der Idiotprinz

(for male vocalist, 3 intonarumori, oboe, soprano saxophone and piano)

musique: brent fariss
text: john ertel

Download Live Recording - 11/12/05 - This is a live recording from Austin New Music Coop's Beyond the Past: New Works for Extinct Instruments concert. Since the vocalist moves around the audience, certain parts are harder to hear than others. Please excuse any technical imperfections.

Download Score (pdf)

Players:
Brandon Young - voice
Sarah Norris - intonarumori
Nick Hennies - intonarumori
Chris Petkus - intonarumori
Trish Benford - oboe
Holland Hopson - soprano saxophone
Brent Fariss - piano

Notes:
der Idiotprinz - A megalomaniacal monologue inspired by Futurist thought, absurdist prose and over-the-top early 20th century German opera. Players are grouped together (or singled out) by their instrument class, staying in that class for the duration of the piece. Each scene asks the instrumentalists to create an aural environment that enables the idiot prince’s delusions.

Libretto:

Overture (in an audible whisper…awakening slow, then very energetic at the end)

I spring to life, a new day dawning

My magic dust to fill my lungs

I am a princely man-child (I know)

What rush is this?  The feel good dream.

Knocking in my head to ring me awake.

I am not able, but who shall care?

Head's clear, take a breath, breathe in the power…

I feel myself surge  (Daddy will love me)

Scene 1 (very slowly – half-whispered/half singspiel)

What dreams are these, can they really be?

My father's power goes soon to me what can I do?

    (with increasing intensity)

The dark shadow cast can drown me or become me.

With power I can be more,

with power make my father proud!

   (more singing…becoming operatic…)

The court will revere me when I make these dreams true!

Everyone will love me when I make these dreams true!

Scene 2 (voice taking an uglier tone…still singing, but becoming twisted)

You proles think only of their every day dreary dreams.

A diversion (a play) everything is as it seems except in reality.

They do not know me, but they know my money.

You fools forsake all for the sake of your things!

For a little peace, a little calm, a laugh or a scream.

It takes a man like me to tell you what you mean, what you dream.

I will buy your vote, your soul, your sould……(your soul).

Scene 3 (As if making a speech to the audience, though not very well…slow with lots of awkward pauses)

And so I say to one and all, be proud of our country, be proud and strong.

My men will make us great, my men will make us strong.

Greater than we could be and never, ever wrong.

And so when they MAKE ME KING,

my men and I shall make in this land a great army!

And we will do great things…

Scene 4 (speaking/throat…mocking, with disdain…becoming more extreme)

At last to be king in all my glory, hail to me

and my fine, strong men

We own you all now, you serfs and fools,

we've made this great land.

Into our great fortress of will, to do my great deeds!

At last at last my power is all I cast you aside, your petty dreams

Go back to your servile sports, go back to your non-smoking nightclubs.

Go back to your gluttonous health food stores.

Go back to your snot-nosed, yap-open crying brats and let them suckle at your teats!

I am in control I am in power and my word is law there is no other way!!!

Scene 5 (Menacing and authoritarian – throat noises, screaming)

I think now is the time to get rid of the chaff and to thin out the herd

Kill all the runts and get rid of the outcasts,

You homos burning bright, you people of color indistinguishable at night

The flame burns the same (blueyellow blueyellow)

We will clear away those who should not be!

Scene 6 (like evil incarnate...a demon...the new king)

Complete is my victory over all and everyone,

my living will breathes life into your actions.

Without me all is lost (for I am everything and you are nothing).

My shadow burns bright, my shadow is the flame,

the light and the darkness You can not escape my will

(screaming…loudly, slowly, menacingly, and deeply as possible)

I AM ALL, THE KING, THE POWER