Ines Müller-Busch (b. 1965)
Franz Müller-Busch (b. 1963)
The Little Owl

for soprano recorder (violin, flute) and piano

Girolamo G 21.003, score and 1 part, € 15,00
ISMN 979-0-50084-040-4

sample page

G 21.002 G 21.004

 

 

 

 

 

All about the little owl

Brownie, a little owl, lived with her parents in the hollow of a tree some whereabouts in the middle of England.
Her father was a wood owl. He usually stayed near the nest so he could keep an eye on his territory. He knew all the animals and plants that lived and grew there.
Brownie’s mother was a post owl. In those times magicians still sent their messages by the owl post. Her mother enjoyed her work. What she liked best about it was that she could travel all over the world. As a long distance express-post owl she always had a few nights off between her express deliveries. She then took all the time in the world for her daughter. She told her all about her adventures during her flights and listened patiently to the stories of the forest her husband and daughter had to tell her.
She was a snow owl and Brownie too was nearly snow white. However, between her eyes she had a brown spot above her beak, which was the reason for her nickname Brownie. Her proper name was Hannah.
In this book you will find melodies that the little owl has collected.

The first flight

Brownie’s wings were twitching in anticipation. Until now she had stuck to the exercises her father had shown her: batting wings for beginners, pull ups on the tree bark, and jumps from a low height into the feather nest. But tonight was the night: she would learn to fly! And she flew. All out of breathe but very satisfied with her achievements she landed on her tree house. Not only had she seen the world from above but also a melody had flown into her mind.

Good evening, little owl

Tonight was a big night for Brownie the little owl. For the first time her mother was taking her to her work with her. She had always wanted to see the owl’s post office headquarters that were only 10 minutes flying distance from their tree.
She was so excited that she had not been able to sleep the whole day and could not help herself from hopping about during their evening meal. “Eat your mouse before it gets cold”, her mother said. Then at last they set off.

Song of conspiracy

It was a dark night without any moonlight during the holidays. Brownie’s friends said, “come, let’s play at robbers.” “You go and hide a treasure. Then we have to outwit you and find it.” While Brownie was waiting at the hiding spot where she had buried the treasure, she grew bored and invented the song of conspiracy.

Carountoohill

“Do you still remember Carountoohill?” shoe shoed Brownie’s mother and looked at her husband, her head tilted. “Hoho, how could I forget?” he retorted. Brownie stopped cleaning her feathers and squeaked, “what story is that?”.
Her mother stretched herself a little and said, “once upon a time in Carountoohill the best sport teams of the fairy world came together. For this occasion there were a great many letters with the latest news that had to be sent quickly all over the world, which caused many flying accidents and crashes above the sport field. It was in the ward of the hospital that I met your father and I can still remember the melody he gave me as a present.

No more worries

“Do you never feel like flying away like Mummy?” Brownie asked her father one day.
“Well, you know”, he replied, “I have seen so much of the world before you were born. In those times I often dreamt of a beautiful forest that I had never yet discovered before. When I came here, I realised that the place of my dreams really exists. Since then I have remained here. Your father is no born pirate, Brownie.”
“Would you mind if I became a pirate?” Brownie asked. “Why not? You will get by, I am not worried about that”, said her father.

Departure

Today Brownie had to say goodbye to the two friends she had sung the song of conspiracy to. They were both older than Brownie and wanted to look for their own home in another part of the country. Suddenly Brownie too felt like flying away and remembered that she had once wanted to become a pirate.
“I will think up a melody for the day of my departure” she mused – and immediately started.

Translation: Julia Whybrow

Freiburg, April 2004, Ines Müller-Busch

 

Content

1. The first flight
2. Good evening, little owl
3. Song of conspiracy
4. Carountoohill
5. No more worries
6. Departure

 

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