The Music of Piccolo's Servant of Two Masters

From the very first meeting I had with Director John Szostek, it was clear that we wanted to use the music in Servant of Two Masters as a nod to some of the oldest Commedia dell'Arte musical traditions.  Music is as deeply rooted in this tradition as the masks worn by the actors.  But it was equally important not take ourselves too seriously in the process.

The show opens with a rousing version of "Two Fools Went to Venezia", which is based on an old Italian folk song about some gentlemen who go out to show themselves a good time, but end up just getting drunk and sick. See if you catch the name of one of the 'gentlemen'.... as he will reappear later in the show.

The lovers (with the exception of Silvio) all sing songs made famous by Virginia Andreini, one of the most famous prima donna innamorata of Commedia's golden age, generally accepted as the late 1500s-mid 1600s. (This was also simultaneously the beginning of operatic history.)

Innamorati

Clarice sings "Care gioie che le noie" in a setting by Claudio Saracini (Seconde Musiche, 1620). The dark and romantic tone of the lyrics are particularly suited to the scene, as Clarice is just about to kill herself in response to being jilted by her lover, Silvio.

Dear joys that banish the suffering of sighs, that pleasure I have in my breast those scintillating eyes reveal.  Now that vain dream with is false and fair company doesn't feign, doesn't advance that hand with so sweetly wounds my breast.

Unfortunately for Clarice, not only is the sword too large to gracefully pierce her breast, but I set this song to be played by an accordion in the style of a folk tune.  A wink to the audience that we are not to take her too seriously, in spite of her despair.  

Guilio Caccini

Beatrice and Florindo both sing "Tu ch'hai la penne", which is the theme of  their romantic journey through the play. Giulio Caccini composed this piece in 1614 for Lo schiavetto, a comedy made very famous by Andreini.  Andreini sang this piece at the end of that production (accompanying herself on the lute), disguised as a man, and in despair of her character's plight.  It seemed so fitting for Beatrice and Florindo, as they are both in danger, Beatrice in man's dress, and thinking each other dead.

You, Love, who have wings and know how to spread them in flight, ah! fly quickly to where my heart is: and if you do not know the way, follow my sighs.

This is one of the only times in the play that we are allowed to take seriously, as Beatrice and Florindo are the "straight" or "dark" lovers, meaning that their plight carries the plot and gives the play the weight it needs to carry the rest of the comedy.

But lest we take ourselves too seriously and get too buried in all of this beautiful tradition, Truffaldino has a love song too. He must impress the delightful Smeraldina somehow....and he does that with a ridiculous rendition of Louis Prima's "Angelina", played on his mandolin.  Embraced by fans as the Italian-American from New Orleans, his lively love song fits right in to our score.

We bookend the show with another Italian folk song, Notter de Berghem, in honor of Truffaldino, our comedic servant who reminds the audience several times how proud he is to be from Bergamo, a small town 230km from Venice.

-Denita Linnertz, Music Director, Servant of Two Masters