The Scarecrow (opera)
Encyclopedia
The Scarecrow, an opera
, premiered at the University of Texas at Austin
in February-March 2006. The music was written by Joseph Turrin and libretto by Bernard Stambler. The opera is based on Percy MacKaye
's play, which was in turn based on Nathaniel Hawthorne's
last short story, “Feathertop
.”
The Scarecrow was commissioned by a consortium of twelve universities: Eastman School of Music
, Hartt School of Music
, Yale University
, University of Michigan
, University of Minnesota
, University of North Texas
, Baylor University
, University of Oklahoma
, Arizona State, University of New Mexico
, Michigan State, and the University of Texas at Austin.
on November 17-18 and December 1-2, 2006.
The work was originally started in 1976 but was not orchestrated until 2006.
Orchestra: Two flutes (piccolo double), oboe, two clarinets (bass clarinet double), two bassoons (contra bassoon double), two horns, two trumpets, two trombones, harp, piano (harpsichord and celesta double), four cello, bass and two percussionists
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, premiered at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
in February-March 2006. The music was written by Joseph Turrin and libretto by Bernard Stambler. The opera is based on Percy MacKaye
Percy MacKaye
Percy MacKaye was an American dramatist and poet.-Biography:MacKaye was born in New York City, New York. After graduating from Harvard in 1897, he traveled in Europe for three years, residing in Rome, Switzerland and London, studying at the University of Leipzig in 1899–1900...
's play, which was in turn based on Nathaniel Hawthorne's
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer.Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in 1804 in the city of Salem, Massachusetts to Nathaniel Hathorne and the former Elizabeth Clarke Manning. His ancestors include John Hathorne, a judge during the Salem Witch Trials...
last short story, “Feathertop
Feathertop
"Feathertop" is a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, first published in 1852.-Plot summary:In seventeenth century New England, the witch Mother Rigby builds a scarecrow to protect her garden...
.”
The Scarecrow was commissioned by a consortium of twelve universities: Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
, Hartt School of Music
Hartt School
The Hartt School is the comprehensive performing arts conservatory of the University of Hartford located in West Hartford, Connecticut, United States that offers innovative degree programs in music, dance, and theatre...
, Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
, Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
, University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, Arizona State, University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
, Michigan State, and the University of Texas at Austin.
Performance history
The world premiere was performed at the McCullough Theatre, University of Texas at Austin Performing Arts Center on February 24, 26 and March 3, 2006. During these performances, a studio recording of the opera was recorded and produced by Mark Sarisky as one of the four initial releases on the University of Texas at Austin School of Music's recording label, Longhorn Music. The recording can be purchased from the following link: http://www.music.utexas.edu/longhornmusic/Catalog/Details.aspx?ID=126 . A second staging was presented by the Lyric Opera Theatre at Arizona State UniversityArizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
on November 17-18 and December 1-2, 2006.
The work was originally started in 1976 but was not orchestrated until 2006.
Instrumentation
10 singers:- Mother Rigby (Mezzo-sopranoMezzo-sopranoA mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
) - Feathertop (BaritoneBaritoneBaritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
) - Justice Goodkin (TenorTenorThe tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
) - Polly Goodkin (SopranoSopranoA soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
) - Governor (Bass)
- Lady Governor (AltoAltoAlto is a musical term, derived from the Latin word altus, meaning "high" in Italian, that has several possible interpretations.When designating instruments, "alto" frequently refers to a member of an instrumental family that has the second highest range, below that of the treble or soprano. Hence,...
) - Man 1 (TenorTenorThe tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
) - Man 2 (BaritoneBaritoneBaritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
) - Man 3 (Bass)
- Woman 1 (SopranoSopranoA soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
) - Woman 2 (AltoAltoAlto is a musical term, derived from the Latin word altus, meaning "high" in Italian, that has several possible interpretations.When designating instruments, "alto" frequently refers to a member of an instrumental family that has the second highest range, below that of the treble or soprano. Hence,...
) - Woman 3 (Mezzo-sopranoMezzo-sopranoA mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
) - Dickon (optional character) There are two optional monologues at the beginning of each Act, both of which are recited by Dickon. Aside from that, the character is silent but almost always present on stage.
Orchestra: Two flutes (piccolo double), oboe, two clarinets (bass clarinet double), two bassoons (contra bassoon double), two horns, two trumpets, two trombones, harp, piano (harpsichord and celesta double), four cello, bass and two percussionists
World Premiere Cast
The following is the World Premiere Cast, also featured on the World Premiere Recording:- Mother Rigby - Alta Boover Dantzler
- Feathertop - Yoon-Sang Lee
- Justice Goodkin - Drake Dantzler
- Polly Goodkin - Deanna Waldon
- Governor - Damon Passmore
- Lady Governor - Keely Rhodes
- Man 1 - Sheldon Alexander
- Man 2 - Benjamin Bear
- Man 3 - Stephen Long
- Woman 1 - Juliann Albaugh
- Woman 2 - Holly Schwartz
- Woman 3 - Nicole Taylor
- Dickon - Matthew Neumann