MURIEL’S SONGS
(2023)
for mezzo soprano and eleven instruments (PIANO VOCAL SCORE)
For the Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the Library of Congress and dedicated to the memory of Andrew Imbrie
Suspicious Motives Music
For Jeffrey Means and Sound Icon
MURIEL’S SONGS
(2023)
1913 – – – –
1916 – – – –
1919 – – – –
1934 – – – –
1938 – – – –
1942 – – – –page 7 page 12 page 14 page 16 page 18 page 20
1959 – – – –
1960 – – – –
1967 – – – –
1970 – – – –
1980 – – – –
1985 – – – –page 23 page 26 page 30 page 32 page 34 page 38
Performance Note: Accidentals follow the tonal convention and carry through the bar, in octave.
Instrumentation
Flute (Piccolo, Alto Flute)
B Clarinet (Bass Clarinet) Alto Saxophone Bassoon
Percussion – Marimba (to bass clef F (ossia to A if necessary), Glockenspiel (2 pitches, see m.109 and 111), Snare Drum, 2 Congas, Hi-Hat
Electric Guitar (classical or acoustic guitar preferred for 1938 mvt.) overdrive and volume pedals required, others optional
Piano
Mezzo Soprano soloist
Violin
Viola
Violoncello Double Bass b
Text adapted from the writings of Muriel Chasalow by Eric Chasalow. Additional text by Eric Chasalow Copyright © 2023 Eric Chasalow, All
1913
My mother’s mother was orthodox So very religious, she only spoke Yiddish The summer that I turned ten years old and my Zadie died, suddenly, I, as the eldest, was sent to stay for a while to keep her company. When I washed my hands, we said a prayer, With every meal, we said a prayer Before going to bed, we said a prayer. I found this all very new and so very exciting. But for her it was just the way that every day had always been And always would be.
But my parents were completely different. My father was a Tammany Hall Democrat and above all, worshiped The Brooklyn Dodgers.
1916
Oh, how I envied every other girl walking down along Fulton Street carrying a roll of piano music under her arm. I begged my parents for lessons too. They were very expensive relying as we did, on father’s salary selling shoes in the store below our apartment.
At first, I was determined And I continued to practice diligently But soon, it became more and more of a chore Until one day I placed the novel I was reading over the music.
I guess it sounded odd Because my mother came Quickly into the room And that was the end of my music lessons.
1919
I cringed so when they sang “Onward Christian Soldiers” But I always joined in on “America the Beautiful” Then, they rolled the doors shut And classes began. Oh, that Helen Hayes! She should be going places.
1934
The mother across the hall in Newark earned her living as a prostitute But we felt it didn’t Really affect us in any way.
One day, in a straight line, coming across the hall into our apartment, a line of cockroaches. What should I do?
I placed a small begonia on our window sill and it became a very large plant.
Sam said, “Let’s go down to Prince Street and pick up some pastrami sandwiches at Sidney’s.”
1938
That night you were running very late The children were hungry so I fed them.
When you finally returned with a watermelon under each arm You did not mention Where they came from Or the German sympathizers Though I read about what had happened to them The next morning In the Newark papers Over coffee While our children Enjoyed that sweet Pink fruit.
1942
We suffered the shortages We learned first aid We suffered the fear of air raids. We lowered the shades We sat and listened Every moment was a new threat
We suffered the fear We worried the night through We suffered the loss of loved ones We were resolved
Then, somehow, it was all over. I swept the sand off of the summer carpet and out the door, But we would never
1959
After the war
We moved to a nice
Part of West Orange
Not the best, but very nice
One day Longie, who lived just two-minutes away, but in a more exclusive neighborhood Was found by his wife in his own basement, hanged.
You had known him In younger yearsA business acquaintance Back when he dated Jean Harlow And bought her that Diamond bracelet and A red Cadillac
We did not attend the funeral
Though almost two-thousand people did, with an open casket and an abundance of flowers which really was surprising for a Jewish service though we heard later that no one, not even the rabbi, had been at all surprised.
Many years after that, along with our grown children, We were invited to his daughter’s wedding to a millionaire at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. We declined.
1960
The islands
The cocktail parties
The cigars
The casinos, faded and worn
The blue polyester pantsuit
That I wore for this special occasion Made me look quite smart, I thought.
A boat ride to a private island
Was a prize that you had won for being the most successful salesman But by some stroke of bad luck Instead, we were set adrift In our best attire
With only a thin wire to hold to. It seemed to be attached to the sails But in reality, it was quite useless And so, we drifted On and on and on and on…
1967
Goodnight Eric Sweet dreams. What is that they are singing about? Who’s getting older? I’m sixty-four, And I don’t feel older And I am still definitely Not feeling ready to sit by The fireside anytime soon!
1970
Every evening At dinner time We leave on our old Black and white set And so, the incessant, Ominous static Of morbid statistics Is always there In the background Droning on through the Whole meal, Intoning, with our soup an endless number of helicopter flights Then fire fights With the chicken And always finishing with an ever more difficult to swallow body count.
1980
To get back to Lois, Who is tall And attractive In her mid-forties, She is the busy wife Of a dentist, and Has three grown children Of her own But cocaine Changes everything Life is just like that
1985
After being busy In the role of wife and partner For fifty-six years, Suddenly I am alone
I never tell anyone How pleased I am When they ask me to mend a sweater Or show me a picture And ask, “don’t you think This would look well on me?”
Just the other day I was extremely Satisfied that I was able to reset all of the clocks myself.
Mezzo
Oh, that He len Hayes!
Mezzo
Mezzo