My Horn Playing Career
(1971)

My French horn cost forty-six pounds,

And sometimes creates such musical sounds 

Or "gruffs"

Which is the horn player's name for musical fluffs 

Which are mistakes

Which one makes.

I belong to the orchestra of St Nicholas 

But some of the music we play is ridiculous. 

We study music from Bach to Bizet

(Whose "Farandole" is by no means easy), 

On Tuesday night we gather together 

Where we try by hard endeavour

To play such notes

As the score denotes.

I also belong to the orchestra of the borough 

Where the study of music is much more thorough 

And from time to time we have orchestral courses

Where musical people join forces

To create an orchestra and a band

Where we play a symphony or Sarabande 

Or concerto

Divertimento 

Sonata

Or Toccata.

And that sums up my horn playing career

But some people are very severe

While others are far more pleasant

But all my enjoyment came from one Christmas present.

R. STENT 4A