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The Court of King Caractacus    first outline    "Court" is poetic licence.    


We use that well-known tune and new words to create a marketing song for     -   -

The Carers Rights Day on 29 November.  

 

Aim  high -  your local TV news on the Tuesday before the meeting. Sing on the radio.  Write articles etc for publication. 


The songs generally are  in need of work involving your county carer support staff, and others.  Carers  with musical ability?


Health warning

The aim of these songs is that you get them on your brain.  

You're humming when you work and your colleagues think you shirk, when passing by.

See what I mean?  After a few words, you were caught in the tune.  If not read that again.

The aim also is to include plenty of verses to choose from and perhaps write your own song.  This one has a Herefordshire context.  Start looking at rhymes with X road, Y street etc for your own song.


King Caractacus was here.  Elgar here.


Our topic is King Caractacus in his hey-day 

before being dragged in front of Emperor 

Claudius.  









Here's the tune. (Advert first.  Don't click it. Caractacus  is misspelled???. Most of us know the former from the song.)  

Sing along with the lyrics.  They are here in case you want to adapt them to your situation.

These notes are for song leaders and organisers.


We are going to make changes:

  1. The ladies are passing by from the start
  2. We don't need the harem
  3. Or powder on any noses
  4. Judges appear quickly
  5. We soon reach carer rights in the song
  6. We move to the meeting on 29 Nov.

Study the verses

The   /1   etc notation prevents confusion with the more logical  1a etc   which follow below.
  1. The    /1     lines are low
  2. The    /2     lines rise
  3. The   /3      lines rise more
  4. The    /4 d  lines go back to the  /4   line level
  5. Verses 3 & 4 are the same without sub-numbers
  6. Verse 5 speeds up
The beat comes at the blue text, n'est pas?

Now the ladies of the harem of the court of King Ca  ractacus, were just pass ing by. 



We move on to a new structure
  1. Instead of repeats, any verse builds up within the four lines
  2. Send feedback via here.
Preparation
  1. Print enough song sheets
  2. Try to improvise a few instruments like saucepan lids and wooden spoons
  3. Find people who the singers relate to.  They dress accordingly and help lead the singing  
  4. Find a few wigs (judges' wigs even), aprons, hats for men and women etc from charity/children's toy shops etc
  5.  Anyone with an academic gown?
  6. Prams, pushchairs?

At first rehearsal
  1. Leader begins with a humming session to introduce the tune --descending  -- mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm,          twice
  2. Leader sings 1/1
  3. "Yes, you know the song!"  "OK, we're ready to roll.  Hymn sheets please."
  4. You're all set for the song sheet.  Perhaps stop after judges and distribute all the props.



 


1/1 

Now the ladies of the harem of the court of King Caractacus, were just passing by. 


1/2

All together, now the ladies of the harem of the court of King Caractacus, were just passing by. 

1/3
Now the ladies of the harem of the court of King Caractacus, were just passing by.

1/4
Now the ladies of the harem of the court of King Caractacus, were just passing by. 



2/1
Now the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem of the court of King Caractacus, were just passing by. 

2/2
All together, now the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem of the court of King Caractacus, were just passing by. 

2/3
Now the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem of the court of King Caractacus, were just passing by. 

2/4
Now the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem of the court of King Caractacus, were just passing by. 


3
Now the boys who put the powder on the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem of the court of King Catactacus, were just passing by. 
[Repeat 4 times] 

4
Now the fascinating witches who put the scintilating stiches in the britches of the boys who put the powder on the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem of the court of King Caractacus, were just passing by. 
[Repeat 4 times] 


5
Now if you want to take some pictures of the fascinating witches who put the scintilating stiches in the britches of the boys who put the powder on the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem of the court of King Caractacus...

...you're too late! Because they've just... passed... by!

 

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