Music, Glenn Korff School of

 

Randall Snyder Compositions

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

1996

Citation

Manuscript, 1996

Comments

Copyright 1996, Randall Snyder. Used by permission

Abstract

The Players (in order of appearance)

a middle-aged composer, dressed in 19th century costume
an impresario, speaks with W.C.Fields accent, dressed in a Dickensian style
the cast (chorus) of the Willy-Nilly Traveling Opera-Circus Troupe:
a flamboyant soprano, an aging diva, colorfully dressed
an alto, a timid musicologist, dressed as a college co-ed
a tenor, a jazzer, dressed in a pin-striped zoot suit, wearing sun-glasses
a bass, a bitter old man, speaks with a German accent, wearing shabby clothes
stage audience including a critic, and crew

Place

Five days in the present sets a garret and the backstage of a theater

Contents

Scene One- The Commission: composer, Impresario
Scene Two- The Company: entire cast
Scene Three- The Composition: composer
Scene Four- The Premier: entire cast
Scene Five- The Review: composer, impresario

Synopsis

A composer is looking at slides of famous composers and comes to the realization that he will never be able to compose great music and achieve greatness. He is interrupted by an impresario who commissions him to write an opera that will be premiered in five days. The composer agrees and meets the cast and orchestra. The opera is written but the premier is less than successful.

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