MUSIC

““[In ‘The Canterville Ghost’], Getty’s consonant, upbeat music suited the proceedings, and the piece ended with a lovely, lilting duet for Virginia and her suitor, Cecil.””
— Opera News
 

FULL SCORES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

AUDIO SAMPLES

Roderick Usher, Doctor Primus, Madeline Usher and the Attendant.

Roderick Usher, Doctor Primus, Madeline Usher and the Attendant.

Scare Pair

INSTRUMENTATION

2 Flutes, Flute 2 doubling Piccolo
Oboe, doubling English Horn
2 Clarinets in Bb, Clarinet 2 doubling Bass Clarinet in Bb (The Canterville Ghost)
2 Clarinets in Bb, both doubling Clarinets in A, Clarinet 2 doubling Bass Clarinet (Usher House)
Bassoon, doubling Contrabassoon
2 Horns in F
Trumpet in C
Tenor Trombone
Bass Trombone
Percussion, 2 Players:
• Bass Drum
• Thunder Sheet (Usher House)
• Tubular Bells
• Snare Drum (Usher House)
• Glockenspiel
• Xylophone
• Marimba
• Vibraphone – motor off

Sampler Keyboard, 1 Player:
• Celesta
• Harpsichord (at dynamic of Piano)
• Piano
Harp
Strings 6-6-5-4-2


DURATION

Approximately one hour for each act.

The family visits the grave of Sir Simon de Canterville.

The family visits the grave of Sir Simon de Canterville.

ROLES FOR BOTH PRODUCTIONS

USHER HOUSE

  • Edgar Allan Poe – Tenor

  • Roderick Usher – Baritone

  • Onstage Madeline Usher – Dancer

  • Offstage Voice of Madeline Usher – Soprano

  • Doctor Primus – Bass

  • Madeline as a child – Soprano

  • Roderick as a child – Soprano

  • Attendant – Baritone

 



The Canterville Ghost

  • Virginia – Soprano

  • Mrs. Otis – Mezzo-soprano

  • 1st Twin / 1st Boy / 1st Voice from Tapestry –
    Mezzo-soprano

  • 2nd Twin / 2nd Boy / 2nd Voice from Tapestry – Mezzo-soprano

  • Cecil Cheshire – Tenor

  • Hiram Otis – Baritone

  • Canterville – Baritone

  • Ghost (Sir Simon) – Bass

Non-singing or speaking
UH – Ancestors: Dancers
CG – Family at Graveside, Guests, Staff
Musicians/Actors: non-speaking

Double Casting

Combining Usher House (UH) and The Canterville Ghost (CG) into Scare Pair enables companies to double cast roles as follows.

UH – Edgar Allen Poe
CG – Cecil Chesire, tenor

UH – Attendant
CG – Canterville, baritone

UG – Roderick Usher
CG – Hiram Otis, baritone

UH – Doctor Primus
CG – Ghost (Sir Simon), bass

UH – Madeline, off stage voice
CG – Virginia, soprano

UH – none
CG – Mrs. Otis, mezzo-soprano

UH – Madeline as a child
CG – 1st Twin/1st Boy/1st Voice from tapestry

UH – Roderick as a child
CG – 2nd Twin / 2nd Boy / 2nd Voice from tapestry