Beowulf.
An epic tale for choir, children’s choir, solo soprano and two musicians. This multi-component single output is represented by a CD recording and score, both provided in physical form. 'Beowulf' is published by Edition Peters and was recorded for Signum Records by the Armonico Consort with soprano Elin Manahan Thomas and actor Timothy West.
- Submitting institution
-
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
- Unit of assessment
- 33 - Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies
- Output identifier
- YOUTOBA
- Type
- J - Composition
- Month
- -
- Year
- 2019
- URL
-
-
- Supplementary information
-
-
- Request cross-referral to
- -
- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
- -
- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- Yes
- Number of additional authors
-
2
- Research group(s)
-
-
- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- “Beowulf” is a piece of community-engaged music theatre which brings together amateur and professional musicians to investigate how grand operatic models of narrative composition might interact with traditionally ‘low’ musical registers (such as popular music) to create a a compelling and inclusive musico-dramatic work that challenges the barrier to inclusion sometimes posed by ‘operatic’ voices. Stemming from a practical need for the work to be appealing to a diverse audience (given its performers largely being situated in areas of socio-economic disadvantage without regular access to classical music), “Beowulf” builds on a tradition of large-scale, poly-stylistic community works by Jonathan Dove (“Monster in the Maze”) and Julian Philips (“Knight Crew”) by investigating methods of genre-crossing that both assimilate and comment on the traditions of grand opera.
At the core of the research methodology was a knowledge-exchange study (University of Oxford 2016-17) in collaboration with performers from opera company McCaldin Art. Through interviews with professional singers from a number of musical backgrounds, the research team examined vocal composition and performance practices which assimilate elements of classical, popular, jazz and folk singing practices. The musical language for the piece was further developed and tested in workshops with both the professional and amateur performers, through an iterative process of composition designed to dynamically evaluate the success of new compositional and dramatic devices.
During its tour (6 performances across 2 years), data was collected using questionnaires, ‘vox-pop’ interviews and audience exchange activities; findings demonstrated that 85% of audiences (n=320) found the work to be ‘compelling’ or ‘highly successful’ as a piece of music theatre, with 62% experiencing significant positive changes in their perception of classical music and 40% showing a strong desire to attend a further classical music performance.
- Author contribution statement
- -
- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
- -
