"Haydn's Head" A true story! Haydn's Head is an amusing one act Opera, in eight scenes". For seven soloists, choir and orchestra -Words and Music © 1997 by Paul Heckert. For information about score and part rentals, performance organizations should contact Paul Heckert. E-MAIL: newmusic@classicmusic.com PHONE: Call Paul Heckert (845) 424-4857 The orchestration is for: Winds-2,2,2,2,Horns- 2 Brass -2,2,1; Percussion, Harp and full Strings. The piece was completed June 1, 1997, the actual date of the incident, 188 years ago! (Length:56:00) All Words & Music © 1997 by Paul Heckert Here's a review of the scenes in Haydn's Head. Press on a title to play it! Remember, this is a true story. " Click on a title to play it" Overture Scene 1-Hundsturm Cemetery, Vienna It's 1809, The old master has just passed away. Vienna mourns the loss of a great composer. The town's people are carrying in the casket of The Old Master. They march around the church to Hundsturm Cemetery where the body is laid to rest. The choir sings as they march in, then there are various solos by: The Priest, Prince Esterhazy, and a Grandchild. Then, after the congregation is dismissed, the choir sings as they exit............

Scene 2-Hundsturm Cemetery, that night Later that night at the entrance to Hundsturm Cemetery. Johann Peter and Carl Rosenbaum enter and sing about obtaining the skull from the grave digger, Jakob Demuth. Carl and Johann enter the cemetery and approach Jakob. Johann then opens the casket and removes the head from the body and places it in a sack. He then sings "the thrill of discovery, the search for the truth, how can I do this". Carl and Johann agree that after the skull is prepared, it will reside at the Rosenbaum's house. Scene 3-The Street, outside Johann's apartment, Vienna That night, scene starts with street people entering singing about "the strange times they live in" and how they can't believe that Napolean's troops have marched into town. Johann is then seen entering through the crowd and up to his second floor apartment. He begins the preparation of cleaning the skull by dipping it in a special "solution". The small vat bubbles as he sings: "with few preparations, a treasure is made" The chorus then ends the scene as they exit singing about "the strange times". Scene 4-The Rosenbaum's House, Vienna We see Mrs. Rosenbaum is waiting impatiently at the window for Johann who has promised to bring the skull to her party that night. It's been three months since "that dark night". The guests enter and ask what the surprise will be. "A new work of art?" Johann then arrives and unveils the skull. The guests gasp as Mrs. Rosenbaum grabs the skull and sings "Wonderful, Wonderful, now show me the curves". Johann then privately laments about "losing the great master". The guests are properly shocked and make for an appropriate exit. Scene 5-The Esterhazy Estate, outside Vienna Prince Esterhazy has received permission to move the remains of The Old Master to his Estate outside Vienna. He is outraged because the Police Captain has exclaimed that when "they exhumed the body, there was no head!" The Captain explains how they traced the skull to the Rosenbaums's. Esterhazy is outraged and worried about "what people will say of him, if they find out". He sends the Captain to retrieve the skull and return it to him as soon as possible. (Actual photos of the streets of Vienna)

"press the title to play" Scene 6-The Rosenbaum's House, Vienna The Captain arrives at the Rosenbaum's and demands the skull. The maid is shocked and explains "no one is home except The Madam", and she runs upstairs to get Mrs. Rosenbaum. The Captain and his policemen begin to search the house. The Maid enters Mrs. Rosenbaum's bedroom and explains that "the police are down stairs, and they want The Old Master's skull!" Mrs Rosenbaum thinks for a moment, and then she sends the maid downstairs to get the "real skull off the Klavier" and bring it up "the backstairs" so the police don't see her. Mrs Rosenbaum will give the police "an impostor". "No one will know... an earlier study from Carl's collection." Mrs. Rosenbaum slips the The Old Master's skull under her mattress. The Captain breaks into the bedroom, and the ladies "act" surprised and give him the fake skull. The Captain leaves cheerfully. Scene 7-The Esterhazy Estate, outside Vienna Esterhazy is now contented and is having a "proper burial". "All isright, I can now rest, the body's complete", he sings. The remains are laid to rest while various soloist sing. Then the scene ends with the choir singing " something's strange, something's wrong". What could it be? Scene 8-The Rosenbaum's House, Vienna Carl's Deathbed, years later. Carl and his wife by his side are saying goodbye. Carl requests Johann come to his bedside. Johann arrives, and Carl wills The Old Master's skull to him. Mrs. Rosenbaum is shocked, but Johann is elated. However, Carl has one last request; that Johann upon his death, will give the skull to the Musikfreunde in Vienna (The Friends of Music Society). Johann agrees and sings a song of joy.With his last notes, he questions his salvation before god. (One Act, 56:00 in length)  All Words & Music © 1997 by Paul Heckert