Sacred Music Drama

Book excerpt: “The indelible imprint of sacred music drama throughout history is undeniable . . . and its resurgence in the twentieth and twentieth-first centuries stirs the curiosity.” Carl Gerbrandt, in pursuing these issues, has brought to our fingertips a stimulating historical perspective on sacred music drama as well as an extensively annotated list of repertoire. Years of research have gone into providing information on centuries of sacred music dramas/operas which for the most part have been known to very few. Included in these pages of his Second Edition are over 330 sacred music dramas/operas, each with scholarly and practical information that will be of interest and great value to the opera director, the performer, the scholar, the conductor and the church musician. Gerbrandt's SETTING THE STAGE section is an enlightening overview of sacred music history. The repertoire selected includes works from the Middle Ages to works being written today. Each work is reviewed with regard to the source of libretto, the style and difficulty of its musical content, the date and location of the first performance, the number of acts and scenes, and the performance length of the work. Additionally, each role is listed by name and voicing, and in most cases, the vocal range is indicated. The choral demands, orchestrations and dance requirements are identified. A thorough plot synopsis as well as the location of scores and parts is given. Ten appendices cross-reference textual sources and topical content while assisting in the selection of works for worship services or theatrical performances. Select contact information of publishers and composers in also included. Sacred Music Drama: The Producer’s Guide fills a long standing void by acquainting directors, students, performers and interested readers with the numerous sacred music dramas which are available.