Robin Hood (comic opera)
Encyclopedia
Robin Hood is a comic opera by Reginald De Koven
(music), Harry B. Smith
(lyrics) and Clement Scott
(lyrics of "Oh Promise Me
"). The story is based on the Robin Hood
legend, during the reign of King Richard I (1189-1199 AD). The opera was composed in Chicago, Illinois during the winter of 1888-1889.
Robin Hood was first performed at the Chicago Opera House on 9 June 1890. It was produced by the Ideal Opera Company, also known as the Bostonians. The opera opened in New York at the Knickerbocker Theater
on April 30, 1900 and was produced in London at the Prince of Wales Theatre
in 1891 with a new title, Maid Marian.
In 2004 the Ohio Light Opera
produced the opera based on a new critical edition of the opera that it commissioned from Quade Winter
, based on the composer's original manuscripts in the Library of Congress
. A complete CD recording was issued by Albany Records
.
, England, villagers are singing and dancing about the first day of May ("Mayday") and "Tis the Morning of the Fair". Friar Tuck, an overweight comic character, sings "As an Honest Auctioneer" about selling goods including a suit of clothes. The milkmaids sing the "Milkmaid's Song" about how wonderful their life is, followed by Allan a Dale who sings about real milkmaids being overworked. Robin Hood and his archers arrive and the chorus sings "Come the Bowmen in Lincoln Green" (the color of their costumes) and their ideal life in the woods and are welcomed to an archery contest. Allan a Dale gets into an argument (in song) with Robin about love and kissing. Friar Tuck joins the argument and one of the milkmaids, Maid Marian sings "I Came As a Cavalier". Robin Hood and Maid Marian sing a duet "Though It Was Within This Hour We Met".
The Sheriff of Nottingham appears and announces his plan to arrange a marriage of his nephew Guy of Gisborne to the beautiful Maid Marian. The Sheriff sings a boastful song "I am the Sheriff of Nottingham" that labels him as the villain. Sir Guy and the Sheriff sing a duet about how Sir Guy should ask Marian to marry him. Maid Marian sings about another boyfriend named Colin while the Sheriff instructs Sir Guy to sing to Marian "Sweetheart, my own sweetheart. Lift up thy bonny eyes". Robin Hood and the bowmen return and sing about all the prizes they won in the archery contest. Because Robin is to receive his inheritance today, they go to the Sheriff's residence, knock on the door, and demand that the Sheriff declare Robin Hood's title of Earl, title to his land, and cash. The Sheriff comes to the door and refuses all demands and declares "No Earl are you, you vain, presumptuous youth." and produces forged documents proving that Sir Guy is the Earl. Little John sings to Robin "Come to Sherwood, join our jolly crew." Robin and his friends exit singing "Away to the woods".
Reginald de Koven
Henry Louis Reginald De Koven was an American music critic and prolific composer, particularly of comic operas.-Biography:...
(music), Harry B. Smith
Harry B. Smith
Harry Bache Smith was a writer, lyricist and composer. The most prolific of all American stage writers, he is said to have written over 300 librettos and more than 6000 lyrics. Some of his best-known works were librettos for the composer Victor Herbert...
(lyrics) and Clement Scott
Clement Scott
Clement Scott was an influential English theatre critic for the Daily Telegraph, and a playwright and travel writer, in the final decades of the 19th century...
(lyrics of "Oh Promise Me
Oh Promise Me
Oh Promise Me is a song with music by Reginald De Koven and lyrics by Clement Scott. The song was written in 1887 and first published in 1889 as an art song. De Koven may have based the melody partly on an aria by Stanislao Gastaldon, "Musica Proibita". In 1890, De Koven wrote his most...
"). The story is based on the Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
legend, during the reign of King Richard I (1189-1199 AD). The opera was composed in Chicago, Illinois during the winter of 1888-1889.
Robin Hood was first performed at the Chicago Opera House on 9 June 1890. It was produced by the Ideal Opera Company, also known as the Bostonians. The opera opened in New York at the Knickerbocker Theater
Knickerbocker Theatre (Broadway)
The Knickerbocker Theatre — previously known as Abbey's Theatre and Henry Abbey's Theatre — was a Broadway theatre located at 1396 Broadway in New York City. It operated from 1893 to 1930...
on April 30, 1900 and was produced in London at the Prince of Wales Theatre
Prince of Wales Theatre
The Prince of Wales Theatre is a West End theatre on Coventry Street, near Leicester Square in the City of Westminster. It was established in 1884 and rebuilt in 1937, and extensively refurbished in 2004 by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, its current owner...
in 1891 with a new title, Maid Marian.
In 2004 the Ohio Light Opera
Ohio Light Opera
The Ohio Light Opera is a professional opera company based in Wooster, Ohio that performs the light opera repertory, including Gilbert and Sullivan, American, British and continental operettas, and other musical theatre works, especially of the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
produced the opera based on a new critical edition of the opera that it commissioned from Quade Winter
Quade Winter
Quade Winter is an American composer, musical restorer and translator, specializing in the light operas of Victor Herbert. Earlier in his career, he sang opera for over two decades.-Early years and singing career:...
, based on the composer's original manuscripts in the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
. A complete CD recording was issued by Albany Records
Albany Records
Albany Records is an American classical music record label focusing particularly on contemporary classical music. It was established by Peter Kermani in 1987, and is based in Albany, New York.-External links:**...
.
Act 1
In the market square in NottinghamNottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, England, villagers are singing and dancing about the first day of May ("Mayday") and "Tis the Morning of the Fair". Friar Tuck, an overweight comic character, sings "As an Honest Auctioneer" about selling goods including a suit of clothes. The milkmaids sing the "Milkmaid's Song" about how wonderful their life is, followed by Allan a Dale who sings about real milkmaids being overworked. Robin Hood and his archers arrive and the chorus sings "Come the Bowmen in Lincoln Green" (the color of their costumes) and their ideal life in the woods and are welcomed to an archery contest. Allan a Dale gets into an argument (in song) with Robin about love and kissing. Friar Tuck joins the argument and one of the milkmaids, Maid Marian sings "I Came As a Cavalier". Robin Hood and Maid Marian sing a duet "Though It Was Within This Hour We Met".
The Sheriff of Nottingham appears and announces his plan to arrange a marriage of his nephew Guy of Gisborne to the beautiful Maid Marian. The Sheriff sings a boastful song "I am the Sheriff of Nottingham" that labels him as the villain. Sir Guy and the Sheriff sing a duet about how Sir Guy should ask Marian to marry him. Maid Marian sings about another boyfriend named Colin while the Sheriff instructs Sir Guy to sing to Marian "Sweetheart, my own sweetheart. Lift up thy bonny eyes". Robin Hood and the bowmen return and sing about all the prizes they won in the archery contest. Because Robin is to receive his inheritance today, they go to the Sheriff's residence, knock on the door, and demand that the Sheriff declare Robin Hood's title of Earl, title to his land, and cash. The Sheriff comes to the door and refuses all demands and declares "No Earl are you, you vain, presumptuous youth." and produces forged documents proving that Sir Guy is the Earl. Little John sings to Robin "Come to Sherwood, join our jolly crew." Robin and his friends exit singing "Away to the woods".
Act 2
In Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood and his friends have gathered. Songs include "O Cheerily Sounds the Hunter's Horn", "The Tailor and the Crow", "Brown October Ale", the "Tinker's Song", "O See the Lambkins Play" (a drinking song), and "Ho then for Jollity" (drinking song). Marian sings the "Forest Song" dreaming of Robin. Robin sings a serenade "A Troubadour Sang to His Love". Allan a Dale plans revenge for losing Marian to Robin. The Sheriff, who was pursuing Robin's followers as outlaws, is himself captured by them and they sing "Put him in the stocks. He is captive, our enemy, we win the game." Dame Durden sings to the Sheriff: "Faithless one, you're in a gruesome plight." But Sir Guy arrives with soldiers and overpowers Robin's men. Sir Guy and the Sheriff sing "We're brave as lions, for we're two to one." and "Sing hey for the gallows tree". Robin sings "You have no power to take my life. Marian must be my wife. It is the king's command." The Sheriff replies "The King's command is for the Earl of Huntington. The Earl of Huntington is Guy, and Guy will bridegroom be." All return to Nottingham.Act 3
In the courtyard of the Sheriff's castle, Will Scarlet the blacksmith sings the "Armourer's Song". Annabel sings about the coming wedding of Marian to Guy, and Allan a Dale sings the "Legend of the Chimes" in expectation of Robin's funeral. Robin and Marian sing a sad song pledging their love for each other. The Sheriff and Friar Tuck sing a duet about the "pains and pangs" of life. Robin and his men are in the courtyard of the castle where Robin finds King Richard the First who arrived home from the Crusades. Robin receives a pardon from King Richard and the return of his land. The Sheriff and Sir Guy sing about "A pardon from the King... Yes you are free".- Notes: "Oh Promise MeOh Promise MeOh Promise Me is a song with music by Reginald De Koven and lyrics by Clement Scott. The song was written in 1887 and first published in 1889 as an art song. De Koven may have based the melody partly on an aria by Stanislao Gastaldon, "Musica Proibita". In 1890, De Koven wrote his most...
" was not part of the original opera, but was written in 1887 by De Koven to lyrics written by English poet Clement Scott and published as a separate art songArt songAn art song is a vocal music composition, usually written for one voice with piano or orchestral accompaniment. By extension, the term "art song" is used to refer to the genre of such songs....
in 1889. The piece is used in Act 3, sung at the wedding of Robin Hood and Maid Marian, but in the 1891 version it was sung in Act 2 between "Brown October Ale" and the "Tinkers' Song".
Characters
- Robert of Huntington (Robin Hood) (tenor)
- The Sheriff of Nottingham (baritone)
- Sir Guy of Gisborne, a ward of the sheriff (tenor)
- Little John, outlaw (baritone)
- Will Scarlet, outlaw, blacksmith and armorer (bass)
- Friar Tuck, outlaw clergyman (bass)
- Allan A-Dale, outlaw (contralto)
- Lady Marian Fitzwalter (Maid Marian) (soprano)
- Dame Durden, a widow (mezzo-soprano)
- Annabel, Durden's daughter (soprano)
- the chorus