Product Description:
PDF score of The Earthquake Song.
Program Note:
The Promise was written for the 2017 Vancouver Opera New Works Project. Librettist Zoe S. Mix and Composer Carolyn Quick each had one day to write the text and music for the scene, which was then workshopped by resident performers Geoff Schellenberg (baritone), Tamar Simon (soprano), and Mary Castello (piano), under the guidance of composer Benton Roark and director Rachel Peake.
Instrumentation:
Soprano, Baritone, & Piano
Text by Heather Ramsay
8 minutes
Vocal Range: Soprano: Eb4-Bb5, Baritone: C3-F#5
Text by Heather Ramsay
8 minutes
Vocal Range: Soprano: Eb4-Bb5, Baritone: C3-F#5
Recording:
Score:
Text:
Summary:
Alistair desperately wants to be relieved on the pain he is in. He’s been plagued by this memory of his mother being murdered by his father for over 20 years. After receiving a letter from the state penitentiary, and a visit from the ghost of his mother, he decides to go and confront his father.
Alistair opens the letter...
Alistair
"Mis-ter Reeve, we are writing from the State Penitentiary to inform you that your father William Reeve is dying of pancreatic cancer.”
He’s dying, after all this time. What do they expect me to do? Am I supposed to come and say my goodbyes? It’s been 20 years since I’ve seen him. He’ll probably ask forgiveness.
The moon is bright tonight, hanging in the window, solemn. Mother used to sing a lullaby about the moon watching over me. It reminds me…
Trails off
The moon is here. The stars are gone. Crimson blood shone in the light falling from mother’s breast, her porcelain hands against the wound, her red lipped mouth screaming. Silenced in death. And I, a boy, frozen in this moment: Father standing over her, casting long shadows with a knife in his hand.
Mother
Dear one, don’t be afraid. Sleep while the moon watches over you. My hope is in you dear one, don’t be afraid!
Alistair
Mother! How can this be?
Mother
My son, you must wake up! You have been stuck for twenty years in this memory that haunts you. You must learn to understand, have courage and compassion. What is broken will be made whole. You shall be reformed. You shall be reborn. And then we can be at peace.
Alistair
I…I am afraid.
Mother
We will have peace.
Alistair
I cannot face it.
Mother
All will be made whole.
Alistair
…but I am desperate to live again, to be made whole! If it means I will get my life back I will go.
Alistair grabs the letter and runs off stage.
- Zoe S. Mix
Alistair desperately wants to be relieved on the pain he is in. He’s been plagued by this memory of his mother being murdered by his father for over 20 years. After receiving a letter from the state penitentiary, and a visit from the ghost of his mother, he decides to go and confront his father.
Alistair opens the letter...
Alistair
"Mis-ter Reeve, we are writing from the State Penitentiary to inform you that your father William Reeve is dying of pancreatic cancer.”
He’s dying, after all this time. What do they expect me to do? Am I supposed to come and say my goodbyes? It’s been 20 years since I’ve seen him. He’ll probably ask forgiveness.
The moon is bright tonight, hanging in the window, solemn. Mother used to sing a lullaby about the moon watching over me. It reminds me…
Trails off
The moon is here. The stars are gone. Crimson blood shone in the light falling from mother’s breast, her porcelain hands against the wound, her red lipped mouth screaming. Silenced in death. And I, a boy, frozen in this moment: Father standing over her, casting long shadows with a knife in his hand.
Mother
Dear one, don’t be afraid. Sleep while the moon watches over you. My hope is in you dear one, don’t be afraid!
Alistair
Mother! How can this be?
Mother
My son, you must wake up! You have been stuck for twenty years in this memory that haunts you. You must learn to understand, have courage and compassion. What is broken will be made whole. You shall be reformed. You shall be reborn. And then we can be at peace.
Alistair
I…I am afraid.
Mother
We will have peace.
Alistair
I cannot face it.
Mother
All will be made whole.
Alistair
…but I am desperate to live again, to be made whole! If it means I will get my life back I will go.
Alistair grabs the letter and runs off stage.
- Zoe S. Mix