African Stories
Lyric Opera commissioned Chicago composer Philip Seward to compose both the music and libretto of African Stories. The basis of the opera is a trilogy of classic African folk tales, most originating from West Africa (although some elements of East African culture and language are found in the libretto - see story descriptions below). The music is engaging and tuneful, and well-written for young voices to sing (using a lot of vocal repetition with an ever-advancing piano accompaniment). The entire opera is approximately 45 minutes long.
The score is ideally written for young voices, is very creative and original, and young students enjoy the variety of styles within the context of the opera. It is sung with piano accompaniment which includes an overture where many of the tunes in the opera are introduced. The alliteration of the libretto (words of the story) help students develop language skills and improve diction. In addition, drumming and African dancing can be incorporated into the opera. Muntu Dance has graciously agreed to provide choreography, and to teach both the dancing and drumming to young students.
Lyric Opera's Education Department has compiled supplemental educational materials for teachers to use in the classroom when producing the opera. Included are exercises that have curriculum tie-ins with language arts, social studies, and the arts.
The complete materials include the following:
- Forward and production notes from the composer with suggestions for mounting the opera
- Composer's bio
- Libretto
- Complete piano/vocal score with overture
- Simplified piano accompaniment score for rehearsal purposes
- Vocal line only score
- Cross-curricular lesson plans including language arts, social studies, geography, and fine arts with accompanying worksheets
- Student worksheets, activities, games, and puzzles
- A rehearsal CD
With a specially negotiated contract, Lyric Opera will provide music instructors for the program in your school, as well as dance and drumming instructors. Financial assistance is available to all Chicago Public Schools. Some financial assistance is available for other schools who can verify need. For further information call 312-827-5912 or e-mail krogers@lyricopera.org
THE TALES OF AFRICAN STORIES
Story One: THE NEVERENDING DAY (As the characters become a part of the action, people of the village take roles amongst the circle of villagers.) Long ago, when the Earth was new, the sun always shined. There was no nighttime. No twinkling starts or golden moon. No owls sighing, "Whoo." No buzzing insects, and no leopards growling in the still of night. The people did not know when to awaken because there was no dawn, and there was no dusk to tell them when to go to sleep. Sunlight filled the skies all the time.
Then one day Yemoya, the magical goddess of the river, sent her daughter Aje to wed Oduduwa, the Earth chief. Aje left her cool and shady home deep within the river and came to the surface.
Aje and Oduduwa soon were married. Aje loved her new home and husband, but as time passed she began to grow weary of the bright, hot sun. "Oh, how I miss the dark, cool waters of the river," Aje said. "I wish Night was here!" Oduduwa wanted his bride to be happy, so he asked, "What is Night? Where can we find it?" "Night is a cool, crisp sheet that covers the day's warm bed," responded Aje. "It calms all who are weary, but Night can only be found beneath the water in my mother's home."
Aje and Oduduwa decided to summon Crocodile and Hippopotamus, the river's messengers. Aje wrote a note to her mother asking her to send Night to the surface. She gave the note to the messengers. Crocodile and Hippopotamus swam deep beneath the water until finally they arrived at Yemoya's beautiful river palace. Yemoya read the note from Aje and began to fill a sack full of the mysterious Night for the messengers to bring back to Earth. "Careful," Yemoya warned them. "Do not open the sack. Only Aje can control the Night Spirits." Crocodile and Hippopotamus nodded, bowed, and then swam away with the sack. Once they reached the shore, they stopped to rest. Suddenly, a strange noise could be heard coming from the sack. It was the Night spirits!
"Let's open it," said Crocodile. They used their teeth to untie the knot, then... WOOSH, CRICKETY-CRICK! Out hopped the night insects, all of the spiders and crickets. WOOSH, WHOO, CHIRP! Out flew the night birds, all of the owls and nightingales. WOOSH, GRRRR, ROAR! Out rushed the night animals, all the lions and leopards. Night so terrified Hippopotamus and Crocodile that they jumped in the water and swam away.
Aje had been waiting nearby. When she heard the noises, she knew just what to do. She closed her eyes, raised her hands, and hummed a soothing lullaby. At once, the Night spirits hushed, and all was peaceful across the land. The insects scattered throughout the bush. The stars twinkled while the moonbeams glowed. The night birds nestled in the trees, and the night animals rested in the grass. A cool breeze blew in the night air. Aje had restored calm.
Then she gave directions to balance Night and Day. Aje smiled and soon fell fast asleep. Now that Night had arrived, Aje could at last be comfortable in her new home. Oduduwa was pleased that his wife was truly happy and had helped to bring the wonderful Night to Earth. The people of Earth were happy with Night as well, and they welcomed the darkness, calm breezes, and mysterious sounds of the night creatures. The next day, Aje decided to bring order to the land so there would always be a daytime and a nighttime.
Aje named the sun Morningstar and said, "Your job is to rise and begin the day." She told the rooster, "You are the guardian of Night, and you shall crow to tell us when dawn is near." Aje also instructed the other birds to chirp sweetly at daybreak to help awaken all of the people. And ever since then, the sun, rooster, and birds announce each new day, but only after the night has passed and all have had a restful sleep.
The villagers have enjoyed Tanko's story and beg him for another. He takes a moment, then beats on his drum. "What story will you tell?" asked an elder in the village. "I will tell the story of The Daughter of The Sun and The Moon," said Tanko. And that is when he began to tell his unusual tale.
Story Two: THE DAUGHTER OF THE SUN AND THE MOON. Long ago there lived the son of a chieftain, Kia-Tumba Ndala. All the young women loved him, but he loved only the daughter of the Sun and the Moon, not an earth woman as everyone expected. Kia's father, Kimanaueze, asked how he would get up to heaven to propose to her. Kia replied, "We'll see, but I am not marrying anyone else!" The villagers all thought he was under a strange spell.
Kia writes a letter to Lord Sun to propose to his daughter. He asks Antelope if she could deliver it, then he asks Hawk and Vulture, finally Frog volunteers to take it.
Frog lives near the well where Lord Sun and Lady Moon's helpers draw their water for the palace. Frog rides along in a water bucket and delivers the letter. Ultimately, Lord Sun replies that Kia must come, bring a gift, and ask for his daughter's hand in person. Kia and Frog conspire to use magic dust to keep the sleeping daughter's eyes shut.
When the daughter awakes and cannot open her eyes, her worried parents send a message to earth to ask Doctor Ngombo what to do. Because the doctor is away, Frog pretends to be the doctor and shouts through the door that the girl needs to come to earth. When the daughter arrives, Frog breaks the magic spell and takes her to Kia's hut where he and the daughter fall in love right away. Frog, who did not like to be thanked, hops away as the couple is married.
The villagers have enjoyed Tanko's story and beg him for another. He takes a moment, then beats on his drum. "What story will you tell?" asked an elder in the village. "I will tell the story of the great king Leopard," said Tanko. And that is when he began to tell his unusual tale.
Story Three: TWO WAYS TO COUNT TO TEN. Long ago in the land of animals, there were tribes of animals that lived together in harmony. All the animals could talk, and there was a king who ruled over them. The king had a very beautiful daughter, the Leopard Princess. All the animals obeyed the king.
One day, King Leopard said, "Who will rule the animal kingdom when I am gone? I must find someone who is wise and compassionate. He will also marry my pretty daughter, the Leopard Princess."
After King Leopard made his announcement, he had a great feast. Everyone danced and ate okra and rice. After the dancing and eating, the guests gathered in a circle.
King Leopard told them, "To become the prince and to marry my daughter, the smartest beast must throw a spear into the air and count to ten before it falls." Everyone whispered, "Oh, who will be prince?" Many beasts in the jungle wanted to throw the spear to become prince and to marry King Leopard's pretty daughter. The first to throw the king's spear was the elephant. The elephant was the biggest and strongest beast in the jungle. "I will throw the king's spear the highest and count to ten before it lands," the elephant shouted. But he was too clumsy, and his body was heavy. When he threw the spear into the sky, he only counted, "One, two, three," before the king's spear landed on the ground. The elephant was very embarrassed. He had lost the contest. The next beast to throw the spear was the water ox. "I will throw the king's spear higher than ten mango trees!" he shouted. The water ox threw the spear with his horns and quickly counted, "One, two, three, four." But then the king's spear landed with a thump. The ox had lost the contest, too. Then it was the chimpanzee's turn. With his long arms he threw the spear. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven" he shouted. But the spear landed in the king's vegetable garden. The chimpanzee lost the contest. The villagers began to whisper, "Who will marry the king's daughter?" Then out of the bush came a beast no one had seen before. It was the antelope, with large eyes and slender legs. "He is not strong enough to throw the spear," said the villagers. "I will throw the spear," the antelope said with courage to the King. The antelope walked lightly and was very graceful. With very little effort, he threw the King's spear high into the sky and called out two words, "Five, ten!" "I have counted to ten," said the antelope proudly. The king nodded his head and said, "Yes, you have counted to ten. I did not say how you must count to ten." The king then told the antelope, "You will be the prince and will marry my daughter." The other animals felt sad that they were not clever enough to be prince.
After three days of dancing and feasting, King Leopard announced, "Antelope is the new prince," and all the beasts shouted for joy. Everyone in the land was happy because they realized that it is not always the biggest or strongest, but the smartest one who wins the prize.
The villagers rejoice that Tanko has come to them this day as Tanko departs for another village.
THE END
OperaKids! programs are generously supported by the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation and Polk Bros. Foundation.
