November Session Play On! Materials
Le Maréchal Ferrant / The Blacksmith
This month we travel west with Philidor’s The Blacksmith through song, design, and stringed instruments. This unit is inspired by Opera Lafayette’s production created in the great outdoors of Colorado! This exciting production makes a rare mix of cowboys and Opera. We meet with Guest Artists from the company including guitarist and arranger Adam Gardino, and baritone Josh Conyers. We learn about a fusing of cultures and traditions through story and music, and some unconventional operatic instruments!
Listen to some of the original music from the opera, in French:
You can see Opera Lafayette’s version in English, with guitars and harmonica on November 15, 2020 on their website. GET TICKETS NOW!
Check out the set! This show was performed as a real, live country western!
ACTIVITIES
Hammers and Anvils as Instruments
Our story this unit is about the family of a Blacksmith. Blacksmith’s have been very important craftsmen in American history- forging horse shoes, gates, and tools. In any old town, their shops could easily be found by following the sound of the ringing hammer on metal. In these pieces of music, the composer has built that unique sound into the orchestra!
Dhas Reingold by Pacific Opera Victoria, hammers as instruments
Second suite for military band in F-major" by Gustav Holst, anvil percussion
Music as secret message
We know in opera that music helps tell story. Here is a book about an American Blacksmith who used the music of his hammer to tell another story, a very important one. We recommend checking this book out from your library, or buying it online, but you can start by looking and listening to it here:
How far do you think the sound of the Blacksmith’s hammer can travel?
What was the message he was sending with his music?
Do you think it was the same rhythm every time he played it?
What secret messages might you want to hammer into the night?
Can you make up a secret rhythm with your hand on a table?
Now can you repeat that exact same rhythm again?
How the West was Sung
In this unit, we sing all sorts of songs you would normally never hear in an opera- but this opera features popular tunes of the place and time, and since our story is set in the wild old west, well, these are the songs that would be sung!
Sing along, dance along, yodel your way through!
If you want to see more of Adam singing, strumming, and yodeling, here he is in performance:
Dance
In the American West, country dancing is a way to keep your feet lively and connect with your community, moving together in unison. Check out this country dance in a barn, then learn a few steps yourself!
You may also enjoy some classic barn dance scenes from the days of big movie musicals:
Summer Stock with Gene Kelly and Judy Garland in a Barn Dance
Guitar- craft
In this unit, we heard Adam play the guitar. In our past class on the theorbo, we included lots of great ways to build your own stringed instrument out of regular household items. Winter is a great time to have some extra instruments on hand, so pull out some boxes and rubber bands and see what you can do! You will be surprised at how good these can sound.
BONUS
Meet Bingo the Donkey!
Learn about the animals who were in the opera
Joshua Conyers on Stage!
Joshua Conyers as Falstaff Verdi’s Falstaff -The Washington National Opera
This opera takes place in the early 15th century during the reign of Henry IV in Windsor, England. Falstaff is an overweight Knight, and his servants, Bardolfo and Pistola, are dining at the inn. When the innkeeper presents a bill, Falstaff tells Bardolfo and Pistola that he needs more money, and plans to obtain it by becoming friends with the wives of two rich men. Falstaff hands Bardolfo a love-letter to one of the wives (Alice Ford), and hands Pistola an identical letter addressed to the other (Meg). Bardolfo and Pistola refuse to deliver the letters, claiming that honour prevents them from obeying him. Falstaff loses his temper and rants at them, saying that "honour" is nothing but a word, with no meaning.
“Working with a fight choreographer on this scene was a lot of fun. Learning techniques to incorporate extraneous movement and singing at the same time was very helpful.”
- Joshua Conyers
Joshua Conyers as Musiklehrer Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos - Wolf Trap Opera
Ariadne auf Naxos is in two parts, called the Prologue and the Opera. The first part shows the backstage circumstances leading up to the second part, which is in fact an opera within an opera. This opera was written in 1916 and it is set in the present. This production is set in the present 2019. The men are dressed in modern suits and the women in 21st century dresses.
“My character is the Music Master and teacher of the Composer. At the home of the richest man in Vienna, preparations for an evening of music are under way. Two troupes of musicians and singers have arrived. One is a burlesque group, the other is an opera company, who will present an opera seria, Ariadne auf Naxos, the work of the Composer. Members of the two companies quarrel over which performance should be presented first. However, the preparations are thrown into confusion by an announcement by the Major-domo. The dinner for the assembled guests has run longer than planned. Therefore, both performances must take place at the same time as they have been ordered and paid for. The performances must not run one minute later than scheduled, despite the late start, since at nine o'clock there will be fireworks in the garden. At first, the impetuous young Composer refuses to discuss any changes to his opera. But his teacher, the Music Master, points out that his pay depends on accepting the situation, and counsels him to be prudent. The Composer realizes what he has assented to, plunges into despair and storms out.”
- Joshua Conyers
OPERA STARTS WITH OH! IS A VIRTUAL PROGRAM PART OF
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