A Dream of Birds on Islands
A Dream of Birds on Islands
Libretto constructed by the composer from found sources
Video Recording
Richard Henry Te Oti Rakena
Katie Melland Morag Atchison
Isabella Curran Yufan Zhang
Lt. James Cook Chris McRae
James Maitland Takerei Komene
Conductor Peter Scholes
Director Gregory Camp
Film Editor Kim Maree
Orchestra simulation Alexander Alford
Repetiteur Lindy Tennent-Brown
Recording engineer John Kim
Programme Note
Richard Henry is alone in his rowboat Putangi off Resolution Island in Dusky Sound, Fiordland, listening for the calls of kiwi and kakapo to ascertain the advance of introduced predators that will destroy them. As he rows he he recalls coming to the sound (Part 1), his of observations of birds (Part 2), and the obstacles he has faced in protecting the birds (Part 3). In his isolation he also recalls his friends, official communications and the words of James Cook, who visited the sound more than a century earlier. At the end he disappears into the darkening evening.
Performance Note
This is a grand right work. Permission for performance must be obtained from the copyright holder. Please contact Anthony Young via the contacts page for information.
Audio-Visual
Contact Anthony Young via the contact page for access to perusal video.
Work Details
One act opera in three parts
Voicing
Five singers singing multiple roles each. More singers could be cast to spread the number of roles over more people, although all should sing in the ensembles.
Soprano –
Katie Melland, Alexander Barron (in tandem with mezzo), Newspapers, Sailor, Ensemble
Mezzo-soprano –
Isabella Curran, Alexander Barron (in tandem with soprano), Captain Tall, Newspapers, Ensemble
Tenor –
Lieutenant James Cook, Charles Brown, Newspapers, Ensemble
Baritone –
Richard Henry, Ensemble
Bass –
James Maitland, Edward Melland, Thomas Donne, Captain William Hanning, Newspapers, Ensemble
Instrumentation
Flute (doubling Piccolo and Alto Flute)
Clarinet in B-flat (doubling Clarinet in E-flat and Bass Clarinet)
Trumpet in C (doubling Flugelhorn in B-flat)
Trombone
Percussion 1 –
timpani, snare drum, tambourines (hand-held and
mounted), maracas, sand paper blocks, rain stick, tam-tam, glockenspiel, tuned gongs.
Percussion 2 –
drum kit (kick bass, high tom, low tom, floor tom, snare drum, high & low timbales, hi-hat, crash cymbal, ride cymbal, splash cymbal, China cymbal), concert bass drum, vibraphone.
Strings (11111 minimum)
Duration
35 minutes
Other Links
The Te Ara website for biographical information about Richard Henry.