On London Fields (opera)
Encyclopedia
On London Fields is an opera in two acts by Matthew King
with a libretto
by Alasdair Middleton
. It was commissioned by Hackney Music Development Trust and premiered in the Hackney Empire
theatre in 2004. The opera has been described by the novelist, Margaret Drabble as On London Fields was "one of the most exciting community events I’ve ever seen."
The story concerns the life and prophecies of the 17th Century mystic and resident of Hackney, Hannah Trapnell. The opera is set in Hackney during the oppressive reign of Oliver Cromwell
. Hannah leads the people of Hackney on to London Fields
where, in a series of increasingly vivid prophecies, she sings of a new proto-Marxist Kingdom of Heaven. Among her followers are an idealistic young couple called Deborah and Abel. Eventually the meeting is brutally suppressed by a group of Puritan
soldiers led by Sir Bawnagayne Surly. Abel tries to oppose the soldiers and is killed. The opera ends with his young widow singing a poignant lullaby to the couple's unborn child.
For the original production Matthew King composed for a cast of four professional singers (Sally Burgess, Alison Buchanan, Simon Thorpe and Jonathan Gunthorpe) and several choruses of Hackney residents, including a children's choir and a Gospel choir. The orchestra was the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
, supported by Young Jazz Hackney; the Cambridge Heath
Salvation Army Band
; Hackney Centre for Young Musicians, a Turkish Saz
band and an African Drumming group called Emashi. The opera makes use of spatial distribution of players and instrumentalists with the brass band
playing in the upper circle of the theatre and other groups distributed around the building and off-stage. The opera critic and musicologist, Rodney Milnes
, described the event in the following terms:
Writing in The Evening Standard, Stephen Pettitt was also largely enthusiastic about the work:
In 2005 On London Fields received the Royal Philharmonic Society
Education Award.
Matthew King (composer)
Matthew King is a British composer and pianist. His works include opera, piano and chamber music, choral and orchestral pieces.-Career:...
with a libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
by Alasdair Middleton
Alasdair Middleton
Alasdair Middleton is a British playwright and opera librettist. He also teaches the Junior Classes at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.- Opera libretti :*Everything Money Can Buy *Out Of The Ordinary...
. It was commissioned by Hackney Music Development Trust and premiered in the Hackney Empire
Hackney Empire
The Hackney Empire is a theatre on Mare Street, in the London Borough of Hackney, built in 1901 as a music hall.-History:Hackney Empire is a grade II* listed building...
theatre in 2004. The opera has been described by the novelist, Margaret Drabble as On London Fields was "one of the most exciting community events I’ve ever seen."
The story concerns the life and prophecies of the 17th Century mystic and resident of Hackney, Hannah Trapnell. The opera is set in Hackney during the oppressive reign of Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
. Hannah leads the people of Hackney on to London Fields
London Fields
London Fields is a park and the name of an area of London, situated in the eastern borough of Hackney. The park itself was first recorded in 1540. At this time it was common ground and was used by drovers to pasture their livestock before taking them to market in London.London Fields is just over ...
where, in a series of increasingly vivid prophecies, she sings of a new proto-Marxist Kingdom of Heaven. Among her followers are an idealistic young couple called Deborah and Abel. Eventually the meeting is brutally suppressed by a group of Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
soldiers led by Sir Bawnagayne Surly. Abel tries to oppose the soldiers and is killed. The opera ends with his young widow singing a poignant lullaby to the couple's unborn child.
For the original production Matthew King composed for a cast of four professional singers (Sally Burgess, Alison Buchanan, Simon Thorpe and Jonathan Gunthorpe) and several choruses of Hackney residents, including a children's choir and a Gospel choir. The orchestra was the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
The Academy of St Martin in the Fields is an English chamber orchestra, based in London.Sir Neville Marriner founded the ensemble as The Academy of St.-Martin-in-the-Fields in London as a small, conductorless string group. The ensemble's name comes from Trafalgar Square's St Martin-in-the-Fields...
, supported by Young Jazz Hackney; the Cambridge Heath
Cambridge Heath
Cambridge Heath is a place in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The earliest recorded use of the name is as Camprichthesheth in 1275.It forms part of the East End of London and is located north of Bethnal Green. The area is the location, at Patriot Square, of the former Bethnal Green Town Hall...
Salvation Army Band
Salvation Army Band
A Salvation Army brass band is a brass band affiliated with a Corps, Division or Territory of the Salvation Army. In society, a Salvation Army band playing in public places during Christian events in the calendar such as Christmas has become a part of seasonal customs particularly in the...
; Hackney Centre for Young Musicians, a Turkish Saz
Baglama
thumb|180px|Cura and bağlamaThe bağlama is a stringed musical instrument shared by various cultures in the Eastern Mediterranean, Near East, and Central Asia....
band and an African Drumming group called Emashi. The opera makes use of spatial distribution of players and instrumentalists with the brass band
Brass band
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
playing in the upper circle of the theatre and other groups distributed around the building and off-stage. The opera critic and musicologist, Rodney Milnes
Rodney Milnes
Rodney Milnes Blumer is an English music critic, musicologist, writer, translator and broadcaster, with a particular interest in opera.He attended Rugby School and Oxford University before working in publishing....
, described the event in the following terms:
The scale was daunting. There were five orchestras, with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields in the pit, plus jazz and brass bands (Henze would like that) dotted about the auditorium...There were more than 150 singers, of every known age, race and gender.
Writing in The Evening Standard, Stephen Pettitt was also largely enthusiastic about the work:
King's music is eminently approachable, veering between jazz and a sort of energetic minimalism. Even so, he’s unafraid of complexity, even when writing for very young performers. Some of the clashing rhythms and textural layerings are mind-boggling.
In 2005 On London Fields received the Royal Philharmonic Society
Royal Philharmonic Society
The Royal Philharmonic Society is a British music society, formed in 1813. It was originally formed in London to promote performances of instrumental music there. Many distinguished composers and performers have taken part in its concerts...
Education Award.
External links
- http://www.hmdt.org.uk/assets/downloads/10thAnniversaryConcertProgramme.pdf Official Hackney Music Development Trust Website