is a through-composed, musical drama/operetta.
Beginning with the last stages of the sacking of Domremy, a haunting
plain chant Kyrie rises above the chaos. The music continues under
this influence into a lyric score.
There are 40 plus songs which include solos, duets, choruses, patter
songs, a quintet, and additional Gregorian-style chants. The running
time of the entire show is two hours, twenty minutes.
The show requires three
leads:
Joan
-- lyric soprano; an innocent peasant girl called upon by God to rid her
country of English occupation and to crown the King.
Charles,
the Dauphin -- tenor; the reluctant heir to the throne of France.
Jean d'Aulon
-- tenor; Joan's protector & Charles' friend; loyal and pure of
heart.
There are also
three principal roles
which can be doubled:
LaTremoille
-- Bass Baritone; Older knight & advisor to the Dauphin; powerful,
influential and self interested.
General DeBeaudricourt
-- Baritone; Older general of French Army; tough on
the outside, but eventual supporter of Joan.
Bishop Cauchon
-- Baritone; French Bishop sympathetic to the English; a man
whos lost his faith and is threatened by Joan's unwavering belief.
Featured roles
include:
Angels
-- Two Sopranos, one Tenor (St. Margaret, St. Catherine, St. Michael)*
Village child -- girl soprano; sings a cappella
A Maid Will Come
Jacque d'Arc
-- Joan's father
Jean de Pasquerel
-- Baritone or tenor; Household priest of General DeBeaudricourt
Head Priest
-- Baritone; priest in charge of Joans initial examination by the clergy
Doctor of the Church
-- Baritone; trial member & bold accuser
Josephine & Hermione
-- Women courtiers
Duke of Bedford
-- Baritone; haughty coronation spoiler
Jailer
-- Baritone; base individual who lusts after Joan
Spirit
-- non singing role; she seems to be Joan's Fate as she brings everything to
Joan -- the scissors to cut her hair, the arrow which
wounds Joan, the treaty which betrays her, and the fire which burns her.
The
Spirit
also leads Joan to Heaven.
Ensemble requirements:
Entirely flexible, depending on the Director's and
Producer's budget and vision.
We accomplished both productions with a total of 13 in
the ensemble. However, an ensemble of 20 would allow for
both armies in the Battle Scene. Barring the addition
of more women, the following breakdown applies:
Five women
are needed to play Peasants, Courtiers, Women of the Examination,
Camp Followers, & Women of Rouen.
Approximately
15 men
are needed to play Soldiers (both French & English). Men are needed to play
Peasants, Courtiers & Monks, as well,
but not as many.
Re: the
Angels
-- We have tried both recorded voices, and live, unseen performers
singing these roles. We have come to the conclusion that the Angels need to be
seen -- at least suggested -- and their voices need to be live and quite present
to Joan.