Levy, Marvin David

Sotoba Komachi (1957)

Duration: 30 minutes
Lyric drama in one scene

Libretto by Sam Houston Brock after the Noh play by Kanami Kiyotsugu (E)

Scoring
S,M,T,BBar,2dancers(male and female) 1.1.0.0-0.0.0.0-perc(1):timp/gong/tgl/SD/wdbl/cym(on stand)/tpl.bls- harp-0.0.1.1.0.
Abbreviations (PDF).

Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.

World Premiere
4/7/1957
Kaufmann Concert Hall, New York, New York
Sanae Kawaguchi, director
Conductor: Sheldon Soffer
Company: Music in Our Time

Roles

SOTOBA KOMACHI	Soprano
1st PRIEST	Bass Baritone
2nd PRIEST	Tenor
CAPTAIN SHII-NO-SHOSHO	Dancer (male)
THE YOUNG KOMACHI	Dancer (female)
CHORUS	Mezzo Soprano

Time and Place
Any time period, anyplace

Synopsis
Ono no Komachi, once a beautiful and heartless poet, reflects on her past and on her present shame and misery, evoking her younger self as a vision. Thinking she is a beggar, two priests try to instruct and admonish her, but she remains unmoved, and she reveals her true identity.  The chorus tells the story of a Captain who was madly in love with the young Komachi. The cruel and captivating beauty demanded that he visit her in his chariot for a hundred nights before he could enjoy a rendezvous with her. He died just before his task was completed.  The Captain's love and anger now possess Komachi's soul and have left her a miserable, withered old woman. The priests pray for her.

Moods
Dramatic, Poetic, Romantic

Subjects
Magic/Mystery, Relationships