Paul Bunyan, Op 17, is an operetta in two acts and a prologue composed by Benjamin Britten to a libretto by W. H. Auden, designed for performance by semi-professional groups. It premiered at Columbia University on 5 May 1941, to largely negative reviews, and was withdrawn by the composer. Britten revised it somewhat in 1976 and subsequently it had numerous performances and two commercial recordings. The story is based on the folkloric American lumberjack, Paul Bunyan, with the music incorporating a variety of American styles, including folk songs, blues and hymns. The work is strongly sectional in nature, highly reminiscent of the 'Broadway musical' style of the period.
Librettist | W. H. Auden |
Date of composition | 1941 (November 1939 - April 1941; revised in 1974-1975) |
Premiered | 1941, May 5th (Columbia University, Brander Matthews Hall) in New York, NY, United States |
Type | Operetta |
Catalogue | BTC 893 |
Approx. duration | 114 minutes |
Spoken language | English |
Instruments |
Narrator, Recitant, Speaker
- The Voice of Paul Bunyan
Voice (Soprano) - Tiny, Paul's daughter Voice (Tenor) - Johnny Inkslinger Voice (Tenor) - Hot Biscuit Slim, a good cook Voice (Baritone) - Narrator and Balladeer (in the Interludes) Voice (Tenor) - Sam Sharkey, a bad cook Voice (Bass) - Ben Benny, another bad cook Voice (Baritone) - Hel Helson, foreman Voice (Bass) - Cross Crosshaulson, a Swede Voice (Bass) - Jen Jenson, a Swede Voice (Tenor) - Pete Peterson, a Swede Voice (Tenor) - Andy Anderson, a Swede Voice (Soprano) - Fido, a dog Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Moppet, a cat Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Poppet, a cat Voice (Tenor) - Western Union Boy Voice (Baritone) - John Shears, a farmer 4x Voice - Quartet of the Defeated (Blues) Voice (Baritone) - Four cronies of Hel Helson Narrator, Recitant, Speaker - Multiple; Heron, Moon, Wind, Beetle, Squirrel |
Autotranslations beta |
Benjamin Britten: Paul Bunyan, BTC 893 Benjamin Britten: Paul Bunyan, BTC 893 Benjamin Britten: Paul Bunyan, BTC 893 |