Opus 28
Embedded Files
I. Overture
ACT I
Scene I
II. Chorus: “The Funeral of Emperor Titus”
III. Epitaph: “The Epitaph of Seikilos”
IV. Aria "No Time to Mourn"
Scene II
V. Ensemble: “We Pledge Allegiance to Caesar Domitianus Augustus”
Scene III
VI. Quartet: “Long Live the Senate!”
VII. Aria: “Frightened Old Men: Domitian’s Reforms”
Scene IV
VII. Aria: “Your Bath Awaits, Caesar”
IX. Duet: “If Only One Could Understand”
Scene V
X. Aria: “It Happened Beneath the Cover of the Imperial Baths”
Scene VI
XI. Aria: “Crowned in Iron”
Scene VII
XII. Aria: “The Wretch”
Scene VIII
XIII. Chorus: “Naumachia in the Flavian Amphitheatre”
Scene IX
XIV. Duet: “Vows in the Dark”
ACT II
XV. Prelude to Act II
Scene I
XVI. Aria: “Connubium in Ostia”
XVII. Aria: “His Name Was Marius”
Scene II
XVIII. Aria: “Damnatio memoriae”
Scene III
XIX. Aria: “I Will Remain by Your Side”
XX. Duet: “Among Patricians: All Else is but a Shadow”
Scene IV
XXI. Chorus: “Sinking of the Imperial Bireme”
XXII. Ensemble: “Hold the Line”
Scene V
XXIII. Aria: “Why Must Everything Go Awry?”
XXIV. Aria: “Without You”
Scene VI
XXV. Duet: “Seduction”
XXVI. Aria: “Tarpeia”
XXVII. Aria: “You Mustn’t Trust Her/The Riots Have Been Quelled”
XXVIII. Trio: “Forgiveness/Recall Aelius at Once”
Scene VII
XXIX. Aria: “Rome”
XXX. Quintet: “Conspiracy/Long Live the Senate! (Reprise)”
Scene VIII
XXXI. Duet: “We Are Lost”
XXXII. Aria: “Let Me Shield You from the World”
SCENE IX
XXXIII. Ensemble Finale A: “T'was Julia Flavia!”
XXXIV. Duet: “Vows in the Dark (Reprise)”
XXXV. Ensemble Finale B and Chorus: “Domitian and Aelius”
My most ambitious project to date. A massive Ancient Roman opera seria exploring themes of power dynamics in relationships, human greed, contradiction, desperation, and distrust (basically my compositional canon in a nutshell) with text written by my good friend Librettist-Baritone Rayn Jandos. Unique in its integration of neo-Baroque and neo-Romantic idioms combined with the use of microtones imitating Ancient Roman tuning systems, the libretto channels Jandos’ obsession for the Roman Empire. It follows lesser-known Emperor Domitian on his path of mental degradation, where after succumbing to love with his servant, Aelius, Domitian’s manipulative niece, Julia Flavia, commits several murders and atrocities in order to secure her power, exploiting this newfound tender side of Domitian.
General Score Information
General Score Information
Started.........................................................22 Oct, 2024Completed..................................................20 Nov, 2025
Score Publish Date..................................01 Jun, 2026
Genre.......................................................Opera, Seria
Keys*...................A♭ min, E♭ maj, C♯ min, A♭ maj, F min, E dorian, G min, F♯ maj, B♭ min, D maj, D min, F maj, E♭ min, C min, C♭ maj, E maj, D♭ maj, D octatonic, E min, F♯ min, B min, G min, B maj, C maj, A min, Atonal, D♭↓ maj
Duration...........................................................3:06:31BPMs*.....30, 112, 56, 73, 82, 104, 127, 159, 110, 182, 60, 50, 108, 54, 80, 30, 48, 116, 58, 126, 56, 98, 70, 100, 132, 68, 120, 92, 20, 46, 48, 186, 104, 63, 80, 90, 192, 38, 54, 95, 63, 66
Bar Count...............................................................5188Note Count.......................................................269653Time Sigs*...........2/2, 3/2, 6/8, 4/4, 2/4, 4/2, 7/4, 3/4, 9/8, 3/8, 6/4, 9/4, 5/8, 5/4 Avg. Writing Speed..............................28.52 notes/h
*Listed in order of appearance, without recurrences
Parts
Flute 1/Piccolo 2
Flute 2/Piccolo 1
Oboe 1,2 /(1 Backstage)
Clarinet (B♭/A) 1,2
Bassoon 1
Bassoon 2/Contrabassoon
Horn (F) 1-4
Trumpet (B♭) 1,2
Trombone 1,2
Bass Trombone
Tuba
Timpani
At least five auxiliary percussionists required.
Glockenspiel
Almglocken
Anvil 1**
Anvil 2**
Castanets
Ratchet
Triangle
Crash Cymbal
Suspended Cymbal
Tam-tam
Tambourine
Snare Drum
Tenor Drum
Bass Drum 1
Bass Drum 2
DOMITIAN (Tenor)
AELIUS (Baritone)
JULIA FLAVIA (Mezzo-Soprano)
PREFECT OF THE GUARD CASPERIUS AELIANUS (Tenor)
SENATOR AGRIPPA (Countertenor)
COURT MUSICIAN (Alto)
PRAETORIAN GUARDSMAN 1 (Tenor)
PRAETORIAN GUARDSMAN 2 (Baritone)
PRAETORIAN GUARDSMAN 3 (Baritone)
PRAETORIAN GUARDS, LEGIONARIES, AND GLADIATORS (TB)
AGENT OF JULIA (Soprano)
CHORUS (SATB)
Lyre
Virginal
Harpsichord
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Violoncello
Contrabass
Suggestions on how to improve my compositions are appreciated.
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