
	her gown on a tree
		and slept	and slept
		naked
because the elk
	is keeping
		watch
	and the next day
	the princess said	the princess said
I’ll go bare
	naked	naked	naked
all day and
	hold the gown
		in her hand
			Careful dear
I want to see
	more and more
		of the world
and up
	she goes
			and the elk runs
	like the wind	like the wind	like the wind
yes!
	cool!
		into the wood
CHILD	GIRL	WOMAN	OLD WOMAN
			your head down!
	so fast
		watch the branches!	watch the branches!
Ow!
		the branches
	whip the princess	whip the princess
slow down, elk!
	down slows the elk
			[audible breath]
		moss and lichen
	on the stones
		like a rug
all the colours	all the colours	all the colours	all the colours
			[audible breath]
but it is
	spooky
what’s that
			moving
	there and
		there, it’s
			haunted, deary
behind the trees
	its eyes
		ice green
			A haunted wood
and mouth
	blood red
		witch [flat quiet]
			of the wood
	careful!	careful!
			Hallo!
			what’s your name?
[silence]
			little girl!
CHILD	GIRL	WOMAN	OLD WOMAN
Cottongrass
	It’s Cottongrass
			And what a lovely
	careful (whisper)	careful (whisper)
			dress. Do let me
no
			the material
	Don’t! (whisper)	Don’t! (whisper)
			Go on
	Don’t!	Don’t!
			Just let me
	Don’t!	Don’t!
			touch, look, just
Go on then
			Hmmm
Now give it
			not bad
back, I said
			ha! ha! [violent, harsh]
		too late
			ha! ha! [diminuendo]
	And the second time around	And the second time around	And the second time around
	She lost her gown	She lost her gown	She lost her gown
[PAUSE]	[PAUSE]	[PAUSE]	[PAUSE]
	She didn’t like that
Not fair
			Even the elk
	was angry about it
		But they pressed on
Not fair
	till night
		ever deeper
			into the forest
CHILD	GIRL	WOMAN	OLD WOMAN
	and when the sun
		found them out
	the girl is asleep
		trusting and naked
			again
	and the elk
		unsleeping
			keeping an eye
wakes me up
	wake up!
where we going?
		It is the time
			the pool
What pool?
		No human
			has ever
	seen it
What pool?
	Deep
		in the forest
		the leafy pool	the leafy pool
	we’ll soon be there
it’s so dark
	what is?
the water
		careful
	all the princess
		is wearing now
			her golden heart
	on a chain
		I gave to her
my little chain
			careful dear
Look if I look
CHILD	GIRL	WOMAN	OLD WOMAN
	down into the pool
		don’t
			you can see
my little heart
	getting closer
		to the dark
shiny
			pool
	careful!
Oops!
	I knew it
		I gave it
my little heart!
		sidling down
			to the bottom
my little heart!
	of course	of course	of course
I want it
		it’s gone	it’s gone
where is it?
		forget it
it’s there!
	forget it	forget it
somewhere, Elk!
			what is it?
Find it!
			Can’t
Elk! Elk!
			What is it?
Don’t go
	Then come	Then come	Then come
But elk!
		Then come [quieter]
But elk!
CHILD	GIRL	WOMAN	OLD WOMAN
			What is it?
But elk!
			[silence]
But elk…[quiet]

PARTING

Girl Woman 1
soprano, mezzo-soprano

body body body body
body body body
body body
add!
body
head
body
head
body goes to the head
to the head
head head
add! add!
heart
oh heart
body body
to the head
heart
and! and!
regret
heart regret
body regret
and! and!
add! add!
sex
sex
head sex
head
sex
heart
regret
head sex
her sex

Girl Woman 2
soprano, basso

body body body body
body
add!
hope
body body
body
body

hope hope
hope
hope
weight
hope
hope
weight sex
sex weight
her sex
head sex
sex sex sex
her sex
weight hope
sex sex sex
her sex
head
sex
heart
regret
heart!
sex weight sex weight
heart!
weight sex weight sex
heart

Couple Talk
Woman, Man
mezzo-soprano, baritone

Let’s play that game…

Can I come in?
It suits you, it really…
Let’s play that game…
I prefer you
Amazing meal
Leave me alone

Ooh cold feet
Course I do
Let’s talk, right?
Big or little?
Just give me some reasons
You’re so good to me

Satisfied?
About when you were a child…
You go
So? So?

If you ever fucking…
Remember that time…

She’s pretty, isn’t she?
Don’t be like, don’t…

Is that supposed to be a joke?
Come on, we’re late
You’re mad, you’re fucking…
Put your hand
Where you ringing from?
OK you can look
Do you never ever stop to think…
Because you are an exception
Is it for me?

Relax, take it easy…
Your father would turn…
So what did you make of them?
Because I’m crying

You’re so impolite
But I like to touch

If you’ll let me finish…

Darling, don’t worry, OK?

He’s only my friend
Nothing, nuh-thing

You talk so much crap
Sleep now, sleep

Your turn, go on
And shut the door
Feeling better?
Here we go, over and over
The keys, where the pissing…?
It’s your lover
And don’t wake me up
Give me time, OK?

I don’t believe it
Can we turn over?

Yeah yeah

So where to this year?
Shut the fuck…
I like it when you…

Who says?
It’s cosy
Listen, you have your friends and…
Look at that view
I could fucking sue..
Let’s stay in bed
You do what you want
Don’t answer it
No need to shout
‘Cos I’m fond, I’m really…
Keep doing that
For you or for me?
[pause]
Men.

Yes, I do care
Stop looking at yourself, will you?
And your first boyfriend?
I’m reading. Reading.
Look at me will you
So. Did you like the film?
Where’ve you been?
Who was that?
[pause]
Peace I want peace

You’re just a bastard.
Tell them the story
Words words words
Don’t give me that
Just a goodnight kiss
I like your body
You’re looking tired
Cunt.
Don’t change the subject
I’ve always known
Go fuck somebody else
Why are we stopping?
What about your mother?
Because I say so
Look, it’s still dirty
Are you being sarcastic?
The old wonderbra
You’re so stupid
How much did it cost?
Don’t ever use that word in my hearing…
At least I tried
Not like that
It’s your bare tummy, drives me…
How could you
Words words words
Well, look after yourself
Don’t be pathetic
Your hands. Is what I noticed first
Is this a wind-up?
Typical fucking woman
Brilliant
You’re getting fatter
Didn’t you once said you loved me?

O.K.! O.K.!
I was worried about you

You fucking try
Let’s, yeah, come on, let’s…

The things we…
Go. Go. Go. Go!

And then?

Those legs of yours
Get out of my life
Answer the question
Just like your fucking family
You look so young
Just piss off, leave…
We can’t afford it
It’s my body
You never talk like…
You’re lying again
Promise?
And then you rang
Don’t touch me
Shush, I know, I know
The night we were talking…
Men just need to
Let me breathe
That’s great, that’s perfect
Inside or out?

You choose
No really you were the best-looking…
Don’t pressurize me OK?
A bit higher… a bit lower…
You’re all arseholes

Girl Woman 3
soprano, basso

heart heart
heart heart
sex
sex
regret
body regret
body
sex regret
body
body regret
sex
body
head
body body body
head
body body body
body
hope
body body
regret
body body
regret
body body
hope
body body
body body
and! and!
trees
sex and!
trees
heart weight
trees sex
trees heart
trees
trees

EDGE

Ironic Chorus
singers
Woman, Man

So, the woman has started.
Fat hope.
What’s she after?
She is ill-advised.
But she is not happy.
Strange to say.
And will she get happy like this?
Who can tell?
Who can say?
But we say , fat hope.
But she is not happy.
And who can blame her?
We can, we blame her.
Who are you?
We men.
Which men?
The new men.
Who?
Who try.
We’ve read about you.
And about her?
She’s out there and who knows?
Search me. Search me. Search me. Search me.

Monologue
Woman

I’m speaking to no-one
It was so hard to go that I couldn’t.
It was goodbye to all that built…
Inviting, protecting and unreal.
I didn’t fit, I did not fit.
What I came up with was mostly nothing.
The way it went, I was the enemy.
To them and to me and…
An enemy learning to see, I suppose.
In the night, or asleep.
I could see but I couldn’t move.
You’d say it had the shape of trees.
When I went, which I did.
If it wasn’t such crap.
I’m told it’s crap.
What I was after.
And a long time till their voices…
Gave me the space.
Space, and difficulty.
Trees for women, is different.
But not to say, that’s not to say…

COMING BACK

Third Voice
Woman

I don’t know, I’m so far behind it
You’re very quiet. I like that
But it’s not easy to have been
You won’t see many, of the things, you just won’t
Don’t look at me like that, like all alone. We both are
Anyway you wouldn’t appreciate … where
You’re so far away, your eyes are all big and hurt. No, stay there, I’m thinking
I’m thinking. Later, later. I won’t be like this forever
Come here

Song Of The Pool
soprano

Beyond the woods
Whichever way you come
With a harder looking face
There is a pool
Surrounded by woods.
Divided by ripples
If any.
Scarcely broken by
the ripple, or lit.
Loosened ties,
wooden tears
stain my face and spear the water
slum it and clear it.

Wall Of Voices
singers
Woman, Man

Went of her own free will.
Trees shed leaves because of wind.
Didn’t desert him.
Because of the wind otherwise hitting
and knocking the whole body down.
Now I doubt if he exists.
Alone in the forest and going
all animal or one sad human?
Never want to see her again
unless she comes and knocks and says
and not even then.
Think you’ll be snapped out of it
soon enough by B-roads crossing
the wood, saved and saddened? Think again.
It’s not something done with other women.
The B-roads and stretches of sodium lights
have slunk away forever.
I never had the attention span
to read enough into the difference.
A month in nature becomes grotesque.
After a month do you still say ‘I’?
Until I was suddenly casually ready
to sort for myself the moon size problems.
If he calls me here, will I pick it up?
Or pity the repetitive sound
of a small creature no worse than the rest.
It’s not the shadow of the heart you fool.
Group nature? Group nature?
There is less reason to be afraid
even in the night than in the suburbs.
And it’s an outrage when from way off
a face with the right hair turns and refuses.
The wilderness so matter-of-fact.
I am not for him and not against him.
The automatic spurts of animal fright.
If they ever ganged up, but they don’t.
Sunlight is an omission by clouds.
If my footsteps make no noise, what then?
Trees and nerves and lungs and needs…

© Sebastian Schloessingk 1998

In Boys And Girls Between The Wars I wanted to use Sebastian Schloessingk’s poem – both its phonetics and content – as the source of all the musical ideas. The text generates a form for the composition, and the music occupies a vast territory between onomatopeia and metaphor, bringing to life contrasting musical objects held together by subtle harmonic relations. This piece serves also as the model for a later orchestral piece, ...the sun is out, the sun is out.

Finally, Boys And Girls Between The Wars is also a profoundly felt homage to the wonderful Chansons madécasses by Maurice Ravel, one of the highlights of vocal music of all times, written for the same instrumental ensemble.

* * *

Clouds move in parallel rows
granting the sun stern terms,
true?
So when the clouds pull off in all
directions, like torture horses,
a camera’s shutter,
birds from shot, salt water
from a rock, this is childish.
A big child in a garden of bouncy
foliage. Look.
Original sky, fat bombers slog
across it, the child is a boy. Great flowers
dash up to the bombers’ lumber and pry
decorating round their legs, the child is
a girl, the sun is out, the sun is out.

© Sebastian Schloessingk