Aesop’s Asses (2020), for ‘Cello and Narrator
ass – n[from Latin asinus] 1 : any of several hardy gregarious mammals (genus Equus) that are smaller than the horse, have long ears, and include one domesticated form (E. asinus) used as a beast of burden 2 : a stupid, obstinate, or perverse person (Webster).
Aesop (ca. 620-564 BCE, Greece) - a Greek fabulist and storyteller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as Aesop's Fables. Although his existence remains unclear and no writings by him survive, numerous tales credited to him were gathered across the centuries and in many languages in a storytelling tradition that continues to this day. Many of the tales are characterized by animals and inanimate objects that speak, solve problems, and generally have human characteristics.
This is a set of six short pieces, each telling a fable attributed to Aesop that involves a donkey in one way or another, while the ‘cello provides background & musical commentary; often humorous and always relevant. $15 for two copies of the score and demo recordings; order here. You can watch the wonderful premiere video recording of the entire set here.
I. The Lion, the Ass, and the Fox - The Lion, the Ass, and the Fox went out hunting together. Their luck was good, and at the end of the day the Lion asked the Ass to divide up the spoils. The Ass divided everything into three equal portions and invited the Lion to take his pick; whereupon, the Lion leapt upon the Ass and devoured him on the spot. He then turned to the Fox and invited him to make a new division. The Fox piled everything hastily into one great heap, save for a few odd scraps, and invited the Lion to choose. The Lion asked the fox, “Who taught you to divide so well?” “The Ass,” replied the Fox.
II. The Ass and the Load of Salt - An Ass carrying a load of salt was fording a river when he slipped and fell into the water. The salt on his back dissolved instantly and the Ass, feeling his load lightened, emerged from the water delighted with his little accident. Some days later, he arrived the riverside laden with sponges, and thinking that he could rid himself of this load in the same way, he deliberately tumbled into the stream. But the sponges so filled with water that the Ass could not regain his footing and he drowned.
III. The Asses Complain to Zeus - The Asses sent a deputation to Zeus to complain about the endless toil and trouble that was their lot in life, and to request that he put and end to their labors. Zeus, in order to make clear the impossibility of such a thing, declared that he would grant their request when they had pissed enough to form a running river. The Asses, however, insisted on taking his statement literally, and from that day to this, whenever they see one Ass pissing, they all gather around to offer their own contributions
IV. The Ass and the Old Shepherd - A Shepherd, watching his Ass feeding in a meadow, was alarmed all of a sudden by the cries of the enemy. He appealed to the Ass to fly with him, lest they should both be captured, but the animal lazily replied, "Why should I, pray? Do you think it likely the conqueror will place on me two sets of panniers?" "No," rejoined the Shepherd. "Then," said the Ass, "as long as I carry the panniers, what matters it to me whom I serve?” (In a change of government nothing changes for the poor beyond the name of their master.)
V. The Miller, His Son, and Their Ass - A Miller and his Son were driving their Ass to a neighboring fair to sell him. They had not gone far when they met with a troop of women collected round a well, talking and laughing. "Look there," cried one of them, "did you ever see such fellows, to be trudging along the road on foot when they might ride? The old man, hearing this, quickly made his Son mount the Ass, and continued to walk along merrily by his side. Presently they came up to a group of old men in earnest debate. "There," said one of them, "it proves what I was a-saying…
VI. The Ass Bearing an Idol - A man strapped a statue of a god to his Ass’s back and led the beast into town. The people along the way bowed low before the idol, and the Ass, imagining himself the object of this adulation, swelled with pride. He stood there in the middle of the road, refused to move an inch further, and brayed at the top of his lungs. The Ass’s owner guessed what was in the beat’s mind and gave him a good whack with a stick. “Poor imbecile,” said the man. “A sorry state we will have come to when men take to worshipping Asses!”