This is a classical work for soprano and electronics. The background consists of manipulated recordings of my son's toys. He was named after Saint Brendan the Navigator.
lyrics
Narrator: Seven years before his death, St. Brendan of the race of Altae was celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the church at Clonfert on Easter Sunday.
At midday, the monks retired to the refectory to eat. Inside, there was a student who played his lyre for them. And the monks blessed him.
Student: I would be overjoyed,
Narrator: said the student,
Student: to play three tunes for Brendan. Is he inside the church?
Monks: He would not let you inside,
Narrator: replied the monks.
Monks: For seven years Brendan has not smiled or listened to any music. He has two balls of wax strung together with a thread. And if by chance he hears any music, he plugs his ears with the balls of wax.
Student: I will go play for him, in any case.
Narrator: He tuned his lyre, and went to the church.
Student: Please open the door.
Brendan: Who is it?
Narrator: asked Brendan.
Student: A student. I have come to play the lyre for you.
Brendan: You may play outside.
Student: If it is not too much trouble, I would be overjoyed if you would let me play inside the church for awhile.
Brendan: As you wish.
Narrator: Brendan opened the door to the church, and the student entered with his lyre on his back. As he prepared to play, Brendan plugged his ears with the two balls of wax.
Student: It is not pleasing to play for you if you must plug your ears with wax.
Brendan: As you wish.
Narrator: So he removed the balls of wax from his ears. Then the student played three tunes for Brendan.
Brendan: A blessing upon you and your music. May you see Heaven.
Narrator: After this, Brendan put the balls of wax back in his ears, for he did not wish to listen to any more music.
Student: Is the music displeasing to you?
Brendan: No, that is not the reason. But I, I will tell you why. Seven years ago to this very day, I remained in the sanctuary celebrating Mass. The priests had retired to the refectory and I was left alone. After I had partaken of the Body and Blood of Christ, a great longing for my LORD seized me. Suddenly, trembling and fear overwhelmed me, and I saw a shining bird in the window, and it flew to the Altar and set down. The rays which enfolded it were as bright as the noonday sun, so that I could not gaze at it directly.
Bird/Angel: A blessing upon you.
Narrator: said the bird.
Bird/Angel: And will you bless me, priest?
Brendan: May God bless you. And who are you?
Bird/Angel: I am the angel Michael and I have come to speak with you.
Brendan: I am thankful to God that you wish to speak with me. But why have you come here?
Bird/Angel: To give you a blessing and to make music for you from your LORD.
Brendan: You are welcome here.
Narrator: The bird placed its beak on its wing and began to sing. (Singing). Brendan listened from that hour until the same hour the next day. Then it said goodbye.
Then Brendan took his pen, and scraped it across the neck of the student’s lyre.
Brendan: Do you think that this is a pleasant tune? I swear before God, that once I heard the angel’s tune, that no music of this world satisfies. It is no better than the scraping of this pen across the neck of your lyre, and I find little comfort in it. Accept my blessing, and one day you will see Heaven.
credits
released February 27, 2011
Kenneth L. Field: Electronics
Jacqueline Peláez: Soprano
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