Bennett: All the King's Men
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- Composer: Richard Rodney Bennett (1936-2012)
- Format: Vocal Score
- Instrumentation: Opera
- Work: All the King's Men
- Work Language: English
- ISMN:
- Size: 9.0 x 12.0 inches
- Pages: 80
Description
Richard Rodney Bennett's moving, 45-minute children's opera All the King's Men was commissioned by the Coventry Schools' Music Association. with a libretto by Beverley Cross, its model is the children's rhyme Humpty Dumpty , very popular in the English-speaking world. Bennett's opera is especially compelling thanks to its enchanting melodies, lively orchestration and sensitively presented characters. It is particularly suited for production by boys' choruses and music-school children.
Historical Basis:
While the King was garrisoned at Oxford at the beginning of the war, a certain Dr. Chillingworth was enrolled by the King´s Council of War as an expert in sophisticated warfare. On August 10th, 1643, King Charles arrived outside Gloucester, where the Roundhead garrison was commanded by young Colonel Massey. Dr. Chillingworth suggested three ways of taking the town. The first was to mine under the walls, but this was baulked by rain which flooded the tunnels. The second was to cut off the drinking water in from the Severn, then set up treadmills which drove the flour mills but Massey ingeniously pumped water in from the Severn, then set up treadmills which were worked by all the citizens of the town. Chillingworth's third suggestion involved the creation of a siege-engine similar to those used by the Romans. This was a huge machine on wheels which would roll down, bridging the Severn and forming a covered way over the walls of the City. The Romans sometimes called this type of machine a Tortoise and the troops on both sides in the Gloucester siege christened it Humpty-Dumpty. Unfortunately, the citizens found out in advance about the siege-engine and widened the river so that when the machine went into action it could not span the increased width and collapsed into the river from where "all the King´s horses and all the King´s men" were unable to rescue it. Despondently on September 5th, the King and his troops marched away, unaware that Colonel Massey had only three barrels of powder left for the defence of the City.
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Choral Score
A score for vocalists that only contains the vocal lines. The instrumental parts are not there for reference. Generally, cheaper than a vocal score and requires multiple copies for purchase.
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Reproductions of the original hand-written scores from the composer.
Full Score
For ensemble music, this indicates that the edition contains all parts on a single system (there are not separate parts for each player). In larger ensembles, this is for the conductor.
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Hardbound. Generally either linen-covered or half-leather.
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Paperback
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Performance / Playing Score
A score of the music containing all parts on one system, intended for players to share. There are not separate parts for each player.
Set of Parts
For ensemble music, this indicates that there are separate individual parts for each player.
Solo Part with Piano Reduction
For solo pieces with orchestra, this is a version that contains a piano reduction of the orchestra parts. For piano pieces, two copies are typically needed for performance.
Study Score
A small (think choral size) copy of the complete score meant for studying, and not playing. They make great add-ons when learning concertos and small chamber works.
Vocal Score
A score prepared for vocalists that includes the piano/organ part or a reduction of the instrumental parts.
Wind Set
For orchestral music, this is a collection of wind and percussion parts. The specific quantities of each instrument are notated.
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Some publishers prepare two copies - a pure Urtext edition that includes no fingering (or bowing) suggestions and a lightly edited version that includes a minimal number of editorial markings.
Bennett: All the King's Men
