#10A is titled, "Opening 1st Game", and it sounds like the opening music for a news program, like one of the three major networks. I wanted it to be short and sweet, so we cut bars 7-8, and used the same music each time there was anything televised having to do with chess tournaments. The music is full of stacked 4ths and polychords (C/D, A/B, Bb/Eb, etc), to give it that authentic "newsy" sound.
As was mentioned in prior posts, the first act of Chess is loosely based on the 1972 World Chess Championship between Bobby Fischer (US) and Boris Spassky(USSR). This match was televised by ABC's "Wide World Of Sports", as well as WNET, a PBS affiliate:
WNET (channel 13), branded on-air as Thirteen (stylized as THIRTEEN), is a primary PBS member television station licensed to Newark, New Jersey, United States, serving the New York City area. Owned by The WNET Group (formerly known as the Educational Broadcasting Corporation and later as WNET.org),[2] it is a sister station to the area's secondary PBS member, Garden City, New York–licensed WLIW (channel 21), and two class A stations: WMBQ-CD (channel 46), and WNDT-CD (channel 14, which shares spectrum with WNET).
The WNET coverage was provided by Shelbourne "Shelby" Lyman, who was an American chess player and teacher. This coverate became the highest-rated public television program ever at that time, far surpassing viewership expectations.
In the musical, television coverage is provided by the BBC, and the commentary is provided by Walter de Courcey:
Walter acts as the broadcaster for the audience, reporting on the games and sometimes providing context or commentary on the players’ behavior. His role helps the musical frame the story in a way that mirrors real-world media coverage of high-profile chess matches. He’s not a player or part of the tournament itself—he’s essentially the “voice of the BBC” within the show.
The character of Walter is definitely more aggressive than Shelby Lyman, and at no point is it ever insinuated that he is a chess player. Rather, he is both the public commentator and the marketing expert. From ChatGPT:
In Chess, Walter isn’t just a neutral commentator—he’s very conscious of the media spectacle and its effect on public interest. He recognizes that the drama between the players—the Cold War rivalry, the personalities, even their personal conflicts—drives viewership and sells the games.
This awareness makes him more than just a narrator; he’s a subtle representation of how media shapes the story, sometimes amplifying tension or controversy to capture audience attention. It’s part of the musical’s critique of how sport (or art) can be commercialized and sensationalized.
The 1960 Presidential Debates were televised, and there's no question that these TV events helped to shape the race for office that year. The same is true of Chess, and it's something that the lead characters are all aware of ... although not all of them (Anatoly, Florence) embrace the medium as much as others (Freddie, Molokov, Walter).
The global sensation of the 1972 tournament was never matched again, with future matches covered with highlights. The game is too slow and difficult, and none of the later players had the same eccentricity and charisma as Bobby Fischer. It's another instance of the similarities between Fischer and Freddy:
You can raise all you want
If you raise the roof
Scream and shout and the gate increases
Break the rules -- break the bank
I'm the living proof
They don't care how I move my pieces
I know I'm the best there is
But all they want is a show
Well that's all right -- I'll be glad to oblige
S.R.O. S.R.O.
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