Sirius on earth

Sirius on Earth is a chamber opera that deals satirically with social and political issues that are pertinent to a Western multicultural urban setting. Angela Murphy wrote the libretto, which is based on an original dramatic scenario conceived of by the composer. This dissertation consists of two parts: the opera in full score and an analysis of the opera. Sirius on Earth is scored for a cast of eight singers and an ensemble of fifteen players. The analysis is related to the overall objectives of the work which include representing and satirizing the musical and cultural diversity inherent in multicultural Western cities, symbolized in the opera by the city of Sirius, through the composer's individual approach to musical pluralism. Important musical and dramatic features of the opera are discussed in the analysis, including modal organization, musical characterization and techniques of recontextualization such as allusion and parody. Conclusions dissect the opera's underlying satirical and dystopian viewpoint