Love and Reform: a chamber operetta

"Love and Reform" is a chamber operetta composed from a libretto written by the composer for female narrator, soprano, tenor, bass, and string quintet. The drama is an Epicurean satire concerning the imagined afterlife of recently deceased Emperor Joseph II of Austria (1765-1790). The language of the libretto combines ironically antique verbiage with a bawdiness characteristic of early French operetta. A pastiche of the light and pseudo-serious musical idioms, the music of "Love and Reform" avoids stylistic unity in favor of juxtaposing drastically different musical types for comic effect. To this end, the string ensemble often mimics other instruments and musical genres. An arpeggio figure reminiscent of continuo figuration serves as a motto to signify changes in mood or plot, and likewise, portamento figures evoke the sound of a slide guitar playing blues music. Frequent internal musical references to previously heard arias and recitative figures help to create dramatic and musical cohesion, and function like leitmotifs. The opening motive, constructed from perfect fifths moving in contrary motion by minor second, becomes symbolic of Joseph's 'suffering'. In contrast, a recurring passage constructed from common practice materials represents Joseph's 'idealism'. Jazz rhythms, blues-like harmonies, and linear chromatic writing are all prominently featured throughout the work. "Love and Reform" ends in a ghostly quotation of Beethoven's early memorial cantata "On the Death of Emperor Joseph II".

Name thesis:degree_name

M.M.

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Music Composition (UMKC)

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Missouri--Kansas City

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Gagnon, Ryan

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Chen, Yi, 1953-

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10355/10783

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/10783