A song about being a productive, obedient member of society.  That’s what you want, isn’t it?

“Shrubs and Bushes” is a set of four short pieces for orchestra.  As I recall, I chose the title for its decorative associations.  I wrote it for my high school orchestra back in 1972, when I was 17.  I had already written a piece for strings, and orchestrated a piano piece by Turina to learn some technique.  I suppose if I went to a public high school nowadays, there would be no orchestra to work with.

Here’s the beginning of the fourth piece, “In Favor Of.”  It was scored for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 3 trumpets, 2 trombones, tuba, percussion, and strings.  I recall having a lot of fun writing, conducting, and hearing it.  This is a pencil copy, since I never got around to a final ink score.

Another perspective exercise from the sketchbook.

A perspective exercise, from the sketchbook.

Today is April 1, a day sanctified by the extraordinary French humorist Alphonse Allais; and I am happy to announce that it brings the release of Captain Cap, Volume 2.

Allais’s stories of his absurd anti-hero, first published in 1902, have been meticulously translated and illustrated by Doug Skinner, in the second volume of a set of four.  This volume contains 15 stories and 17 illustrations, and is published in an edition of 125 by Black Scat Books.

The first volume recorded the real life Cap, Albert Caperon, and his tumultuous foray into politics.  The second is devoted to his fictional exploits, as he boasts of his dubious accomplishments, insults his friends, bullies bartenders, and consumes many elaborate cocktails.  You’ll learn the disgusting history of Meat-Land, the origin of polar bears, Cap’s plans for interstellar communication and recycled confetti, his unconvincing experiments with hypnotism, and, of course, all about the apparent symbiosis between the boa and giraffe.

Buy a copy today!  Memorize passages!  Color in the pictures!  And if you see me, I’ll be glad to sign it with the name of your choice.  You can order it from Black Scat Books.

A rooftop garden in London, in 2002.