Gilbert Chang <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>I am a college student. We're entering a drama contest, and I'm in charge
>of the background music. I find this task very challenging, for the play
>is quite complicated. I need music that has a mixture of tragic, ironic
>and farcical elements.
It would depend on a number of factors... Which kind of general atmosphere
do you want? Intimate? Full of contrasts, excessive, subdued? Is music
supposed to be used in interludes, or while actors are speaking?
However, it is an interesting problem indeed! For now, I would simply
suggest a few works, as food for thought. Those are mostly orchestral, so
you will have to see for yourself whether they can be used as background
music.
-- Kalevi AHO: Symphony No. 7 "Insects Symphony". This definitely is
oscillating between the farcical, the nostalgic, the tragic,... and
various blends of all of those elements. CD Ondine.
-- Tomas MARCO: Symphony No. 4 "Broken Spaces", for its cosmic, ironic and
tragic "almost a rock" movement. CD Aurophon.
-- Nino ROTA: some film scores for Fellini's movies.
Perhaps also the following:
-- Emil Nikolaus von REZNICEK: Symphony No. 3. The scherzo is replaced
with a march on the death of a comedian. It is not farcical either, but
could be suitable for part of your play... CD Schwann.
-- Kurt ATTERBERG: the final part of Symphony No. 5 (Sinfonia funebre),
with its heavy waltz. Maybe too "big" for stage music? CD Musica Sveciae.
-- Harald SAEVERUD: Peer Gynt (suites from the stage music). CD Bis.
-- Dubravko DETONI: Ten beginnings (version for chamber ensemble). CD
Croatia Records.
More traditional references: Richard Strauss (Till), Malcolm Arnold,
Stravinsky, Peter Maxwell Davies (Eight songs for a mad king, An Orkney
Wedding, ...), Charles Ives (4th symphony), Mahler (5th, 7th,...),...
I am also thinking of Jon LEIFS's "Hekla", but then you'd better get
prepared for a shock. Great music, in my opinion, but very special.
Best wishes,
Thanh-Tam Le
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