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Books > Arts & Architecture > Performing arts > Theatre, drama > Musical theatre
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The Beggar's `Children' - How John Gay Changed The Course Of England's Musical Theatre (Hardcover, Unabridged edition)
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The Beggar's `Children' - How John Gay Changed The Course Of England's Musical Theatre (Hardcover, Unabridged edition)
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A harsh satire of Eighteenth Century London life, John Gay's The
Beggar's Opera is a piece well known by students of literature and
music. Gay's composition spawned a new genre of musical works
called "ballad opera" whose popularity rapidly caused the decline
of Italian opera in London. These well-received ballad operas
dominated London's musical theatre from 1728 until the middle of
the Eighteenth Century. No other author has looked beyond The
Beggar's Opera to analyze the plots of any of these imitative works
and their music. The book concentrates on these `children', or
descendants.The author describes a number of ballad operas which
proliferated on the heels of the success of The Beggar's Opera.
Ballad opera gradually matured into a pastoral, bucolic form (comic
opera) and eventually into a highly sophisticated type of musical
work (burletta). Several samples of each type of work chosen from
the performances most frequently given in London are discussed in
depth. These analyses include musical examples from the original
scores and evaluations of the dramatic and musical aspects of each
work. With the exception of The Beggar's Opera, none of these works
or similar ones has previously been the subject of detailed
analysis and evaluation."How John Gay Changed the Course of
England's Musical Theatre" sheds fresh light on the less familiar
ballad operas of the Eighteenth Century. Gay's The Beggar's Opera
created such a demand for musical satire that original music began
to be composed for English comic works. ...Edmund Miller, Chairman
of the English Department, C. W. Post Campus of Long Island
UniversityThis is an engaging and unique look at a piece of
operatic history out of the mainstream. It invites the reader to
explore works that he may not know, along with the milieu in which
these musical gems became popular....Kathryn Smith, General
Director, Tacoma OperaDr. Atkins provides an insightful study of
Eighteenth Century ballad opera ranging from John Gay's The
Beggar's Opera with its political satire and burlesque of Italian
opera to the comic operas and burlettas which rounded out the
century. This highly readable exposition includes examples of the
tuneful airs, and explains the plots of the most popular works of
the period. It will delight both musical and literary
scholars....Patricia Azar, Associate Editor, Collected Works of G.
K. ChestertonMadeline Atkins has given us a thorough and
intelligent study of Eighteenth Century popular English musical
theater, and the seminal role of The Beggar's Opera in its
development. With the inclusion of numerous musical examples,
abundant historical details, and deft, clear analyses, this book is
an excellent introduction to a delightful musical genre and period.
Atkins successfully accomplishes both of her aims: she informs us
about an overlooked yet important era of musical history and she
convinces us to want to hear it again for ourselves, and she does
it artfully and skillfully....Barry Sherman, Associate Professor of
Communications, St. John's University
General
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