Parody may be defined as a humorous or sarcastic imitation of a serious piece of literature. It appears, following this interpretation, that Carlos Ordoñez composed his marionette opera, Musica Dalla Parodie d'Alceste as a parody on Gluck's Alceste. A microfilm of the original manuscript of Ordoñez was procured from the National Szecheny Library in Budapest, the possessor of the only copy of the work.