Music of Time
In the spirit of Peter & the Wolf &
The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra...
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A new Baroque Chamber Opera
libretto & music by
Andrew Lawrence-King
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The Play of MUSIC & TIME
An Explorer's Guide to Early Music
Andrew Lawrence-King
created this opera as
Composer in Residence at the Arvo Pärt Centre (Estonia).
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LISTEN HERE: Passacagliafrom The Play of Music & Time
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LIFE
goes round in Circles...
until MUSIC
rescues TIME
out of Hell.
In the ancient Philosophy of the Music of the Spheres,
cosmic TIME, human LIFE and the sound of MUSIC are all connected.
This New Baroque Chamber Opera presents a Story in Music
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introducing new audiences of all ages
to the instruments of the Basso Continuo,
to the first operas,
to period mythology and imagery,
to the musical philosophy of Aristotle & Machaut,
to the poetical concepts of Dante & Shakespeare,
and to the music of Monteverdi, Purcell & Lully.
In the beginning:
CERBERUS, the three-headed dog, guards the enchanted palace...
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Prologue THE MUSIC OF THE SPHERES
Ballo: Primum Mobile
Toccata: TIME goes backwards
Sinfonia: CONTINUO directs the whole opera.
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Act I CONCORD
Passacaglia: MUSIC descends from Heaven.
Chacona: LIFE on Earth
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Act II DISSONANCE
Passamezzo: Losing TIME
Folía TIME flies away. The WOLF growls.
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Act III DARKNESS
Romanesca: Lament for lost TIME
Xácara: A good TIME in Hell
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Act IV IN SEARCH OF LOST TIME
A New Ground: MUSIC offers hope
Round-O: LIFE goes round in circles, FIDO chases his tail
Aria Save TIME with HARMONY, and don't turn back!
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Act V PARTY TIME
Chaconne: TIME gives LIFE to MUSIC
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Duration: 45 minutes
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LA MUSICA - Music (Soprano)
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IL TEMPO - Time (Bass)
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VITA HUMANA - Life (Counter-Tenor)
CERBERO - The mythical three-headed dog...
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WOLF HARMONY FIDO
Featuring the instruments of the BASSO CONTINUO
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Theorbo ~ TIME Wooden Organ ~ Heaven
Baroque Harp ~ MUSIC Harpsichord ~ Earth
Baroque Guitar ~ LIFE Regal ~ Hell
for three singers (Soprano, Counter-Tenor, Bass)
with Baroque Chamber Ensemble in 5 parts
(flexible scoring: e.g. violins, viols, recorders, sackbuts etc)
Work in Progress:
Peter & the Play
Comparative Analysis
& Internal Connections:
Peter & the Wolf
~
The Play of Music & Time