Open Forum

  • 1.  Music For I Never Saw Another Butterfly

    Posted 08-29-2014 10:47
    Hi there, I am producing I Never Saw Another Butterfly and The Terazin Promise.  There are a number of musical references in there, most specifically to the opera Ludvik.  Our music program is in a really transitional state right now, and I don't want to ask the director to worry about this.  Does anyone have any suggestions of any lower budget places to find this music?  Or has anyone tried it another way?  Any ideas?  Thanks so much!!

    -------------------------------------------
    Tricia Schultz
    Goodyear AZ
    -------------------------------------------


  • 2.  RE:Music For I Never Saw Another Butterfly

    Posted 08-29-2014 12:00
    Hello, I directed I Never Saw Another Butterfly years ago at University of Arizona when I was an undergrad Theatre Educ. student, and it is a beautiful story. In fact, as a result of that production, last summer I went to Prague and toured Terezin for my 40th birthday. It was powerful and very moving. If you want more information about that trip, email me: jolane@pps.net. As to your music question, there are some options via YouTube if you do a search. Also to use (maybe your local library can get it for you): http://www.radio.cz/en/section/music/encore-the-terezin-ghetto-childrens-opera-brundibar-in-a-new-english-recording. Jo Strom Lane

    -------------------------------------------
    Jo Lane
    Theatre Teacher and Director
    Portland Public Schools
    Portland OR
    -------------------------------------------



    Sent via Higher Logic Mobile





  • 3.  RE: Music For I Never Saw Another Butterfly

    Posted 08-30-2014 17:53
    Thanks so much Jo.  I will most likely be e-mailing you soon.  What an experience touring Terazin must have been.  Are you still in the Phoenix area?  
    Thanks so much for the music ideas, I will check those out.
    Tricia 

    -------------------------------------------
    Tricia Schultz
    Goodyear AZ
    -------------------------------------------




  • 4.  RE: Music For I Never Saw Another Butterfly

    Posted 09-01-2014 13:18

    May a rabid opera fan weigh in here?

    If you're looking for music from an opera called "Ludvik" in connection with "I Never Saw Another Butterfly," I'm afraid that you're barking up the wrong tree.

    The children's opera that was performed at Terezín was actually titled "Brundibár."  It was composed by Hans Krása.  For purposes of the play, Celeste Raspanti changed the opera's title and fictionalized its plot summary - I suspect (but don't know) in order to avoid any possible copyright infringement.

    The opera is published by Boosey & Hawkes, which also licenses performances.  Their piano-vocal score, which I bought some years ago, has the original Czech text and a creaky English translation.  Tony Kushner has created a new English translation, but I don't know whether Boosey authorizes its use, or if it has to be licensed separately from the music.

    There are several complete recordings of the opera.  Most online retailers of classical music should have them.  Amazon lists a number of them, including the one that I own, which is from the Channel Classics label.  That one has the advantage of being sung by children, as the composer intended.  Some of the other recordings use adult singers; to my ears, that just sounds wrong, and is nowhere near as poignant.  As always, if you plan to use any of these recordings in your production, be sure that you have the proper legal clearance to do so.

    The Hérold and Chopin pieces mentioned earlier in this discussion relate to an opera whose title simply happens by coincidence to sound similar to the title that Raspanti used; they have no connection that I know of to the camp or to the play.

    I have long dreamed of staging a double bill of the one-act version of "Butterfly" and an English rendition of "Brundibár."  I think that would put the opera in an understandable (and moving) context for contemporary audiences.

    Hope this helps!
    -------------------------------------------
    Jeff Grove
    Theatre Teacher, Aesthetics Department Chair
    Stanton College Preparatory School
    Jacksonville FL



  • 5.  RE: Music For I Never Saw Another Butterfly

    Posted 08-30-2014 17:59
    Other than the opera itself, you might try "Je Vends des Scapulaires" by Chopin. It is a piano piece based on an aria from Act I of Ludovik.

    If your looking for contrast; try jazz, big band and the works of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Richard Rogers, Johnny Mercer, and Frank Loesser which were the sound of the WWII era.

    You might also traditional Czech or east European folk music. It can be both playful and plaintive.

    Hope this helps.

    James

    -------------------------------------------
    James Van Leishout
    Edwardsville IL
    -------------------------------------------




  • 6.  RE: Music For I Never Saw Another Butterfly

    Posted 09-07-2014 20:38
    When we did it, I had the kids play on stage and they played things that were public domain.  Basically, I said "go find something, rehearse it, and we'll audition it on X day."  It was on them to figure it out and it worked out beautifully.  I can't recall any of the songs but I know we had a flute solo during the wedding, a trio of violins (or maybe a viola in there?) during Ludvik and a cello solo somewhere in there too.

    -------------------------------------------
    Laura Steenson
    Theatre Director
    Reynolds High School
    Troutdale OR
    -------------------------------------------




  • 7.  RE: Music For I Never Saw Another Butterfly

    Posted 09-08-2014 14:12
    I'm also directing I Never Saw Another Butterfly this semester. My research has shown that the Opera is actually called Brundibar. 

    I have a couple of music students who are composing original music to underscore most of the production. If you have students you can reach out to that might be a great way to get them involved and take the music off of your plate.


    -------------------------------------------
    Kristi Jacobs-Stanley
    New Orleans LA
    -------------------------------------------




  • 8.  RE: Music For I Never Saw Another Butterfly

    Posted 09-11-2014 18:30
    I've directed this twice, and we composed and recorded beautiful music to use as theme and underscore. If anyone is interested, I'm sure it's available for licensing from the composer.

    -------------------------------------------
    James Thomas Bailey
    Napa CA
    -------------------------------------------