- Tristram Shandy (opera)
"Tristram Shandy" is an unfinished
opera project byMichael Nyman based on his favorite novel, "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman ", byLaurence Sterne , begun in 1981. [http://www.chesternovello.com/Default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=13080] The project has been perpetually on hold for want of acommission , but at least five excerpts of the opera have been performed publicly, and one has been released on a commercial recording.The first excerpt of the opera appeared in 1983: "I'll Stake My Cremona to a Jew's Trump," (from Volume V, Chapter 15) which appeared in an eponymous short documentary by
Sara Jolly . It was written forelectric violin and viola, both players (originallyAlexander Balanescu andElisabeth Perry ) also simultaneouslysinging . As with a number of Nyman works before and after, it draws influence fromWolfgang Amadeus Mozart 'sSinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra inE-flat , K. 364. [Michael Nyman. "Drowning by Numbers ".Liner Notes .Virgin Records . 1988] The same year, he released "Love Is Certainly, at Least Alphabetically Speaking," forsoprano and band, the text of which was derived from Volume VII, Chapter 12. The following year, Nyman premiered the choral work, "The Abbess of Andouillets."In 1985, "Nose-List Song," the fourth section of the opera, made its premiere on the recording "
The Kiss and Other Movements ". It was the first of Nyman's works to appear on a recording before being performed live. [Nyman, Michael. "The Kiss and Other Movements". Liner notes. Editions EG, 195.] The song is based on "Slawkenbergius's Tale" from Volume IV, Chapter 1, which depicts a visitor toStrasbourg from the Promonotory of Noses. It collects to gether most of the statements made about the visitor by Strasbourg's residents. As recorded, it is performed as a solo by sopranoSarah Leonard . All of the statements are included in the lyrics sheet, but lines 3-8 of the final stanza are omitted on the recording. The vocal line is mostly, but not entirely, in monotone, with the majority of musical ideas carried by the instrumental music, melodies built on a harmonic pinning of thedominant seventh s A, F, B, and, D.In 2001, Nyman premiered "a dance he little thinks of", also intended for the opera score, derived from Volume VI, Chapter 1, written on a commission form
Yorkshire . [http://www.chesternovello.com/Default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=13080]None of this music appeared in
Michael Winterbottom 'sfilm , "", for which Nyman is credited among the composers. Most of Nyman's music in that film is derived from the original soundtrack recording of Nyman's oft-recorded "The Draughtsman's Contract ". Nyman also includes his own arrangement of theSarabande ofGeorge Frideric Handel that was featured famously inStanley Kubrick 's "Barry Lyndon ". This was included as a filmic reference to aneighteenth century period classic and has not been suggested by Nyman as something he would include were he to complete the opera.References
External links
* [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=11412 I'll Stake My Cremona to a Jew's Trump for hire]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091247/ I'll Stake My Cremona for a Jew's Trump] onIMDb
* [http://www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=11506 Love Is Certainly, Alphabetically Speaking for hire]
* [http://www.chesternovello.com/Default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=11437 The Abbess of Andouillets for hire]
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2001/jul/24/artsfeatures4 Review of "a dance he little thinks of"]
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