art by jc
read some of the stories that inspired, or were inspired by, the different compositions on the album 'music for short stories'.
more will be added, as and when...
lords and ladies (a 'dannsa air loch)
guitar, strings and organ. 05:56.
listen to the music while you read...
click here for a plain text version of 'last words'
Last Words
People of all shapes and sizes and ages and inclinations quietly filed into the large, old, round House from the cobbled Court’s yard outside. Their deliberate steps and the low rumble of the wind provided a suitably solemn atmosphere while they slowly milled around, greeting and chatting, waiting for The Entertainment to begin. Some had brought their dinner, others their children. The Very Important Ones, blessed with gold, stood at the front. (I was at the back).
The Official Party, in splendid, though somewhat faded, scarlet Robes, processed onto The Stage and busied themselves importantly with their books and chairs. They held a brief, whispered, furious discussion on the subject of seniority regarding desks, while The Introducer began her duties.
In a clear, high tone, she reminded everyone of where they were and why good manners were always welcome, and so on. The crowd ignored her in the traditional way until her voice had risen an octave and her face was a very satisfying shade of discontented red. They paid her a respectful attention eventually though and, as a huge dull-brown Curtain was slowly raised, swinging precariously behind her, they lifted their voices to join with hers and she introduced The Main Attraction.
She touched on his Character, his standing in their little community and related one or two good Reviews from friends and well-wishers. She mentioned humble Beginnings and hard-working Middles and more recent woes that had all taken a toll. His Ending, she added Dramatically, would be left to him and his fate. The Introducer then turned with arms spread wide and, with their enthusiastic backing ringing in her ears, she invited him to face The Audience.
The applause fell away and a relative silence echoed about the rafters high above as a large, thickset man, in a simple, ill-fitting outfit, walked heavily to the front of The Stage. Seemingly neither aware of the importance of his Role nor
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nervous of any Critics amongst them, he gazed out over the upturned faces before him. A few modest wagers were concluded, some idiots were hushed and he began to tell his Story.
Clasping his big, rough hands together before him and urged on by everyone there, his full, resonant voice started to find its way through a tale of undying devotion and desperate loss. The crowd lifted their voices and accompanied him through the highs and lows, expertly guiding him back to the main Theme when he seemed in danger of digressing, or indeed of misplacing The Plot entirely. His melancholy tone held the promise of the inevitable, unhappy fate of a once true Love, discovered with Another, being an un-named party of the second Part, and they began to lose themselves in the anticipation of a genuinely Sad Ending.
The Main Attraction stopped quite suddenly and stepped back unsteadily, leaving the crowd hanging, dissatisfied, on what might have been a diminished C (probably. Or perhaps not). Tears could clearly be seen sliding down his broken face, ruining his Make-up, while a low muttering began amongst The Audience, forced to Witness such a Tragic Spectacle. The Introducer gently propelled him forward again while she reminded everyone present of the virtues of Tolerance, on the one hand, and regular Rehearsal on the other.
He began again. The Full House was soon ringing with rising voices once more as everyone immediately forgave him. He mournfully related Scenes of joy and grief and Love and loss, again, and they offered their sympathy for his regrets and their support for his heartfelt repentance of unintended Sins. As he continued, he turned to face the Official Party, sitting silent and apparently unmoved behind their desks, and, without actually Pleading, but with high emotion, he humbly begged everyone present to reflect on the nature of Innocence and to consider the Roles of extenuating circumstances, odd coincidence and unfortunate accidents when Judging any Recital of the Truth, whole and unvarnished, as he could Swear it was.
The Introducer saw more tears and felt compelled to join in at a
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crucial moment with her own strong, pure voice. High harmonies soared toward the wooden roof of the beloved old building and low refrains hummed as though from the very floor and walls, raising dust and disturbing the ghosts, and the whole Performance built to a deeply moving conclusion.
Rich echoes died away once more and The Main Attraction sank to his knees, head bowed, pale and drained, having given everything in Defence of his Story. Everyone else drew breath for a while and began to congratulate themselves while the Official Party conferred.
The general feeling was hopeful, if not indecently confident, but, when an old, wooden mallet was banged on the most senior desk and a majority of large pieces of paper were held up by Official hands, the unhappy Final Score was publicly revealed. The Audience, in turn, gathered their wits, put aside their disappointment and a respectful quiet returned.
A Sentence was spoken and, on Cue, The Encore, who had been waiting expectantly in The Wings throughout, solemnly entered The Stage bearing irons. The Main Attraction slowly stood, the huge Curtain Finally fell back to the Stage before him, and he was led away, legs heavy and shoulders bent under the now clearly Proven Burden of his awful Guilt.
cj cowley
october 2020
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all music, words, artwork, design © julian cowley, 2024. all rights reserved.