Olivia D’Souza
Chess, Act I “Embassy Lament”
Benny Andersson/Björn Ulvaeus
1984
Musical number
England
1. How does this music or art connect to your culture as well as other cultures?
This specific musical number within the European musical Chess acts as a simple piece of comedic relief to break the tension within the musical. Comedic relief is found in media throughout various cultures including our own. While it may seem superficial, comedic relief connects cultures by breaking tense barriers as laughter is universal. “Embassy Lament” also satirizes the situation of British embassies struggling to process defectors during the Cold War and relates to American embassies around the world trying to process various immigration forms and other processes. It also pokes fun at the kafkaesque nature of our daily lives and creates this comparison between the routines we have and those conducted by workers in other nations.
2. What is the central theme or message of the piece(s)? How was that evoked by the piece? How is that message relevant to cultures other than the one shown in the piece?
The central theme of “Embassy Lament” is that civil servants more often feel bogged down by the people they are helping rather than good about those they’ve helped. This song ultimately captures the behavior of many bureaucratic functions. “Embassy Lament” evokes this message by the patter-singing accomplished by the performers as well as the use of daily items such as a typewriter for sound effects. This message is greatly relevant to many Western cultures as we often see these bureaucratic functions as laborious jobs when in fact they are saving the lives of refugees and those seeking asylum.
3. What does the piece indicate about the culture of the country where the piece is from? Consider such things as family structure, gender roles, politics, economic status, education, poverty, sports, customs, foods, war, etc.
This political musical piece also indicates the exhaustion British civil servants felt processing immigrant papers, but it also details some of the struggles that defectors and those seeking asylum faced. The KGB, during the Cold War, made it very difficult for those in the Soviet Union to leave the country. In comparison to Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony, this piece also alludes to life on the western side of the Iron Curtain. Western European countries fared much better during the Cold War and even took for granted their situation.
4. Describe the mood or thoughts (affect) evoked by the piece. Describe the devices used by the artist(s) to create this effect (i.e. compositional technique, media, use of elements and principles, etc.)
Despite the underlying nuances of the lyrics, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus evoke a spirited and joking mood throughout the piece. Andersson and Ulvaeus use a lively tempo marked “Scherzando,” signifying joking in Italian. The performers also use patter-singing to create a comedic effect.
5. Research the historical context/significance of the piece. How does the piece “fit” into this larger/global context?
Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus created this piece in the middle of the Cold War, however it was close to end which was not known at the time. During this period, many were defecting from the Soviet Union due to failing leadership and lack of industry and ability for socioeconomic mobility. “Embassy Lament” takes advantage of the situation of one defector and those who must process his papers to create a tension-free scene within a musical about defection and possible harm.
6. How did this experience change your world view
Listening and learning about Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’s “Embassy Lament” and the overarching musical Chess changed my worldview by showing me the very real situation faced by refugees and defectors as well as, the other side of the story, of the situation of civil servants who desire to help others but don’t always recognize the impact that they have.
Chess, Act I “Embassy Lament”
Benny Andersson/Björn Ulvaeus
1984
Musical number
England
1. How does this music or art connect to your culture as well as other cultures?
This specific musical number within the European musical Chess acts as a simple piece of comedic relief to break the tension within the musical. Comedic relief is found in media throughout various cultures including our own. While it may seem superficial, comedic relief connects cultures by breaking tense barriers as laughter is universal. “Embassy Lament” also satirizes the situation of British embassies struggling to process defectors during the Cold War and relates to American embassies around the world trying to process various immigration forms and other processes. It also pokes fun at the kafkaesque nature of our daily lives and creates this comparison between the routines we have and those conducted by workers in other nations.
2. What is the central theme or message of the piece(s)? How was that evoked by the piece? How is that message relevant to cultures other than the one shown in the piece?
The central theme of “Embassy Lament” is that civil servants more often feel bogged down by the people they are helping rather than good about those they’ve helped. This song ultimately captures the behavior of many bureaucratic functions. “Embassy Lament” evokes this message by the patter-singing accomplished by the performers as well as the use of daily items such as a typewriter for sound effects. This message is greatly relevant to many Western cultures as we often see these bureaucratic functions as laborious jobs when in fact they are saving the lives of refugees and those seeking asylum.
3. What does the piece indicate about the culture of the country where the piece is from? Consider such things as family structure, gender roles, politics, economic status, education, poverty, sports, customs, foods, war, etc.
This political musical piece also indicates the exhaustion British civil servants felt processing immigrant papers, but it also details some of the struggles that defectors and those seeking asylum faced. The KGB, during the Cold War, made it very difficult for those in the Soviet Union to leave the country. In comparison to Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony, this piece also alludes to life on the western side of the Iron Curtain. Western European countries fared much better during the Cold War and even took for granted their situation.
4. Describe the mood or thoughts (affect) evoked by the piece. Describe the devices used by the artist(s) to create this effect (i.e. compositional technique, media, use of elements and principles, etc.)
Despite the underlying nuances of the lyrics, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus evoke a spirited and joking mood throughout the piece. Andersson and Ulvaeus use a lively tempo marked “Scherzando,” signifying joking in Italian. The performers also use patter-singing to create a comedic effect.
5. Research the historical context/significance of the piece. How does the piece “fit” into this larger/global context?
Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus created this piece in the middle of the Cold War, however it was close to end which was not known at the time. During this period, many were defecting from the Soviet Union due to failing leadership and lack of industry and ability for socioeconomic mobility. “Embassy Lament” takes advantage of the situation of one defector and those who must process his papers to create a tension-free scene within a musical about defection and possible harm.
6. How did this experience change your world view
Listening and learning about Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’s “Embassy Lament” and the overarching musical Chess changed my worldview by showing me the very real situation faced by refugees and defectors as well as, the other side of the story, of the situation of civil servants who desire to help others but don’t always recognize the impact that they have.