Faye-Ellen Silverman
Free Pen
Year: 1990
Duration (in minutes): 33'39;
Difficulty: High (professional)
Category: opera
Publisher: Subito Music Corporation
Description: "A Free Pen" is a cantata-like composition on freedom of speech and in honor of the 200th anniversary of the Bill of Rights. The work, approximately 33 minutes in length, is for narrator (intended to be performed by a non-musical "celebrity"), 4 solo singers (Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass), 8 choral singers functioning as a "Greek" chorus (2 on each part - S.A.T.B.) and 15 instrumentalists. The libretto, compiled by the composer from historical and literary documents on Socrates, Spinoza, Zenger and others, deals with the struggles for freedom of speech which have been going on since ancient Greek times and which are continuing today.