Lessons (2001)
PURCHASE SCORE
Lessons
mezzo-soprano and piano (soprano version also available) // ~ 8:30
Texts by Shel Silverstein
(the songs can only be used in an academic setting in which no money is being made)
Premiere: May 2001
Program Note:
Lessons was written for mezzo-soprano Sara Bielanski to exploit both her wide range and her wonderful dramatic presence. I chose Shel Silverstein, in part because his work seemed to lend itself to dramatic interpretation, and in part because of the influence Silverstein had on me as a child. The songs are dedicated to my sister, Tara, in honor of childhood memories.
Songs
I. Invitation (1:25)
II. Magic (0:45)
III. I’m Making a List (1:45)
IV. Whatif (3:00)
V. Voice (1:45)
Texts:
I. Invitation
If you’re a dreamer, come in,
If you’re a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer...
If you’re a pretender, come sit by my fire
For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.
Come in!
Come in!
II. Magic
Sandra’s seen a leprechaun,
Eddie touched a troll,
Laurie danced with witches once,
Charlie found some goblins’ gold.
Donald heard a mermaid sing,
Susy spied an elf,
But all the magic I have known
I’ve had to make myself.
III. I’m Making a List
I’m making a list of the things I must say
for politeness,
And goodness and kindness and gentleness,
sweetness and rightness:
Hello
Pardon me
How are you?
Excuse me
Bless you
May I?
Thank you
Goodbye
If you know some that I’ve forgot,
please stick them in your eye!
IV. Whatif
Last night, while I lay thinking here,
Some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
And pranced and partied all night long
And sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I’m dumb in school?
Whatif they’ve closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there’s poison in my cup?
Whatif start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif I don’t grow taller?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif the fish won’t bite?
Whatif the wind tears up my kite?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my parents get divorced?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my teeth don’t grow in straight?
Whatif I tear my pants?
Whatif I never learn to dance?
Everything seems swell, and then
The nighttime Whatifs strike again!
V. Voice
There is a voice inside of you
That whispers all day long,
“I feel that this is right for me,
I know that this is wrong.”
No teacher, preacher, parent, friend,
Or wise man can decide