Tales from the Briar Patch: Part 1 - Briar Patch

Description

Soprano, Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Piano — This rebooted triptych of short operas is family friendly and full of fun, while paying tribute to the African tradition of storytelling for all ages. Sister Sparrow, Sister Robin and Madame Partridge retell the antics of Bre’r Rabbit and his nemesis Bre’r Fox in “Briar Patch,” “The Pot of Sense,” and “Madame Partridge and her Eggs.” Okoye’s music blends African American musical styles of jazz, blues, and gospel with contemporary concert music sounds. Combined with Moore’s libretto, the result brings to mind a meeting Langston Hughes and Gilbert and Sullivan on steroids, en route to the Black church. A concert version of “Briar Patch” will be available for full orchestra with five soloists. Libretto by Carman Moore. The music blends African American musical styles of jazz, blues, and gospel with contemporary concert music sounds. Intended for all audiences.NOTE: Each story from the Tales from the Briar Patch is derived from African folk tales. The character “Bre’r Rabbit” is actually the trickster, “Anansi the Spider,” of ancient Ghanaian folklore. While many people associate him and his friends with Joel Chandler Harris’ Uncle Remus stories, the stories predate Harris and hist stories. The creators updated the language, using all animals to portray the story, with the trio of spirited birds narrating. Producers find that the works rate well with all audiences and are especially useful for community discussions and engagement. Created with librettist Carman Moore, this rebooted triptych of short, family friendly operas pays tribute to the African tradition of storytelling for all ages using a blend of African American styles that include jazz, blues, gospel, and contemporary concert music. The first of these works, titled Briar Patch, is complete, with the other two in development.