Add MS 45942-45943

ETHEL SMYTH COLLECTION. Vols. IX, X (ff. ii + 94, ii + 98). 'The Boatswain's Mate': ballad opera in one act (two parts) to a libretto by the composer, based on a short story by W. W. Jacobs. Reduced full score; circ. 1922. The opera was composed in 1913-1914 (C. St john, op. cit., p. 305) and first produced by Sir Thomas Beecham at the Shaftesbury Theatre, 28 Jan. 1916 (A. Loewenberg, op. cit., col. 1333). The production arranged for February 1915 at Frankfurt-am-Main (cf. the composer's Beecham and Pharaoh, 1935, p. 52) was cancelled on the outbreak of war. Published, in vocal score, by Universal Edition, Vienna, 1915. The reduced full score is the version re-scored by the composer for small orchestra, for a production at the Old Vic, 30 Mar. 1922 (C. St John, op. cit., pp. 179, 181). The composer noted (45942, f. 3) that the scoring could be further reduced by the omission of trumpet, trombone and one horn part, and substitution of passages marked in red in the score. Lists of 'Alterations since July 1923 (to be carried into Model Parts Vienna)' are on 45942, f. 92; 45943, f. 96 (a production at Covent Garden had been given on 11 June). The opening of Part 2, Scene 8 (45943, ff. 89b-92b) is the 'Simplified alternative version with cut, suitable for small opera companies' (cf. Universal Edition score, p. 144^a).