March 1, 2015
February 2015 was brutal locally beginning midway through, but colorful seed catalogs put me in a reverie of spring planting and summer's bounty. And whenever I think of homegrown vegetables, my mind returns to a ditty I performed at age nine in Knob Knee high school's production of "Plain and Fancy." [http://kat330.tumblr.com/post/18854920150/first-stage] "Plenty of Pennsylvania" is the musical number in which this minute solo occurs and, as you might figure out on your own, I'm singing out vegetables in alphabetical order, A to Z. There's some fudging on "U" (un-ions) and "X" (x-plant for eggplant) and, at the end, the soloist struggles finding a proper "Z" vegetable.
In addition to the simple guitar accompaniment, I decided on a riverboat calliope sound from the keyboard (ending with a reed organ flourish). I've never refreshed my memory of melody or lyrics, so what you hear is what I've kept with me throughout all these many (far too many! :) interim years since those performances. No doubt I have a thing or two wrong and hope anyone who knows better will send me correction comments, thanks!
Expanding on the plant theme here, you might munch on this homophonic pun fun opus I penned and posted in winter 2011: http://kat330.tumblr.com/post/3258540996/from-the-ground-up-can-yew-dig-it
PLENTY OF PENNSYLVANIA from the musical "Plain and Fancy"
[Young Miller Girl solo]
Asparagus, Broccoli, Cauliflower
Dandelion greens, and Escarole,
Fennel and Grapes and Honeydew melon,
And Iceberg lettuce for the salad bowl!
Juniper, Kale, and lovely Lentils;
Mushrooms, Nutmeg, Okra, Peas,
Quinces, Rutabagas, Squash, Tomatoes
And Un-i-ons sweet like strawberries!
Vinegar and sweet Watermelon,
X-plant planted all in rows.
Yams and Zpinach?
[No!]
Zauerkraut?
[No!!]
Zucchini!
[Yes!!!]
In Pennsylvania anything grows!
Lyrics by Arnold Horwitt / Music by Albert Hague
Arranged, performed and recorded by Kathleen Martin
