ASF Study Materials for Contact ASF: Study materials written by www.asf.net Susan Willis, ASF Dramaturg 1.800.841.4273 [email protected] Welcome to The Sound of Music Heading for the hills is particularly melodic A von Trapp Family Album when the reference is to The Sound of Music. Anywhere that musicals on stage or film have reached, one need only hit and hold that first note on the word "The—" and everyone can Characters Maria Rainer, a postulant at finish the phrase, "hills are alive…." That's some Nonnberg Abbey powerful songwriting. The Mother Abbess It was a winning story even before the music Sister Berthe was added—a widower left with 7 children feeling Sister Margaretta he must re-marry for their sakes and a devout Sister Sophia young postulant with a lively spirit seeking her Captain Georg von Trapp true calling sent to care for those children in His children: need of love. High stakes provided by the Nazi Liesl, age 16 invasion of Austria, and high notes provided by The von Trapp children not long before Friedrich, age 14 Maria and the power of song. Maria Kutschera met them; from left, Louisa, age 13 In the musical, young love hits powerfully Martina, Johanna, Hedwig, Werner, Maria, Kurt, age 10 on two fronts, and Liesl runs toward it while Agatha, and Rupert. They really did wear Brigitta, age 9 Maria, not much her senior, runs away. The wise sailor suits. Marta, age 7 older woman, a classic Hammerstein character, Gretl, the youngest this time a Mother Superior and truly wise, Franz, the butler from her cloister counsels the postulant to Frau Schmidt, housekeeper embrace the life and love offered her. Rolf Gruber, delivery boy Many lives and many loves comprise Elsa Schraeder, a baroness this musical, Oscar Hammerstein's last, and Max Detweiler, a talent agent the pathway through it leads from a convent Herr Zeller neighbors to a villa, to a song contest, and finally to Baron Elberfeld } another country and another life. Maria's is Admiral von Schrieber not the play's only "farewell" to initial hopes Neighbors; nuns, novices, and dreams and plans, only the first. At the postulants at the abbey; end, the entire von Trapp family is leaving contestants at the Concert their home and homeland, setting out for a new life—and hoping America will accept Setting: Salzburg, Austria some immigrants fleeing violence at home. The Trapp family (they dropped the Time: 1938 With this production ASF is embracing the 'von' when they became American citizens) newer theatrical approach to staging musicals—it in the U.S. in the 1940s; Georg and Maria will have all the music but played more simply, rear center. They continued to wear native About the Study Materials with two pianos on stage rather than an unseen Austrian garb in the U.S. not as costumes The materials look at basic pit orchestra. We'll be making "the sound of the but because it was familiar, practical, and artistic elements, including family music" right before your very eyes along with comfortable. history and the musical's timeline; the "Trapp family" singing. The other vital member of the Trapp European historical context; and Singers was Father Franz Wasner, a priest a worksheet. Other discussion who began as a renter at their Salzburg and writing prompts are in light villa, became their musical advisor, then blue boxes throughout. their musical director when they began to Adapt these materials to the sing and tour, and a life-long family friend level and needs of your students. who emigrated with them. His contribution is omitted from the musical to build up Maria's role. From an Austrian Villa via Vermont to the Broadway Stage Georg von Trapp raised a musical family; The von Trapp Family Choir became well-bred Europeans were expected to have the Trapp Family Singers in America, and musical skills, but he never intended that they their repertoire shifted from an emphasis on become professional musicians. In fact, he classical music to include Austrian folk tunes repeatedly rejected the very idea, but once he lost and other music as they traveled nationally the family fortune by re-investing it in an Austrian and internationally. As the children married bank to help a friend during the mid-1930s and moved, others joined the group until Depression and other financial efforts were not they disbanded in 1957. Some then became profitable, the family's greatest resource turned missionaries, some teachers, some ran the out to be themselves and their musical ability. lodge or taught music schools there. One of the boarders they took in at the villa Biography and Broadway to try to make ends meet was both a priest and In 1949 Maria Trapp wrote The Story of the Daughter Maria Trapp's a musician, Father Franz Wasner. His musical Trapp Family Singers, which inspired a West Memories of Family Music knowledge shaped the Family von Trapp from German film Die Trapp-Familie [The Trapp before Fraulein Maria Came skilled amateur singers into a formidable musical Family] and its sequel, The Trapp Family in "Growing up we were entity, so that they won Austrian contests, were America (1958), which were among the most surrounded by music. Father invited to sing for the Fuhrer's birthday (an honor popular West German films of the 1950s. In played the violin, accordion and they declined), and toured across Europe— these films Georg was portrayed as a sterner mandolin. Mother played piano profitably. He was the musical guru, Maria the figure so Maria could be the inspirational force and violin. I have fond memories driving force, and Georg left to provide moral for the music, along with Father Wasner. The of our grandmother playing the support and make arrangements. first film also shortened the timeline to the 1930s piano for us after meals.… From Austria to the United States for Maria's entry. "Meanwhile, we were The Anschluss in 1938 changed the family's American director Vincent Donehue saw old enough to learn musical future, especially once Georg turned down an the West German film and instantly thought instruments. Sometimes our appointment to the German Navy. Facing certain the role of Maria von Trapp ideal for Broadway house must have sounded like a arrest and an imminent border closing, they star Mary Martin, who had just wowed the Great musical conservatory. You could planned a "skiing vacation in Italy," where Georg White Way in South Pacificand Peter Pan. She hear us practice piano, violin, held dual citizenship, and got out on the last train. was interested, but just getting the rights from guitar, cello, clarinet, accordion, Father Wasner accompanied them. From Italy the far-flung von Trapp family took until the end and later, recorders. We would they went to England and the U.S. for a small of 1957, when Howard Lindsay and Russel gather in the evenings to play tour. They settled in the U.S. in 1939, ending up Crouse were hired to write the play to be called Viennese folksongs on our in Vermont, where they built and later opened a The Singing Heart. instruments with Father leading lodge [Cor Unum, one heart] to the public amid Their plans for a play with Austrian folk tunes on the violin.…" mountains that reminded them of Austria. soon morphed into a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, the first time Hammerstein would be writing only the lyrics, so the score emerged in a matter of months. The plot continued to change—excluding the emigration, changing her last name and the children's first names and some of their genders, shifting all the events to 1938 near the Anschluss for dramatic effect, cutting Wasner entirely but keeping the Captain's altered stern character so all the focus and story drive could fall on Maria, that is, on their leading The von Trapps and lady and star power, Mary Martin. the 10 children c. 1941 A Musical Based on Real Events: How Art Reshapes Life The Actual von Trapp Family History Timeline of the Musical Events treated in musical occur 1926-38. All events occur on 8 separate days over a • 1880: Georg von Trapp born in a part of the 15-week period in 1938. Austrian Empire that later was part of Italy; Act One he held dual Austrian-Italian citizenship • Day 1: Maria late at abbey • 1894-1918: Georg's career in Austro- • Day 2: the next day. Maria sent to von Trapp Hungarian Navy, rising to rank equivalent family; her arrival, Rolf and Liesl's talk, to our Lt. Commander and with medals for thunderstorm. Captain has left for Vienna sinking several ships • Day 3: 6 weeks later. Captain returns from • 1905: Maria Kutschera born Vienna with Elsa and Max • 1911: Georg's marriage to Agathe • Day 4: one week later. The party; Laendler Compare children in the musical: Whitehead; their children were: dance; Maria leaves Liesl, 16 Rupert, b. 1911 • Day 5: three days later. Maria at abbey; Friedrich, 14 Agathe, b. 1913 Abbess urges her to return to find God's Louisa, 13 Maria, b. 1914 purpose for her Kurt, 10 Werner, b. 1915 Act Two Brigitta, 9 Hedwig, b. 1917 • Same day: Maria returns. Political Marta, 7 Johanna, b. 1919 disagreement between Captain, Elsa, and Gretl, youngest (~5) Martina, b. 1921 Max. Engagement off; Maria and Captain (identical ages of von Trapp • 1922: Agathe von Trapp dies of scarlet fever admit mutual love children in 1927 at marriage) caught from children • Day 6: 2 weeks later.