The Augusteia is a lush harmonic opera about a brother and sister, Augee and Lisa, who, losing their parents in a fire, must fend for themselves.  Composition began in 1976.  Act One, only, was completed as of 1980.  

ACT ONE (Fading Colors) Location:  A Burnt-Out Cellar Foundation

        The Sentiments of Lisa ("Kin's Dead")

        The Sentiments of Augee (Atmospheric Stillness.  "Someday When The Clouds...")

        A Visit to Town, in which Lisa spends a goodly portion of the day "securing a job"

        Dance of the Dolls/Lisa and The Cobbler.

        Best of Intentions (Lisa has them for Augee)/Interlude

        Flashback, The Eve of September, or "Matthew's Passion" (older brother, Matthew, advises them to leave before he burns down their home.)

        The Mayberry Police Precinct Dialogue including a stirring musical conclusion, "Not Necessarily Torture" (Introducing Mrs. Crawdles)

ACT TWO (The Crawdles) Location:  The Crawdles House adjacent to The Burnt-Out Cellar Foundation

        Out of the Grave -- dizozza/audio/The Augusteia/OutofTheGraveS&PTape.mp3

        Lisa Makes Fun/On the Phone for Party

        Augee and His Orphan Friends (Orphan Child)-- dizozza/audio/The Augusteia/Augie&OrphansS&PTape.mp3

        Where's My Dearest -- dizozza/audio/The Augusteia/XWhere'sMyDearestS&PTape.mp3

        Mrs. Crawdles, home with grocery packages, calling for Augee's assistance, trips from waddling.

        Augee falls on Mrs. Crawdles, something from out of her scurries up the stairs.

        Mrs. Crawdles with "kid."  

        Party/Smell/Ignore It/Friends leave/Closed doors.  Augee and Lisa escape to Shoe Store.

ACT THREE (Almost Even) The Shoe Store

        Brother & Sister, 78 & 80 (News Song)

        Settle the Deal (Almost Even)

        Augee conspires with cobbler.  

        Lisa Down.  Lisa Up and Out.  Lisa Victimized and Victorious 

        Lisa's writing in the sky:  "Don't be Bully by your Bowltice, Bully Your Bowl in Wildstead Westcrew"

Back to projects.

see below for a page illustration from the piano score.

In Act two Augee and Lisa live with their next door neighbor, a Mrs. Crawdles.. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return to Projects