Jailhouse songs (Knastgesänge)
Libretti by Hans-Ulrich Treichel
Variations about four songs by Hans Werner Henze (1984)
Composed by Jörg Widmann (1995)
I Anthony the thief
II Rodolfo Foscati
III Pantelleria, island of sorrow
Year of composition 1984
Revised version 1995
Duration 70 minutes
World premiere
World premiere 23. march 1996
Theater Basel, Foyer
Production Susanne Iphigenie Rost
Stage and costume design Stefan Bullerkotte
Conductor Graziella Contratto
Comment
These are three small works for the use of puppet players or amateur actors. They are about crime and punishment and are introduced by classical Italian jail songs, followed by the representation of the circumstances that led to the imprisonment of the protagonists. The first play is particularly suitable for elementary school use, the second one for middle and the last one for advanced high school performers.
Hans Werner Henze
Cast
Attori
| 3 voci bianci | |
| 1 soprano | |
| 2 tenori | |
| 1 baritono | |
| 2 bassi | |
| 4 parti parlati |
Instrumentation
Organico completo
| 4 Flauti a becco | soprano contralto tenore basso |
| 2 Flauti | anche Ottavini |
| 1 Clarinetto | |
| 1 Cromorno | o Fagotto |
| 1 Tromba | |
| 1 Trombone tenore | |
| Chitarra classica | |
| Chitarra elettrica | |
| Fisaramonica | |
| Organico Orff | |
| Percussione | Glockenspiel Xilofono soprano Xilofono contralto Xilofono basso Metallofono basso Timpani 3 Piatti sospesi Grancassa 5 Tomtom Tamburo militare 2 Bongos Maracas Guiro Watergong Tamtam basso Lions roar [per 4] |
| 1 Violino | |
| 3 Salterii | o Viole |
| 1 Basso elettrico | |
| 1 Contrabbasso |