Mike+

The more I have thought about this piece, the more I thought it was Schwanda
(not Wanda) the Bagpiper--better yet!

So I looked it up on Google and found the folk opera Schwanda the Bagpiper
by the Czech, Jaromír Weinberger.

Want to know more (I really didn't):

Schwanda the Bagpiper
Jaromír Weinberger. Opera in two acts. 1927.
Libretto by Milos Kares, based on traditional Czech children's stories.
First performance at the National Theatre, Prague, on 27th April 1927.

The robber Babinski takes refuge in the farmhouse of Schwanda and his wife
Dorota and he and Schwanda go to relieve the Queen of melancholy, as she
suffers under the power of a wicked Magician. Schwanda plays his bagpipes
and the Queen recovers, suggesting marriage, which Schwanda accepts, kissing
her. The Queen is angry, however, when Dorota and the Magician appear, and
Schwanda is condemned to death, escaping with the help of Babinski and his
bagpipes. He swears to Dorota that if he ever kissed the Queen, he will go
to hell, and promptly does so. There the Devil asks him to play, a request
he refuses, and then seeks his soul. Babinski rescues him again, this time
beating the Devil at cards. Schwanda is finally re- united with Dorota,
although Babinski had had hopes of her himself.

Schwanda's bagpipe Polka enjoys great popularity, to which the second act
Fugue comes a close second. The opera itself has enjoyed considerable
success, with its use of Czech folk material.



John+

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Ward" <mward@...>
To: <faithandlife@...>
Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2004 7:27 AM
Subject: RE: [FaithandLife] Church Slavonic


> John+
>
> <snip>That reminds me of the Slavonic piece of music, Wanda the
> Bagpiper!  It never conjured up a very feminine image, but Wanda may be
> a man in this case.
>
> Wanda the Bagpiper?  That's like a blues singer being named "Blind John
> Offenberger" -- it just doesn't work!
>
> MLW+
>
> --
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>