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