Lament for Barney Flanagan
for bass and piano. Anthony Ritchie Opus 3c
A lively and humorous setting of James K. Baxter's classic ballad about the owner of the Hesperus Hotel.
- YEAR: 1980
- DURATION: 5'30
- TEXTS: James K. Baxter
- LEVEL: 3 | Professional and semi-professional musicians
James K. Baxter wrote in a wide variety of styles and genres, including the traditional ballad form, of which 'Lament for Barney Flanagan' is a prime example. It contains a classic Baxter mix of humour and pathos, lively in spirit but focussed on the subject of death, in this case the heart-attack of an overweight publican. The music is simple and strong, allowing the witty lyrics to speak for themselves, but also adding occasional wry touches of word-painting.
The version for baritone is available for purchase