Rumelia

Ketty Nez "The Fiddler and the Old Woman of Rumelia" (mp4)

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• published: 12 Apr 2013
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staged premiere by the Juventas New Music Ensemble, Boston, 5 May 2012 libretto and music - Ketty Nez stage direction - Giselle Ty musical direction - Lidiya Yankovskaya Cast: Vixen - Anna Ward, soprano Roma - Hilary Anne Walker, mezzo-soprano Youth/Guslar - Leslie Tay, tenor Hajduk - Kevin Kees, baritone Bear - Kate Paulsen Instrumentalists: flute - Zachary Jay clarinet - Marguerite Levin violin - Yohanan Chendler cello - Rachel Arnold piano - Julia Scott Carey percussion - Brian Calhoon Scene I: Sunday: mountain music (0:25) Scene II: Monday: the cricket's wedding (10:00) Scene III: Tuesday: village dances and the cook of love (17:09) Scene IV: Wednesday: flirting at the farmhouse (24:50) Scene V: Thursday: sitting in a tavern, the Devil decides to get married (34:05) Scene VI: Friday: three wives (at least) (41:26) Scene VII: Saturday: marching to a different drummer (1:05:40) Synopsis: Scene I: Sunday: mountain music (0:25) Evening: In the mountains echoing with shepherds' cries, Roma is traveling, singing to herself sadly that no one will take "a gypsy lass." To amuse herself, she throws tarot cards, choosing the Moon, indicating magical influences and unusual people, then lays down to rest. Fiddling Hajduk enters, also on his wanders. Having met before, they swap jokes about the quixotic nature of love. At Hajduk's request, Roma throws him a tarot card, the Three of Swords, suggesting several tragic loves, but with no specific time - the past, present, or future? Scene II: Monday: the cricket's wedding (10:00) Morning: In fields surrounding the village, Youth and Vixen look for their lost sheep. They sit down to rest, singing a rain-begging song. Roma and Hajduk enter, and entertain the two youngsters with various comic animal songs, including "Soldier Mouse," "Very Big Flea," and "Cricket's Wedding." A huge thunderstorm drowns out the revelry. Scene III: Tuesday: village dances and the cook of love (17:09) Day: In the village square, Youth enters with his newly found Bear, which he is teaching to dance. Vixen makes her dramatic (re)entrance: now as femme fatale, but a bad cook with a very hot temper, she charms all with her magical singing. She, however, complains that a good man is impossible to find. At Vixen's request, Roma throws a tarot card for her, the Magician, prompting the Vixen to explain the folk magic she uses to charm suitors. Roma sings a sad song of old spinsters, "yesterday's apples." A clarinetist wanders in, stops to explain he is on his way to perform at the village festival the next evening, and invites all to attend. Scene IV: Wednesday: flirting at the farmhouse (24:50) Evening: At the village festival, there is much ritual teasing and flirting. Vixen is beginning to have second thoughts about Hajduk's roguish behavior. At the Vixen's request, Roma tells her fortune again, choosing the Queen of Wands. Vixen sings a song about different types of eligible bachelors. Scene V: Thursday: sitting in a tavern, the Devil decides to get married (34:05) Night: In a tavern where Vixen works as harried cook, Hajduk and the Youth joke about joining the army and serving the Devil. They enact a ballad about the Devil's disastrous courtship tactics. Scene VI: Friday: three wives (at least) (41:26) Morning: In the village square, Roma and Guslar sit, chatting and smoking. Hajduk and Vixen enter after a night of stormy love. Guslar asks why Hajduk became an outlaw. Since Hajduk is unwilling to explain, Roma throws cards to find an explanation, selecting three cards: the Lovers, the Hanged Man, and Death. Startled, Hajduk jokes that he has never "had his own wife," but Guslar pipes up that he has been married several times (already). To illustrate the three (his)stories suggested by the different cards, characters enact stories of "Fatima" (forced to choose, as husband, between a rich old chieftain or handsome poor warrior), "The Robber's Bride" (discovering, too late, the type of man she was hastily married off to), and "Old Mother of Dzhaferbeg" (murderously jealous of her beautiful young daughter-in-law). Scene VII: Saturday: marching to a different drummer (1:05:40) Day: Roma, departing from the village, sings pensively of the passing of time. Hajduk enters, rushing on his way out, quite relieved to be single again (apparently the dalliance with the Vixen was too hot to handle). As a parting gesture, Roma throws one last tarot card, the Wheel of Fortune. After they sing a duet about the good times past, they leave, having decided to continue their travels together.