Noye's Fludde
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| Operas by Benjamin Britten |
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Paul Bunyan (1941) |
Noye's Fludde (Noah's Flood) is a late 16th century mystery play from the Chester Mystery Cycle. It was set to music by Benjamin Britten in 1957 based on an edition by Alfred W. Pollard. Britten's opera, opus number 59, is written to be performed in a church or a large hall, but not in a theater (Britten's request) by a cast comprised primarily of amateurs.
The orchestra calls for a small concertino ensemble of professionals consisting of string quintet, recorder, piano (four hands), organ, and timpani. The amateur ripieno orchestra calls for strings, recorders, bugles, hand-bells, and percussion. The audience, which Britten refers to as the "congregation", is invited to join in by singing along in the three hymns inserted into the original text.
The first performance was on June 18, 1958 in Orford Church, Suffolk, as part of the Aldeburgh Festival, with Owen Brannigan as Noye. Charles Mackerras conducted the English Opera Group and a local cast.
[edit] Synopsis
Noye's Fludde opens with the congregation singing "Lord Jesus, think on me" as Noye enters. The spoken Voice of God tells Noye to build "a shippe". Noye agrees and calls on his family to help. His sons and their wives enter with tools and materials and begin, but Mrs Noye and her Gossips (close friends) mock the project. The cast build the ark on stage.
God tells Noye to fill the Ark with animals, and they enter in groups from all parts of the church, singing or squeaking "Kyrie eleison!" Noye orders his family to board, but Mrs Noye and the Gossips refuse, preferring to drink; the sons carry Mrs Noye on (she slaps Noye's face). Rain begins (roughly tuned teacups called slung mugs are struck to give the sound of the first raindrops), building to a great storm. The storm is represented by a passacaglia in which each statement of the theme a new aspect of the storm is represented: for example, trills in the recorders represent the wind and scales in the string section signify waves. At the height of the passacaglia, the congregation sings "Eternal Father, Strong to Save", a Victorian naval hymn by John B. Dykes. When it is calm, Noye sends out a raven (a dancer, accompanied by a cello), but she never returns. He sends out a dove (accompanied by a solo recorder played with fluttering tongue to imitate a dove's cooing), which brings back an olive branch. Everyone leaves the Ark, singing "Alleluia" accompanied by bugle fanfares. To the sound of handbells, God promises never to send another flood, with the rainbow as a sign. The cast file out singing Addison's "The spacious firmament on high" to Tallis' Canon, leaving Noye alone to receive God's blessing.
[edit] Recording
A recording was made in 1961, with Norman Del Mar conducting the English Chamber Orchestra and Owen Brannigan as Noye (currently available on CD - Decca catalogue no. 436 397-2). This CD also contains a recording of Britten's The Golden Vanity.
[edit] External links
- The Thirde Pageante of Noyes Fludd as presented by the Waterleaders and Drawers of Dee
