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Score
The Water Babies : piano/vocal score / music and lyrics by Freddie Hill ; after the fairy tale by Charles Kingsley.
Library shelf no. 782.1/HIL 2 [Available for loan]
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Work Overview
Based on the classic fairy-tale by Charles Kingsley, this version aims to cover the extraordinarily rich spectrum of the original while aiming to avoid the sentimentality and whimsicality which often attaches to its staging.Embedded in it is a blend of myth and magic, science and spirituality, combined with a love of nature and a passion for social justice, which aims to preserve Kingsley's leavening sense of humour and irony. The Water-Babies has been familiar to me from early childhood; other sources of appeal are its timeless quality, the presence of strong proactive female and child characters, the scope for outlandish cotumes and special effects, and, not least, that it is in the public domain. Its draw is on several levels: for young children, tha fantasy aspects, the fairies, the talking animals; for those of high-school age, the historical and social aspects, for adults, their memories of the book from their own childhood. Above all, from previous performances the delight taken in it by chil actors and singers is on display.
Work Details
Year: 1999
Instrumentation: Soloists, narrator, choir, ensemble. (12 solo singers (2 x sopranos, 2 x mezzos, 1 contralto, 2 x tenors, 2 x baritones, 1 x bass 1 x boy treble , 1 x girl treble, children's chorus (SSA) adult chorus (SATB.) There is one number ('The Doasyoulikes' Song') which requires a close-harmony vocal quartet (ATBar Bs.))
Duration: 150 min.
Difficulty: Advanced — The children's parts are designed to be tuneful but effective. The adult singers may be required to cover 2-3 roles apiece
Dedication note: "To the memory of Vera Helen (Romoff) Hill 1920-1914 (my mother)"
Commission note: Commissioned by Don Mori, for TOC Ensemble, for Balmain T.H. Festival
First performance: by Carolina Castillo, TOC Ensemble, Don Mori — 22 Jan 00. Balmain Town Hall
The composer notes:
My ideal orchestration is for a standard opera orchestra, interspersed with lighter textures to accompany the children's music and the more gossamer aspects of the story. Previous performances have featured ahand-picked instrumental ensembles of 6-10 players, depending on the budget and theatre space available. Shortened and simplified versions are available as it is to be hoped that this work will be available for school performance, in a classroom or auditorium. The year above refers to the year of completion for the first performance. Revisions are still being made.
The composer notes the following styles, genres, influences, etc associated with the work:
As The Water Babies relates to a specific location and historical period (C19 industrial Northern England , I have harvested the popular music of the period (broadside and parlour ballads, children's game songs and rounds, even a dip of the lid in the direction of G & S.From a somewhat later period there are hints of ragtime, as well the broad sweep of C20 music which has informed me through my career (Bartok, Shostakovich, Weill, Gershwin) as well as jazz in which I have participated as trumpeter, composer and arranger. There are also episodes which are semi-improvised, in keeping with the mystery and sense of discovery which motivates the story.
Revised in 2016, 2017 and 2019.
Videos
The Water Babies |
Performances of this work
20 Sep 2019: at The Water Babies: selected scenes (Actors Centre Australia (ACA)).
4 Mar 2017: at The Water Babies - a folk opera (Kindlehill Performance Space).
18 Jun 2016: at The Water Babies (The Reginald Theatre). Featuring Josephine Truman, Mara Kiek.
22 Jan 00: Balmain Town Hall. Featuring TOC Ensemble, Don Mori, Carolina Castillo.
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