she conjures for voice & piano (medium key)
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PDF score for she conjures for mezzo-soprano and piano
music by Lisa Neher
libretto by Bea Goodwin
Winner of the 2024 LunART Call for Scores!
Finalist for the 2023 National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Art Song Composition Award
This piece is also available in a version for voice, alto flute, & piano
Length: 12 minutes
Vocal range: A3-A5
High key available
music by Lisa Neher
libretto by Bea Goodwin
Winner of the 2024 LunART Call for Scores!
Finalist for the 2023 National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Art Song Composition Award
This piece is also available in a version for voice, alto flute, & piano
Length: 12 minutes
Vocal range: A3-A5
High key available
Program Noteshe conjures places us in 1666 in North Berwick, Scotland. Grissall’s mother has been burned for witchcraft and a mysterious spell of endless snow has fallen upon the land. With the help of her mother’s feathered familiar, Caraid, Grissall seeks answers and justice, with the help of a little magic of her own. This feminist tale of witches, crows, curses, revenge, and redemption is infused with Scottish folk music elements. With a dramatic libretto by Bea Goodwin, the work can be performed in concert as a song cycle or staged as an operatic scene. she conjures was commissioned by Catalyst New Music for their Fuse: Collaborations in Song project and premiered by Claire McCahan, mezzo-soprano, and Brendon Shapiro, piano in February, 2023. she conjures won the 2024 LunART Call for Scores and was a Finalist for the 2023 National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Art Song Composition Award.
Optional: the singer may play a bodhrán or other simple skin drum in movements i and iv of the piece, or alternatively may stomp with their foot. |
Textby Bea Goodwin
i. incantation Mama Ye’ left an echo A beckon from beyond. Incantation on Mother’s last breath cast a spell of endless snow-- Freeze their wheat, no bread to eat! Split a sail with hunks of hail! An incantation Endless snow... Mama, accused of the unthinkable; a poppet of Father! Poppets are Devil’s work—why on Earth would the Magistrate blame my Mother? Perhaps he had somethin’ to do with it! — I know! I’ll fetch Mother’s familiar. He can crawl into ‘is chimney and be my spy! ii. familiar Hello Caraid! I bet other crows get green-eyed when ye’ come inside! I’m sorry-- Yer Master, my Mother, ‘as been burned alive. Why? When women ‘re born from the rib of the land, with their spirits, mysterious as fog-- The men who hold gavels hold daggers, hunt witches... So, I’ll be yer Master, yer Mother now. Listen closely, will ye’ ? Wing way to the Magistrate’s House. Perch on ‘is chimney then go! fly inside-- As I cast a little spell: iii. conjuring Hecate , come to me Bella donna and bilberry the flesh of fruit from a yew tree Maiden, Mother, Crone Grant me eyes of the crow Ah, would ye’ look at that... Perched on the smoke shelf, Perfect view! He's hunched over Closer, Caraid, Closer Closer, There it is! Now swoop down, place it into his pocket! iv. guilty Everyone! Gather ‘round! The Magistrate ‘as been doin’ the Devil’s bidding! He accused my Mother of keepin’ poppets, while I know very well he has one in his own coat pocket! Ye’ see!? Do you believe me now? Yes! That’s it! Cast yer stones! Let the blood of judgement stain the snow! The snow! It’s... stopped! Mama No magic No justice could return what was stolen... But oh, Ye wouldn't think-- hands that burn women are stained with Devil’s ink! |