A Walrus Went Waltzing

This is a very silly tune. It's an "oom pah pah" type of waltz, ponderous and slightly offbeat in a humorous sort of way. It's the story of a walrus who likes to waltz, but has trouble doing so due to the enormity of his tusks.

One of the more, um, charming parts of the song is the background vocal line. Technically, it's part of the orchestration. We used some "older" ladies to record it to be sure we got that mature, wide, comic vibrato that older ladies can do. However, if you want to perform the background vocals yourself, you can. Their part is indicated on the piano/vocal score. We have included two instrumental track versions - one with the background vocals and one without. If you use our background vocalists, let some students mouth the performance for a little added humor.

At measure 37, students have the opportunity to actually waltz. A basic waltz step is just fine or you can let experienced dancers show their stuff. A simple movement could be step, step, step (alternating feet) to the three beats per measure. Or it could be step, touch and hold for two beats. Anything at all that goes with the beat is just fine. Choose dancers and pair them off. Decide where they may move, and try to coordinate them so that there are no collisions you don't intend. If neither you nor your students know anything about waltzing and you want to add movement, a simple swaying to the beat will work.

Obviously, the walrus should be one of the waltzers, especially if you are doing this in performance. A costume would be appropriate, too. Walruses are kind of lumpy and have a non-descript shape. So maybe just some brown fabric draped over his head that reaches to his ankles where it is attached would work. The tusks are the defining factor anyway. Make them (very large!) out of paper or cardboard. Add some drawn-on whiskers and mittens for flippers.

While waltzing, your walrus should be having a rough time with his oversized tusks. Have him "trip" or bump into them as he moves and says, "Ouch!" Other (costumed) sea creatures can join in the second time. They also join in with the "ouch" comments, no doubt because they got a little too close to the walrus. (Our walrus was Tyler Thompson, who played a marvelous distressed walrus.)

As an option to costumes, use puppets. Let kids make their own and perform the tune in a puppet theater. A simple one can be constructed from a large cardboard box. Or drape a tablecloth over a table and let puppeteers hide behind the table. Have your chorus off to the sides or behind.