Finally. A choral drama with neurodiverse characters.

Neurospicy Songsters on the Road to Bremen

This ground-breaking choral drama turns the 1857 Brothers Grimm “The Tale of the Bremen Town Musicians” inside out. Instead of leaving their situations to escape the butcher knife, they discover that their particular neurodiverse and speech traits make them more suited for work in the concert hall rather than in the barnyard. Their journey to musical opportunities in Bremen finds the donkey, the dog, the cat, and the rooster engaged in song, obsessive practicing, singular focus on the road, and fruitful artistic companionship. The music includes several familiar melodies that reflect the animals’ blossoming confidence and skills. Their prowess wins over the threat they encountered deep in the forest. The music highlights the melodramatic narrative with exaggerated whimsy and profundity. Solo voices play the part of each animal, the chorus tells the story, and the string quartet does it all. 

Music by Adrienne Inglis
Text by Maureen Broy Papovich, based on the 1857 “The Tale of the Bremen Town Musicians” by the Brothers Grimm

SATB chorus, solo soprano, solo mezzo-soprano, solo tenor, solo bass, string quartet
Commissioned by Inversion Ensemble under the direction of Katrina Saporsantos

Purchase sheet music here.

Watch world premiere performance here.