Duel & Other Stories
Music & Lyric: Claus Bockstandt, Drawings: Anna Baumgartner
Here I am ! A young, good-looking, yes self-confident cowboy.
I would like to tell you about my 10 adventures in the Wild West, be it the long journey with my horse through the prairie, my attempt to dig gold, the robbery in the stagecoach, the gold-hungry adventurers who followed by train, the inevitable duel, my ranch, my dreams and my family.
I was born by the pen stroke of Anna Baumgartner, who also painted beautiful, fitting pictures for all 10 experiences.
You can find these pictures and me on many different motives. Have a look here.
Claus Bockstandt has composed 10 instrumental songs with beautiful melodies about my experiences. If the tracks of “Duel & Other Stories” are streamed or purchased individually as a download, each track contains the individual cover image, which also figuratively describes the inspiration that comes with the song and the story.
The album “Duel & Other Stories” will be available for download, streaming and CD from 01.04.2022. The CD (Limited Edition) with all images can be ordered here.
Foto: Anna Baumgartner
1 Through the prairie
Through the prairie
Lonely, our cowboy rides his trusty horse through the scorching heat of the prairie. Again and again, bare rock formations, dried brush and flowering cacti create a changing landscape. The leisurely trot of his horse has caused small blown up clouds of dust in the air behind them and aside the trail, which fall back slowly on the hard and parched ground. On his long ride, he remembers his favorite melody, which he whistles comfortably from now on, getting closer and closer to his destination. He will reach the small western town in a good mood.
2 Gold digger
In the last few days it rained very heavily in the mountains. Meanwhile the flow of the mountain stream has calmed down a bit; however, the water level is still quite high. It is exactly the right time to dig for gold again. Full of expectation, our cowboy repeatedly fills his sieve, rattles and shakes it in the pan. There! A first small find is made. He can hardly believe his luck. The tension rises tremendously. Excited, he repeats the circling and shaking hand movements countless times and is finally rewarded with a larger glittering nugget. He will remember that area. What a day!
Gold digger
3 Ride in a stagecoach
Ride in a stagecoach
In the small town the stagecoach is loaded with the overdue wages for the railroad workers. Our cowboy is to bring them swiftly to their destination and starts the journey. The wheels roll on the dusty, bumpy ground of the prairie, the stagecoach creaks in time with the fast ride.
Again and again the landscape changes a bit, now we reach a narrower canyon. Suddenly an explosion can be heard – it is a robbery! Shots are fired and bandits ride towards the stagecoach. Fortunately, the cavalry is nearby, hearing the shots and the excited horses. They rush to help and the bandits take flight. Phew! After the shock, the stagecoach continues its journey relieved. Soon the church bells of the next town can be heard in the distance. It’s done.
4 Gold Express
The completed train line was recently put into operation. The heavy steam engine powerfully pulls the coal and passenger wagons along the laid rails tracks toward the sturdy, high wooden bridge, a true architectural master performance. On the wooden bridge, the sound of the train echo into the deep valley, reflecting off both the water and the bare rocks. Far away, down in the small western town, the gold discovery has long since spread. Once again, there are a few adventurous people sitting in the wagons eager to settle down and try their luck. Everyone now just calls the train the Gold Express.
Gold Express (Anni Radio Edit)
Gold Express
5 Duel
Duel
The dispute over gold is escalating. It seems inevitable. If our cowboy avoids this duel, he will have no peace anymore. His heart is beating fast. The two men are facing each other at a proper distance. The air seems to crackle, the tension rises to unbearable levels. Any moment of inattention may cost him his life. Suddenly, the opponent pulls his colt. But our cowboy pulls faster. His bullet whizzes through the air and hits the attacker fatally. Slowly, the opponent collapses and falls to the ground.
6 View to the Milkyway
It has become dark already. Our cowboy lies relaxed next to his log cabin by the campfire and goes about his thoughts. The day’s work is done: the pasture for the animals is fenced in. In awe, he looks up at the sky and observes the countless stars that seem to be fix at their different positions. The galaxy appears so huge to him that he loses himself briefly in it, dreaming, and feeling the immense force with mind and body. With time, the soothing warmth of the campfire weakens and slowly brings him back to the present.
View to the Milkyway
7 Stuck in a dream
Stuck in a dream
A new day. It is already noon. Our cowboy has earned a break and enters exhausted the well-attended saloon in the middle of the small western town. At the bar, he drinks his whiskey with pleasure as he suddenly notices this woman. Although he avoids direct eye contact, he keeps looking at her longingly and with a deep gaze. He has to be careful, of course she is not alone. He leaves the saloon and from now on he takes her with him into his dreams, where he can’t stop thinking about her. Did she notice him too ?
8 Celebrate
The two have been together for many years now and have two wonderful children. It is the sixth birthday of the youngest. At the decorated ranch, the children and adults celebrate extensively with a lot of music, games, fun and exuberant dancing. For the special occasion, for all friends, there is a delicious homemade cake in the afternoon and at dusk a big barbecue with different sauces, potatoes, beans and salad. Everyone is happy, satisfied and enjoying the moment. Happy birthday !
Celebrate
9 Coming home
Coming home
Many days now our cowboy was not at home. Together with his two faithful horses he leads a large herd of cattle to his ranch. For a long time he has been longingly awaited by his family. One day, late in the afternoon, his wife sees him on the horizon. The children immediately run to meet him. The joy is great, they all warmly embrace each other. The numerous cattle are driven into the prepared barrier, the fence is closed. At tonight’s dinner there is especially much to tell.
10 Wanted
The sheriff has hang up wanted posters showing an outlaw. The face of the escaped rogue is apt and easy to recognize, the reward for capture – dead or alive – high. There were many eyewitnesses among those present in the saloon to witness that the man killed coldly a young new settler while playing poker. In addition, the murderer is accused of multiple horse thefts. The rogue is not unknown to our cowboy either. He is sure that he has already chased him away from his ranch. It’s time for the lump to be convicted for his crimes and that he can no longer endanger and scare the citizens of the small western town.
