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Oh Joy! Oh Rapture! The Enduring Phenomenon of Gilbert and Sullivan

Online ISBN:
9780199851256
Print ISBN:
9780195328943
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Book

Oh Joy! Oh Rapture! The Enduring Phenomenon of Gilbert and Sullivan

Ian Bradley
Ian Bradley

Reader in Practical Theology and Church History, School of Divinity

St Andrews University
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Published online:
3 October 2011
Published in print:
1 June 2007
Online ISBN:
9780199851256
Print ISBN:
9780195328943
Publisher:
Oxford University Press

Abstract

This book explores the world of Gilbert and Sullivan over the last four and a half decades, looking at the way the ‘phenomenon’ they started was passed from generation to generation. Taking as the starting point the expiry of copyright on the opera libretti at the end of 1961, and using hitherto unpublished archive material, the book reveals the story of the last years of the old D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, the guardian of Savoy tradition for over a hundred years, and the troubled history of its successor. The book explores the rich vein of parodies, spoofs, and spin-offs of the songs, as well as their influence on 20th-century lyricists and composers. It analyzes professional productions across the world, looks at the unique place of G & S in schools, colleges, and universities, and explores the culture of amateur performance. The book also uncovers the largely male world of the obsessive fans, those collecting memorabilia, the myriad magazines, journals, websites, and festivals devoted to G & S, and the arcane interests of some of the faithful ‘inner brotherhood’.

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