Jōruri is an opera by Minoru Miki to a Japanese-language libretto by the composer and was adapted from an original story and libretto by Colin Graham.[1][2] It is the last of a trilogy of operas, following Shunkinshō (1975) and An Actor's Revenge (1979).[3]Jōruri was created in 1985.
The term jōruri refers to a musical narrative developed in Japan in the 15th century.[4] Over the years, it acquired several forms.[5] By 17th century, puppeteers were added to the performance and the narrator became known as ningyō jōruri.[4]
Miki's operaedit
Following the success of the American tour of the opera, An Actor's Revenge, the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis commissioned Miki to create Jōruri.[3][6] The proposal for this opera was presented in London where An Actor's Revenge was being staged.[3] It was agreed that, for this third opera in the trilogy, Miki would collaborate with Graham.[3]
Jōruri, which includes Kabuki elements, was inspired by Monzaemon Chikamatsu's puppet theater.[1] According to Graham, while it is not an adaptation of his puppet plays, it embodies some of his themes.[7] The original play was also composed for music and modern theater, particularly for an intimate theatrical setting.[8]
When it was staged in St. Louis, the cast included Faith Esham, John Brandstetter, Andrew Wentzel, and Mallory Walker.[1]Joseph Rescigno was the conductor.[1] Although the instrumental section included the Japanese musical instruments shakuhachi, twenty-string koto, and futo-zao shamisen, the score was arranged in such a way that it could also be staged using Western instruments.[7] A New York Times review during its world premiere noted how the opera paid court to both European and Japanese cultures, travelling "wide artistic distances in its attempt to reconcile two very different ways of hearing and seeing".[9]
Storyedit
The setting is 17th century Osaka, Japan.[2] The story is a tale about loyalty and the pull of human emotions. It transpires in and around the house of Shojo, a celebrated puppet theater narrator and follows Yosuke, a young puppet master.[1] Shojo, who is also a master of jōruri music has a devoted young wife, Otane, whom she saved from a magistrate.[10] He was blinded as a punishment for intervening in her behalf.[8] However, Otane has feelings for Yosuke, which is revealed during a quarrel in the opening scene. Shojo discovers that the young puppeteer is also in love with her when he traces the features of a bust that Yosuke carved for their new jōruri play.[10] It is an exact likeness of Otane.
The story ends in tragedy. Yosuke and Otane commit suicide as the parallels between real-life and the new play written by Shojo prove too painful for the pair.[8] They disappear into a waterfall.
Rolesedit
The characters of Jōruri are: Yosuke, a young puppet master; Shojo, a puppet theater leader; Otane, his young wife; and, a number of visitors that are to be played by the same tenor.[2] In its world premiere at St. Louis, the roles were performed[2] by the following:
^ abcdGalliano, Luciana (2002). Yogaku: Japanese Music in the 20th Century. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 286. ISBN978-0-8108-4325-7.
^ abSturman, Janet (2019). The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Music and Culture. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications. p. 1228. ISBN978-1-4833-1775-5.
^Hughes, David W. (2017). The Ashgate Research Companion to Japanese Music. Oxon: Routledge. ISBN978-1-351-69760-6.
^Jamake Highwater (1990-04-02). "Will New Push Old Off Japan's Stages?". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
^ abMiki, Minoru, and John Tedford (1989). "The Role of Traditional Japanese Instruments in Three Recent Operas". Perspectives of New Music, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 164–174. JSTOR 833407
^ abcAndrew Porter (1 July 1985). "Minoru Miki's Joruri libretto by Colin Graham world premiere by the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis". The New Yorker. Retrieved 27 October 2021 – via www.m-miki.com.
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Jōruri is an opera by Minoru Miki to a Japanese language libretto by the composer and was adapted from an original story and libretto by Colin Graham 1 2 It is the last of a trilogy of operas following Shunkinshō 1975 and An Actor s Revenge 1979 3 Jōruri was created in 1985 JōruriOpera by Minoru MikiLibrettistColin GrahamBased onpuppet theaterby Monzaemon ChikamatsuPremiere30 May 1985 1985 05 30 St Louis Contents 1 Background 1 1 Miki s opera 2 Story 3 Roles 4 ReferencesBackground editThe term jōruri refers to a musical narrative developed in Japan in the 15th century 4 Over the years it acquired several forms 5 By 17th century puppeteers were added to the performance and the narrator became known as ningyō jōruri 4 Miki s opera edit Following the success of the American tour of the opera An Actor s Revenge the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis commissioned Miki to create Jōruri 3 6 The proposal for this opera was presented in London where An Actor s Revenge was being staged 3 It was agreed that for this third opera in the trilogy Miki would collaborate with Graham 3 Jōruri which includes Kabuki elements was inspired by Monzaemon Chikamatsu s puppet theater 1 According to Graham while it is not an adaptation of his puppet plays it embodies some of his themes 7 The original play was also composed for music and modern theater particularly for an intimate theatrical setting 8 When it was staged in St Louis the cast included Faith Esham John Brandstetter Andrew Wentzel and Mallory Walker 1 Joseph Rescigno was the conductor 1 Although the instrumental section included the Japanese musical instruments shakuhachi twenty string koto and futo zao shamisen the score was arranged in such a way that it could also be staged using Western instruments 7 A New York Times review during its world premiere noted how the opera paid court to both European and Japanese cultures travelling wide artistic distances in its attempt to reconcile two very different ways of hearing and seeing 9 Story editThe setting is 17th century Osaka Japan 2 The story is a tale about loyalty and the pull of human emotions It transpires in and around the house of Shojo a celebrated puppet theater narrator and follows Yosuke a young puppet master 1 Shojo who is also a master of jōruri music has a devoted young wife Otane whom she saved from a magistrate 10 He was blinded as a punishment for intervening in her behalf 8 However Otane has feelings for Yosuke which is revealed during a quarrel in the opening scene Shojo discovers that the young puppeteer is also in love with her when he traces the features of a bust that Yosuke carved for their new jōruri play 10 It is an exact likeness of Otane The story ends in tragedy Yosuke and Otane commit suicide as the parallels between real life and the new play written by Shojo prove too painful for the pair 8 They disappear into a waterfall Roles editThe characters of Jōruri are Yosuke a young puppet master Shojo a puppet theater leader Otane his young wife and a number of visitors that are to be played by the same tenor 2 In its world premiere at St Louis the roles were performed 2 by the following Japanese English Voice type Premiere cast 30 May 1985Conductor Joseph Rescigno おたね Otane soprano Faith Esham 陽介 Yosuke baritone John Brandstetter 少女 Shojo bass Andrew Wentzel 歌舞伎 Kabuki roles tenor Mallory WalkerReferences edit a b c d e Griffel Margaret Ross 2013 Operas in English A Dictionary Revised ed Lanham Maryland Scarecrow Press p 249 ISBN 978 0 8108 8272 0 a b c d Minoru Miki Opera www m miki com Retrieved 2021 03 31 a b c d Galliano Luciana 2002 Yogaku Japanese Music in the 20th Century Lanham Maryland Scarecrow Press p 286 ISBN 978 0 8108 4325 7 a b Sturman Janet 2019 The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Music and Culture Thousand Oaks CA SAGE Publications p 1228 ISBN 978 1 4833 1775 5 Hughes David W 2017 The Ashgate Research Companion to Japanese Music Oxon Routledge ISBN 978 1 351 69760 6 Jamake Highwater 1990 04 02 Will New Push Old Off Japan s Stages The Christian Science Monitor Retrieved 2021 04 06 a b Miki Minoru and John Tedford 1989 The Role of Traditional Japanese Instruments in Three Recent Operas Perspectives of New Music vol 27 no 2 pp 164 174 JSTOR 833407 a b c Andrew Porter 1 July 1985 Minoru Miki s Joruri libretto by Colin Graham world premiere by the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis The New Yorker Retrieved 27 October 2021 via www m miki com Holland Bernard 1985 06 16 Opera Woodlanders a St Louis Premiere The New York Times Retrieved 2021 04 06 a b Kanazawa Masakata 2002 Jōruri Grove Music Online doi 10 1093 gmo 9781561592630 article O004605 Portal nbsp Opera Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jōruri opera amp oldid 1146814364, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
