Study Guide: Student Edition

Study Materials - Student’s Edition June, 2021 Contents From Folk Tale to Opera The origins of Hansel and Gretel From folktale to opera - The origins of Hansel and Gretel Folktales Folktales Grimm’s Fairy Tales Hansel and Gretel, the opera Folktales are stories that are passed from person to person. Because they are generally not written down, the same story might exist in many different versions. These stories were especially popular before most people were educated in how to read and write. But we still have different kinds of About the creators folktales today, such as “urban legends.” The Brothers Grimm In time, many folktales were written down. Some of the earliest collections were made in France and Adelheid Wette gave these stories the familiar name of fairy tales, because of the frequent presence of magical Engelbert Humperdinck beings in the stories. These stories were not originally told or written down for children. They contained violence and descriptions of horrible people and their actions. But many of the authors changed some of the traditional elements to make them more suitable for children. Synopsis of the Opera Folktales were often built around individual story elements or events that could be pieced together to make a new story. The original story of Hansel and Gretel probably started in the Medieval Ages Additional Resources during a great famine, and various traditional elements were used to create the story. For example, in the familiar Grimm version, Hansel and Gretel were able to find their way home by leaving a trail of stones. When they meet the Witch, who wants to eat them, they trick her into falling into her own Discussion Questions oven. Finally, they are able to find their way home again with the help of a magic bird.

Many stories have some of these same elements. Stories of heroes leaving a trail so that they can find their way out of a maze or a forest go back to ancient times. There are also stories that have an evil witch or ogre who wishes to cook and eat the hero, only to be fooled into falling in the oven themselves. And magic animals, who help the hero, are found in many fairy tales.

Grimm’s Fairy Tales

Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm were two brothers who had a great interest in German literature. They began to collect German folk tales, which they eventually published in a book called, in German, Children’s and Household Tales (1812). We know these stories as Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Although called children’s tales, the stories were criticized for not being suitable for children. And so the Grimms changed some of the elements in later editions. The brothers continued to add stories to their collection and revise what they had written. The story of Hansel and Gretel was originally called Little Brother and Little Sister. The children were only given names in later editions. The Grimms may have first heard the story from a family friend, but it is clear that they pieced the story together from various versions. Hansel and Gretel, the opera were known as Children’s and Household Tales, though we know them as Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Over the years, the collection went through numerous editions, with stories being added (and occasionally removed). The original stories were also criticized for elements that were definitely not for children, Perhaps because it combined so many traditional story elements, the story of Hansel and Gretel was particularly popular and was adapted by many other storytellers. A woman named Adelheid Wette wrote elements that were considerably softened in later editions. Among the stories collected are such familiar a play based on the story, which she intended for her children to perform for family and friends. She favorites as Cinderella, The Frog Prince, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, Rumpelstiltskin, Snow asked her brother, the composer Engelbert Humperdinck to compose four or five songs to go into the White, Sleeping Beauty, and, of course, Hansel and Gretel. play. The play was so successful, that Wette and Humperdinck decided to add even more songs. This created a type of opera called a Singspiel, or sing play. The Singspiel contained 16 songs, including, in Although they were not the first collectors of German folktales, the Brothers Grimm were first to make a accordance with the folk origin of the story, four actual folk songs. Eventually, the Singspiel was turned systematic collection. They tried to collect the stories as they heard them, using the words and even the into a full-blown opera. This became the Hansel and Gretel (1893) opera that we know today. dialects of the storytellers, though some scholars believe that they may have altered some stories to make them seem more German than they were. Certainly, many stories have parallels in other cultures Humperdinck was a protégé of the composer Richard Wagner. When composing his own massive and even appear in collections of stories in other languages. Part of the Grimms’ motivation for making operas, Wagner used a system of what is called leitmotifs, literally “leading motifs”. A leitmotif is short their collection was to help unite German-speaking people. At the time, what we call Germany was musical phrase used to represent a person, object, or idea. A leitmotif may appear when the person, composed of some 200 separate regions, many ruled by France. object, or idea is referenced in some way, frequently recombined with other leitmotifs or transformed in various ways to create the musical tapestry. For example, in Act I of Hansel and Gretel, the Father tells But as well-known as their study of German folktales was, the Brothers Grimm were also very important the Mother about a witch that lives in the woods. When we finally see the witch in Act III, the witch in the study of German language. At the time of their deaths, they were working on a German dictionary, motif first heard in Act I reappears. This kind of musical referencing is still used today, especially in film which also traced the historical usage of German words. Jacob Grimm is also credited for the discovery scores. Film composers often create short themes for important characters and use those themes in of “Grimm’s Law”, which describes how the sounds of language change over time. various ways throughout the film soundtrack. Adelheid Wette (1858-1916) Hansel and Gretel, the full opera, was first performed on December 23, 1893. It has often been associated with Christmas ever since. Adelheid Wette was a German author and composer, best known for writing the libretto for the opera, Hansel and Gretel, composed by her brother, Engelbert Humperdinck. Wette enjoyed writing About the creators plays for her children to perform in the family puppet theater. One of her plays was based on the Grimm fairy tale, Snow White, and included songs composed by her brother. A couple years later, she The Brothers Grimm wrote another play based on Hansel and Gretel. Again, she asked her brother to compose four or five songs to include. Being a Jacob (1785-1863) and Wilhelm Grimm composer herself, she was able to suggest exactly the kind of (1786-1859) were two German brothers who music she wanted. The play was a great success, and so the play became some of the earliest and most important was expanded to 16 songs with spoken dialog. Eventually, Wette collectors of folktales. Their father was a lawyer, and Humperdinck transformed the play into a full opera. and in their youth, the family lived a pleasant middle-class life. However, after the death of their father, the family fell into poverty.

Eventually, the brothers were able to attend university, where they initially studied law, to follow in their father’s profession. However, they soon turned their attention to German language and literature. They became especially interested in the collection of German folktales. They published their first collection of stories in 1812, with a second volume following in 1815. In German, these Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm, 1847 Hansel and Gretel, the opera were known as Children’s and Household Tales, though we know them as Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Over the years, the collection went through numerous editions, with stories being added (and occasionally removed). The original stories were also criticized for elements that were definitely not for children, Perhaps because it combined so many traditional story elements, the story of Hansel and Gretel was particularly popular and was adapted by many other storytellers. A woman named Adelheid Wette wrote elements that were considerably softened in later editions. Among the stories collected are such familiar a play based on the story, which she intended for her children to perform for family and friends. She favorites as Cinderella, The Frog Prince, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, Rumpelstiltskin, Snow asked her brother, the composer Engelbert Humperdinck to compose four or five songs to go into the White, Sleeping Beauty, and, of course, Hansel and Gretel. play. The play was so successful, that Wette and Humperdinck decided to add even more songs. This created a type of opera called a Singspiel, or sing play. The Singspiel contained 16 songs, including, in Although they were not the first collectors of German folktales, the Brothers Grimm were first to make a accordance with the folk origin of the story, four actual folk songs. Eventually, the Singspiel was turned systematic collection. They tried to collect the stories as they heard them, using the words and even the into a full-blown opera. This became the Hansel and Gretel (1893) opera that we know today. dialects of the storytellers, though some scholars believe that they may have altered some stories to make them seem more German than they were. Certainly, many stories have parallels in other cultures Humperdinck was a protégé of the composer Richard Wagner. When composing his own massive and even appear in collections of stories in other languages. Part of the Grimms’ motivation for making operas, Wagner used a system of what is called leitmotifs, literally “leading motifs”. A leitmotif is short their collection was to help unite German-speaking people. At the time, what we call Germany was musical phrase used to represent a person, object, or idea. A leitmotif may appear when the person, composed of some 200 separate regions, many ruled by France. object, or idea is referenced in some way, frequently recombined with other leitmotifs or transformed in various ways to create the musical tapestry. For example, in Act I of Hansel and Gretel, the Father tells But as well-known as their study of German folktales was, the Brothers Grimm were also very important the Mother about a witch that lives in the woods. When we finally see the witch in Act III, the witch in the study of German language. At the time of their deaths, they were working on a German dictionary, motif first heard in Act I reappears. This kind of musical referencing is still used today, especially in film which also traced the historical usage of German words. Jacob Grimm is also credited for the discovery scores. Film composers often create short themes for important characters and use those themes in of “Grimm’s Law”, which describes how the sounds of language change over time. various ways throughout the film soundtrack. Adelheid Wette (1858-1916) Hansel and Gretel, the full opera, was first performed on December 23, 1893. It has often been associated with Christmas ever since. Adelheid Wette was a German author and composer, best known for writing the libretto for the opera, Hansel and Gretel, composed by her brother, Engelbert Humperdinck. Wette enjoyed writing About the creators plays for her children to perform in the family puppet theater. One of her plays was based on the Grimm fairy tale, Snow White, and included songs composed by her brother. A couple years later, she The Brothers Grimm wrote another play based on Hansel and Gretel. Again, she asked her brother to compose four or five songs to include. Being a Jacob (1785-1863) and Wilhelm Grimm composer herself, she was able to suggest exactly the kind of (1786-1859) were two German brothers who music she wanted. The play was a great success, and so the play became some of the earliest and most important was expanded to 16 songs with spoken dialog. Eventually, Wette collectors of folktales. Their father was a lawyer, and Humperdinck transformed the play into a full opera. and in their youth, the family lived a pleasant middle-class life. However, after the death of their father, the family fell into poverty.

Humperdinck composed a number of fairy tale operas, though Hansel and Gretel remained his most successful. Hansel and Gretel – Synopsis

Act I – Hansel and Gretel’s home Scene 1 Gretel makes a crown of flowers while Hansel fills his basket with strawberries. Overcome with hunger, Scene 1 they begin to eat the strawberries, though they know that Mother will be upset. But by now, it is getting Gretel sings to herself while doing chores, but Hansel complains about how hungry he is. He wishes that dark in the forest, and Hansel and Gretel realize that they are lost. They because frightened when they Mother would come home. Gretel tells him not to complain, and reminds him that Heaven will send see a little man coming out of the forest. them help when they need it most. Hansel is not convinced, so Gretel tells him a secret to cheer him up. The neighbor has given them a jug of milk, and when Mother comes home, she will make them custard Scene 2 for supper. Hansel excitedly tastes the cream on the milk. Gretel chides him and orders him back to The little man tells them not to be afraid. He is not there to hurt them. He is the Sandman, and has only work. But Hansel does not want to work. He would rather dance. Gretel agrees, and so they have a come to put them to sleep. He sprinkles sand in their eyes, and they suddenly become very drowsy. But rousing dance. they do not forget to say their evening prayers before falling asleep on the forest floor.

Scene 2 Scene 3 Their fun is interrupted when Mother returns. She is very angry that the chores have not been finished. As they sleep, 14 angels come down and surround the children to protect them. In the excitement, the jug of milk is knocked to the floor. Now they have nothing to eat, and so Mother sends the children into the forest to gather strawberries for supper. Left alone, Mother laments that she cannot feed her children, and prays for help.

Scene 3 In the distance, Father is heard singing. He bursts into the house, full of high spirits. He has returned with bacon, sausages, eggs, and other good things to eat. The nearby village is preparing for a festival, and he has sold all his wares at a very high price. But then he notices that the children are missing. Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921) Mother tells him about the broken jug and sending the children into the forest to pick strawberries. Horrified, Father tells her that the forest is home to the Gingerbread Witch, who lures children in with cakes and sweets, then bakes the children into gingerbread to eat. Father and Mother rush out to search Engelbert Humperdinck was a German composer best known for his opera, Hansel and Gretel (1893). Although his parents wished him for their children. to study architecture, Humperdinck took music classes at a local conservatory. Soon, he began to win scholarships and awards. He Act II – The forest became acquainted with Richard Wagner, the most well-known and influential composer of the day, and Wagner invited him to be his assistant in Beyreuth, where he had built a theater dedicated to the performance of his own works. Humperdinck picked up much of his style from study of Wagner’s operas, including the use of a large orchestra and employing leitmotivs. A leitmotiv is a short musical phrase that refers to a particular person, thing, or idea. Whenever the person, thing, or idea appears in the opera, the leitmotiv may appear in the orchestra, often transformed in various ways or combined with other leitmotivs to create a new musical texture.

Humperdinck composed a number of fairy tale operas, though Hansel and Gretel remained his most successful. Hansel and Gretel – Synopsis

Scene 1 From Tacoma Opera (available on our website - tacomaopera.com): In the morning, the Dew Fairy comes to wake the children by sprinkling them with dew. She sings about • Hansel and Gretel: “Come and Dance with Me.” A video presentation of Act I, scene 1 of Hansel how beautiful the forest is in the morning. Hansel and Gretel tell each other about the strange dream of and Gretel, featuring puppeteers, Matthew Posner and Gina Wilhelm. the 14 angels that both of them had. • “Come and Dance with Me” scene translation. • “Pa-pa-pa-puppets” A brief scene from Mozart’s Magic Flute, also acted out by puppeteers, Scene 2 Matthew Posner and Gina Wilhelm. Just then, the children notice a wonderful house made of gingerbread and • For the more complete story of Papageno, featured in “Pa-pa-pa-puppets,” check out our video of decorated with cookies, cakes, and other sweets. Unable to resist, the “Papageno’s Story.” children begin to sample bits of the house. Other sources: Scene 3 • Many other opera companies have their own educational outreach materials centered on Hansel As they nibble, they hear a faint voice. At first they think it is just the wind, and Gretel. A search for “Hansel and Gretel opera study guide” will bring up a number of links but soon they see that it is an old woman who has come out of the house. She that may give you additional ideas for activities and study. Here is a link to Atlanta Opera’s catches Hansel with a rope and tells Hansel and Gretel that she likes nothing materials: https://www.atlantaopera.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ better than to feed sweets to little children. The children do not trust her, and StudyGuide_HanselGretel_FINAL.pdf so they try to escape, but the old woman waves a wand and freezes them in • The story of Hansel and Gretel has been told many times and in many ways. Here is a link to a their tracks. With the wand, the Witch (for she is the Gingerbread Witch) site that lists 15 different illustrated versions: https://teachingwithchildrensbooks.com/versions- forces Hansel into a cage. She orders Gretel to help with the chores in the of-hansel-and-gretel/ house. While Hansel pretends to sleep in his cage, the Witch describes how she intends to cook and eat them. The Witch wakes Hansel and asks him to show her his finger. But Hansel sticks a bone through the bars. The Witch, who has very poor eyesight, thinks that Hansel is still too skinny to eat. So she orders Gretel to bring her more goodies to fatten Hansel up. While the Witch feeds Hansel, Gretel steals her wand and frees Hansel from the spell keeping him trapped. The Witch orders Gretel to look into the oven to see if the gingerbread is done. Gretel pretends to be unable to understand, and asks the Witch to show her how to check the oven. When the Witch leans down to peer into the oven, Hansel breaks from his cage, and with Gretel, they push the Witch into the oven and slam the door. As they dance in triumph, the oven starts to smoke and explodes.

Scene 4 With the Witch dead, the children who had been baked into gingerbread begin to turn back into real children. They are still unable to move, but with the Witch’s wand, Hansel frees them from their spell.

Scene 5 Just then, Hansel and Gretel hear Father in the distance. Father and Mother have found them at last. The gingerbread children pull the Witch from the ruins of the oven. She has become a gingerbread herself. Father says that this is Heaven’s punishment for evil deeds. Act III – The Witch’s house Additional Resources