The Magic Harp
Words and music by Brendan Beales
Narration 1
Here's a tale of man and monster,
Taken from the ancient writings.
Let us tell the tale together,
Fill this hall with myth and music.
You shall hear how Vainamoinen
Sailed his boat into the northlands,
Fought and killed the giant pike-fish,
Cooked the meat and held a feasting.
And when all the flesh was eaten,
Seeing all the whitened fish-bones,
From them fashioned the first lap-harp,
The great kantele of Finland,
Played the harp-strings to his singing,
And made all who heard him wonder
At the beauty of his music.
VAINAMOINEN'S SONG
Sing, Vainamoinen,
Songs of hope and heroes.
Sing, Vainamoinen,
To the listening world.
Sing, Vainamoinen,
Songs of love and longing.
Sing us the evening moon
And morning sun.
Sing us the river
Sing us the tree
Sing us the mountain
Sing us the sea.
Narration 2
Vainamoinen, ancient singer,
Sailed his boat into the northlands;
Made a great and wondrous journey
In the swiftest of all vessels.
VAINAMOINEN'S SAILING
Vainamoinen, ancient singer,
Starting on his journey,
Sails his boat on lake and river
Vaina Vainamoinen.
(audience) Dai dai da dai dai dai Vaina Vainamoinen (x2)
Now he's heading out to sea
Sailing to the northlands.
How much farther can it be?
Vaina Vainamoinen.
Dai dai etc
Cutting through the ocean spray
Now the boat is flying.
Getting faster every day
Vaina Vainamoinen
Dai dai etc
Faster than the speed of light,
Swifter than an arrow
Speeding through the starry night
Vaina Vainamoinen
Dai dai etc SCREAM!!!
Narration 3
The boat had stopped, with a sickening crunch.
Was it caught in the reeds?
Had it run aground in the middle of the lake?
Had the wind stopped filling the sails?
No, the boat had come to rest on the back of a huge
a humungous a colossal, giant MONSTER!
MONSTER SONG
Something's waiting down below, under the water;
Something we don't want to know, under the water.
Slimy, shadowy, sleek and pale,
Bigger than a walrus, wider than a whale
I don't think it's a penguin, or a dolphin, or a shark
Have you noticed, Vainamoinen, how the water's growing dark?
Oh no!
Monster, monster, down there in the water
Looks as though we've caught a whopper!
I do believe now we ought to leave now
Before he eats us for tea
Maybe if we're very, very still,
He'll go somewhere else to have his fill
I really don't care what he pops into his mouth
As long as it's not .. NOT ME!!!
I don't like what I can see under the water
Something staring up at me under the water
Something scary with lots of teeth
Nobody can tell what's lurking underneath
Let's all be very quiet till the monster goes away.
(Whistle) - - - - - - - - - Maybe then we'll be OK
Oh no!
Monster, monster, etc
Narration 4
Quick as lightning Vainamoinen
Took his spear and struck the water.
Struck right down into the water
Where the giant pike was lurking.
Then there was a mighty battle,
Waters boiling, tail-fins flashing,
Monster heaving under water,
Trying to dislodge the lodger.
Long the monster fought and struggled,
Long did Vainamoinen parry.
Till at last the monster, beaten,
Ceased its motion under water,
Ceased all movement underwater.
For the monster - had been - SLAIN!
(audience echo "SLAIN!")
Narration 5
Then they pulled the pike ashore
And made the most enormous banquet.
Cooked the fish and made a banquet
Big enough to feed a million.
And when all the flesh was eaten
Vainamoinen took the fish-bones,
Took the jaw and teeth and dorsal,
Took the tail-hairs from a gelding.
And as all stood lost in wonder,
Made the kantele, or lap-harp,
Made the first great harp of Finland!
Narration 6
He, the very harp's creator.
Vainamoinen, ancient singer,
Took the harp and gently touched it,
Plucked the strings that soft resounded.
And the music of the Harper,
And the magic of his singing,
Drew forth every living creature.
Beast and human, all approached him,
Old and young, and man and woman,
Listened to his magic singing.
All who heard were lost in wonder,
All who heard were filled with longing,
Tears rolled down the cheeks of all,
Especially those of Vainamoinen.
VAINAMOINEN'S SONG (REPRISE)
Sing, Vainamoinen,
Songs of hope and heroes.
Sing, Vainamoinen,
To the listening world.
Sing, Vainamoinen,
Songs of love and longing.
Sing us the evening moon
And morning sun.
Sing us the river
Sing us the tree
Sing us the mountain
Sing us the sea.
(repeat)
Sing us the river (let the wonder of music never end)
Sing us the tree (let the wonder of living never end)
Sing us the mountain (let the wonder of loving never end)
Sing us the sea (let the wonder of giving never end)
Sing us the moonlight (let the wonder of friendship shine like the)
Sing us the
(together) Sun in the sky.
