ANIMAL-THEMED VOCAL MUSIC
ensemble music animals theme
his page explores animal-themed vocal music for alto/mezzo-soprano and ensemble. The collection features works based on the medieval Latin bestiary poems, showcasing animal-inspired chamber music and wildlife songs.
BESTIARIUS
(The Book of Monsters and Creatures)
for alto / mezzo-soprano and ensemble
Duration:
11 minutes
Instrumentation:
alto / mezzo-soprano, flute/piccolo, clarinet, bassoon, violin, percussion (2), harpsichord
Year Composed:
1995
Poems By:
Dan Pagis
Poems Included:
1. The Elephant
2. Armchairs
3. The Mosquito
Language:
Hebrew
Written For:
Ayelet Carmon
Premiere Performance:
7 July, 1996
Jerusalem, Israel
Ayelet Carmon, mezzo-soprano
Roni Shifrin, flute/piccolo
Roni Barak, clarinet
Eyal Street, bassoon
Michael Zuckerman, violin
Dafna Gan, harpsichord
Pamela Jones and Alex Nemirovsky, percussion
Lior Navok, conductor
About Bestiarius (The Book of Monsters and Creatures)
Bestiarius is an 11‑minute chamber work for alto or mezzo‑soprano and ensemble, setting three poems by Dan Pagis inspired by the medieval bestiary tradition. Pagis’s texts blend observations of real and imagined creatures with sharp humor and subtle satire, offering a modern reinterpretation of the ancient genre. The music responds to this playful, sometimes ironic tone by creating contrasts between text and sound — at times amplifying the humor, at times undercutting it. The unusual instrumentation, including harpsichord and two percussionists, adds color and character to each creature’s portrait.
For the Performers
Level: Suitable for professional singers and advanced conservatory‑level ensembles comfortable with contemporary chamber writing and rhythmic precision.
Programming: Ideal for programs featuring animal‑themed works, modern Hebrew poetry, or contemporary chamber‑vocal repertoire with theatrical or satirical elements.
Style: Colorful, rhythmically active writing; quick shifts in character; interplay between voice and ensemble that highlights the humor and irony of Pagis’s poems.
Program Notes
The Bestiarius (Bestiary) was a common book during the Middle Ages. It contained illustrations of animals, some real and some imaginary. For example, the phoenix was introduced through the Bestiaries. In his Bestiarius, Israeli poet Dan Pagis introduces six "animal" poems, from which I chose three. The text, filled with humor, gave me the opportunity to compose music that often creates a bold contrast to the written word.