The Friendly Beasts portrays the animals who have protected Jesus and Mary during the birth. Each animal proudly takes its turn announcing its contribution. The donkey carried Mary up hill and down. The dove cooed the Child to sleep. At the end of the song, all of the animals reappear in quick succession: donkey, cow, sheep, dove. They recount the gifts they brought to Immanuel. The Clarinet plays a featured role, enhancing the message of the lyrics. For example, the Clarinet associates with each animal, braying as a donkey, warmly mooing as a cow, embellishing as a sheep with curly horns, and fluttering upward with trills as a dove in flight. Duration: 4:15
