What Is a Man?
Man or Beast? was composed for the Conservatorio F.A. Bonporti's commemorations of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death (1616), presented in two concerts on 3 February 2017 in Riva del Garda and 4 February 2017 in Trento.
The text draws on three passages from Hamlet — the "what is a man" soliloquy (Act IV), the "what a piece of work is a man" speech (Act II), and the esse aut non esse opening (Act III, rendered as a medieval scholastic disputation in Latin). The structure alternates between interior reflection and outward address, between private thought and public argument. The spoken delivery is notated with deliberate flexibility: the rhythmic placement of text within bars is left open enough for the line to sound natural, not recited.
Technical details
Type - Chamber ensemble with speaking voice
Year - 2017
Text - W. Shakespeare, Hamlet, Acts II, III, IV
Premiere - 3 February 2017, Riva del Garda (TN); 4 February 2017, Trento
Context - Conservatorio F.A. Bonporti, Shakespeare 400th anniversary commemorations
Ensemble - Speaking voice, flute, oboe, B♭ clarinet, bassoon, trombone, percussion, double bass