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Have any of Ray Bradbury's texts been set to music?

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16 August 2009, 12:17 PM
beautifulsoup
Have any of Ray Bradbury's texts been set to music?
Being a singer, I was wondering if anyone knows whether or not any of Mr. B's texts have been set to music; either his poetry or perhaps short excerpts from stories?

(I suppose I could just Google, but I thought I'd ask here, as well).

Smiler
16 August 2009, 01:33 PM
Doug Spaulding
I saw a very nice ballet of Frost & Fire a couple years ago. And Fahrenheit 451 has been opera-ized. And I believe Dandelion Wine was turned into a musical as well, was it not?

I live in DC metro too, by coincidence - Largo, Maryland.


"Live Forever!"
17 August 2009, 12:35 AM
philnic
Yes, Dandelion Wine has been done as a musical. Also Leviathan '99 has been done as an opera. I think a couple of other plays have also been done as musicals or operas (Perhaps The Electric Grandmother; perhaps The Invisible Boy; perhaps The Day it Rained Forever. These are vague recollections!)

Then there's Christus Apollo - a poem, which has been performed with musical backing.

In the UK, Brian Sibley once wrote a piece for voice and music called "The Autumn People", inspired by Bradbury.


- Phil

Deputy Moderator | Visit my Bradbury website: www.bradburymedia.co.uk | Visit the Center for RB Studies: www.tinyurl.com/RBCenter
17 August 2009, 12:37 AM
philnic
quote:
Originally posted by Doug Spaulding:
...I live in DC metro too, by coincidence - Largo, Maryland.


Doug, you've dropped out of character again. We all know you live in Green Town with your brother Tom.


- Phil

Deputy Moderator | Visit my Bradbury website: www.bradburymedia.co.uk | Visit the Center for RB Studies: www.tinyurl.com/RBCenter
17 August 2009, 02:16 AM
Doug Spaulding
quote:
Originally posted by philnic:
Doug, you've dropped out of character again. We all know you live in Green Town with your brother Tom.

Indeed Douglas does - but John doesn't!


"Live Forever!"
17 August 2009, 06:01 PM
Linnl
Hello,

William F. Nolan's THE RAY BRADBURY COMPANION has the following entry:

"SONGS FOR A SIDESHOW OF THE MIND. Sub-titled: RAY BRADBURY'S
DARK CARNIVAL. On one LP record. From Tower, 1970. Bob Jacobs
adapts eight RB stories into narrative songs: "The Emissary,"
"The Wind," "The Small Assassin," "Homecoming," "The Illustrated
Man," "The Dwarf," "The Jar," and "There Was An Old Woman." RB
liner note."

Wonder where to find said album? Sounds intriguing.
18 August 2009, 07:44 AM
Stendhal
Hello all, I am actually putting the finishing touches on a musical adaptation of Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles. It is a fairly large project and I am very close to having it onstage. However, I do not have the rights to do this. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to go about doing this, or any thoughts at all about the severity of copyright infringement? I have contacted Mr. Bradbury's agent Don Congden but was not given permission to put on the musical. Any advice is welcome.
Thanks,
-Stendhal
18 August 2009, 10:31 AM
Doug Spaulding
quote:
Originally posted by Stendhal:
I have contacted Mr. Bradbury's agent Don Congden but was not given permission to put on the musical.

You rebel you - go for it!


"Live Forever!"
18 August 2009, 10:42 AM
jkt
quote:
Originally posted by Stendhal:
Hello all, I am actually putting the finishing touches on a musical adaptation of Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles. It is a fairly large project and I am very close to having it onstage. However, I do not have the rights to do this. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to go about doing this, or any thoughts at all about the severity of copyright infringement? I have contacted Mr. Bradbury's agent Don Congden but was not given permission to put on the musical. Any advice is welcome.
Thanks,
-Stendhal

Email me at UncleEinar AT earthlink.net


John King Tarpinian
You know what you are, Mr. Bradbury? ... You are a poet! -- Aldous Huxley
19 August 2009, 12:22 AM
philnic
quote:
Originally posted by Brother Tarkas:
...Wonder where to find said album? Sounds intriguing.


Brother T, this was the subject of a long running thread some time ago. I seem to recall the recording engineer posted here with some information. Let's see... here's that old thread:

https://raybradburyboard.com/ev...211016901#3211016901


- Phil

Deputy Moderator | Visit my Bradbury website: www.bradburymedia.co.uk | Visit the Center for RB Studies: www.tinyurl.com/RBCenter
19 August 2009, 06:03 AM
Richard
Here is some additional information:

http://www.raybradburyonline.c...ography/bradmusi.htm
19 August 2009, 05:09 PM
Linnl
Thank you philnic and Richard for posting that info!
02 October 2009, 06:24 PM
beautifulsoup
Egad, I haven't been back to this board since I asked the question! My apologies; I thank you all for the responses!
03 October 2009, 09:15 AM
Doug Spaulding
Egad is a good word.


"Live Forever!"
25 October 2009, 06:04 AM
beautifulsoup
quote:
Originally posted by Stendhal:
Hello all, I am actually putting the finishing touches on a musical adaptation of Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles. It is a fairly large project and I am very close to having it onstage. However, I do not have the rights to do this. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to go about doing this, or any thoughts at all about the severity of copyright infringement? I have contacted Mr. Bradbury's agent Don Congden but was not given permission to put on the musical. Any advice is welcome.
Thanks,
-Stendhal


Do you need a mezzo-soprano? Smiler