(Sketch and notes for musical)
Sitting Drum 1491
The Year Before
The Sorrow and the Pain
Sitting on Oil Cans
Sitting on Drums
Still Water
KL 5/23/17
Scenery/ projection: Race riots (from many countries), burning buildings, chaos - morphs into a peaceful wooded glen- atonal violent music imperceptibly changes to peaceful with an undertone of pathos.
Introduction: Children's Chorus - Prologue
Tragedy inevitable -my great
grandfathers handed a fate
Beyond their control.
At first not clear why invaders wanted to destroy everything we hold dear- their fear.
A tale of racial strife
Was more about greed over natural life.
Scene I
Fire amid ruins
Semi urban slum (1941)
Midnight
Late October. Light snow falling.
Men sitting on oil drums warming their hands near the fire aglow in their midst.
All drink except Never Satisfied and Old Feathered Devil
Never Satisfied
Wounded Bird
Weeping Elk
Rightly proud
Striving Sparrow
Proud Hawk, Sparrow's father
Old Owl, Sparrow's grandfather
Honest Joe
Truthful Vision
Walking Bison
Sleeping Buffalo
Old Feathered Devil
The talk of the men fades under the...
Narrator:
His parents raised him to be aggressive. They were afraid their little son would not survive. They were full of fear. Perhaps it wasn't their fault. Great grandfathers and great grandmothers and their brothers and sisters had been killed, maybe they were the lucky ones he thought. Others driven off their land put onto reservations whose earth could barely sustain life. Their customs and spirituality had been disrespected by men who were motivated by fear and greed and fear of their leaders and fears of life -- all that grew into virulent anger. To ease the pain, his father drank- the pain of fallen brothers, sisters and their way of life. Barely did he hold onto some semblance of hope. When not drunk, he was still angry and afraid. His young son vowed never to drink alcohol but he could not unlearn his father's pain, shame, anger or fear.
The despair, alcoholism, diseases brought on by poor nutrition, lives whose meaning had been trashed infected every good thing - greed and disharmony prevailed. Never Satisfied had valid, undeniably real reasons for his rage. That said, he did not heed that small inner voice telling him there was another way. What he did heed was a smooth talking devil who told him in ways which fed his immense unstable ego that he could go back in time and change the world.
(Song: "1491 Poof" Old Feathered Devil):
Never Satisfied you are a big, powerful and loud talking man.
You frighten even the village elders. He knew what would happen the next year when the Nina, The Pinta and the Santa Maria would arrive. So he wasn't totally wrong to warn the nations of the scourge which was coming.
****
1491 The Great Plains
Never Satisfied has just led a War Council.
Her parents came home from the war council troubled -but only briefly. Their love for one another and their children, extended family and neighbors always brought them back to a peaceful, calm productive state. They knew they did not know what to make of the stranger's wild story. They also knew enough to let it go for now and get to sleep.
When Inner Beauty was born her parents spoke her name. Gently smiling, they were delighted their child's name had come to them at the same time. They were a caring couple. They cared for their elders, their children and each other. Now they would care for and love their newest child.
(Song: "New Life, New Hope.")
It was not that they didn't see it. It was just that her radiance was so much more present. The newborn's right arm was shriveled.
As she grew into a young child, everyone had the same reaction to her- joy at her presence only later noticing her arm, as if it were a side issue not worth mentioning. Inner Beauty had no bad feelings about herself; she was the embodiment of love, kindness, compassion and something no one could name.
As a young woman, she had many suitors.
(Ensemble: "Many Suitors.") reprise of (Song: "New Life, New Hope.")
The suitors and she were, as were her parents, mutually respectful. The men and women of her nation knew that everyone played a valuable role in the flourishing of their people. Women and men understood women's specific strengths were needed for the tribe to survive.
Though she was friendly to all, she gave a consistent reply: It is not time. She did not say she was not ready, just simply: It is not time.
(Song: "It is not time.")
There was one suitor, Of Many Tongues, who brought her little useful gifts- useful in her building- Still he received the same answer: "It is not time."
Inner Beauty spent part of each day learning from her aunts, masters of many crafts. It was a moral and philosophical education woven into the fabric of the blankets, pottery, baskets and jewelry- an education by doing, not by lecture. Other daily chores included collecting building materials and repairing- clothing, shoes- even roof tops. The idea of a good roof over your head- whether it was the roof of the stars of the night sky or roof to protect against the elements was powerful for Inner Beauty. She wondered whether this protective roof could become part of her personality, not just something external.
(Song: "A Roof is more than a Roof.")
One day, before dawn, suddenly Inner Beauty was with child. Knowing she would be ostracized, she kissed her mother and father and said "It is time for me to leave. I will return."
Inner Beauty was an accomplished warrior, but she chose the path of peace whenever possible- she especially wanted to avoid conflict with her people. She understood why they would have the thoughts they would have. She excelled at understanding the mind and hearts of others.
Although men recognized that women were the origin of life and contributed consistency to their nation, Inner Beauty knew how they felt about a child being born by a woman without a man.
Months passed as she rode her horse - for she was an excellent rider- into the foothills, then to the very foot of the Sacred Mountains.
She lived well in the wilderness, never being lost, wandering joyously with her newborn. Inner Beauty built a home for her child. She and her son would return to it many times in the years to come. Sometimes together, usually alone. Building was a gift she had learned from her own mother and other women.
Inner Beauty cultivated a farm. Not so much for her son's and her immediate needs but because she had the intuition he would need it later in life.
Although Inner Beauty had learned to hunt, dress and cook buffalo, when she was alone she preferred to eat only vegetables, fruits and nuts.
Although Inner Beauty was skilled in gathering firewood and making tools and weapons, she knew in no uncertain terms, her path was marked out differently. Her great grandmother was a medicine
woman. The wise elder had reverentially kissed Inner Beauty's challenged arm.
(Ensemble of all the brothers and sisters of the forest: "Medicine Women.")
She returned to the village, fully expecting what was about to happen. Men and women called her vile names. Their words echoed from the far off Sacred Mountains. Instead of returning in thin tones, their words came back to them in full force, almost knocking them to the ground.
The healing power soothed. She had no need for the herbs or chants. Had the people known Buddhism- they might have thought it Akido- a martial art where the practitioner learns to keep the opponent safe while preventing him from harming anyone.
Inner Beauty's great grandmother would have been pleased- not proud - just happy in a quiet way. She would have had the same profound satisfaction as when souls and bodies were made whole by her herbs and chants. Inner Beauty had the same connection to the world of spirits.
So it was with equanimity that Inner Beauty observed the stones being thrown at her.
The stones turned to dust in mid air, falling gently to her neighbors' feet covering their toes in warm, dry earth.
Some shot arrows. The arrows turned to flame, rising high above the infant's head. Suddenly he was a toddler.
The flames coalesced into a ring of fire, then concentrated itself into a magnificent ball of brilliant many colored light. The miniature fireball floated just above the youngster's hand.
He said, Mother, I thank you for giving me life and for teaching me joyously. As a gift, I give you this - he gently guided the ever diminishing miniature sun to float above her withered right hand. Instantly she was made whole. Her powerful arms embraced her son as he said, "Mother I must now leave you." For an instant she was fearful, terrified. Then he took a step, then fourteen more. With each step he grew a year older.
(Duet: "Thank you (for giving me life.)")
Sometime after he departed, Inner Beauty turned to her friend, saying Of Many Tongues, If you will still have me after waiting all this time, it is time for us to marry.
(Song: "All this Time.")
He gathered her in his strong arms and they had many children and a bountiful life...
(Duet: "A Bountiful Life.")
Suddenly one day...
(Ensemble: "Suddenly one day...")
Fifteen years later, the young man returned. He found his people in preparation for a terrible battle.
His stepfather, Of Many Tongues was at the war council, translating.
The young man entered. All were shocked to see the uninvited guest. He said, honored stepfather I must speak with you - alone. Men got up to attack the young man. They could not approach. There was an invisible shield surrounding him.
The stepfather and stepson were now alone. The young man spoke. "You have been good to my mother and so you have been good to me. You have a gift of understanding many nations' languages. You have another gift of which you are only slightly aware. You can see into men's hearts and know their minds. Return to your war council knowing this about yourself."
The stepfather and stepson embraced, the older man said "Son, you have a new name, it is The Peacekeeper."
Of Many Tongues returned to the furious warriors. He waited for a long time listening to the beating of his own heart which he heard above and below the terrible din of the shouting, angry men. The women were a quieter but still rage-ful presence.
He stood. Saying nothing. Of Many Tongues waited. He waited a long time.
When all was quiet, he spoke. "Tell me... tell us, first one, then another, all the things you need to say, my angry brothers and sisters. "
They screamed "We are not brothers." Of Many Tongues understood - but kept to himself- that siblings often are in competition with each other, sometimes bitterly so. He felt older, made wiser by his son. He felt honored and humbled at the circle of wisdom and life.
The council lasted many days as each man and woman patiently heard and felt what his counterpart from another nation had to say.
Finally the man who was responsible for all this turmoil spoke. Never Satisfied said:
I had come here to teach you
Out of the blue
You have instead taught me
The tree of peace grows
Even in the darkest Winter snows
Be connected to the earth
To spirits and ancestors
Then of hope there will never be a dearth.
From then on he was known as Satisfied Elk and in a purple puff of smoke he vanished returning to his own future time where he helped remind his people that though they had suffered greatly it was now time to health themselves under the sacred tree.
On two physical levels- one representing The Year Before the other representing the present:
Many shouts, tears and much laughter later, all the men and women were truly brothers and sisters. Battle and war were postponed for another day as each felt the others' humanity in Shouts, Tears and Laughter.
(Finale: "Shouts, tears and laughter.")
***
Next Steps:
Finalize "book"
Write leit motives
Songs, Duets, ensemble numbers:
1.(Song: "New Life, New Hope.")
2.(Ensemble: "Many Suitors.")
3.(Song: "It is not time.")
4.(Song: "A Roof is more than a Roof.)
5.(Ensemble all the brothers and sisters of the forest: "Medicine Women.")
6.(Duet: "Thank you (for giving me life.")
7.(Song: "All this Time.")
8.(Duet: "A Bountiful Life.")
9.(Ensemble: "Suddenly one day...")
10.(Finale: "Shouts, tears and laughter.")
(9+ reprise and contrapuntal finale - this should be a mini musical about 30 minutes in duration. If the kids enjoy working on JM, discuss "The Uninvited Guest" with Gideon for spring of 2020
Dennis to write an 8 bar A and and eight bar B for each song, duet, ensemble and most motives
Ken to draft lyrics
Dennis and Ken to refine each other's work as with JM
Ken to complete songs, duets, ensembles and motives
Ken to produce piano vocal score and after first workshop orchestral score and orchestra parts
Motives
. Inner Beauty
. Her parents
. love, kindness, compassion and something no one could name.
. Time
. Emptiness
. Hope
. Suitors
. Roof
. Of Many Tongues
. the path of peace
. Wisdom
. Self knowledge
. Courage - especially to do the right thing in the face of ostracism
. warrior
. Women
. Men
. Wilderness
. Medicine Women
. Skills
. Sacred Mountains (use theme from JM- let's see if we can use as many of those themes as possible.)
*****
Title
Of the Forest
Shouts, Tears and Laughter
We Are Not Brothers
First One, Then Another
The Path
Counterpart
A Rageful Presence
Medicine Women
Another Day
Postponed
Another Nation
Character List
Untold story for each
This show needs feeling
Heart
Compassion
Love
Over coming adversity
Beating the odds
Competition
The inevitable hand of fate time destiny
Field of dreams
Man of La Mancha
West side story
Marriage of figaro
Annie get your gun
South Pacific
Ragtime
Music Man
Rent
Aida
Fame
Into the Woods
Inner Beauty
Characters
Titles
stones to dust
arrows aflame
Fireball floated
ring of fire
bountiful life...
now alone.
Into their hearts
Hearts & Minds
Beating hearts
All quiet
Not Brothers
Scream
Shouts, Tears and Laughter.
Shouts
Tears and Laughter
KL 5/17/16
Inner Beauty l
Her parents
Scene I
Fire amid ruins
Never Satisfied led the war council
His parents had raised him to be aggressive. They were afraid their little son would not survive. They were full of fear. Perhaps it wasn't their fault. Their brothers and sisters had been killed, driven off their land put into reservations whose earth could barely sustain life. Their customs and spirituality had been disrespected by men who were motivated by fear which grew into virulent anger. His father drank to ease the pain of fallen brothers, sisters and their way of life. Barely did he hold onto some semblance of hope. When he wasn't drunk, he was still angry and afraid. His young son vowed never to drink alcohol but he could not unlearn his father's pain, shame of anger.
The despair, alcoholism, diseases brought on by poor nutrition, lives whose meaning had been trashed infected every good thing - greed and disharmony, Never Satisfied had valid, undeniably real reasons for his rage. He did not heed that small inner voice telling him there was another way. What he did heed was a smooth talking devil who told him in ways which fed his immense ego that he could go back in time and change the world.
A story within a story
(Man of La Mancha)
And as the fires of destruction smoldered, he told his young son of another simpler time. A time still rich with feeling - good and bad - love and war - but a time when life was easier to understand.
(Song: "New Life, New Hope.")
many suitors.
(Ensemble: "Many Suitors.") reprise of (Song: "New Life, New Hope.")
The men and women of her nation women's specific strengths
survival
time.
(Song: "It is not time.")
Of Many Tongues
little useful gifts-
her aunts, masters of many crafts
(Song: "A Roof is more than a Roof.")
with child.
ostracized
The path of peace
understanding the mind and hearts of others.
her horse -
the foothills
The Sacred Mountains.
The wilderness,
never being lost, wandering joyously
her newborn.
built a home for her child
cultivated a farm.
intuition
Seeing the future
she knew in no uncertain terms, her path was marked out differently.
Her great grandmother was a medicine
woman.
(Ensemble of all the brothers and sisters of the forest: "Medicine Women.")
The village
The healing power soothed.
connection to the world of spirits.
equanimity
The stones turned to dust
(Duet: "Thank you (for giving me life.)")
(Song: "All this Time.")
(Duet: "A Bountiful Life.")
Suddenly one day...
(Ensemble: "Suddenly one day...")
Shouts, Tears and Laughter.
Men and women of the war council
(Finale: "Shouts, tears and laughter.")
***
Next Steps:
Finalize "book"
Write leit motives
Songs, Duets, ensemble numbers:
1.(Song: "New Life, New Hope.")
2.(Ensemble: "Many Suitors.")
3.(Song: "It is not time.")
4.(Song: "A Roof is more than a Roof.)
5.(Ensemble all the brothers and sisters of the forest: "Medicine Women.")
6.(Duet: "Thank you (for giving me life.")
7.(Song: "All this Time.")
8.(Duet: "A Bountiful Life.")
9.(Ensemble: "Suddenly one day...")
10.(Finale: "Shouts, tears and laughter.")
(9+ reprise and contrapuntal finale - this should be a mini musical about 30 minutes in duration. If the kids enjoy working on JM, discuss "The Uninvited Guest" with Gideon for spring of 2020
Dennis to write an 8 bar A and and eight bar B for each song, duet, ensemble and most motives
Ken to draft lyrics
Dennis and Ken to refine each other's work as with JM
Ken to complete songs, duets, ensembles and motives
Ken to produce piano vocal score and after first workshop orchestral score and orchestra parts
Motives
. Inner Beauty
. Her parents
. love, kindness, compassion and something no one could name.
. Time
. Emptiness
. Hope
. Suitors
. Roof
. Of Many Tongues
. the path of peace
. Wisdom
. Self knowledge
. Courage - especially to do the right thing in the face of ostracism
. warrior
. Women
. Men
. Wilderness
. Medicine Women
. Skills
. Sacred Mountains (use theme from JM- let's see if we can use as many of those themes as possible.)
*****
Title
Of the Forest
Shouts, Tears and Laughter
We Are Not Brothers
First One, Then Another
The Path
Counterpart
A Rageful Presence
Medicine Women
Another Day
Postponed
Another Nation
The Sorrow and the Pain
Character List
Untold story for each
This show needs feeling
Heart
Compassion
Love
Over coming adversity
Beating the odds
Competition
The inevitable hand of fate time destiny
Possible titles
their newest child.
(Song: "New Life, New Hope.")
Her radiance was so much more
A side issue
the embodiment of love
It is not time
Medicine Women
Shouts, tears and laughter
We are not brothers
All the things you need to say
Battle Terrible
Warriors Furious
Firewood
Ring of Fire
Suddenly one day
Ideas????
Field of dreams
Man of La Mancha
West side story
Marriage of figaro
Annie get your gun
South Pacific
Ragtime
Music Man
Rent
Aida
Fame
Into the Woods