City Research Online

Abstract

A challenge in creating works blending jazz and opera is to integrate a musical language based on closed structural forms -- such as blues and song/tune forms using verse-chorus-bridge structures, and dances, based on repetitive rhythmic cycles -- into a longer-form, narrative formal structure. The suite and stage musical have often been the vessels of choice; the purpose of this research is to generate an original work using jazz-derived musical language in the composition of a narrative opera, contributing new knowledge by furthering the development of an evolving and still experimental genre of composition.

The resultant work, The Weekend, is an 80-minute one-act opera based on the play of the same name by Michael Palin, with a libretto by Tamsin Collison. It was produced by Highbury Opera Theatre (HOT), a community company involving professionals, amateurs, and volunteers at all stages of planning, production, and performance. The results of the research are documented in a full vocal and instrumental score, video and audio recordings, and an accompanying written commentary documenting the reflexive compositional and production process. The commentary considers the historical context for jazz-infused opera, before outlining the research methodology. The genesis of the The Weekend is then discussed, considering its libretto and evidencing the composition process through a series of five cases studies. The production process is then considered, including the sequence of workshops, resulting feedback, interim recording, further feedback, and final adjustments, leading to a full staging and production of the opera. A conclusion reflects on this journey, highlighting pertinent threads of the research and considering how they might contribute new knowledge to contemporary opera-making.

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Text (Commentary) - Accepted Version
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Other (Sheet music) - Accepted Version
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Text (Libretto) - Accepted Version
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