Instrumentation
baritone soloist, child
soloists and choir, school orchestra, and piano (teacher's part)
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Other Information
An opera in 3 parts
Libretto by Cynthia and Andrew Downes.
Participants:
Polyphemus, the Cyclops ----- baritone
Odysseus --------------------- treble
Four Men --------------------- trebles
Odysseus´ Men --------------- trebles and altos
Chorus of Elders-------------- trebles and altos
Main Choir ------------------- trebles and altos
Piano-------------------------- teacher’s part
Marching Band ---------------- recorders, melodicas, drum, tambourines
Orchestra---------------------- recorders, flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, trumpets, trombones, strings, percussion.
This children’s opera was commissioned by the Rugby Schools Music Association with funds made available by West Midlands Arts. The first performances were given in the Temple Speech Room, Rugby School, on 25th and 26th May 1982, by 300 children from 28 Middle Schools in the Rugby area and members of the Rugby Schools Orchestra, with Tom Cowhig as the baritone soloist and Mary Littlemore, piano. The performances were directed by Valerie Brodie and Gwen Proudlock and previewed on BBC Television.
Subsequent performances by Schools in Hagley (Worcs) and Windsor High School, Halesowen.
The choral parts are for children of Middle School age and the instrumental parts also for Middle School age, augmented by more experienced older players.
´A pageant of Myth and Music, a musical possibility for any enterprising and skilled school orchestra and chorus.´
THE TIMES EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT
The opera takes as its theme a freely adapted version of the ‘Cyclops´ story from Homer’s Odyssey. The central character is Polyphemus, the Cyclops, who, in the original story, was described as an enormous monster with one eye in the middle of his forehead. In this version, however, he is made to be an ordinary, if tall, human being disfigured by some accident in his past. This slight alteration makes him, in the composer’s view, a more dramatically acceptable figure, whose very humanity deepens his tragic situation.
THE STORY:
PART 1 The crowds await the arrival of the Council of Elders, who are to decide the fate of the unsightly half blind figure of Polyphemus. The Islanders want to be rid of him. Polyphemus rejects the possibility of solitary banishment as being worse then death itself. The Elders suggest using Polyphemus as their protector and guardian of the island: “With his ugliness and strength he will repel any invaders.” The islanders like the idea, and proclaim him as their hero and champion. INTERLUDE I - the contented, protected islanders are unaware of Odysseus’ army sailing towards them.
PART 2 Odysseus and his army land and make merry in Polyphemus´ cave with his food and wine. When Polyphemus discovers this, he rolls a vast rock across the cave entrance thus making them his prisoners.
The cunning Odysseus gradually gets Polyphemus into a drunken stupor, and when asked his name, replies ´Nobody´. When Polyphemus is asleep - swiftly and viciously Odysseus and his men heat up a spear and put out his only eye. He is now blind, but the soldiers still cannot escape from the cave. The Elders, roused by Polyphemus´ cries of agony, ask from a distance, if and by whom he has been hurt. He replies that ´Nobody´ has put out his eye, and they go away, believing that if nobody has hurt him all must be well! Polyphemus is now totally abandoned, and sinks into despair. INTERLUDE II - throughout the night Polyphemus keeps watch over his prisoners.
PART 3 As dawn breaks, the blind Polyphemus lets his flock of sheep out of an inner cave and moves the stone a little to allow the sheep out. Hiding amongst them go Odysseus and his men. Once outside, they taunt him and disappear to safety. Polyphemus now feels a total failure, but the Islanders reappear, relieved that the invaders have been repelled.
They welcome him, acknowledging his total sacrifice, and reassure him of their love and care.
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