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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

Pietro Mascagni was born in Leghorn (Livorno), in north-east Italy, in 1863. The seaside town, overlooking the Gulf of Genova, was near enough to Pisa for young Pietro to visit the leaning tower frequently. He studied music in Milan, going on to be a conductor with a touring opera company, and later settled as a piano teacher in Serignola. He died in Rome in 1945, aged 82.

His biggest popular success was with the one-act opera Cavalleria Rusticana (Rustic Chivalry), in 1890 (The year of G&S's last show, The Grand Duke). With it he won first prize in a competition sponsored by the publisher, Sonzogno. The libretto was by Menasci and Targioni-Tozzetti. It was based on a play by Verga, adapted from his short story. The opera had further appeal (and criticism) in that it was verismo, realistic. It is usually performed in a double bill with Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, and is often referred to as 'Cav & Pag'!

We have chosen a four part(SATB) version of the Easter Hymn¹ to illustrate the power of the music in Cavalleria Rusticana. We hope you will enjoy this wonderful 4½ minutes. It smoothly flits between 4/4, 12/8, and 6/8 times. Comfortably embedded in the key of G major, it meanders majestically, like a mighty river, through every chromatic challenge Pieter could throw at it! In short, from its inception it was a masterpiece, and a very popular winner.

Easter Hymn
. . . Short prelude and ladies' chorus . . .
Alleluja!
Alleluja!

Alleluja!
Full chorus: O rejoice for the Lord has arisen,
He has conquer'd the power of the grave,
He has broken the gates of the prison,
He has risen in His glory to save;
O rejoice that the Lord has arisen,
He has conquer'd the power of the grave,
He has broken the gates of the prison,
He has risen in glory to save.

Solo: O rejoice that the Lord has arisen,
He has burst through the gates of the prison,
He has risen in glory,
In his glory to save,
In his glory to save,

Full chorus in overlapping parts . . . :
Using the words previously utilized above,
and finishing magnificently:
O rejoice in the Lord,
In the Lord,
The Lord.

Our advice, if you desire to follow the words closely, is to obtain a copy of the score (or music sheet) from your local library, or purchase one from your music shop. Or ask your music teacher or choir-master to loan you a copy. Or play a copy on disc or DVD. Better still go and see 'Cav & Pag' you'll really enjoy them both!

In any event, for the moment join us in listening to, and wallowing in, Pieter's glorious music.

1.    Footnote: Further details of this music can be obtained from Easter Hymn in the MusicSmiles bibliography. Return to Story.

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