TWENTY-FIVE WORKS FOR THE DRAMATIC SOPRANO VOICE AND ORCHESTRA; A STUDY GUIDE DOCUMENT Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Musical Arts in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Kathleen Beth Sasnett, M.M. ***** The Ohio State University 2006 Document Committee: Approved by: Professor Robin Rice, Advisor Professor Loretta Robinson __________________________ Professor Charles Patrick Woliver Advisor School of Music Graduate Program ABSTRACT This document is meant to serve as a study guide of twenty-five works for the dramatic soprano voice with orchestra. Criteria used for inclusion include range, tessitura, orchestral scoring, dramatic intensity, and cultural diversity. There are examples of works dating from 1787 through 2004, and include song cycles, monoperas, monodramas, scena and arias, symphonic rhapsodies, cantatas, symphonic cycles, and lyric tragedies. Adhering to the basic requirement of the piece being suitable for the dramatic soprano voice, the chosen works are eclectic in language, style, ethnic origin, and musical period. A cursory definition of the dramatic soprano voice is included. Information is provided for each listing, including a brief biographical sketch of the composer and the work’s history and lyrics. ii Dedicated to my three dear children: Joseph Roger, Nicole Elizabeth, and Benjamin Harris Sasnett, And my wonderful third son, Jonathan Hudson, And my three darling grandchildren, Celeste Elizabeth, Benjamin Joseph, and Charity Lynn, And their devoted grandfather, father, and my heart of twenty-eight years, Roger Harris Sasnett iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to acknowledge with profound thanks, Dr. Robin Rice at The Ohio State University, for his vast encouragement, instruction, guidance, advice, and friendship during the past two years. Heartfelt thanks go to Professor Loretta Robinson, Dr. Charles Patrick Woliver, and Dr. Wayne Redenbarger for their assistance and support on my behalf during this process. I also want to thank my husband, Roger, for his unfailing encouragement and love, even while completing his Ph.D. in School Psychology. I would be remiss if I did not also thank the present day composers whose generosity in providing their musical and dramatic pieces of art, allowed for a more complete representation of the exciting repertoire that is available to the dramatic soprano today. iv VITA April 23, 1952………………………………Born – Seattle, Washington 1987 ………………………………………...Bachelor of Arts, Vocal Performance University of Washington 1993…………………………………………Teaching Certificate K-12 Vocal Music Endorsement State of Washington 1993…………………………………………Teaching Credential Elementary and Early Childhood Ed Pacific Oaks College 2001…………………………………………Master of Music, Vocal Performance Winner-Masters Concerto/Aria Competition Graduate Teaching Assistant Central Washington University 2004 – present……………………………… Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society University Graduate Fellowship Graduate Outstanding Achievement Award Winner of DMA Concerto/Aria Competition Graduate Teaching Associate The Ohio State University Teaching Experience 1979-1993…………………………………. Director, Miniature Opera Company Kid’s Chorus Clubs 1989-1993…………………………………..American Sign Language, 6-adult Music/Drama - Seattle Children’s Theatre 1993-1994…………………………………..Vocal Music Specialist, Grades 7-9 Redmond Junior High Lake Washington School District 1994-1996…………………………………..Vocal Music Specialist, Grades K-6 Kenmore Elementary School Northshore School District 2000-2001…………………………………..Vocal Music Specialist, Grades 6-8 v Morgan Middle School Ellensburg School District 2001-2002…………………………………..Vocal Music Specialist, Grades 4-12 East Valley Intermediate East Valley Central East Valley High School East Valley School District 2002-2003…………………………………..Vocal Music Specialist, Grades 7-9 Exploring Performing Arts Kingston Junior High School North Kitsap School District 1999-2001…………………………………. Adjunct Professor of Voice Graduate Assistant Opera Workshop Assistant Director Vocal Coach “Oklahoma!” Guest Artist Aldonza “Man of La Mancha” Central Washington University 2004-2006…………………………………..Graduate University Fellowship Graduate Teaching Assistant The Ohio State University 2006…………………………………………Assistant Professor of Voice and Opera Sunderman Conservatory of Music Gettysburg College Performance Experience Opera 1987 – 2003…………………………………University of Washington La Clemenza di Tito Vitellia Die Fledermaus Rosalinda Seattle Opera Outreach Hansel and Gretel Witch Hansel and Gretel Mother Tacoma Opera Amahl and the Night Visitors Mother Amahl and the Night Visitors Mother Capitol Opera Suor Angelica Angelica vi Seattle Opera Young Artist Madama Butterfly Cio Cio San Tosca Tosca Ariadne auf Naxos Ariadne Un Ballo in Maschera Amelia Lohengrin Elsa Tannhäuser Elisabeth Tristan und Isolde Isolde Cavalleria Rusticana Santuzza Seattle Opera Il Trovatore Leonora (Cover) Turandot Liu (Cover) Andrea Chenier Maddalena (Cover) Elektra 5th Maid 2004…………………………………………Natchez Opera Festival Turandot (Cover performance) Turandot Cortona, Italy Dialogues of the Carmelites Blanche Firenze, Italy Dialogues of the Carmelites Blanche The Ohio State University Everyman Jack Woman 2005…………………………………………The Ohio State University Fidelio (Concert Version) Leonore City of Gaithersburg, MD Hansel and Gretel Witch Bel Cantanti Opera Hansel and Gretel Witch German Embassy, Washington D.C Amahl and the Night Visitors Mother Bel Cantanti Opera Amahl and the Night Visitors Mother 2006…………………………………………Amici Opera Il Tabarro Giorgetta vii Pagliacci Nedda Cavalleria Rusticana Santuzza Natchez Opera Festival Il Tabarro Giorgetta Oratorio 1987 – 2003……………….. Verdi Requiem Seattle Choral Company December Seattle Choral Company St. Cecelia Mass Eugene Concert Choir Beethoven 9th Bremerton Sym Orchestra High Holy Days Temple de Hirsch, Seattle Love Songs Fort Collins Sym Orchestra Mozart Requiem Bremerton Sym Orchestra V. Williams Hodie Puget Sound Civic Chorus V. Williams Hodie Rainier Chorale Handel Messiah Payson Civic Chorale Mendelssohn Elijah Payson Civic Chorale Chichester Psalms The Seattle Symphony Ceremony of Carols The Leonard Moore Chorale Schubert Mass in G Bellevue Phil Orchestra Bach Cantata #4 University of Washington Brahms Requiem City Singers Hovhaness Magnificat The Seattle Chorale 2004…………………………Arias in Czech Republic Praha, Czech Republic Evening of Opera Lüneberg, Germany Evening of Opera Munich, Germany Concert/Master Class Howard University Rodgers and Hammerstein Natchez Opera Festival Broadway Stars Evening Cortona, Italy Classical Concert Series Firenze, Italy 2005…………………………Tsunami Benefit Concert Columbus, Ohio 2006…………………………Beethoven Ah, perfido! The Ohio State University Musical Theatre 1987 – 2003……………….. Phantom Opera Diva Seattle 5th Avenue Brigadoon Fiona Seattle Civic Lt Opera Kismet Marsinah Burien Little Theatre The Sound of Music Maria Northshore Civic 1776 Martha Payson Community The Music Man Marian Village Theatre Carnival! Lili Seattle Civic Opera Carousel Julie Seattle Civic Opera viii Oklahoma! Laurie Northshore Civic Brigadoon Fiona Off Broadway Prod. West Side Story Maria Shoreline Co College Fiddler on the Roof Hodel Shoreline Co. College Fahrenheit 451 Mrs. Hudson New City Theatre Man of La Mancha Aldonza Central WA Univ. 2004…………………………Show Boat Parthy Natchez Opera 2006…………………………Fiddler on the Roof Golde Natchez Opera 1952 – 2006……………….. Significant voice teachers Elizabeth Moore, Leonard Moore, Edmund Hurschell, Mary Curtis Verna, Marsha Baldwin, Dr. Linda Marra, Dr. Bill Hall, Dr. Robin Rice 1987 – 2006…………………Professional Voice and Drama Teacher Private Studios in Washington, Utah, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, providing instruction in performance for adults, teens, and children for 30 years PUBLICATIONS FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Music Areas of Emphasis: Vocal Performance Vocal Pedagogy Vocal Literature Opera ix TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………ii Dedication……………………………………………………………………………...iii Acknowledgments……………………………………………………………………...iv Vita……………………………………………………………………………………...v List of Figures………………………………………………………………………….xii Introduction……………………………………………………………………………..1 Voice Classifications…………………………………………………………………....2 Justification for Inclusion/Exclusion ……………………………………………….......8 Individual Chronological Listing Pre-1900 ………………………………………………………………………10 Bella mia fiamma, K528 Mozart 1787……11 Scena di Berenice Haydn 1795……16 Ah, perfido! Beethoven 1796……21 Les Nuits d’été, Op. 7 Berlioz 1841……26 Wesendonck Lieder Wagner 1862……34 Poème de l’amour et de la mer, Op.19 Chausson 1893……40 1900-1950……………………………………………………………………………...46 Shéhérazade, Op. 35 Ravel 1903……47 The Mystic Trumpeter, Op. 18 Holst 1904……52 Sieben frühe Lieder Berg 1907……58 x Erwartung Schoenberg 1909……64 Our Hunting Fathers, Op. 8 Britten 1936……71 Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Op. 24 Barber 1947……77 Vier letzte Lieder Strauss 1948……82 1950-2004……………………………………………………………………...87 La Voix humaine Poulenc 1958……88 Andromache’s Farewell Barber 1962……97 Flower and Hawk Floyd 1972……102 The Diary of Anne Frank Frid 1976……110 Trumpet Voluntary Eaton 1991……118 Byzantium Tippett 1991……122 Death of a Little Girl with Doves Beck 1998……127 Umuntu: Threnody and Dances Ndodana 2001……138 Medusa Bolcom 2003……145 Letter to Warsaw Pasatieri 2003……156 The Phoenix Sheng 2004……166 Erotic Spirits Paulus 2004……171 References……………………………………………………………………………..177 xi LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart…………………………………………...........11 2.