This is the music page of Richard Fuerle. Here, you can listen to music that I composed. I am an amateur composer, so please don't expect too much. CD's of the music and scores can be purchased. If you are interested in performing the music, or have comments, contact the composer.
The music on this page is from the 2 CD set "REBELLION!" (orchestral version), "REBELLION!" (piano version), and the CD "Orchestral Music" (bottom of the page). All rights are reserved and none of this music may be reproduced without the permission of the composer, Richard D. Fuerle.
This is a light opera in two acts about the Whiskey Rebellion, which occurred in Western Pennsylvania in 1794. George Washington was President. The new federal government needed money (don't they always?), so a tax was passed on whiskey. The tax fell primarily on farmers, who made whiskey from their grain and used it as a kind of money. The farmers in Western Pennyslvania, near Pittsburgh, rebelled and refused to pay the tax. Washington sent an army to put down the rebellion. One man was killed.
The orchestral version of "REBELLION!" was made entirely by amateurs in a few days on a low budget. Some of the roles were omitted, some of the songs were not in a good range for the singers, and I discovered errors in the score when I later made the piano score. The male roles were sung by Nikolai Starkweather "Who's that Lovely Maiden?" and the female roles by Angela Cheasty "Reverie," both opera students at Buffalo State College at the time. The music was recorded and mixed by Robb Nesbitt.
The piano version of "REBELLION!" was made by Paul Fejko, a professional musician. He did the narratiion and played the piano. The singers, all professionals, were Nina Fine (Alison), Tom Baust (Filchmouth), Cailin Manson (Tinker), Owen Robbins (Washington), Robert Campbell (Jefferson), Brian Kain (Hamilton), Terry Greenland (Kah leh te li), Christopher Lenz (Boswell), and Melissa Kotczynski and Sharon Gary-Dixin (Chorus). The music that follows is from the piano version. Some of the lyrics and music was changed in the piano version and an additional song, "Heritage," was added.
CHARACTERS
COSTUMES
SCENES
Scene 1: Town
Narration: The setting for the opera
Scene 2: The President's Office
Scene 3: Tom's Farm
Scene 4: Town
[During the "Suppose ..." parts of the song, Filchmouth motions Boswell over and they hunch down as Filchmouth sings conspiratorially for 4 measures, then gradually rises up and sings louder and slightly faster and triumphantly for the last 4 measures.
When they sing "We public servants" they point to themselves. The first time Filchmouth sings, "Work only for you," he points to the audience. After that, when they sing, "Work only for you," they point to each other.
When Boswell and Filchmouth together sing, "But, that wouldn't be honest," Filchmouth puts his arm over Boswell's shoulder and they strut from one side of the stage to the other.
The first time Boswell sings, "But, that wouldn't be honest" Filchmouth makes a "who is he kidding face" and points his thumb at Boswell just before he joins in. Then they walk across the stage singing, Filchmouth with a mock serious face.
The second time they sing, "But, that wouldn't be honest" they lighten up and skip across the stage.
The third time they sing, "But, that wouldn't be honest" they tilt back and forth as they do an elaborate dance across the stage.
The fourth time they sing, "But, that wouldn't be honest" [a verse added in the piano score] Filchmouth tries to do the previous dance, but Boswell resists and walks.]
[Filchmouth is undressed [measures 52-60], down to his underpants. His underpants are frilly. The singers point and laugh.
Filchmouth is lowered into the pot, feet first but spreads his legs to keep from going in. The men try to lower him stomach first, but he spreads his arms and legs to keep from going down. Finally, the men turn him over and lower him in butt first [measures 91-95].
As the song progresses, Filchmouth pops up out of the pot [measures 126-134]. He is black from his face to his waist [he wears black plastic and makeup]. The ladies dump chicken feathers into the pot. Then Filchmouth pops up covered in feathers [another suit - feathers glued to black Spandex]].
Scene 5: Tom's Farm
Scene 1: Town
Scene 2: Tom's Farm
Scene 4: The President's Office
Scene 5: Tom's Farm
Scene 6: Town
Scene 7: Tom's Farm
Scene 8: In front of the curtain
FIN
Symphony 2