[LUTE] Re: Merchant of Venice show tunes
When I did Merchant of Venice I set "Tell Me Where Is Fancy Bred" to
the tune of Watkins Ale.
Jim Stimson
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Original message
From: Ron Andrico <praelu...@hotmail.com>
Date: 1/7/18 1:17 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: Leonard Williams <arc...@verizon.net>, lute@cs.dartmouth.edu
Subject: [LUTE] Re: Merchant of Venice show tunes
The Merchant of Venice has a few important instances of music, but
since there is so much courtroom drama there seems to be less of it
than in the other plays that were written by committee and
attributed
to Shakespeare. But depending upon the era the staging of your
current
production is aiming for, there could be some interesting music
found
to add strength, verisimilitude and spice.
The play is based partly upon the Italian _Il Pecorone_, from the
late
14th century but published in Milano in 1558. If your production is
set in the time of the original story, one could add some
interesting
estampies and saltarellos from the 14th century. If you are aiming
for
an Elizabethan production, yes, Italian Romanesca, Passamezzi, etc.
would work.
Interestingly, a prominent character in the play is named Bassanio,
and
it is well known that the Italian Bassano family of musicians, first
imported to England by Henry VIII, were Jewish. One could dip into
the
Tudor dance music associated with Henry and Elizabeth - there is a
Musica Britannica volume devoted to this music.
To find references to music in the play, look to the stage
directions.
There is a point in Act III, Scene ii where you find the directions
[Here music], and a song follows. The refrain in the text is *Ding,
dong, bell* as found in Ariel's song in Tempest, *Full fathom five*
composed by Robert Johnson. The other important musical scene is
Act
V, Scene i, where music for a trumpet is discussed and this
quotation
crops up:
By the sweet power of music; therefore the poet
Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods;
Since nought so stockish, hard, and full of rage,
But music for the time doth change his nature.
The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, strategems, and spoils;
The motions of his spirit are dull as night,
And his affections dark as Erebus:
Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music.
RA
__
From: lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu <lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu> on
behalf
of Leonard Williams <arc...@verizon.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 7, 2018 4:45 PM
To: lute@cs.dartmouth.edu
Subject: [LUTE] Re: Merchant of Venice show tunes
Thanks, all for your insights and suggestions!
Leonard
On Fri, Jan 5, 2018 at 6:51 PM, Leonard Williams
<[1][1]arc...@verizon.net> wrote:
Collective Elizabethan Wisdom:
A local company is performing Merchant of Venice in a few
months. I'm wondering what Italian pieces might be appropriate
based on their inclusion in British MSS of the day? Is there a
record of any of the tunes originally referenced in the play?
Since I would very likely not be performing them, a discography
woud
be most useful.
Grazie mille!
Leonard Williams
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[LUTE] Re: Merchant of Venice show tunes
Thanks, all for your insights and suggestions! Leonard On Fri, Jan 5, 2018 at 6:51 PM, Leonard Williams <[1][1]arc...@verizon.net> wrote: Collective Elizabethan Wisdom: A local company is performing Merchant of Venice in a few months. I'm wondering what Italian pieces might be appropriate based on their inclusion in British MSS of the day? Is there a record of any of the tunes originally referenced in the play? Since I would very likely not be performing them, a discography woud be most useful. Grazie mille! Leonard Williams To get on or off this list see list information at [2][2]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html -- References 1. [3]mailto:arc...@verizon.net 2. [4]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html -- References 1. mailto:arc...@verizon.net 2. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html 3. mailto:arc...@verizon.net? 4. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: Merchant of Venice show tunes
There are so very nice Italian songs in Robert Dowland's Musical Banquet - see http://fandango.musickshandmade.com/collections/preview/202 Alain On 01/07/2018 05:59 AM, Christopher Stetson wrote: Hello, Leonard and all. I've been waiting for any of the more learned, less anecdotally-based members to join in, but no one seems to be jumping so I'll chime in. Much of the English music of the late 16th/early 17th c. is very Italian influenced, as is, for that matter, music from anywhere in Europe. For specific examples, any of the Passamezzi, Rogero (Ruggiero), Greensleeves (Romanesca?), Sing We and Chant it (A Lieta Vita), etc. However, if you're trying for an authentic performance practice, I doubt if the band at the Globe would have given any thought to incorporating specifically Italian tunes in the playlist for MoV. I hope this helps, Chris. On Fri, Jan 5, 2018 at 6:51 PM, Leonard Williams <[1]arc...@verizon.net> wrote: Collective Elizabethan Wisdom: A local company is performing Merchant of Venice in a few months. I'm wondering what Italian pieces might be appropriate based on their inclusion in British MSS of the day? Is there a record of any of the tunes originally referenced in the play? Since I would very likely not be performing them, a discography woud be most useful. Grazie mille! Leonard Williams To get on or off this list see list information at [2]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html -- References 1. mailto:arc...@verizon.net 2. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: Merchant of Venice show tunes
Hello, Leonard and all. I've been waiting for any of the more learned, less anecdotally-based members to join in, but no one seems to be jumping so I'll chime in. Much of the English music of the late 16th/early 17th c. is very Italian influenced, as is, for that matter, music from anywhere in Europe. For specific examples, any of the Passamezzi, Rogero (Ruggiero), Greensleeves (Romanesca?), Sing We and Chant it (A Lieta Vita), etc. However, if you're trying for an authentic performance practice, I doubt if the band at the Globe would have given any thought to incorporating specifically Italian tunes in the playlist for MoV. I hope this helps, Chris. On Fri, Jan 5, 2018 at 6:51 PM, Leonard Williams <[1]arc...@verizon.net> wrote: Collective Elizabethan Wisdom: A local company is performing Merchant of Venice in a few months. I'm wondering what Italian pieces might be appropriate based on their inclusion in British MSS of the day? Is there a record of any of the tunes originally referenced in the play? Since I would very likely not be performing them, a discography woud be most useful. Grazie mille! Leonard Williams To get on or off this list see list information at [2]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html -- References 1. mailto:arc...@verizon.net 2. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: Merchant of Venice show tunes
There is only one song: "Tell me where is fancie bred". According to Seng the earliest extant music for it was composed by Arne in 1741. Rainer On 06.01.2018 00:51, Leonard Williams wrote: Collective Elizabethan Wisdom: A local company is performing Merchant of Venice in a few months. I’m wondering what Italian pieces might be appropriate based on their inclusion in British MSS of the day? Is there a record of any of the tunes originally referenced in the play? Since I would very likely not be performing them, a discography woud be most useful. Grazie mille! Leonard Williams To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
