ECU Libraries Catalog

King Arthur in music / edited by Richard Barber.

Other author/creatorBarber, Richard W., editor.
Format Book and Print
Publication InfoCambridge : D.S. Brewer, 2002.
Descriptionviii, 190 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm.
Subject(s)
Series Arthurian studies ; [52]
Arthurian studies ; [52]. ^A135300
Contents Dryden and Purcell's King Arthur: legend and politics on the Restoration stage / Robert Shay -- Wagner: Tristan und Isolde and Parsifal / Derek Watson -- Parry's Guenever: trauma and catharsis / Jeremy Dibble -- King Arthur and the Wagner cult in Spain: Isaac Albéniz's opera Merlin / Walter A. Clark -- Ernest Chausson's Le roi Arthus / Tony Hunt -- Rutland Boughton's Arthurian cycle / Michael Hurd -- An exotic Tristan in Boston: the first performance of Messiaen's Turangalîla-Symphonie / Nigel Simeone -- "Good lodging": Harrison Birtwistle's reception of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight / Robert Adlington -- King Arthur in popular musical theatre and film / William A. Everett -- A listing of Arthurian music / Jerome V. Reel.
Abstract This is the first book to be devoted to the subject. The range of musical material is too wide for a single author to tackle satisfactorily, and the nine contributors to this volume are experts in the very different fields involved. The first essay, by Robert Shay, deals with the late seventeenth century semi-opera 'King Arthur', while the final essay by William Everitt looks at the appearances of Arthur on stage and screen and the scores that have accompanied these. Between these two extremes, the main body of the book deals largely with opera, from Wagner's 'Tristan' and 'Parsifal' to Harrison Birtwistle's 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight'. Some works have never been performed, such as Hubert Parry's 'Guenever' and Rutland Boughton's Arthurian cycle, while others have only recently been staged or revived, such as Isaac Albeniz's 'Merlin' and Ernest Chausson's 'Le roi Artus', both striking post-Wagnerian works in very different styles--'Merlin', for instance, beginning with a passage based on Gregorian chant. The range of music is wider than one might at first suspect.
General noteSeries numbering from jacket.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references and index.
LCCN 2002012567
ISBN0859917673 (hardback : alk. paper)

Available Items

Library Location Call Number Status Item Actions
Music Music Stacks ML3849 .K55 2002 ✔ Available Place Hold