The Bremen Singers

By Moira Brown

When Rooster, Cat, Dog and Donkey must flee their homes, they feel afraid and alone in the world. They meet on the road and are surprised to find others in a similar situation. They quickly become friends. The rooster has the idea of going to Bremen to become a busker, since he has such a good voice. The others assure him that they, too, are musical, with good singing voices, and form a quartet!

On the way to Bremen, they spy a house, off-road, in the forest. They had just been thinking about shelter for the night. Maybe they can sing for their supper, too. But the house is the hideout of a gang of robbers, who are not likely to welcome passing travellers.

How is it, then, that the four friends are able to take possession of the house, and live there, peacefully, for a while? Suddenly, everything changes when visitors arrive. Is it for the better?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Apr 26, 2024
• ISBN: 9781398478428

Book preview

About the Author

Moira Brown is a retired teacher, living in Newcastle, Australia. The idea of writing The Bremen Singers came from taking her grandchildren to the local Young People’s Theatre, and from buying some photographs of Bremen, which now hang on a wall in her home. Thus the work started off as a play, then a musical, before it was put into book form.

Dedication

To

the memory of the Brothers Grimm

and to

the King’s Singers

who give an excellent rendering of the four friends’ voices.

Copyright Information ©

Moira Brown 2024

The right of Moira Brown to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398478411 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398478428 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2024

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd ®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

My thanks are due to friends and family who encouraged me in this venture, especially to those who guided me through the maze of the computer!

Chapter 1

At the Farm

Cock-a-doodle-doo. Sunrise was the most special time of day for the birds at the farmyard. The rooster announced its arrival every morning. Cock-a-doodle-doo, he chanted, over and over again. The hens were nearly as much in awe of him as they were of the sunrise itself. It was a magical time of day.

Who could not help admiring the rooster? He crowed with his head held high, the curved feathers of his tail gleaming ever brighter as the sun rose to shine on them. How was it that the sunrise, although it happened every single day, never felt like an ordinary event? A sense of wonder came afresh each morning. It was such a deeply moving experience that many human beings who watched it, called it ‘mystical’ or ‘spiritual’.

But on this particular day, the peaceful scene was suddenly shattered. One of the farmers, Liesl, came storming out of the farmhouse, followed by her husband Fritz, who was