Noye's Fludde

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Noye's Fludde (Noah's Flood) is a late 16th century miracle play, first performed in Chester, and set to music by Benjamin Britten in 1957. Britten's opera is written to be performed in a church by a cast and orchestra made up largely of amateurs and children, and has a number of original features - such as congregational singing, ad hoc instruments and the cast moving through the auditorium - some of which he uses again in his church parables. Because of its accessibility, charm and humour, it continues to be performed.

1 Synopsis
2 Premiere
3 Recording
4 External links

[edit] Synopsis

Noye's Fludde opens with the congregation singing "Lord Jesus, think on me" as Noye enters. The spoken Voice of God, unseen, tells Noye to build "a shippe". (The original spelling, pronunciation and vocabulary are used throughout. "Shippe" has two syllables.) Noye agrees and calls on his family to help. His sons and their wives enter with tools and materials and begin, but Mrs Noye and her Gossips (close friends) mock the project. The cast build the Ark on stage.

God tells Noye to fill the Ark with animals, and they enter in groups from all parts of the church, singing or squeaking "Kyrie eleison!" Noye orders his family to board, but Mrs Noye and the Gossips refuse, preferring to drink. The sons carry Mrs. Noye on (she slaps Noye's face), and the Gossips run off screaming. Rain begins (roughly tuned teacups are struck to give the sound of the first raindrops), building to a great storm. At its height, the congregation sings "Eternal Father, strong to save." When it is calm, Noye sends out a raven (a dancer, accompanied by a cello), but she never returns. He sends out a dove (accompanied by a solo recorder played with fluttering tongue to imitate a dove's cooing), which brings back an olive branch. Everyone leaves the Ark, singing "Alleluia" accompanied by bugle fanfares. To the sound of handbells, God promises never to send another flood, with the rainbow as a sign. The cast file out singing Addison's "The spacious firmament on high" to Tallis' Canon, leaving Noye alone to receive God's blessing.

[edit] Premiere

The first performance was on June 18, 1958 in Orford Church, Suffolk, as part of the Aldeburgh Festival, with Owen Brannigan as Noye. Charles Mackerras conducted the English Opera Group and a local cast.

[edit] Recording

A recording was made in 1961, with Norman Del Mar conducting the English Chamber Orchestra and Owen Brannigan as Noye (currently available on CD - Decca catalogue no. 436 397-2). This CD also contains a recording of Britten's The Golden Vanity.