Beard of the Week XXXV: The Sound of Music
This week's beard belongs to Thiemo (died 1102), a martyr and saint of the Catholic Church. This information, from Catholic Online, appears to be about half of everything known about Thiemo:
Benedictine bishop and martyr, also called Theodinarus. A member of the family of the counts of Meglin, Bavaria, Germany, he entered the Benedictines at Niederltaich and soon acquired fame for his skill as a painter, metalworker, and sculptor. He was elected abbot of St. Peter's, Salzburg, in 1077 and appointed archbishop of Salzburg, Austria, in 1090. His office brought him into conflict with the German King Henry IV (r. 1056-1106) during the Investiture Controversy and, as Thiemo sided with Pope St. Gregory VII (r.1073-1085) in the struggle, Henry exiled him. Journeying to Palestine to aid the crusading movement, he was captured by the Muslims and imprisoned at Ascalon (modern Israel). Tortured for a long time, he was finally killed for refusing to abjure the faith.
This lovely image (source) is a modern stained-glass window, one of 32 windows representing "Saints and Holy People of Austria" to be found in the modern parish church of Liesing, the work of one Martin Häusle of Feldkirch. The church's website is attractive and worth a short stroll.
Liesing is a district of Vienna, added shortly after the Anschluss of 12 March, 1938, when Germany annexed Austria. Which brings us to the real topic of this post: "The Sound of Music", the last musical written by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, premiered in 1958, just three months before Hammerstein's death. The original stage production starred Mary Martin, for whom the role of Maria was written. Maria, of course, later claimed wider celebrity with the release of the movie version starring Julie Andrews as Maria.*
"The Sound of Music" (about the show) is set in Austria and the action takes place shortly before and immediately after the Anschluss, hence the exceedingly tenuous connection with Liesing and St. Thiemo.# It's an unusually specific time setting for a show like this, but the events of 12 march 1938 provide an important dramatic element in the plot.
I frequently find the books of Broadway musical unsatisfying, with thin plots, poor characterization, and musical numbers that seem gratuitous–even though I realize that most normal people don't go through everyday life bursting into song, but that's another matter. I will even admit that I was predisposed to look on this story unfavorably, no doubt because it featured so many children.
I apologize. Much to my surprise, the book for "The Sound of Music", written by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, is really very, very good. The story is interesting and far from ordinary, the characters are as fully characterized as possible for so many in so short a dramatic space, the plot-lines develop quite naturally and support each other, and there is a gratifying economy of plot devices and symbols that play out through the show. In short, the play part of the musical is really quite good.
And, of course, the musical score is quite engaging and fun to play. Playing 'cello in the pit orchestra is what I'm doing in this production. When we were getting ready for auditions and casting there was enough uncertainty in my life that I didn't want to make a commitment to a stage role and opted instead for the orchestra.
Playing in the pit orchestra for musicals is something I very much enjoy but don't get to do so often anymore.† It's an entirely different experience from playing in a concert with an orchestra, say. Typically the music is technically easier, but coordinating all the bits of music with the stage action in a seamless way can be a fun challenge. The 'cello part for "The Sound of Music" is not so difficult, but it's satisfying to play. However, there's a lot of it so my fingers are a bit tired after three hours of what seems nearly continuous playing. I'm out of shape for marathon performing.
Fortunately the show ends with the best 'cello bit anyway: the Reprise of "Climb Ev'ry Mountain", which is filled with enough fortissimo double-stops and four-note chords to keep any cellist happy. The musical arrangement also manipulates the audience into a very cheerful, optimistic mood so they're always ready with generous applause at the end.
But it has kept me busy, particularly this week. With nightly rehearsals this week and three performances this weekend (and three more next weekend), we've done an entire show of close to three hours every night this week.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention this fun new feature at R&H Theatricals: type in our zip code (20715) in the "Find a Show Near You" box on the left and you will indeed find that St. Matthew's Musical Theatre Troupe is performing "The Sound of Music" this weekend and next, with the address in case you want to drop by. Tickets are dirt cheap.
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* Isaac reports that Maria von Trapp, who was the basis for the character Maria, said when she saw the movie, "It's a very nice story, but it's not my story." Well, these things happen. As it turned out, events were rearranged, compressed, and even made up, but the stage story was the better for it.
# I had decided I wanted to write about "The Sound of Music" for this week's weekly beard, and this is how far I had to go to find anyone with a beard at all connected.
† However, my most recent gig wasn't that long ago, since I played in the 5-piece ensemble for "Wings", when I directed that show about 18 months ago.
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I welcome comments -- even dissent -- but I will delete without notice irrelevant, rude, psychotic, or incomprehensible comments, particularly those that I deem homophobic, unless they are amusing. The same goes for commercial comments and trackbacks. Sorry, but it's my blog and my decisions are final.
on Tuesday, 22 April 2008 at 00.19
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No one else on Earth could've brought these strands together to form such an enjoyable and informative read, in an eclectic sort of way. You truly have a gift, Jeff.
on Tuesday, 22 April 2008 at 12.26
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Thanks, SW. I've always felt that "eclectic" was very high praise–that, and maybe "quirky". I love being eclectic and quirky, because that's usually what appeals to me. Or maybe it's just the contrast between "eclectic & quirky" and "physicist" that I like.
Recently I described my blogging as being about "things that I find interesting and their connections to other things that I also find interesting" at Blogged (they were nice enough to rate me "7.7 : Very Good"), which was about as specific as I could get.
on Wednesday, 23 April 2008 at 21.39
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I don't know what their criteria are, but I give you a 10.
on Wednesday, 23 April 2008 at 23.32
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Might the scale go all the way to 11?