Liland's Jonah oratorio

Subject: Liland's Jonah oratorio
From: Haruo
Date: 11 Oct 00 - 10:23 PM

In case anybody wants to see the rest of my Jonah "oratorio" from which I posted a couple numbers ("Jonah was a prophet (minor)" and "The Phœnician merchant tar") earlier, I'll put the rest of the lyrics in this thread. This first entry is the table of contents.

My "comic worship oratorio", Jonah was a prophet (minor), is an interpretation (musical and textual) of the Book of Jonah, one of the 12 minor prophets whose booklets comprise the Book of the Twelve in the Hebrew Scriptures. Most of these booklets are mostly prophecy per se, much of it rather nationalistic, but Jonah is a humorous short story with an anti-chauvinistic theme. It makes fun of those (like Jonah) who think God would be well advised to be less merciful. It's got to be the funniest book in the Bible, in my estimation.

The "oratorio" consists of the reading of the whole text of the Book of Jonah, with songs interspersed. Here's the order of worship (sic):

JONAH WAS A PROPHET (MINOR)
Or,
GILBERT & SULLIVAN MEET GOD ALMIGHTY

(Leland Bryant Ross)

CONTENTS
Jonah 1:1-2
Jonah was a prophet (minor), Austria
Jonah 1:3
Run, Jonah, run, Tidings
Jonah 1:4-7
On a swift Phœnician trader, Hyfrydol
The Phœnician merchant tar, British Grenadiers
But this was no ordinary hurricane...
Almighty Moloch, strong to save, Melita
What shall we do?, Du Store Gud [How Great Thou Art]
Jonah 1:8-9
Praise to the living God (Yigdal Elohim Chai), Leoni (Yigdal)
Jonah 1:10-13
Still the sailors were reluctant, Regent Square
Jonah 1:14-16
El Shaddai, to the Card & Thompson tune but different words*
Jonah 1:17 - 2:9
The Ribs and Terrors in the Whale, from Moby-Dick, Old 100th
Joppa, Joppa, here I come, right back where I started from...
Jonah 2:10 - 3:10
Bow, bow, ye Ninevitic masses, March of the Peers (from Iolanthe)
Jonah 4:1-5
O LORD, my God, how could you be so thoughtless, Du Store Gud
Jonah 4:6-11
'Neath a tree by a river a prophet of God, Tit-Willow (from The Mikado)

© 1997 Liland Brajant Ros'

*El Shaddai, El Shaddai, El Elyon na Adonai,
We have seen your mighty hand on the sea and on the land,
El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Erkamka na Adonai,
O accept our sacrifice, El Shaddai!

LBR

Subject: Run, Jonah, Run [Tidings]
From: Haruo
Date: 11 Oct 00 - 10:25 PM

RUN, JONAH, RUN

(Leland Bryant Ross)

Run, Jonah, run, evading God, thy Master!
Flee from the LORD, escape him while thou may'st!
His will be done, unless thy feet prove faster!
Hie, Jonah, toward the goyim with all haste!

Turn from thy calling, fly from the reach

Of God, who said to go to Nineveh and preach!

Part (between Jonah 1:3 and 1:4) of my "comic worship oratorio" Jonah was a prophet (minor), 1997, © Liland Brajant Ros'

The tune is TIDINGS, customarily used for O Zion, haste; you can get a MIDI from this page in my hymnal, if you want one.

LBR

Subject: On a Swift Phœnician Trader
From: Haruo
Date: 11 Oct 00 - 10:26 PM

ON A SWIFT PHŒNICIAN TRADER

(Leland Bryant Ross)

On a swift Phœnician trader, bound for Tarshish (that's in Spain),
Jonah thinks he's got it made (or given God the slip again).
Now belowdecks in his cabin, Jonah sleeps and dreams of whales,
while above, as Jonah's napping, God's wrath shreds the vessel's sails.

Part (between Jonah 1:7 and 1:8) of my "comic worship oratorio" Jonah was a prophet (minor), 1997, © Liland Brajant Ros'

The tune is HYFRYDOL, often used i.a. for Come, thou long-expected Jesus; you can get a MIDI from this page in my hymnal, if you want one.

LBR

Subject: Almighty Moloch
From: Haruo
Date: 11 Oct 00 - 10:27 PM

ALMIGHTY MOLOCH, STRONG TO SAVE

(Leland Bryant Ross)

"Almighty Moloch, strong to save,
Whose arm shall bind the restless wave..."
So all the sailors sing and moan,
Beseeching gods of wood and stone.
Yet all their prayers unanswered rise
To God, the LORD of seas and skies.

Part (between Jonah 1:7 and 1:8) of my "comic worship oratorio" Jonah was a prophet (minor), 1997, © Liland Brajant Ros'

The tune is MELITA, customarily used i.a. for Eternal Father, Strong to Save ("The Navy Hymn"); I'm sure you can get a MIDI from The Cyber Hymnal if you need one.

LBR

Subject: What shall we do? / Thoughtless
From: Haruo
Date: 11 Oct 00 - 10:29 PM

There are two songs in my "oratorio" to the Swedish folk tune Du (or O) Store Gud, to which "How great Thou art" is generally sung; the last line of the first one needs to be slightly elongated to accommodate the text:

WHAT SHALL WE DO?

(Leland Bryant Ross)

(Phœnician Sailors #1 and #3+)
What shall we do? Our doom is night upon us.
Some one of us has brought us fortune ill.
Go wake that Jew, and make him pray among us;
Perchance his god may save us if he will.

(Sailor #2)

Hey, let's draw straws to see who is to blame

For our impending wet demise,

Yes, let's draw straws and learn the culprit's name

And make him fish-food right before our very eyes.


Part (preceding Jonah 1:8) of my "comic worship oratorio" Jonah was a prophet (minor), 1997, © Liland Brajant Ros'

---

O LORD, MY GOD, HOW COULD YOU BE SO THOUGHTLESS

(Leland Bryant Ross)

(Jonah)
O LORD, my God, how could You be so thoughtless,
So soft of heart, forgiving and so kind?
How could You, LORD? They'll think you spineless, gutless!
I should have known, O God, O—never mind!

Why should I care to live in shame like this!

Why, LORD, O why? I'd rather die!

I fled your call in fear of fame like this!

Is vengeance Thine? Well, You're a Wuss!

Part (following Jonah 4:5) of my "comic worship oratorio" Jonah was a prophet (minor), 1997, © Liland Brajant Ros'

I'm sure you can get a MIDI from The Cyber Hymnal, if you dig for it.

LBR

Subject: RE: Liland's Jonah oratorio
From: Haruo
Date: 11 Oct 00 - 10:30 PM

STILL THE SAILORS WERE RELUCTANT

(Leland Bryant Ross)

Still the sailors were reluctant
To evict their paying guest:
Brave men all, they braced and tucked their
Tummies in and rowed their best.
Rowed for shore, and rowed for shore, but
Made no headway in their quest.

(till Jonah said)
"If you want to save your vessel,
Throw me in the ocean now!
I alone with God must wrestle,
I alone before Him bow.
Toss me over, toss me over!
Save your lives and save your scow!"

Part (following Jonah 1:13) of my "comic worship oratorio" Jonah was a prophet (minor), 1997, © Liland Brajant Ros'

The tune is Regent Square, commonly used (at least in the USA) for the Christmas hymn "Angels from the Realms of Glory". I'm sure you can get a MIDI from The Cyber Hymnal.

LBR

Subject: Bow, bow, ye Ninevitic masses
From: Haruo
Date: 11 Oct 00 - 10:32 PM

BOW, BOW, YE NINEVITIC MASSES

(Leland Bryant Ross)

King of Nineveh — (chorus of Ninevites sings indented portions)
Bow, bow, ye Ninevitic masses,
Bow, bow, in sackcloth, bow in ashes,
Bow, ye camels, bow, ye asses:

Tan-tan-ta-ra, tzing-boom!

Fast, fast, ye Ninevitic masses,
Fast, fast in sackcloth, fast in ashes,
Fast, ye camels, fast, ye asses:

Tan-tan-ta-ra, tzing-boom tzing-boom!

Tan-tan-ta-ra, tzing-boom tzing-boom!

Tan-tan-ta-ra, tzing-boom tzing-boom!

Save us from certain mass destruction!
Save earth from sudden liposuction!
Save, save the camels! Save, save the asses!

Tan-ta-ra, ta ta ta ta ta ta, Tan-ta-ra, ta ta ta ta ta ta,

Tan-ta-ra, ta ta ta ta ta ta, Tan-ta-ra, ta ta ta ta ta ta,

Tan-ta-ra, ta ta, Tan-ta-ra ta ta, Tan-ta-ra ta ta, Tan-ta-ra, ta ta,

Tan-ta-ra, ta, tzing-boom, tzing-boom!

Bow, ye Ninevitic masses,
Fast in sackcloth, fast in ashes,
Bow, ye Ninevitic masses!
Save the camels! Save the asses!

Tan-tan-ta-ra, tan-tan-ta-ra, tan-ta-ra, tan-ta-ra,

Tan-ta-ra, tan-ta-ra, ra, ra, ra, ra, ra! Tan-ta-ra! Tan-ta-ra!

          (Tzing-boom!)

Part (following Jonah 3;10) of my "comic worship oratorio" Jonah was a prophet (minor), 1997, © Liland Brajant Ros'

The tune is an abbreviation of March of the Peers by Arthur S. Sullivan, from Gilbert & Sullivan's Iolanthe. Sorry, don't have a MIDI.

LBR

Subject: 'Neath a Tree by a River
From: Haruo
Date: 11 Oct 00 - 10:32 PM

'NEATH A TREE BY A RIVER

(Leland Bryant Ross)

'Neath a tree by a river a prophet of God
Cries, "Kill me, so kill me, just kill me!"
Would you say that this prophet's displeasure was odd?
Please kill me, LORD, kill me, just kill me!"
He's been hoping for brimstone to blast them to heck,
But they've listened, repented, worn ashes and sack,
And poor Jonah now feels that his life is a wreck:
"Just kill me, yes, kill me, please kill me."

He beats on his breast as he swears at the skies,
"You Ninny, You Ninny, You Ninny!"
So a worm eats his tree and it withers and dies.
"You Ninny, You Ninny, You Ninny!"
And the LORD from high heaven to Jonah speaks down,
"If you care that this tree once so green is now brown,
Shouldn't I give a hoot about Nineveh town,
And its people and cattle so many?"

Now I'm sure just as sure as I'm sure that my name
Isn't Jonah, or Mona, or Guinevere,
That 'twas prejudiced piety made him exclaim
With dismay at the saving of Nineveh.
For the LORD was the sort of compassionate LORD
Who loved mercy and justice, and murder abhorred,
And who wanted farm implements made from each sword,
And who gave a rat's donkey for Nineveh!

Part (following Jonah 4:11) of my "comic worship oratorio" Jonah was a prophet (minor), 1997, © Liland Brajant Ros'

The tune is Tit-Willow by Arthur S. Sullivan, from Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado. Sorry, don't have a MIDI.

LBR

Subject: RE: Liland's Jonah oratorio
From: Haruo
Date: 14 Oct 00 - 02:07 AM

Here are links to the missing Jonah was a prophet (minor)" and The Phœnician Merchant Tar that I had previously posted in separate threads. Now it's all together in one little pile.

Liland

Subject: RE: Liland's Jonah oratorio
From: MMario
Date: 14 Oct 00 - 02:08 PM

*applause*

Subject: RE: Liland's Jonah oratorio
From: wildlone
Date: 14 Oct 00 - 02:46 PM

"encore"

Subject: RE: Liland's Jonah oratorio
From: Margaret V
Date: 14 Oct 00 - 02:52 PM

This is really intriguing, fun stuff, Liland, thank you for posting it. I trust you'll let us know of any future performances? Margaret

Subject: RE: Liland's Jonah oratorio
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Oct 00 - 03:15 PM

Didn't miss this thread, just am in overdrive on many fronts this weekend. Go Liland go!!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: Liland's Jonah oratorio
From: Haruo
Date: 18 Oct 00 - 10:46 AM

I'm working on the website for my Jonah oratorio, and as a test I just posted the King of Nineveh's song ("Bow, bow, ye Ninevitic Masses"). The MIDI isn't quite right yet (5 lines missing), but the general format looks like what I have in mind. I welcome feedback, here or by PM or email.

Liland

Subject: RE: Liland's Jonah oratorio
From: Haruo
Date: 18 Oct 00 - 10:48 AM

Oops, let's try that </a> tag again.
I'm working on the website for my Jonah oratorio, and as a test I just posted the King of Nineveh's song ("Bow, bow, ye Ninevitic Masses"). The MIDI isn't quite right yet (5 lines missing), but the general format looks like what I have in mind. I welcome feedback, here or by PM or email.

Liland

Subject: RE: Liland's Jonah oratorio
From: MMario
Date: 18 Oct 00 - 11:10 AM

dang it! you are on geocities...which means I can't view you!

Subject: RE: Liland's Jonah oratorio
From: Haruo
Date: 18 Oct 00 - 11:14 AM

Why is that? This is the first time I ever heard of anybody not being able to view GeoCities.

Liland

Subject: RE: Liland's Jonah oratorio
From: MMario
Date: 18 Oct 00 - 11:19 AM

Unfortunatly geocities is blocked by many content filters because they offer free space. I CAN view some geocities pages, but I have to request a review on a page by page basis - and the review can take weeks. And if the name of the page changes -even by so much as an "/" it gets blocked again.

Subject: RE: Liland's Jonah oratorio
From: Haruo
Date: 18 Oct 00 - 11:37 AM

That is truly bizarre. What is the objection to free space, and what server is this that's doing it to you? Can you see my main page on SCN (La Lilandejo) which is also free? I feel assaulted. (Not by you, MMario, but by whoever won't let you see my pages.) And truly, this is the first time I've ever heard of such a thing.

Liland

Subject: RE: Liland's Jonah oratorio
From: MMario
Date: 18 Oct 00 - 11:48 AM

I can.

The content filter we use is an international service sold to various ISP, etc in order to provide content filtering. They block several very large networks as a matter of course primarily because they offer free web space. geocities, angelfire and a couple more. they block other sites based on word content, etc. since I obtain web access through an educational network that has the filter applied, there is a LOT of the world out there I can't "see".

Subject: RE: Liland's Jonah oratorio
From: Haruo
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 07:55 PM

Just Kill Me

Subject: RE: Liland's Jonah oratorio
From: Haruo
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 06:17 PM

I just added the opening song from my oratorio, the eponymous Jonah was a prophet (minor), to Austria (aka Deutschland über Alles).

Liland

Oratorio Contents List