( Sketch & notes)
Peter & The World of Wolf
4/7/17
Orchestra plays Prokofiev
Narrator
Actors
Dancers
Silent Film
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OGXFaXlpvYk
Pictures at an Exhibition
Piano solo
Pre-concert lecture
Shuts down the opposition
Revises history to cover up abuse of ethnic groups
Gives increasing power and wealth to his inner circle
Mean spiritedness takes away health care from the poor
Promises eternal salvation to get the masses to do his bidding on earth
Riles up competitive hatred, divide and conquer - alternating with scapegoating
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Wolf's World- prolog to the first half of a concert entitled "Peter and the World of Wolf"
Monologue for
Narrator, Dancers, Singer and
Piano Quintet
The orchestra enters the stage slowly, in small "packs" from all parts of the theater. They are softly howling like like wolves.
A very campy sign hangs down from the ceiling. It reads "Warren Wolf addresses his supporters at a shareholders meeting." He is dressed in a dark, pinstripe business suit. He is clean-shaven, powerfully built but not large. The only indication that he is a wolf is the sign on his lectern: "I am Wolf." Orchestra members, amidst howls shout out "Hey Warren, when do I get my share?"
Warren Wolf: (He slowly turns to the orchestra and silently stares them down. He raises his hand slowly. They become quiet and focused.
(Two beats.)
We've got a bad reputation. (Two beats.)
True we are well-known.
However, to put it mildly, we are not well-liked... more feared -- and hated. Some of us have been so eager to be loved we have gone soft. In trying to become likable, we have succeeded only in becoming vulnerable.
Bears - and in some parts of the world -tigers - and of course other wolf packs and humans have made an easy mark of us. Bears and tigers want our food, so do other wolves. Who knows what the humans want. Sport? Sport at our expense.
My wise old uncle said "Just be yourself." The problem is that I have forgotten- we have forgotten who that is. I try to remember: (Two beats) I am Wolf. (Canned applause and loud howls from the orchestra.)
We are social creatures. We live and work together in structured groups. We take care of our young. We are capable of great tenderness. We are at the top of our local food chain. Our society is stable. (Howls of approval.)
Our problem started when we began to feel guilty about who we are. We looked for approval from others.
We tried to be doves - a vegetarian diet of seeds and grains did not sustain us. Even worse, when we tried to be good citizens - repurposing, recycling - all good but not at the expense of our dignity- eating only discarded popcorn, pizza crusts and other garbage-- eating garbage: the very idea rankles.
We lost our self esteem, were made a laughing stock by other packs... by ourselves... we invited, welcomed the abuse, the bullying- to the point where we no longer valued our own lives. (Two beats.) Some took to crime. Some sold themselves into indentured servitude. Tragically, others took their own lives.
There must be better ways to partner with this - our natural world. In doing so no creature- ourselves included -can be disrespected. (Two beats.) Nature is cruel. It is also wonderful. We must find again our balance - and our true selves, our true voices. (There are howls from all parts of the theater including prerecorded and amplified.)
*******
Songs for first half
Wolf man jack
I was a teenage werewolf in love
*****
The Wolf and Friends or
Wolf's World
The World of Wolf
Very preliminary vision for Symphonic Orchestra concert spring 2018
Full evening concert.
Featuring "Peter and the Wolf" by Sergei Prokofiev- collaboration with Eric Young and his students and possibly dancers (1)
This would be the focus of the concert and would be on the second half.
The first half would gradually approach the main work. It would open with several jazz standards with guest artists. - (2). The rock/pop group would then perform one or two pieces alone, perhaps also one of their original tunes accompanied by us... The end of the first half would be a very brief pop/rock version of "Peter and the Wolf--" tying in to the second half featured work.
The second half would be exactly Prokofiev's music- except to tie it in to the first half, the bassoon part would be played on electric bass. (3)
(1) I have not yet discussed this with Ani because she likes to finish one collaboration before discussing the next. So I will discuss it with her in April. Eric and I are already in discussion.
(2) perhaps with animals or forest themes in their lyrics. This first half would be a collaboration with a Pops/Rock group which performed for us last year.
(3) we would consider adding more percussion to enliven the "classical" ending.
(4) we would then seek to take part or all of this concert on the road as a fundraiser.
****
The World of Wolf plot