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Featuring the music of Sy Brandon



Scenes from "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court"(2004) - This five movement composition was commissioned by the Hartford Brass Quintet. The music is very descriptive of the action and uses fanfares, lyrical lines and some dissonance to paint a picture. Duration 15:00 Grade 5 $18.00.

I. Prologue –

Mark Twain’s social satire takes place in 6th Century England during the reign of King Arthur. The Prologue begins with music that represents the gallantry normally associated with this legendary period. The second section of the Prologue depicts the fight between Hank Morgan, a 19th century mechanic from Hartford, Connecticut with the bully, Hercules. During the fight, Morgan was knocked unconscious. The final section represents the awakening of Hank Morgan thirteen centuries earlier in the forest surrounding Camelot. He was captured by Sir Kay of King Arthur’s Roundtable and was brought to the castle as a prisoner.

II. The Eclipse –
Hank Morgan was sentenced to burn at the stake by the court headed by Merlin, King Arthur’s braggart magician. He was to die at noon on June 21, 528, a day in which Hank Morgan remembered that a total eclipse of the sun had occurred. Before the fire was lit, he warned everyone that if he is not released, he would smother the world in darkness. At that moment, the eclipse began. The court, believing that this was a magic spell, pleaded with Arthur to release the prisoner. Hank Morgan, extracted a promise from King Arthur to make him his perpetual minister and chief advisor. From then on, Hank Morgan was known as "The Boss". The movement begins with music depicting Merlin, followed by the sentencing. After a processional march to the stake, ominous music reflects Hank Morgan’s threat to darken the earth. A sustained note that becomes surrounded by other dissonant notes, therefore obscuring the tonality represents the eclipse. The opposite occurs as the eclipse ceases. The movement ends with a chorale section representing King Arthur’s promise to release Hank Morgan and to make him second in command, followed by fanfare figures representing Hank Morgan as "the Boss".

III. The Holy Fountain –

A spring that was believed to have healing powers had dried up. Merlin was called to work his magic without success. "The Boss" was then commissioned to perform his magic. Hank Morgan examined the fountain and determined it had a leak near the bottom. He sent for his engineers from the schools and factories he established to bring 19th century conveniences to himself and the populace. Playing to the superstitions of 6th century English society, he had the fountain secretly repaired, installed a pump, and then made the restoration appear as wizardry, accompanied by a spectacular displays of fireworks. This "miracle" added greatly to the reputation of "The Boss". The movement opens with music depicting the holy fountain. Towards the end of this opening section, the running sixteenth notes that represent the flowing water gradually disappear as the
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fountain dries up. After a short pause, Merlin’s music from movement 2 returns representing his futile attempt to work his magic. The Boss’ music from movement 2 interrupts Merlin’s music and the running sixteenth notes return as water is restored to the fountain. Fanfare figures end the movement representing the firework display.

IV. Sir Launcelot and the Knights to the Rescue –

Hank Morgan was appalled by the lives lead by the common folk. They were trodden down by the church and nobility alike. Morgan began to secretly work to overthrow the church and to end royal privilege. To accomplish this, he decided to don peasant attire and tour the land. Hearing of his plans, King Arthur decided to accompany him. Towards the end of their wanderings, Morgan and King Arthur were taken into slavery. After some rebelling on their part, both were sentenced to hang. Morgan was able to temporarily escape long enough to avail himself of the telephone system he had established and call for rescuers. Just as the King was to be hanged, Sir Launcelot accompanied by other Knights of the Roundtable appeared on bicycles, to rescue Morgan and King Arthur. After a short fanfare representing King Arthur and the Boss, a section of traveling music follows representing their mingling among the peasantry. Their wandering music ends abruptly with a broken descending line as they are taken into slavery. A slower section follows as Arthur and the Boss are sentenced to hang. The last section portrays the rescue by Sir Launcelot and the knights on bicycles.

V. Postlude –

While King Arthur had seen enough of his kingdom to abolish slavery and make other reforms, the church felt threatened by Hank Morgan and his improvements. They issued an Interdict against Morgan and his work. Realizing the danger, Morgan gathered his supporters, retreated to Merlin’s cave and used his technical knowledge to create trenches and electric fences as a means of defense. On the day of the attack, 10,000 knights came forth and were defeated by the defenses. During the aftermath, Hank Morgan was stabbed while tending to the injured. Merlin, disguised as an old hag, tends to Morgan’s wounds. The gas of the rotting corpses was killing Morgan’s men. Before Merlin expired, he put a spell on Hank Morgan that caused him to sleep for 1300 years.


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Prologue

Prologue m. 1-48

The Eclipse

The Eclipse m. 1-38

The Holy Fountain

The Holy Fountain
Sir Lancelot and the Knights
 Sir Lancelot and the Knights m. 1-31
Postlude
 Postlude