This text forms part of the libretto La Passion de Lagamas.
Ce texte fait partie du libretto La Passion de Lagamas.
————-
CHOIR – Dignified / Resonant / Churchlike / Byzantine
Eli, Eli, Lama Sabbachthani
Eli, Eli, Lama Sabbachthani
Eli, Eli, Lama Sabbachthani (1)
We are at the Last Supper at the Château de Lagamas – it is the time for the pastis,
The garden is a locus terribilis – sound is seen – melody is in our ears,
The drumming tymbals of the cicadas resonate – screaming and screeching their song of courtship,
The three stars of the magi sit low in the sky – a multitude of white flowers will soon become green almonds.
Martha and Mary prepare the feast – the table spread with eggs, olives, grapes, figs, vines, unleavened bread – heavy-handed with the olive oil,
Noah’s daughters share their secret dressing – bay, thyme, cloves, hyssop and vinegar – of bitter herbs,
Lot’s wife spills the salt – throws it over her shoulder and looks round – lamenting.
Love will be betrayed with a kiss.
John, Luke, Matthew, and Mark – share the clues of the mots croisés in Libération – the puzzle of the cross – twelve across – ten letters, first letter A – APOCRYPHAL
Susanna emerges glistening from the piscine in white bathrobe – the smell of lavender heavy in the garden,
Two lecherous old men share an aperitif and leer from the balcony – anointing their fantasies with spices.
Love will be betrayed with a kiss.
Solo: Melanie Pappenheim : Sound in background
The girls from Valence Can’t make love;
The girls from Provence
Do it night and day. (2)
At the end of the table Eve is tempted by Satan – putting honey in our mouths
A Banquet of ten virgins – five of them wise – five of them foolish – vive la différence.
Delilah – with pierced belly-button – full of lust and passion – runs her fingers through Samson’s thick black hair – he dreams of la petite mort – faithful to the last,
Salomé pouts and sulks in dark glasses and zebra skin shoes – thrilled and petulant with the new wine – dances the cicada cha-cha-cha with animal esthétique,
Love will be betrayed with a kiss.
John, the son of Zechariah – holding a straw hat and bandaged ear – wanders in from the wilderness of the artists’ studio,
Jesus of Nazareth – reads Midi-Soir – excited about the Entry of Christ into Jerusalem – he talks in parables,
The twelve disciples sleep heavily – black shadows under their eyes – Judas dips his bread in a dish of black olives – cuts the white chèvre with a sharp knife.
Love will be betrayed with a kiss.
The Occitan troubadors’ chanson de geste echoes through the garden,
Paradise is the place of birdsong and the murmuring of water,
Hell is the place of noise and lamentations – the grinding of teeth and the whine of the mosquito,
Hell is the sound of silence.
Choir: Whispered softly – a few voices start, gradually joined by more, then all voices
It is time to let us go. It is dark.
The skin of the cat begins to shine.
Choir: Alto Solo
Outside my window,
There is a little bird,
Singing all night,
Singing its song.
If it sings, let it sing,
It’s not singing for me,
It sings for my love
Who’s far away. (3)
—
FIN
Jeremy Hunt. London. March 2014
Notes
1. Eli, Eli, Lama Sabbachthani. Aramaic: My god, why hast thou forsaken me?
2. From Se Canta, the National anthem of Occitania, of which at least twelve regional versions exist. Also known as: Se Chanta; Aqueras Montanhas; Montanhes Araneses. (English: If it Sings)
Se Canta (Valadas Version)
Lei filhas de Valença
San pas far l’amor;
Quelei de Provença
Lo fan nuèch e jorn.
3. Se Canta (Provence version)
Sota ma fenèstra,
I a un aucelon,
Tota la nuèch canta,
Canta sa cançon.
Chorus
Se canta e recanta,
Canta pas per ieu:
Canta per ma mia
Qu’es au luènh de ieu.
