Real life took over for awhile. A long while. There was deliberation about grad school, then finals, then graduation, then my Bridezilla sister's marriage, etc., etc., etc.
But, overall, things are good. I've decided on a grad school, I have an assistantship, and I'm attempting to overcome my debilitating fear of aural skills, seeing as how I'll be teaching it to freshpeople in the Fall. I also need take and pass a counterpoint placement exam in order to graduate on time due to a scheduling snag with Schenkerian Analysis I. But I am thrilled to start delving deeper into theory and being in an environment where I am not the only theorist. Because that's just depressing.
Anyways, I know it's not Saturday, but I figured I would post another Sleep Deprivation Opera Plot. Just for funsies. I was going to save this one for a rainy day, but I suppose an unusually hot and dry day will work just as well.
This one holds a special place in my heart. The theory/history confidant from undergrad I've mentioned before was a bassist, and on one of the many late evenings we spent preparing for our Romantic Period seminar she mentioned this gem from the quill of Michael Haydn. Yes, Haydn. This is Joseph's kid brother. Technically his first name is Johann, but everyone named their composer child Johann (Pachelbel rant, anyone?). Clearly Michael just wanted some individuality. Which he never got, since he is best remembered as being Joseph's kid brother. Believe me, Michael, I know the feeling of being overshadowed by an older sibling, having a "perfect" older sister. You're always compared to the older sibling, you never measure up, you always get hand-me-down clothes and toys, you never get a pony - well, that one probably doesn't count since neither one of us ever got a pony.
(Johann) Michael Haydn, dates 1737-1806. Mostly known for his symphonies and sacred choral music, but every once in awhile he got bored and wrote a Singspiel. (For those not in the know, this is basically the German precursor to a musical - spoken dialogue interspersed with songs and generally in a comic mood) This one, Der Bassgeiger zu Wörgl, is relatively unknown. Granted, most of Michael's works are relatively unknown, but that's beside the point. The title translates to "The Bassist of Wörgl," and, like the vast majority of string bassists, this bassist's story focuses on being drunk. Now, a word of warning before we get farther into the plot: the one and only synopsis we ever found for this work was in German, which may have contributed to some of the hilarity we encountered. Still, what doesn't change in translation is the fact that an 18th century unknown composer basically wrote a sitcom-opera about a drunk guy who happens to play bass. And y'all should be thanking me - this will be the first synopsis I know of in English. You're welcome.
Our story opens with Bartl, the aforementioned bassist, coming home drunk one night. His wife, Liesl, does not take kindly to him being drunk, again, and won't unlock the door. Bartl is apparently very upset by this, and wails that she is mean and he is going to go drown himself in the river. Liesl, the loving wife that she is, runs out to find and stop him. HOWEVER Bartl is secretly a very devious drunk bassist, and snuck into the house while she was out searching the river. Now the tables have turned and he's locked her out of the house! Liesl gets back and tries to get in the house, but Bartl won't let her in until she promises to stop nagging him about his Trinkfreudigkeit, which I originally translated as "drunken happy time" but I've since learned means alcoholism. I like my translation better.
Moral of the story: Always carry housekeys.
