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Post by Gigi on Jan 3, 2007 10:58:16 GMT -5
I am beginning to gather information about Lemony Snicket's upcoming work, The Composer is Dead. As we all know, the orchestra piece with narration by Lemony Snicket made its premiere in San Francisco last July with good reviews. It has been rumored to be released as a CD/book set sometime in 2007. As of right now, there is no release date announced. I have e-mailed Harper-Collins to ask when it will be released. Harper-Collins press release>>EDIT: I already got an answer to my e-mail. The head of the Publicity Department (my main contact at HC) tells me they do not have a release date yet.<< In looking for other news, I found information from G. Schirmer Inc, the music publisher of the piece. It seems you can request that Lemony Snicket come to narrate if you are a symphony orchestra. I e-mailed the company for a perusal copy of the piece, just to see what they send. >>EDIT: They answered my e-mail. A perusal copy is being shipped. I can look at it for 30 days, no photocopying. << It seems Lemony Snicket himself will be narrating the piece with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra on March 3rd. Tickets have already gone on sale. If you can't make it to Toronto, you could always go to Toledo, Ohio to hear the piece performed by the Toledo Symphony Orchestra on January 27th. As I find more updates, I will post them here.
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Post by SnicketFires on Jan 14, 2007 22:48:25 GMT -5
If I only lived near Toronto. Too bad. Hopefully more dates will be added.
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Post by Gigi on Jan 15, 2007 16:52:04 GMT -5
I have received my perusal copy. When I am done perusing it, I plan to write a synopsis and review.
In the mean time, here are notes from the composer and librettist:
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Post by s on Jan 15, 2007 19:49:43 GMT -5
Ahahahaha. "Boo hoo."
...Can anyone request a copy of this?
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Post by Gigi on Jan 15, 2007 19:52:23 GMT -5
I don't see why not. I just sent an e-mail asking for a perusal copy and used my home address. They never asked if I was with an orchestra or anything.
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Post by Gigi on Jan 18, 2007 18:49:20 GMT -5
A synopsis of The Composer is Dead
It is discovered at the beginning of the piece that the composer is dead. The Inspector is called in to investigate. He works his way through the orchestra, interrogating them as to where they were on the previous night. Each section, of course, has an alibi. During the delivery of their alibis, each section demonstrates the sound they produce and how they fit into the orchestra.
The Inspector finishes interrogating the entire orchestra but is still puzzled as to who murdered the Composer. I don’t want to give away the ending, in case you get to see this work performed, but in the end the Inspector does arrive at a solution to the crime.
A review of The Composer is Dead
(First of all, let me say that I was only able to look at the sheet music, and not hear it performed with a full orchestra. I can read music, but not well enough to fully imagine how the piece would sound if performed. That being said, here is what I thought of the piece.)
I was surprised at the amount of narration in this piece. The narrator does get the first and last word, but it is really the orchestra that does the majority of the “talking”. It would be a fine introduction to the orchestra for those unfamiliar with musical instruments and their sounds.
As the murder investigation goes forward, it follows a basic pattern. The Inspector asks a section where they were last night. The section then gives their alibi and demonstrates how they sound. For example, the violins say they were playing a waltz and then play a waltz. Next, the Inspector accuses that section of the crime, to which they say that it couldn’t be them and the Inspector moves on to the next group.
The piece does contain some of what we’ve come to expect from Lemony Snicket. There are a few instances of “a word which here means…” and other examples of his dry humor. I’m sure that if I went to see this piece performed live, I would be disappointed if it were narrated by anyone other than Lemony Snicket himself.
I look forward to the CD/book set coming from Harper-Collins at some unknown date. It will be interesting to see how it is handled. The book by itself would be missing a major component without the music. But to have a book to follow along with the music will also be awkward because of the long sections of music without narration. I almost imagine that the best way to present it would be to have it like the read-along records I remember as a kid. You would listen and follow along in the book. A tone would sound to tell you to turn the page, with two-page layouts for during the musical interludes.
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Post by lucafont90 on Jan 19, 2007 15:50:44 GMT -5
I requested a copy of the libretto and should be here in a few business days to a business week. I am excited and can't wait to read it..
From Gigi's review, it sounds like an oddly interesting piece.
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Post by Gigi on Jan 30, 2007 9:14:41 GMT -5
Have you gotten your perusal copy yet, lucafont90?
I've got to send my copy back next week.
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Post by lucafont90 on Jan 30, 2007 17:00:48 GMT -5
I received mine last night and read in about fifteen minutes. It is a good libretto. Very humorous. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I could only read part of the music, but from what I read, I liked.
I had to get a magnifying glass to read the text in between the music. Other than the small print, I could read it.
I hope that I can see it live one day....soon.
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Post by Gigi on Jan 30, 2007 17:49:25 GMT -5
If I ever see it live, I would hope it would be Lemony Snicket narrating. Anyone else would be a disappointment.
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Post by lucafont90 on Jan 31, 2007 18:09:02 GMT -5
I agree. Daniel Handler has this sarcastic humorous aura about him. IF anyone else would read it live, they would definately be a dissapointment.
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Post by s on Feb 5, 2007 23:27:41 GMT -5
Yay, they're sending me a perusal copy.
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Post by lucafont90 on Feb 6, 2007 1:08:18 GMT -5
That reminds me. I have to send mine back soon.
Anyway, I had my music instructer read over it and he called it trash. I don't know why. I thought the music was beautiful.
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Post by Gigi on Feb 6, 2007 9:32:11 GMT -5
I mailed mine back the other day. Now we just need to wait for H-C to release the book/CD.
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Post by lucafont90 on Feb 6, 2007 19:09:10 GMT -5
Just sent it off with the morning post.
I want to hear it performed by a full orchestra.
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