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Dog Tales
Jenni Brandon
soprano, flute, clarinet, piano

Secular

I. We Live to Run
Listen to the movement

II. Thirteen Ways of Looking at Mona, Part I
Listen to the movement

III. Dig (Chloe)
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IV. Thirteen Ways of Looking at Mona, Part II
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V. This is a Good Place
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VI. Ode to a Golden Retriever
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Notes:

Dog Tales tells the stories of beloved family dogs, but truly speaks to the universal theme of relationships, both with our pets and world around us.  Often sweet and funny, these touching pieces are a testament to the love for man’s best friend and how these relationships positively affect us each day.

Program Notes:

Dog Tales was commissioned by the Cincinnati new music ensemble Conundrum (Mary Elizabeth Southworth-soprano, Danielle Hundley-flute, Marianne Breneman-clarinet, Philip Amalong-piano) and was premiered by them in November 2009. They are all avid dog lovers and wanted a work that told the stories about their beloved pets.

In setting out to write this work, the members of Conundrum provided me with stories, pictures, and anecdotes about their four-legged friends. I then passed these wonderful collections onto my poet/writer friend Bobbi J. Nicotera who then created the amazing text for this work. What I think is remarkable about the text is it not only captures these dogs in prose, but also speaks of a more universal theme of relationships and our interaction with the world around us, both with our pets and other people. Often sweet and funny, these touching pieces are a testament to the love for man’s best friend and how these relationships positively affect us each day.
- Jenni Brandon

Texts:

1. We Live to Run
We rise, she and I, early
When the mist is still hanging like a low net
Over the roses and dahlias in the park

We’ll run 15 miles today, then rest
Next week we’ll go further, push harder

I gallop beside her
My four legs canter to the
Steady pound of her two

She urges me on when we finally reach Edwards Road
The slow climb south to Grandin

I am tired, but happy
I am not distracted by anything today
Not the traffic or squirrels or an errant tennis ball

I am only focused on her
She needs me

As much as I need to run
As much as I need her

We live to run

II. Thirteen Ways of Looking at Mona
Part I

I. A house in Indiana.
The only living thing
Was the noble heart of Mona.

II. I was of two minds:
Was I the rescuer,
Or the rescued?

III. Mona wiggled and squinted for affection.
All part of her own opera.

IV. A man and a woman
Are one.
A man and a woman and a dog
Are one.
V. I do not know which to prefer,
The beauty of her instinct
Or the beauty of her nobility,
The dog barking
Or just after.

VI. Children filled the house
With solid voices.
The shadow of Mona
Crossed it, to and fro.
Protection
Filled in her shadow
A gracious cause.

III. Dig (Chloe)
Dig Dig Dig Dig
You may not understand my reasons.
But I know why.
Dig Dig Dig Dig
It’s because I miss you when you’re gone.
And so I need a reminder.
Dig Dig Dig.
This looks like the perfect place.
A space for me
Dig Dig Dig
To keep mementos of you.
Dig Dig
I’ll keep them safe while you’re at work.
Dig Dig
And I’ll wait for your return.
Dig.

IV. Thirteen Ways of Looking at Mona
Part II

VII. Oh music man of Cincinnati
Why do you adore the piano?
Do you not see how the dog
Waits patiently at your feet
As they pump the pedals?

VIII. I know noble rhapsodies
And a classical experiment
But I know, too
That Mona is a part
Of all I know.

IX. When Mona left us forever,
She closed the breach
In one of many circles.

X. At the sight of Mona
Playing in the Ohio snow,
Even the smallest of creatures
Would sing out in joy.

XI. He rode over Cincinnati
On a mountain bike.
Once, a fear shook him,
That he’d lost Mona.
But her shadow met him
At the next turn.

XII. The sun is shining
Mona must be smiling.

XIII. It was cold all afternoon
It was snowing
And would keep snowing
Mona sat at the door
Waiting patiently for a walk.

V. This is a Good Place
Someone dropped me here.

Maybe they knew he was here, too.
Maybe they saw the gas lamp-lined streets
From I-75 or Ludlow Ave
And just knew

Maybe it was a UC student who really wanted me
But was smart enough to know
That a dorm isn’t for me

Maybe weeks before
They took a long walk in Ault Park and thought
This is a good place

Saw the trails and roses
Saw the green grass and dahlias
And thought

This is a good place

Whoever it was must’ve known
Must’ve known you were here,
Must’ve known I’d land on my feet

All four of them

VI. Ode to a Golden Retriever
Oh muse of liquid brown eyes,
Of golden, clogging fur,
How I have loved you.

The thumping wake up calls,
The choking vet bills
Oh how I have loved you..

You guardian
You counselor
My closest confidant
You, breaker-of-hearts.

I love you all.

A marriage like any other
Through illness and health.
What retriever rescue hath joined.
Let no man put asunder.

Oh golden muse,
I will bestow upon thee beef snacks
And surrender my half of the bed.

Here, rest your head upon my lap
As we watch the sun set.

- All poetry by Bobbi J. Nicotera

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