|
|
|
|
Bakxai (The Bacchae)
Instrumental scores and parts on hire
978-0-19-335489-0
02 December 1991
Price: Available on request
|
|
|
|
|
Opera for Mezzo-soprano, 3 Tenor, 3 Baritone, Bass soli, Chorus of Asian Bacchae: 6 sop, 3 mezzo-sop, 6 dancers/actors and full orchestra Forces or CategoryMez-sopTBarB soli, chorus and full orchestraDuration130 minutesDifficultyDifficultOrchestration3 fl (III+picc), 2 ob, ca (+ob), 3 cl, 2 bn, cbn, 4 hn, 3 tpt, 3 tbn, hp, cel, 4 perc (timp, 3 roto-tom, SD, congas, tam, bongos, w blk,
temp blk, jingles, marac, cas, tamb, tom, timblaes, xylo, glock, tbells, sus cym, TD, BD, crotales, vib), str (15 vln, 10 vla, 7 vc, 5 db)Programme NotesThe text of this music drama is basically that of the original Greek of Euripides. This has been shortened, and transliterated by the composer with the musical sound in mind. English is used, however, when Dionysus speaks as a god, over opening narration to the audience and at other moments of soliliquy, and also by the `shadow of Euripides' - a voice describing the events at certain moments during which the stage action is suspended.
The English translation used in this vocal score is that of William Arrowsmith (University of Chicago
Press), by kind permission.
The composers acknowledge with gratitude the help of Mr Theo Zinn in the metre and sound of the original Greek.
BAKXAI was commissioned by English National Opera with additional financial support from the Arts Council.
The first performance was on 5 May 1992.
© John Buller
Reproduced by permission of Oxford University Press
Synopsis
Dionysus, a god, son of Zeus from a mortal mother, Semele, has come to Thebes disguised as a mortal and known as the Stranger. He has proclaimed his religion of miraculous ecstasy in Asia and has come now, with a band of his women followers, to his birth place, Thebes. But Agave and her sisters, all sisters to the dead Semele, refuse to recognize the stranger for what
he is, suggesting Semele merely gave birth to an illegitimate baby. Accordingly Dionysus has made them and the women of Thebes mad and they are now performing their rites on nearby Mt. Cithaeron. Theirexias, the aged seer, has recognized the new god in a pedantic and rather time-serving way, and Cadmus, the old King and father of Semele and Agave has persuaded himself that it is all honour to the family if they have a god in it. He has, however, in age, abdicated to his grandson Pantheus, for whom the so called Stranger is a fraudulent scoundrel, pandering to the lusts of women. Peutheus has the Stranger arrested and chained in a dungeon: the Stranger appears to cause an earthquake and escapes. Pentheus is further enraged by the account of a herdsman who has seen the women on the
mountain, their chase and dismemberment of cattle, and their raids on villages. Pentheus orders the army to march upon the Bacchae and promises to make a great slaughter in the woods of the mountain. The Stranger asks him whether he would like to see the women, privately, at their rites. Pentheus would like to see this very much. Disguised as a Bacchante he is taken to the mountain where he is finally discovered and torn to pieces by the women. Agave, his mother, is exultant with the head on her thrysus stick which whe believes to be that of a lion cub. Cadmus brings her mind back to a sanity and recognition. Dionysus, now seen as a god tells them it was so ordained as Thebes refused him recognition. Agave and her father go to their separate exiles.
|
|
|
John Buller (1927-2004) John Buller was born in London in 1927. He enjoyed a musical childhood, but it was not until this thirties, after a career as an architectural surveyor, that his began to concentrate on his musical career. In 1975 he became Composer-in-Residence at the University of Edinburgh, as holder of the visiting Forman Fellowship. In 1978 he was awarded an Arts Council Bursary and in 1985-6 he was Composer-in-Residence at Queens University, Belfast. He died in 2004.
|
|
|
|
Recently Viewed
|
|
|
John Rutter
SSA vocal score
£1.85
|
|
|
|
|
from Bob Chilcott Carols 2
Bob Chilcott
Conductor's score and parts on hire
Available on Hire
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edward Harper
Conductor's score and parts on hire
Available on Hire
|
|
|
|
|
The specification in this catalogue, including without limitation price, format, extent, number of illustrations, and month of publication, was as accurate as possible at the time the catalogue was compiled. Occasionally, due to the nature of some contractual restrictions, we are unable to ship a specific product to a particular territory. Jacket images are provisional and liable to change before publication.
|
|
