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The Radio 3 Boards > The Music Boards > Music Through The Ages > 21st Century > Writing for the stage in the C21st
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Author Topic: Writing for the stage in the C21st  (Read 292 times)
Reiner Torheit
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« on: 16:01:54, 17-05-2007 »
Composer Kenneth LaFave shares some of his feelings about the discipline of writing for the stage, and why is finding it much more rewarding than the concert-hall commissions he has had:

http://www.newmusicbox.org/article.nmbx?id=5081
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"I was, for several months, mutely in love with a coloratura soprano, who seemed to me to have wafted straight from Paradise to the stage of the Odessa Opera-House"
-  Leon Trotsky, "My Life"
marbleflugel
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« Reply #1 on: 09:34:49, 20-05-2007 »
Wise words imho-and an eloquent response to the equivalent of Wrightism. Cheers Reiner.
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Arnold Brown
Reiner Torheit
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« Reply #2 on: 09:52:30, 20-05-2007 »
I have to say that I hold no brief for LaFave and I don't know his music - but a lot of what he says rings true for me.
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"I was, for several months, mutely in love with a coloratura soprano, who seemed to me to have wafted straight from Paradise to the stage of the Odessa Opera-House"
-  Leon Trotsky, "My Life"
Ron Dough
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« Reply #3 on: 10:03:18, 20-05-2007 »
Makes a whole deal of sense to me too, Rei: thanks for the link.
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trained-pianist
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« Reply #4 on: 16:25:25, 20-05-2007 »
It is very interesting article. I just looked at it briefly. I don't know Kenneth LaFave.

I have a healthy interest in theater, but more in music drama. However I don't have an access to it at the moment. There was time when amature and semi amature societies were staging operas even in a far away places like where I am now.
However this time seems to be behind us and they mostly stage musicals (some are of very dubious taste).
In our far away place there are so many different music societies. There is a society that attracts older generation (they are longest in existance). Other attract younger crowd. It seems every little    place (not even a town) has a society. Every school stages at least one musical a year.

Even in such a far away place like ours there is a revival of interest in opera. I think if I would be a composer I would look at the possibility of writing an opera (the author even suggest that it is not too difficult to get a commission).
There are also a lot of Choral societies. I think oratorias are in big demand. Even in a small place like ours there is one Choral society that sing mostly contemporary repertoire.

I think that concert repertoire is also in big demand. There is a demand for pieces of middle difficulty (perhaps for amatures or for students learning to play) and for pieces for professionals to display their abilities.
There is interest in experimental music (engineering students are especially attracted, in my experience).
It is amazing that Western music is in existance for such a short time and was able to achieve so much. Tragedy and drama are in existance much longer.

Thank you Reiner for posting such an interesting article.
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