A NOTEWORTHY TALE
an opera written by Chicago composer Philip Seward
for elementary school children
commissioned by Lyric Opera of Chicago
Premiere of A Noteworthy Tale at Christian Heritage Academy in Northfield, IL 2003Lyric Opera of Chicago's Education Department is pleased to announce the successful launching of a second commissioned opera for young voices - A NOTEWORTHY TALE, based on the book by Brenda Mutchnick and Ron Casden. The opera provides many roles, both small and large, plus several ensembles that include performing aleatoric music (music that is made up on the spot) and a round in rap!
Lyric Opera commissioned Chicago composer Philip Seward to compose both the music and libretto of A Noteworthy Tale. 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 40 minutes long.
The Story is set in the land of Rhapsody and the main character, Notso Profundo is preparing the villagers for the upcoming Festival of Rhythm and Rhyme. The villagers include Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, and the Other Do. Notso gets so excited while conducting that his baton flies out of his hand and lands in the Groove (a fast flowing brook that will be portrayed by kids in a "snap-the-dragon" line, rapping in round). Notso follows the baton all the way to Slurrrr.... a town where there is no music of any kind. Not even tapping your foot is allowed. The ruler of Slurrrr, Konrad Troubleclef, has held captive the lovely Melisma Tonecluster in his dungeon and plans to marry her. This upsets his cook, Rose Transpose (who sometimes makes him breakfast for dinner) because she's in love with Konrad herself. Notso discovers Melisma and brings her back to the land of Rhapsody. But the Soundcatcher follows him back and steals the voice of Mi so that there's no more music in Rhapsody! Notso and the Notes return to Slurrrr to rescue Mi. Mi's voice is restored, the Soundcatcher finds his voice once again, Konrad gets tricked into marrying Rose, and all end up in Rhapsody to celebrate the Festival of Rhythm and Rhyme and the marriage of Notso to Melisma.
Music teachers have commented that the score is ideally written for young voices, is very creative and original, and the students loved singing it. The opera is sung with piano accompaniment which includes an overture where all the tunes in the opera are introduced. The alliteration of the libretto (words of the story) help students develop language skills and improve diction.
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, science, physics, and math. There is also an entire chapter on the basics of music.
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
- Glossary of musical terms found in the score; basics of musical notation
- Thirteen pages of cross-curricular lesson plans including language arts, social studies, physics, math, and science with accompanying worksheets
- Student worksheets, activities, games, and puzzles about music and opera
- A CD of the accompaniment performed by the composer
- A copy of the book, A Noteworthy Tale by Brenda Mutchnik and Ron Casden with beautiful illustrations by Ian Penney.
With a specially negotiated contract, Lyric Opera will provide music instructors for the program in your school. Some financial assistance is available to schools that are in need. For further information, please contact:
For further information call 312-827-5912 or e-mail krogers@lyricopera.org
Return to Education & Community-Engagement Programs
OperaKids! programs are generously sponsored by the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation and the Polk Bros. Foundation.
