On Gerald Berry's The Importance of Being Earnest.

Gerald’s Berry’s interpretation of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest is very creative. It is not a tonal work, although it is as British feeling as the play. Bizarre would be the most appropriate word to describe this interpretation.

Gerland Berry is an Irish composer born on April 28, 1952. He was first inspired by music through the radio. In an interview, he said "The thing that was the lightning flash for me, in terms of Saint Paul on the road to Damascus, would have been an aria from a Handel opera, from Xerxes maybe, that I heard on the radio. I heard this woman singing this, and bang – my head went. And that was how I discovered music."

Berry was hired by the LA Phil to write The Importance of Being Earnest in the short span of 18 months. Much of it is set in the 12 tone series, and there are elements of Sprechstimme.

He sets the text very un-syllabically, but somehow it works and is understandable. The music is very atonal, ande motions of the characters match the jerky patterns in the music.

Berry created the libretto himself directly from Oscar Wilde's play. He heavily condensed it, so that it is only about one third of the original length. The play in itself is very dry and ironic, and Berry takes his opera to the next step. “Barry says of the play's appearance in 1895. 'It's as if all the energy in Wilde happened to come unwittingly together at that time, which enabled him to do this extraordinary thing which was then unrepeatable. So it has that mysterious quality. Perhaps the only other thing it could be compared to in a way is Alice in Wonderland. There's the same sense of nonsense.'”

The Importance of Being Earnest  was originally written in 1895. It is a satire that pokes fun at the stuffiness of Victorian England and the seriousness of institutions like marriage. The plot centers around a man, known by some as Earnest. He loves and wants to marry a young lady named Gwendolyn, but her aunt objects to the match because Earnest does not know who his parents were. He was found abandoned in a handbag as an infant. 

Earnest has a beautiful young ward named Cecily, who lives in the country. She only knows him as her “Uncle Jack.” Earnest’s friend Algernon comes to pay her a visit introducing himself as “Earnest.” They promptly get engaged. Gwendolyn arrives at the country estate wanting to meet Cecily, and she is very displeased to find her young, beautiful, and preparing to marry “Earnest.” They get into an argument, and eventually the men arrive and then all of them argue. After much ado, the couples sort themselves out.

It is discovered that Miss Prism, Cecily’s governess, was the one to displace Earnest as a baby. It was an honest mistake; she accidentally put her notebook in his baby stroller and him in her purse. She then accidentally left her purse at the railway station. Earnest procures the purse, proving he was the baby, and he further learns his parentage. As it turns out, he is Algernon’s older brother, and he was christened with the name “Earnest” as an infant. He had originally lied about that being his name, but it turned out to be the truth. 

The sets and costumes are very colorful and avant garde. Many of the characters wear a single color from head to foot, from hair color to socks and shoes. The notable exception is the “extra character” who has a multi-colored plaid suit. Ironically, the plaid in the set matches that suit. That is an interesting thing to do, and it shows that that character is as important (as in, not very much) as the colors in the wall. Ironically, although the set is very colorful, it is also very minimalistic. There are only a handful of pieces of furniture.

The characters have makeup that matches the color blocking too. Gwendolin and Cecily have pink down the sides of their faces. “Aunt Augusta” who is played by a bass, is decked fully in light purple. Each couple has similarities in dress: Algernon and Earnest are both in bluish or greenish versions of teal. Cecily and Gwendolin are in 2 versions of pink - more blue and more orange.

The musical lines of Earnest and Gwendolin are accompanied by jolting motions of the

characters. There are many patterns of descending scales. There are sections where

the vocal lines get very wordy and fast, almost like Gilbert and Sullivan. This happens 

when Earnest is explaining to Lady Bracknell that he was found in a handbag as a child.

The anxiety in what he is saying matches the increasing tempo, as the words get faster

and faster. A lot of the vocal line is made out of either ascending or descending scales,

and the instrumentation is bizarre. There are often short staccato notes under the vocal 

line in a tuba or a similar instrument. Occasionally it will match the vocal line. It is very 

syllabic. Sometimes brass instruments will have an interlude in the form of a brash 

sounding trill. It sounds like an insect.

Gerald Berry still uses the music to communicate what the characters are feeling.

When Algernon is singing to Cecily, the music is lyrical and songful in as much as it 

can be within the style. When Gwendolin and Cecily are arguing, Berry uses the 

most bizarre accompaniment. Both women are speaking through megaphones while 

an extra person is breaking a stack of dishes in rhythm. Both women “shoot” each other 

with finger guns which is bizzare. 

What does this opera say about the development of opera in the 21st Century? 

The Importance of Being Earnest goes to show how the classics are blended with the 

modern to create new and unique musical art. Much of the libretto is directly from the play, 

and it sounds so very British. Yet, the show is very minimalistic and avant garde. The 

irony is communicated in both.

“The main thing is to write music with a sense of wonder, music that will always be – 

whenever you hear it, even if you hear a piece many times – that will always be like a 

messenger coming to you with fresh news, just as is the case when you hear 

something by Schubert. There's something mysterious sown into the fabric of the music,

which gives it an unnameable quality.” - Gerald Berry

Sources:

Cagney, Liam. “Opera Interview: Gerald Berry.” Musical Criticism.com, 28 March, 2012. www.musicalcriticism.com/interviews/barry-0312.shtml. Accessed 12 May 2023.

Service, Tom. “Interview: Wilde at heart”, The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jun/10/gerald-barry-tom-service-interview-importance-of-being-earnest. Accessed 12 May 2023.

Taylor, Gwen. “Vivid Staging of Gerald Berry’s The Importance of Being Earnest at ROH” I Care If You Listen. 18 July, 2013. https://icareifyoulisten.com/2013/07/vivid-staging-gerald-barry-the-importance-of-being-earnest-roh/. Accessed 12 May 2023

Not the End, but Only the Beginning

1.     One thing that I found especially interesting was the African drum language. Having the music woven into the everyday culture is fascinating. My first thought when we were learning about it was that it reminded me of Disney movies. In Disney movies, generally at some point, there is an entire crowd singing and dancing in the town square. There is song in many aspects of life that most would consider non-musical. Those parts are always fun, but you know that they do not generally happen off screen. I love how the peoples of Africa weave it into their everyday lives and languages. 

2.    Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Each culture has a different idea of what is pleasing and beautiful. What my Western ear enjoys now is quite different than what it would enjoy, if I lived somewhere else in the world. Chinese opera is an example. My Western trained ear would be driven crazy to be part of an opera where each singer would pick his/her most comfortable key. I have grown up in a music culture where that does not happen. Different cultures find beauty if different aspects, and sometimes it is hard to appreciate what you are not used to.

3.    There are many things about this class that I really enjoyed. I really enjoyed having blog assignments instead of essay assignments. It was nice to find something that I found personally interesting and research it more. I also absolutely adored listening to Dr. Weeks tell about his adventures in traveling to Africa, The Middle East, and Asia. Those were some of my favorite parts, and I would have loved for there to have been more time for more. I know you said that at one point, the textbook had a unit on Japan. It would be nice if, at some point, it could be covered again. I really would have enjoyed getting to learn more about it in class. (For learning about Japanese culture, NOT anime.)

4.     I really enjoyed the segments on hula dancing in the Hawaii final presentation. I would like to learn to hula dance one day (as well as travel to Hawaii for partially non-educational purposes.) There are many beautiful forms of dance. I danced for many years, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. I do it now when I can, but I am a full time double-majoring music student, so free time is rather sparse. I would like to learn more about dancing in other cultures though. There are certainly some beautiful ones.

Fascinating Topics IV

History of Chinese Silk

     I am going to tell you about something that has a most pleasant texture: silk!

     There are many wonderful things about silk. It absorbs heat and radiation. Though it is feels delicate, it is a very strong material that is not elastic or stretchy. China makes about 78% of silk, worldwide. It has been around for a long time, the oldest silk found was from the 3000s B.C.

     Silk is smooth and shiny. Becuase it is not a synthetic material, it is healthy and good for the body (unlike polyester, which comes from petroleum, which is also what gasoline is from.) It also has 18 amino acids.


The Legend of the Silk

     The legend says that the queen of the Yellow Emporer Shangdi was drinking tea in the garden underneath of a mulberry tree, when a silk worm’s cocoon dropped into her cup. It started to unravel, and she saw how the strong silk fiber would make wonderful cloth. She was right. She instructed on raising them and invented a loom.

Silken Secrets

     For many years, silk was exported out of China via the Silk Road. The methods for making silk were kept secret and highly guarded. Taking silk worms cacoons, eggs, or mulberry seeds (from mulberry trees where silkworms like to live) was punishable by death. The Silk Road stretched from Chang’an into the West, even to Rome. There was also an extensive sea route. Silk became as valuable as gold, due to the difficulty of getting it. It was for the rich to wear, not commoners.

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The Mikado

      The Mikado is an opera by Gilbert and Sullivan set in Japan. Though it is in the Japanese setting there in the Far East, it is there to make statement about the outdatedness of English politics. It is satirical, witty, and oh so enjoyable.

     Japanese style was in vogue at the time that the opera was written. It is said that a Japanese sword fell off a wall and inspired Gilbert to write The Mikado. He also may have been inspired by a Japanese exhibition nearby or the number of immigrants in the area.

     It is a very fun opera. In the story, there is a law made against flirting, which then becomes punishable by death. No one is being executed because the executioner has been found guilty of flirting himself and must punish himself before he punishes others. He does not want to punish himself because it would be “extremely difficult if not dangerous.” It is a comedy, not a tragedy. The musical style of Gilbert and Sullivan is very syllabic. Good diction is key.

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The Fan

     When many people think of Japanese culture, they will no doubt think of these: fans.
Fans are important to the culture of Japan. They are used for cooling as well as dance and war.
Here are some different types of fans:

Folding Fans (Sensu)
     This type “fans” out (pun intended) and folds up. It is very portable. There are strips of wood held together by paper or cloth. The center with the pieces spreading from it is a picture of the different paths that life has for us.

Uchiwa Fans
     This is a more solid fan that does not fold. This makes it less portable. You will see some of these in the sleeves of kimonos. The flat surface is also great for posting advertisements.

War Fans
     These are very interesting. These fans are not only for keeping cool, they are weopans and signaling devices.

     The Gunbai fan works similarly to a shield. It can be made of metal or wood, and it can be used to ward off arrows.

     Gunsen fans are still meant for cooling purposes, but they contain wooden or metal spikes.

     The Tessen fan is an actual weopan made from a fan. Tessen fans are made of metal as well as spikes. They can be thrown at the enemy, as well as be used like a shield.

     It is fascinating to learn of all the uses for fans. It is not related to Asia, but if you are ever in the mood to learn something unique and interesting, look up the Victorian language of the fans. Different gestures have different meanings, and there is even an alphabet used.



     Here is a fun example of “The Art of the Fan.” (Take note of Mikado music in the background.)

A Musical Interview

     Music Interview with Ted Luchtenberg, my sister’s mandolin teacher. He was the son of the violin professor at Converse before Sarah Johnson, the previous violin professor who just retired. He performed professionally with his parents on the cello, and he played bass guitar in a rock band for 20 years. He now is an avid mandolinist.


AS: “What were some of the more popular styles when you were growing up?”

TL: “I would say the popular Top 40 Radio was very popular at the time. That was the 70s kind of rock and roll. That’s what I listened to.”

AS: “Okay... What kind of music did you like the most?”

TL: “Oh gosh, classical. I grew up with in the house with lost of classical too, so that’s a wide variety.”

AS: “Did you have a favorite song when you were younger?”

TL: “Gosh, did I have favorite song? I don’t think I had a favorite song; I think I loved them all. That’s a terrible answer.”

AS: “No that’s okay. Do you have a favorite now?”

TL: “Um, anything Brazilian or anything mandolin... Right now I would say “Mara’s Sleeping Song” by Catarina Lichtenberg would be my favorite song.”

AS: “Okay... Did you have a kind of music you hated when you were growing up?”

TL: “Well, no, not really. I... no. Laughing. I can’t think of any musical style that I hated.”

AS: “Did you and your parents ever have any disagreements onto what kind of music you should be listening to?”

TL: “Oh, I never had the choice. When my parents were in the room, we were listening to classical music.”

AS: “Hmm. Okay.”

TL: “And that was a good thing.”

AS: “Okay... Have you ever met any famous musicians?”

TL: “Very few actually. We met Sierra Hall in an elevator in Bristol, VA. She was on her way to a gig with three mandolins strapped all around her, and she ran into the elevator right as the doors were closing. We were like ‘YOUR’E SIERRA HALL’!”

AS: “Oh wow!”

TL: “It was awesome”

AS: “Did you ever esperience any global music through travel or other means?”

TL: “No, I think the most global music I played were symphonies, that were written mostly by the Great European Masters: Brahms, Beethoven...those. If that would be considered world music. That was my favorite genre in college.”

AS: “Okay; what you do you think of today’s music?”

TL: “I think today’s technology that allows anybody to publish anything they want opened up a huge creative field. I think music in general is getting better as the technology for producing music is better. Better instruments, better recording techniques, better everything really... As for the quality of music, I don’t think that the great classics will ever be beaten. Bach, Beethoven, Brahms.”

AS: “Okay.. What is your first memory of music?”

TL: “My mother playing the violin.”

AS: “Did you and Ms. Karen ever have any “special song?”

TL: “We both love Sting, the base player from The Police, who went off on his own after the band broke up, and he produced many albums of beautiful love songs that we have enjoyed together. He’s one of our favorite musicians.”

AS: “Hmm. Okay. Did you have any special music that you sang or played to your daughter when she was little?”
‘
TL: “Not outside of the standard lullabies... Just mostly lullabies.

AS: “Okay... I think that’s it.”

TL: “Oh, alright. So no hard questions there, thank you.”



Lightly Edited

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Ted Luchtenberg and Carrera Stamile playing El Diablo Suelto (Brazilian choro.)

Fascinating Topics III

The King of Instruments

     No, actually I am not talking about the organ. I am talking about the oud. In Arabic, “oud” means “stick” or “from wood.” Ouds are pear shaped, stringed instruments that are the ancestors of lutes. The have small necks and no frets.

     The oud is an 11 or 13 stringed instrument that originates in the Middle East. It may have originated from the Persian barbat which is from the 1st century BC! Other than the Persian barbat type, there are Arabian ouds and Turkish ouds. The Arabian one is slightly larger with a rich, deep sound. The Turkish is tuned a half step up and has a brighter, more present tone.

Here is a video of an oud:

Also, here is an oud WITH a violin:

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The Architecture of Mosques:

     Mosques, Islamic places of worship, generally reflect the culture of where they are, but there are features that they all have in common. 

     They commonly have domes, rounded roofs and ceilings, that are decorated beautifully. 

     Another main feature is the minaret, the tall tower where the muezzin leads prayer. The minerets are tall and graceful, much taller than the rest of the mosque. The muezzin leads the call to prayer in a loud voice, so all can hear.

There is the mihrab as well, which is an indentation in the wall that faces towards the city of Mecca. Mecca is the holy city of Islam, and when Muslim people pray, they face toward it.

     There are also spacious courtyards surrounding the mosques. They are called sahns and they often contain fountains.

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     Now, I am going to tell you about something completely different: clothes! To be precise, I am going to tell you about the saree, the beautiful garb of India.

They can be worn for all occasions and come in a variety of styles, colors, and fabrics. 

     The pallu is the part that is part that drapes. It is worn over the shoulder or sometimes on the head, out of respect for elders. The blouse is the shirt part, and the petticoat is the skirt. The border lines the edges and can really bring out the elegance of the whole outfit.

     Sarees are made with 3.5-9 yards of fabric and may be made of silk, cotton, or other types of material. There are a variety of ways for them to be worn.

     Here is one website that shows some different ways to wrap them:

     https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/easy-saree-draping-tutorials/

     Also, here is a video of a girl trying different sarees for a wedding. I enjoyed it, and I hope you will too.

Fascinating Topics II

     Today I am going to tell you about the imabura harp. It looks similar to the Western concert grand harp we are familiar with, but there are differences. The imabura harp has an extra sound box in it, that the concert grand does not have. The lower part is wide and deep, while the top is smaller. It is shorter and stouter than its tall, graceful concert grand siblings.

Top: Western concert grand harp
Bottom: Imabura harp

     One person plays the strings and another hits the soundbox, beating it like a drum. It also does not have pedals; it is tuned to one key, and it is very slow to re-tune to another one.

     The imabura harp descended from harps from 16th and 17th century Spain. It was brought to South America from conquistadors, missionaries, and Jesuits, and it shares many qualities of their instruments. It became immensely popular, and it is now considered a native instrument.

     The hand position for the players of these harps is very interesting. The dominant, stronger hand of the player is on the upper strings, while the other one plays the lower. That would certainly not work with every instrument! I find that quite fascinating.

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     Another interesting South American instrument is the charango. The charango is a chordophone  in the guitar and lute family. Though it has European roots, the exact history of the instrument is unclear. There are different version of the story of how it came about. It used to be a rather rare instrument, but it is more common now.

     The design does not stay the same for long; it is constantly changing. Typically the backs of them are carved out of wood, but there have been many other materials used as well. These include plastic, tin cans, animal horns, fruit bark, tortoise shells, and even the backs of armadillos.

     There are ten different strings, grouped in sets of two. The names of them are G,C,E,A, and E again. They can be plucked, or a pick can be used. Traditionally the player would use a flat pick.

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Now on a completely different note: Bessie Smith, Empress of the Blues.

     Bessie Smith was born in 1884. When she was small, her father died, so she and her brother Andrew used to perform on street corners to earn money for their family. He played the guitar, and she danced and sang. That was the beginning of her performing career. She joined a traveling vaudeville show of which the later famous blues singer Ma Rainey also performed. She later formed her own act, and became very famous. She was known for what people think of as the classic blues, though she also dabbled in the vaudeville, country blues, and jazz. She recorded with the famous jazz musicians Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, and Fletcher Henderson.

      She sang about political issues, financial hardship, and love. Sadly, her own life was not dissimiler to her music. She grew up in poverty; she struggled with alcohol addiction; she had a horrible marriage with a man named Jack Gee, who took away the child she informally adopted. She was killed from wounds from a car accident, which caused her right arm to be amputated.

     Despite her tragic life, Bessie Smith was a wonderful musician. She shaped many people’s opinion of blues music and was a pioneer in the segment of her genre. She will ever be remembered as the Empress of the Blues.