OperaSaratoga’sOPERA-TO-GOProgramismadepossibleinpartwithgeneroussupportfrom:
TheFriendsofOperaSaratoga
TheWaldoT.Ross&RuthS.RossCharitableFoundation
and
NewYorkStateCouncilontheArtswiththesupportofGovernorAndrewM.CuomoandtheNewYorkStateLegislature.
Page | 1
TEACHER’SGUIDE
TableofContents
To the Teacher ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Objectives ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
3
4
OPERA
Investigate Opera …………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Opera Production .………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
A Short History of Opera …………………………………………………………………………………………………
5
6
7
Opera Worksheets
Opera Pie ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Opera Vocabulary ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Where in the World Is… ………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Opera Word Search ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Answer Sheet ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
8
9
11
12
13
Coloring ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
14
THE BREMEN TOWN MUSICIANS
Meet the Cast …………………………………..……………………………………………………………………………. 15
Meet the Authors ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 16
The Story ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 19
Bremen Town Musician Worksheets
Matching Pictures ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Complete Patterns …………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Robber’s Loot Math …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
You Be the Author ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Answer Sheet ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
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21
22
23
24
25
TOTHETEACHERS
ThisTeacherGuideisforusebyclassroomandmusicteachersinanticipationofaperformancebyOpera
SaratogaofTheBremenTownMusicians.
Thisguideisdesignedtobenefitbothstudentsandteacherswithregardtothedevelopmentofaninterdisciplinaryapproachtooperaeducation.Theactivitiesprovidedinthisguidearedesignedtoencourage
studentstoactivelylistenandobserveliveopera.Alsoincludedarefollow-upworksheetsthat
encouragestudentstointernalizewhattheysaw,heard,andfelt.Weencourageyoutousethisguideto
augmentyourexistingcurriculuminthemanydisciplinesthatareincluded.Pleasefeelfreetocopyor
adaptanypartoftheguideforusewithyourstudents.Althoughtheproductionstandsonitsown,a
preparedstudentwillbetterunderstandandmorefullyappreciateourpresentation.
AtOperaSaratoga,webelievethattheperformingartsareanessentialcomponentofeverystudent’s
education,andthathe/sheshouldbeaffordedopportunitiestoexploreopera.Tohelpaccomplishthis,
wearecommittedtofosteringstrongpartnershipswithschools,educators,andparentstoprovide
studentswithaccesstoopportunitiesthatillustratehowtheartsarevitaltoourhumanity.
WesincerelyhopethatyourexperiencewithOpera-to-Gowillbegenuinelyrewarding,providingthe
catalystforalifelongappreciationofoperaandthemanyartformsthatcombinetomakethisunique
experience.
Sincerely,
MariahWakefield
Opera-to-GoProgramCoordinator
MarketingandCommunityRelationsManager
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OBJECTIVES
PurposeoftheStudyGuide
•
•
Toacquaintboththeeducatorandthestudentwithmusicalstorytelling
•
Toprovideaninnovative,new,multi-disciplinaryapproachtoteachingrequiredskillsand
curriculum
•
Topromotetheunderstandingofhowopera,asanartform,reflectsandcommentsonour
societyandtheworldinwhichwelive
•
Topromoterealizationoftheimportanceofliteratureasamirrorofhumanexperience,
reflectinghumanmotives,conflicts,andvalues
•
Tohelpstudentsidentifywithfictionalcharactersinhumansituationsasameansofrelatingto
others
Tofamiliarizestudentswiththe“worldofopera”–itsvocabulary,history,etc.
BEFOREATTENDINGTHEPERFORMANCE
ALLSTUDENTSSHOULDBEABLETO:
•
Recognizethecharacternames
•
Understandhowmusicanddramacombinetotellastory
Page | 4
INVESTIGATEOPERA
WHATDOESTHEWORDOPERAMEAN?
ThewordoperacomesfromtheLatinwordopus,whichmeansawork.Whatisawork?Itissomething
apersoncreates.Itisapoemorasongoradrawingoracompositionoranyothercreativethinga
personmakes.Thepluralofopusisopera.OperameansworksintheLatinlanguage.Todayweusethe
wordoperatodescribeonelargeworkofperformingartthatcontainsmanycreativeparts.Anoperais
manyworksthatarecombinedtogether.Operahasinstrumentalmusic,adramaticplayorcomedy,
singingandacting,scenery,costumes,speciallightingandsometimesdancing.
WHEREDIDOPERABEGIN?
Operawascreatedover400yearsagoinFlorence,Italy.In1597,acomposernamedJacopoPeriwrotea
playthatwassungthroughoutinsteadofbeingspoken.Hedidthisbecausehewastryingtowriteaplay
thewayhethoughttheancientGreeksdid.Duringthisperiod,educatedpeopleweretryingtolearnall
theycouldabouttheworldofancientGreecesotheycouldimitateit.Thefirstoperawasabouta
characterinGreekmythologynamedDaphne.Theideaofpresentingplaysthatweresungbecamevery
popularandmoreandmorecomposersbegantocombinemusicanddrama.Loveofoperaspreadall
overEuropeandeventuallytheworld.Operashavebeenwrittenineverylanguageanditspopularity
showsnosignsofslowingdown.
Asinaplay,designersmustbecalledontocreatethecostumes,lights,sets,andmakeupforanopera
production.Whentheactualperformanceapproaches,thesingershavedressrehearsalswheretheyget
toweartheirnewcostumesandperformonthenewlybuildscenery.Rehearsalsgivethesingers/actors
anopportunitytopracticetheirmusicandtheiractingwithoneanother.
Thepersonwhoactuallywritesthewordsforanoperaiscalledalibrettist.Oftenthewordsareadapted
fromanexistingstoryorplay,suchasinTheBremenTownMusicians.TheBremenTownMusiciansuses
themusicofcomposersGioacchinoRossini,andJacquesOffenbach,GiuseppeVerdi,andGaetano
Donizetti;andthelibrettistisJohnDavies.
HOWISTHEOPERATICVOICEDIFFERENT?
Operaticsingingisdifferentfrompopularsinging.Thereismorevibrationinaoperasinger’svoice.This
vibrationiscalledvibrato,anItalianword.Ithelpsthesingerholdnotesforalongtimewithouttakinga
breath.Properbreathingisveryimportantbecausetheairinthelungsmustbeletoutveryslowlyina
controlledway.Operasingersmustbeabletosingveryhighandverylow,inawiderange,andsingfast
runs,whicharemanynotesinarowsungveryrapidly.Theydonotusemicrophonestoprojecttheir
voices.Allthepowerintheirvoicesmustcomefrominsidetheirbodies.Ittakesyearsofstudyand
practicetolearntodothis.Thehighestsingingfemalevoiceiscalledsopranoandthelowestmalevoice
iscalledbass.Operasingersmustbeabletosingindifferentlanguagesbecausemostoperasare
performedinthelanguageinwhichtheywereoriginallywritten.
Page | 5
OperaProduction
Apiewithlotsofpieces!
Operaiscreatedbythecombinationofamyriadofartforms.Firstandforemostarethe
actors/singerswhoportraycharactersbyrevealingtheirthoughtsandemotionsthroughthe
singingvoice.Thenextveryimportantcomponentisafullsymphonyorchestrathat
accompaniesthesingingactorsandactresses,helpingtoportraythefullrangeofemotions
possibleinanopera.Theseperformancesarefurtherenhancedbywigs,costumes,sets,and
specializedlighting,allofwhicharedesigned,created,andthenmadebyateamofhighly
trainedartisans.
Thecreationofanoperabeginswithadramaticconceptcreatedbyaplaywright,whoaloneor
withhelpfashionsthescriptorlibretto–thewordstheartistswillsing.Workingtogether,the
composerandlibrettistteamuptocreateamusicaldramainwhichthemusicandwordswork
togethertoexpresstheemotionsrevealedinthestory.Whentheirworkisdone,thecomposer
andlibrettistentrusttheirworktoanotherduo,theconductorandstagedirector.Thesetwo
areresponsibleforbringingthestorytolife.Theconductorpreparesthemusic,whilethestage
directorisinchargeofwhatweseeonthestage.
Thedesignteam,withhelpfromthestagedirector,takeschargeofthephysicalproductionof
thestoryworldonstage.Setdesigners,lightingdesigners,costumedesigners,wigandmakeup
designersandevenchoreographersarebroughtonboardtohelpcreateanewproduction.A
setdesignercombinestheskillsofanartistandanarchitectusingblueprintplanstodesignthe
physicalsettingsrequiredbythestoryline.Theseblueprintsareturnedovertoateamof
carpenterswhoarespeciallytrainedintheartofstagecarpentry.Afterthesetisconstructed,
painterspaintthesetfollowingtheoriginalplansfromthesetdesigner.Whenthesetis
assembledonthestage,thelightingdesignerworkswithateamofelectricianstothrowlight
onthestageandtheset,meetingthepracticalneedsoftheactorsonstageandalsocreatinga
moodfortheaudience.Usingspecializedlightinginstruments,colorgelsandcomputers,the
lightingdesignerplotsoutwhichlightcomeonatwhattime,andhowquicklyorslowly
throughoutthestoryoftheopera.
Thecostumedesignerconsultsthestagedirectortodesignappropriateclothingforthesingers.
Thesedesignsarethenmadeintopatternsandcreatedbyateamofhighlyskilledartisans
calledcutters,stitchers,andsewers.Eachcostumeisspeciallymadeforeachsingerusinghisor
herindividualmeasurements.Thewigandmakeupdesigner,workingwiththecostume
designer,designsandcreateswigsthatwillcomplementboththecostumeandthesingeras
wellasrepresenthistoricallyaccuratefashions.
Asaperformancenears,rehearsalsareheldonthenewlyconstructedset,usingthecostumes,
lights,andorchestratoensureacohesiveperformancethatwillbebothdramaticallyand
musicallysatisfyingtotheaudience.
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AShortHistoryofOpera
ThewordoperaisthepluralformoftheLatinwordopus,whichtranslatesquiteliterallyas
“work.”Theuseofthepluralformalludestotheabundanceofartformsthatcombineto
createanoperaticperformance.Todayweacceptthewordoperaasareferencetoa
theatricallybasedmusicalartforminwhichthedramaispropelledbythesungdeclamationof
textaccompaniedbyinstrumentalmusic.
Operaasanartformcanclaimitsoriginwiththeinclusionofincidentalmusicthatwas
performedduringthetragediesandcomediespopularduringancientGreektimes.The
traditionofincludingmusicasanintegralpartofthetheatricalactivitiesexpandedinRoman
timesandcontinuedthroughtheMiddleAges.Survivingexamplesofliturgicaldramasand
vernacularplaysfromMedievaltimesshowtheuseofmusicasapartoftheaction,asdothe
vastmysteryandmoralityplaysofthe15thand16thcenturies.Mostmusichistoriansholdthat
thefirstcompletelysungmusicaldrama(oropera)developedasaresultofdiscussionsheldin
Florence,Italy,inthe1570’sbyaninformalacademyknownastheCamerata,whichledtothe
musicalsettingofRinuccini’sdrama,Dafne,bycomposerJacopoPeriin1597.
TheworkofsuchearlyItalianmastersasGiulioCacciniandClaudioMonteverdiledtothe
developmentofathrough-composedmusicalentertainmentcomprisedofrecitative,or
speech-likesections,whichrevealedtheplotofthedrama,followedbyariasthatprovidedthe
singeranopportunityforpersonalreflection.Thefunctionofthechorusintheseearlyworks
mirroredthatofthecharacterofthesamenamefoundinGreekdrama.Thenewformofopera
wasgreetedfavorablybythepublicandquicklybecameapopularentertainment.
Operahasflourishedthroughtheworldasavehiclefortheexpressionofthefullrangeof
humanemotions.Italiansclaimtheartformastheirown–retainingdominanceinthefield
throughthedeathofGiacomoPucciniin1924.Rossini,Bellini,Donizetti,Verdi,andPuccini
developedtheartformthroughclearlydefinedperiodsofdevelopmentthatproducedopera
buffa,operaseria,belcanto,andverismo.TheAustrianMozartchampionedthesingspiel
(singingplay),whichcombinedthespokenwordwithmusic,aformalsousedbyBeethoven,
Bizet,andOffenbach.GounodandMeyerbeerweretheleadersinFrenchoperathatcombined
lavishsetsandcostumes,andincorporatedballet.TheGermansvonWeber,RichardStrauss,
andWagnerdevelopedtheuniquestyleofoperapopularintheirhomecountry.TheEnglish,
Spanish,andViennesealsohelpedtoestablishoperaasaformofentertainmentthatcontinues
toenjoygreatpopularitythroughouttheworld.
Withthebeginningofthe20thcentury,composersinAmericadivergedfromEuropean
traditionsinordertofocusontheirownrootswhileexploringanddevelopingthevastbodyof
thecountry’sfolkmusicandlegends.ComposerssuchasAaronCopland,DouglasMoore,
SamuelBarber,LeonardBernstein,andCarlisleFloydhaveallcraftedoperasthathavebeen
presentedthroughouttheworldtogreatsuccess.Today,composersJohnAdams,PhilipGlass,
JohnCorgliano,andMarkAdamoenjoysuccessbothathomeandabroadandarecreditedwith
theinfusionofnewlifeintoanartformthatcontinuestoevolveevenasitapproachesitsfifth
century.
Page | 7
THEOPERAPIE
Makeyourown“OperaPie”bylistingthe
differentkindsofperformingartsthatmakeup
onewholeopera.
Makeeachpieceofthepieadifferentcolor.
Colorintheboxesnexttothedifferent
componentsofeachopera.
PIELEGEND
THE5W’SOFOPERAHISTORY
WHOwrotethefirstopera? WHAT wasthenameofthefirstopera?
WHEREwasthefirstoperaperformed?
WHENwasthefirstoperawritten? WHYwastheplaysunginsteadofspoken?
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___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
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OperaVocabularyand
PronunciationGuide
•
•
Aria
•
•
(AH-ree-ah).Amusicalpieceforsolovoice.
Baritone
(BARE-ih-tone).Themiddlerangemalevoice.
Bass (BASE).Lowestmalevoice.
BelCanto
(behl-CAHN-toh).Literally“beautifulsinging”.Alsoastyleof
ItalianoperamadepopularbycomposersRossini,Bellini,and
Donizettiinthe19thcentury,whichshowcasedthesingingvoice.
Coloratura
(coh-loh-rah-TOO-rah).Asingingstylewhensingerssingvery
fastfloridscalesandarpeggios,usuallyallononesoundor
syllableofaword.
Contralto
Thelowestfemalevoice.
•
Conductor
Thepersonwholeadstheorchestra.
•
Composer
Thepersonwhowritesthemusic.
•
Designer
Personwhocreatesthescenery,costumes,andlight.
•
Ensemble
Twoormoresingerssingingandexpressingtheiremotionsatthe
sametime.
•
FrenchOperetta
Astyleoflightoperawithspokendialoguefrom19thcentury
France.
•
Libretto
(lih-BREHT-toh).Literally“littlebook,”thisisthetextorwordsof
anopera.
•
Mezzo-Soprano
(MEH-tsosoh-PRAH-noh).Themiddlefemalevoice.
•
Opera (AH-peh-rah).Aplaythatusessinginginsteadofspeakingandis
accompaniedbyinstrumentalmusic.
•
OperaBuffa •
•
Page | 9
(BOOF-ah).Funnyorlightheartedlythemedopera.
•
OperaSeria
(SEH-ree-ah).Dramaticorseriouslythemedopera.
•
Overture
Thepreludetoanopera,playedbytheorchestraalone.
•
Recitative
(reh-chih-tah-TEEV).Atypeofmusicalspeakingwherethewords
ofthesingeraresungintherhythmofnaturalspeechwith
melodyadded.Recitativeisusuallyusedbetweenariasand
ensemblestopropelthestoryline.
•
Props Objectsplacedonthestageandusedbytheactors.
•
Score Thebookthatcontainsthemusicandwordsofanopera.
•
Set
Thesceneryusedonthestagetoshowlocation.
•
Singspiel
AtypeofoperacreatedinGermanythatusesspokendialogue
betweenariasandensembles.
•
Soprano
Thehighestfemalevoice.
•
StageDirector
Thepersonwhodecideshowthesingerswillmoveonstageand
howtheywillactwhiletheyaresingingtheirparts.
•
Tenor (TEH-nor).Thehighestmalevoice.
•
Verismo
(veh-RIHZ-moh).AstyleofItalianoperawithveryrealistic characterspopularinthelate19thandearly20thcentury.
•
Vibrato
(vih-BRAH-toh).Thenaturalwayforavoiceorinstrumentto
enlargeitssoundthrougharapidandsmallwaverinpitch.
Vibratomakessoundcarryfurtherandsoundmorepowerful.
•
Vocalrange
Thescopeofthehumanvoicefromitshighesttoitslowest
sounds.Voicefallintothesecategories:
Page | 10
Female
Male Soprano
Mezzo-Soprano
Contralto
High
Middle
Low
Tenor Baritone
Bass High
Middle
Low
WHEREINTHEWORLDIS…
OperaandmanyfairytalestracetheirrootstoEurope.
Findandcolorthefollowingcountrieswithyourfavoritecolors.
Page | 11
1.England
2.Germany 3.France4.Spain5.Italy
Page | 12
ANSWERSHEET
THEOPERAPIE
symphonyorchestra theater
scenery
dancing
costumes
singing/acting
speciallighting
5W’sofOperaHistory
Who What Where
When Why
Page | 13
JacopoPeri
Daphne
FlorenceItaly
1597
TowriteaplaythesamewayastheancientGreeks
OperaWordSearch
Page | 14
TheBremenTownMusicians
Composers
Librettist
StageDirectorandDesigner
Accompanist
Offenbach,Rossini,Donizetti,
Sullivan,andVerdi
ArrangedbyJohnDavies
JohnDavies
CaraConsilvio
MichaelRogers
TheCharacters
DorabellatheCat
BarcarolletheDog EddiePensiertheRooster
GeneralBoomtheDonkey
Page | 15
HannahGoodman,soprano LauraZahn,mezzo-soprano
MaxJacobZander,tenor
NicholasYaquinto,baritone
TheBremenTownMusicians
MeettheAuthors
GaetanoDonizetti–Composer
GaetanoDonizettiwasbornin1797inBergamo,Italy.Donizettiisconsideredamasterofthe
belcantostyle.Belcantodescribesatypeofoperathathadasetnumberofseparateariasand
ensemblesthatweredesignedtoshowoffthehumanvoice.Thesepieceswerefloridand
demandedgreatvirtuosityfromthesingers.Thisstylehelpedmakemanysingersoftheday
intostars.
Donizetti’stalentswererecognizedatanearlyageandatagenine,hewassenttostudyat
LezioniCaritatevoliSchoolonafullscholarship.Thefounderoftheschooltookapersonal
interestinDonizetti’seducation.HesentDonizettitostudywithPadreStanislaoMattei,who
hadbeenateacherofRossiniandevenpartiallypaidforsomeofhislessons.
Donizettiwroteseriousandcomedicopera,aswellasothervocalworks.L’elisird'amore(The
ElixirofLove)(1832)andDonPasquale(1843),bothcomedicoperas,aretwoofDonizetti’sbest
knownworks.ManyworkswithinDonizetti’soperaswerecreatedspecificallyforperformers
Donizettiknewandofferedthemopportunitiestoshowcasetheirspecifictalents.Donizetti
wrote65operas.
DonizettiwroteoperasinItalyaswellasParis.Donizettisufferedgreattragedyinhislife.He
hadthreechildren,noneofwhomsurvivedchildhoodandhiswifediedearlyintheirmarriage.
Donizettibecameillandafterspendingayearandahalfinaninstitution,movedtoParis.Once
there,hewasvisitedbymanymusiciansandcomposers,includingVerdi.Donizettidiedin1848
inhishometownofBergamo.
JacquesOffenbach–Composer
JacquesOffenbach,thecreatorofFrenchoperetta,wasthesonofaGermanCantor.Bornin
1819,Jacquesbecameaveryskilledcellistandatage14enrolledattheParisConservatoryof
Musicwherehegothisfirsttasteofopera.Playingcelloforprivatepartiesgavehiminspiration
tostartcomposingandbytheageof20,Offenbachhadcomposedhisfirsttheatricalpiece,
PaschaletChambord,whichwasnotverysuccessful.
In1850,hewaselectedastheheadoftheorchestrafortheParisComic-Opera,anditwasthen
thathestartedcomposingagreatdealofincidentalmusicforthecompany.Upsetwiththe
operacompany’sunwillingnesstoproducetruecomicopera,Offenbachdecidedtowritehis
ownshortoperettas.In1855hisopera,Lesdeuzaveugles,wasreceivedwithgreatsuccess.
ManyworksfollowedandOffenbach’sfamewaswidespread.Hewouldoftentourwiththese
productions,andby1858hisshortoperabuffosweretransformedintoanew21character
operatitledOrpheeauxenfers.Withsuchagreatsuccessbehindhim,Offenbachcontinued
writingsuchoperassuchasBarbeBleueandLavieParisiennethathelpedspreadhisfame.By
1870Offenbachs’operashadfallenoutoffavorwiththepublic.HewasworkingonTheTalesof
Page | 16
Hoffmanwhenhediedin1880.Theoperawasyetunfinished,buthisfamilyhadthework
finished.Amazinglyenough,Hoffmanremainshismostnotedworkandisperformedregularly
today.
GioachinoRossini–Composer
Bornintoamusicalfamilyin1792,Rossiniwasquiteaccomplishedatthehorn,violin,cello,and
harpsichord.Bytheageof14,hehadcomposedhisfirstworkforthestage,andin1806went
tostudyattheBolognaConservatorywherehewrotehisfirstopera,DemetrioePolibio.Many
operasfollowedwhilehedevelopedhistoolsasacomposer,usingtheorchestratoheightenhis
dramas.TheItalianGirlinAlgierswashisfirstbigoperabuffoandgainedhimwidespread
fame.TheBarberofSevillefollowedandisconsideredRossini’smostenduringwork.He
composedmorethan40operasduringhislife,utilizingnotonlytheoperabuffostyleofBarber,
butalsotheoperaseriastyle.Healsosetoneofthemostfamousfairytales,LaCenerentola
(Cinderella),asafull-scaleoperaticproduction.Rossiniusedcrisprhythmicpatternsalongwith
vocalcoloraturatocreatesharp,wittyoperasfullofcomicrealism.
TheoverturetoGuillaumeTell(WilliamTell),knowntomanyasthethemefortheLoneRanger,
isagreatexampleofadeviceRossiniinventedfororchestra.Hewouldsetupthefinaleof
manyofhispiecesusingaRossinicrescendowheretheorchestrawouldstartsoftlyandkeep
buildingandbuildingtoreachtheendofthepiece.Itcreatedaverystrongendingtomanyof
hisoperaovertures.AlthoughmanyofhisoperasareaspopulartodayastheywereinRossini’s
time,mostofthemhavenotsurvivedtobeinthecurrentoperaticrepertoire.
AuthurSullivan–Composer
AnEnglishcomposer,SullivanwasborninLondonin1842andwassontoanarmybandmaster.
Perhapsbecauseofthis,Sullivancouldplaymostinstruments.AfterwinningaMendelssohn
Scholarshipin1856,SullivanwasabletostudymusicattheRoyalAcademy.In1858,Sullivan
movedontotheConservatoryinLeipzig,whichwasthetopmusicalschoolofthetime.
Sullivanisbestknownforhiscollaborationswithlibrettist,WilliamS.Gilbert.Althoughthetwo
oftendidnotgetalong,theirnamesarealmostinseparable.Thetwowrotenumerouscomedic
operastogether,includingH.M.S.Pinafore,ThePiratesofPenzance,Iolanthe,PrinceIda,The
Mikado,Ruddigore,TheYeomenoftheGuard,andTheGondoliers.Theirworksoftenridiculed
theBritishgovernmentforstuffinessandpretentiousness.
InadditiontohisoperaswithWilliamS.Gilbert,Sullivanalsocomposedcantatas,oratorios,a
grandopera,hymns,orchestralworks,andchambermusic.In1883,Sullivanwasknighted.
Sullivandiedin1900.
GuiseppiVerdi–Composer
BorninLeRoncole,Italy,in1813,Verdiisconsideredtobeoneofthegreatestopera
composers.Verdihadadifficultchildhood,havinghisentiretowninvadedbyRussiansoldiers
whenhewastwo.Heandhismotherhidinabelltowertosurvive.Hewasverypoorbutdidhis
besttohelphismotherbytakingajobasanorganist.
Page | 17
VerdiwasrejectedbytheMilanConservatorybecausetheydidnotfeelhewassufficiently
talented.Healsomarriedandthensufferedlosinghiswifeandtheirtwochildrenwithinafour
yearperiod.Verdiremarriedin1859.
In1842,VerdifinallyfoundgreatsuccesswithhisoperaNabucco,whichwasperformedatLa
Scala,theworld’smostimportantoperahouse.Thechorus“Va,pensiero”isgreatlylovedand
issaidtobeanunofficialItaliananthem.MuchofVerdi’smusicisconsiderednationalistic—itis
closelyassociatedwiththecountryofItalyandoftengivesitscitizensasenseofpatriotism.
VerdiusedtheworksofWilliamShakespeare,VictorHugo,andAlexanderDumasforsomeof
hisgreatestoperas,includingMacbeth,Othello,Falstaff,Rigoletto,andLaTraviata.Rigoletto
containsthefamousaria“Ladonnaémobile.”Verdi’sworkisdramaticanddealswiththe
depthsofrealhumanemotionandcondition,includinglove,jealousy,betrayal,greed,desire,
patriotism,etc.PerhapsVerdi’sgrandestoperawasAïda.CommissionedbythekingofEgypt,
theworkwaswrittenfortheopeningoftheSuezCanal.Theworktellsofloveandtragedyin
ancientEgypt,andisanincredibleproduction.Besidesthespectacularorchestralandvocal
work,enormoussetpiecesarerequired.Theoriginalproductionusedliveanimalsincluding
elephants!Itwassuchahit,thatwhenthepieceopenedinItaly,Verdihimselfconductedand
theaudience’sstandingovationattheendlastedforthirty-twocurtaincalls.Verdiisalso
knownforhisdramaticRequiemMass.
Verdi’smusicischerishedbyItalians.Hisoperasareknownfortheirdrama,depth,and
intricacies.Manyofhismelodiesarenowhouseholdtuneshummedbychildrenandusedin
commercials.AlthoughVerdiretiredtoafarm,hecontinuedtowriteoperas,includingOthello
andFalstaff.Verdidiedin1901.HewasgivenastatefuneralandfamedconductorArturo
ToscaniniconductedcombinedorchestrasandchoirsofmusiciansfromalloverItalyatthe
event.
JohnDavies–WordsandStoryAdaptation
JohnDaviesisaprofessionaloperasingerwhohasperformedwithoperacompanies
throughouttheUnitedStates,includingtheMetropolitanOperaCompany,SanFranciscoOpera
andtheoperacompaniesofBoston,Philadelphia,SaltLakeCity,Atlanta,St.Louis,and
Anchorage.Hehasalsoperformedinconcertasbass-baritonesoloistwithmanysymphony
orchestras.
Afatherofsixchildren,Mr.Daviestakesanactiveinterestintheperformingartsforyoung
people.Hespendspartofeachyearwriting,narratingandhostingeducationalprogramsfor
operacompanies,symphonyorchestrasandchildren’smuseumsintheUnitedStates.His
opera,TheNightHarryStoppedSmokinghasbeenlistedasoneofthemostoftenperformed
operasinNorthAmericaandrecentlywonanationalaward.Mr.Davies’operasforyoung
audiencesincludeTheThreeLittlePigs,NeverTickleaMule,TheBillyGoatsGruff,Jackandthe
BeanstalkandLittleRed’sMostUnusualDay.Hisoperashavebeenpresentedbymorethan25
operacompaniesthroughouttheUnitedStatesandCanada.
Page | 18
TheBremenTownMusicians
IntroductiontotheOperaticVersion
FeaturingthemusicofOffenbach,Rossini,Donizetti,andVerdi,JohnDavieshasadaptedthe
taleofDorabellatheCat,BarcarolletheDog,EddiePensiertheRooster,andGeneralBoomthe
Donkeyintoadelightfulchildren'sopera.GeneralBoomseekstoformabandforthetownof
Bremenusingtheoutcastfarmanimalsasmusicians.Itdoesn'ttakelongforthemtodiscover
thattheyhavetoconsidereachother'sfeelingsbeforetheycanmakemusic,butcanthefour
verydifferentcreaturesbandtogetherbeforepiratesstealalltheirinstruments?
TheOriginalVersion
Anolddonkeyrealizesthathemaynolongerbeneededonhisfarm,soherunsaway.He
decideshewilltraveltothetownofBremenandbecomeamusician.
Alongtheway,herunsintoadogthatisalsorunningawaybecauseheisoldandfeelsunloved
andunneeded.Thetwosharetheirsorrows.Thedonkeyexplainsthathewillplaytheluteand
thedogcanplaythedrumwhentheygotoBremen.
Soonafter,theycomeacrossanoldcatthatisrunningawayfromhomebecausesheisgetting
toooldtochasemiceandknowsthatherownerwillnotwantheranymore.Shejoinstheband.
Next,theypassafarmyardwheretheyfindaroostercrowingloudly.Whentheyaskabouthis
problems,heexplainsthathehasheardhewillbecometomorrow’sdinner,soheiscrowing
loudlyaslongashecan.Thetroupeinvitestheroostertojointheirbandandtheycontinue
theirtriptoBremen.
Asnightapproaches,thebandrealizestheyarehungryandtired,andneedaplacetorest.They
comeuponahouseinthemiddleofnowhere,andrealizethatitisahide-outforrobbers.
Peeringthroughawindow,theyseeallofthedeliciousthingstherobbershavetoeat.
Thegroupmakesaplan.Theanimalsstackthemselves,withthedonkeyonbottom,thenthe
dog,thenthecat,andthentheroosterontop.Togethertheyallmaketheirownmusic—the
donkeybraying,thedogbarking,thecatmeowing,andtheroosterflappinghiswingsand
crowing.Theycrashthroughthewindow.Theirnoiseanddisplayterrifiestherobbersand
convincestherobbersthattheyhaveseensomesortofghostormonster.Therobbersflee.
Theanimalshavetheirfillofthefoodanddecidetorestforthenight.Therobbersbegantotalk
anddecidethatthey,beingrobbers,aretough.Theymusthavelettheirfearsgetthebestof
them.Oneofthemwillgobacktothehouse,whichisnowcompletelydark,andinvestigate.
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Onceinsidethedarkhouse,therobberstepsonthecat’stailcausinghertojumponhim,
screeching,hissing,andscratching.Ashestumbles,hetripsoverthedogwhobiteshimonthe
leg.Next,thedonkeygiveshimastrongkick.Therooster,whohadbeensleepingintherafters,
awakesfromthecommotionandbeginstocrowasloudlyashecan.
Therobberrunsasfasthecanbacktotheotherthieves.Heexclaimsthatfirstheranintoa
witchwhohissedathimandscratchedhisface.Then,amanhidinginthecornerstabbedhim
inthelegwithaknife.Anothermanstruckhimwithaclubonhisbackside,andsomethingor
someonewasscreamingathimfromtherafters!Afterhearingthetale,andseeingthewounds,
therobbersflee.
Thenextmorning,thebandofanimalsdecidesthattheylovethenewplaceandtheymakeit
theirhome,andcansingwithoneanotherwhenevertheylike.Theyrealizedthatwhenworking
asateamtheycanaccomplishgreatthings,andthattheyeachareuseful.Inotherwords,
everyonehassomethingtooffer,nomatterhowoldtheyare.
TheEnd
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TheBremenTownMusicians
MatchingPictures Name______________________
Cutandpastethepicturesfromthebottomnexttothepicturesthattheymatch.
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TheBremenTownMusicians
CompletePatterns Name______________________
Findthepicturefromthebottomthatcompletesthepatternandcutandpasteitintheemptysquare.
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TheBremenTownMusicians
Robber’sLootMath
Solvethemathproblem,anddrawalineconnectingtheproblemtothepicturecontainingthe
rightamountofitems.
10–6=
3+3=
9–4=
2+5=
6–3=
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TheBremenTownMusicians
YouBetheAuthor
Nowitisyourturntobetheauthor(Usemorepaperifnecessary).
WriteyourownversionofTheBremenTownMusicians.Createnewcharactersthatlearnsimilarlessons
asthecharactersinTheBremenTownMusicians.Beascreativeasyoulike,buttrytofollowthese
guidelines:
1) Goodstoriesalwayshaveaconflict…thatiswhenacharacterhasadifficultproblem.
2) Yourstorymusthavearesolution…thatiswhentheproblemissolved.
Usethequestionsbelowtoplanyourstory.
1. Listyourcharacters.HowaretheylikethecharactersfromTheBremenTownMusicians?How
arethedifferentfromthosecharacters?Whois/arethehero(s)?Whois/arethevillain(s)?
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2. Brieflydescribeyourcharacters’conflictandresolution.
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_____________________________________________________________________________________
3. Astory’ssettingiswherethestorytakesplace.Describeyourstory’ssetting.
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_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Onaseparatepieceofpaper,writeyourversionofTheBremenTownMusicians.
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TheBremenTownMusicians
AnswerSheet
ROBBER’SLOOTMATH
Page | 25