Stephen Brown: Compositions

audio and score (sorry about the MIDI voices, until someone performs this work you will just have to tough it out).

Islands in the Stream

Islands in the Stream - text Ernest Hemingway, libretto Stephen Brown, is a symphony, with many aspects of an opera (it has a plot) in three movements (acts) with three sections (scenes) in each movement. It uses five singers (soprano, 2 tenors, baritone, bass) that have roles but they also double as narrators. There are no sets - though there could be, no acting - though there could be, and no chorus. Also the orchestra is somewhat unusual in that it uses 4 horns and 4 Wagner tubas and a tuba, but no trumpets or trombones, and 2 harps, a piano/celesta, the usual pair of woodwinds, a large percussion section and strings.

The setting is 1939 - 42 in the Caribbean. Thomas Hudson (baritone), a painter, is the main character. He has three children by his two former wives. The first one (Her) he still loves. Young Tom is their son. With the second wife he has had his two younger boys.The story follows Thomas' fortunes at Bimini Island, and then in Cuba, and off the coast of Cuba through his Nazi antisubmarine activities during World War II.

1.BIMINI
Before the Boy’s Visit - Summer with the Boys - After the Boys Had Left
2. CUBA
Floridita Bar - It Was Her - The Country House
3. AT SEA
Missing Shacks - The Chase - Conclusion

Instrumentation

Soprano - Her & Narrator
Tenor 1 - Ignacio & Gil
Tenor 2 - Narrator & Willie
Baritone - Narrator & Thomas Hudson
Bass - Narrator & Ara

2 Flute
2 Oboe
2 Clarinets in Bb & A (cl 2 dbl Bass clarinet in Bb)
2 Bassoon (bn 2 dbl Contrabassoon)
4 Horns in F
2 Wagner tuba in Bb
2 Wagner tuba in F
Tuba
Timpani - 4 or 5
Percussion - 5 players (many intruments including Xylophone)
2 Harp
Piano & Celesta
Violin I, Violin II, Viola
Violoncelli, Double bass

Duration 1:05:00

Swan House Victoria SJB 1386
Score and a single set of parts: $200.00
Additional strings: $4.00 each