canasg choral music publishing

SG1014

The Puddock

words by J M Caie
tune by Peter Hill

arranged by Sheena Phillips
for soprano, alto, tenor and bass chorus

SATB performance time approx 1m 30s

Arranger's note

This gem of a poem portrays an ebullient frog who believes there's never been a better one than himself - yet he makes only a meagre morsel for the heron who gobbles him up.

This setting uses the word 'puddock' - like 'reddit' - to mimic the call of the frog. Try and roll the 'd's slightly (as an American would pronounce the 't's in 'butter') and make play of the difference between long and short versions of the call.

Music

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Words

The Puddock
(the frog)

A Puddock sat by the lochan's brim,
An' he thocht there was never a puddock like him. [thought]
He sat on his hurdies, he waggled his legs, [haunches]
An' cockit his heid as he glowered throu' the seggs.[rushes]
The bigsy wee cratur' was feeling that prood,
he gapit his mou' an' he croakit oot lood:
'Gin ye'd a' like tae see a richt puddock,' quo' he,[if you'd all..]
'Ye'll never, I'll sweer, get a better or me.
I've fem'lies an' wives an' a weel-plenished hame
wi' drink for my thrapple an' meat for my wame[thrapple-throat, wame-belly]
The lasses aye thocht me a fine stappin' chiel,[fine-stepping youth]
An' I ken I'm a rale bonny singer as weel.
I'm nae gaun tae blaw, but the truth I maun tell - [not going to boast]
I believe I'm the verra MacPuddock himsel'.'

A heron was hungry an' needin' tae sup,
Sae he nabbit th' puddock and gollup't him up;
Syne runkled his feathers: 'A peer thing,' quo' he,[Then, peer-poor, i.e.'it's a shame']
'But puddocks is nae fat they eesed tae be.' [not what they used to be]

J M Caie

Canasg has so far been unable to trace copyright on this poem.

Price

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Companion pieces

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