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Epigraphs: A Cantata Inspired by Louisa May Alcott

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Epigraphs

SSA,soloist(s),acappella JP-106-2025

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JonathanPosthuma

SSA(A),Soloist(s),acappella

DemodocusMusicPublishing www.jonathanposthuma.com

I.Introduction"IWishIHadAQuietTomb"

IwishIhadaquiettomb, Besidealilerill; Wherebirds,andbees,andbuerflies, Wouldsinguponthehill

--LouisaMayAlco,LileMen

II.Chorale"HePrayethBestWhoLovethBest"

Heprayethbestwholovethbest Allthings,bothgreatandsmall; ForthedearGodwholovethus, Hemadeandlovethall

--SamuelTaylor-Coleridge,TheRimeoftheAncientMariner qtd.LouisaMayAlcco,AModernCinderella

III.Aria"IWriteAbouttheBuerfly"

Iwriteaboutthebuerfly, Itisapreything; Andfliesaboutlikethebirds, Butitdoesnotsing.

Firstitisalilegrub, Andthenitisaniceyellowcocoon, Andthenthebuerfly Eatsitswayoutsoon

Theyliveondewandhoney, Theydonothaveanyhive, Theydonotstinglikewasps,andbees,andhornets, Andtobeasgoodastheyareweshouldstrive

--LouisaMayAlco,LileMen

IV.Chorale"HeThatisDownNeedFearNoFall"

Hethatisdownneedfearnofall, Hethatislownopride. Hethatishumbleevershall HaveGodtobehisguide.

IamcontentwithwhatIhave, Lilebeit,ormuch. And,Lord!ContentmentstillIcrave, BecauseThousavestsuch.

Fulnesstothemaburdenis, Thatgoonpilgrimage Herelile,andhereafterbliss, Isbestfromagetoage!

--JohnBunyan,ThePilgrim'sProgress qtdLouisaMayAlco,LileWomen

V.Aria"Don'tDriveMeAway"

Don'tdrivemeaway, ButhearwhatIsay: Badmenwantthegold; Theywillstealitto-night, Andyoumusttakeflight; Sobequietandbusyandbodl.

Slipawaywithme, Andyouwillsee WhatawiselilethingamI; FortheroadIshow Nomancanknow, Sinceit'supinthepathlesssky.

--LouisaMayAlco,TheLouisaAlcoReader

VI.Aria"ALileBirdIAm"

AlilebirdIam, Shutfromthefieldsofair, AndinmycageIsitandsing ToHimwhoplacedmethere: Wellpleasedaprisonertobe, Because,myGod,itpleasesThee!

Jechantetoutlejour, Seigneur,c'estpourteplaire;

Jevisenliberté, Quoiquedansl'esclavage:

NaughthaveIelsetodo; Isingthewholedaylong; AndHewhommostIlovetoplease Dothlistentomysong, Hecaughtandboundbywanderingwing, ButstillHebendstohearmesing

Detonpetitoiseau

Reçois,jeteconjure, Legazouillantmurmure, Plustendrequ'ilne'estbeau; Etsoislanourriture

Detonpetitoiseu

--MadameGuyon,transDrThomasCUpham qtd.LouisaMayAlco,JackandJill

GrandDieu,pourtonplaisir Jesuisdansunecage; Ecoutemonramage; C'est-làmonseuldésir: J'aimemonesclavage, GrandDieu,pourtonplaisir

Jechantetoutlejour, Seigneur,c'estpourteplaire; Monextrêmemisère Augmentemonamour: N'ayantpoind'autreaffaire, Jechantetoutlejour.

Tul'entends,monSeigneur, Cetamoureuxlangage, Ignorédufauxsage, Goûteduchastecœur, L'amourasonramage: Tul'entends,monSeigneur.

Jevisenliberté, Quoiquedansl'esclavage: L'AmourPurmetaularge Lecœur,lavolonté: Dansmapetitecage Jevisenliberté.

Divinevolonté, Quej'adoreetquej'aime! Plusmapeineestextrême, Plusj'aideliberté. Tousbienssontentoi-même, Divinevolonté.

Detonpetitoiseau

Reçois,jeteconjure, Legazouillantmurmure, Plustendrequ'ilne'estbeau; Etsoislanourriture Detonpetitoiseu.

VII.Reprise"IWishIHadAQuietTomb"

IwishIhadaquiettomb, Besidealilerill; Wherebirds,andbees,andbuerflies, Wouldsinguponthehill.

--LouisaMayAlco,LileMen

LouisaMayAlco

Mezzo-soprano(solo) I pp

I.Introduction

JonathanPosthuma

Note:openingsolocouldbesungbySop.2intrioversion wish Ihada qui p -ettomb,Be side - alit tle - rill; pp Where Somber;q=54

M-S. (solo) birds, andbees,and but p -terflies, pp Would sing mp upon - thehill,Wouldsing p upon - the

M-S (solo)

S.2

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A Wherebirds, andbees, mp startingtosoar andbut ter - -flies, Would f sing, 18 birds, andbees, where mp birds, startingtosoar andbut ter - -flies, would f birds, and bees, where mp birds, startingtosoar and but ter - flies, - Would f sing,would

S1 S.2

&bbb à &bbb&bbb &bbbà &bbbà &bbb-

A. would sing up on mp - the hill I pp wish, 23 sing, would sing up mp on - the hill, I pp sing,wouldsing, wouldsing,wouldsing,sing mp up-on the hill I pp

S.1

S.2

A I wish Ihada qui p et - tomb, a pp qui-et tomb. pocorit. 27 wish I had a qui p et - tomb, a pp qui-et tomb. wish I had a qui p et - tomb, a pp qui-et tomb.

II.Chorale

SamuelTaylorColeridge

TheRimeoftheAncientMariner

He pp pray-ethbestwho lov-ethbest, He Lento

He pp pray-ethbestwho loveth - best, Hepray-estbestwho

He pp pray-ethbestwho loveth - best, Hepray-ethbestwho loveth - best, He

For ppasbefore thedearGodwholoveth - us, For thedearGodwho

For ppasbefore thedearGodwho loveth - us, ForthedearGodwho loveth - us, For thedearGodwholoveth - us, ForthedearGodwholoveth - us, For thedearGodwho

Pocomenomosso

LiltingandJoyful;q=120

III.Aria

writeabout

writeabout - Iwrite a cresc -bout,Iwrite

M-S. (solo)

S.1

S.2 A p And f fliesa-bout

thing, cresc it is it is apret-tything it f is apretty - thing; it cresc is a apretty - thing it is a f pret-tything; it cresc. is apret-tything it is,it is a f pret ty - thing;

M-S. (solo)

S1

S.2 A like ff thebirds, sfz 60 And mfsecco

flies a bout cresc - like andfliesabout - and And mfsecco flies and cresc. fliesabout - andflies aboutAnd mfsecco flies a cresc -bout andflies a-

M-S. (solo)

S.1 S.2 A p But f it doesnotsing psub 62

flies a bout f - like thebirds, [m] psub. like thebirds the

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And mfdarkly then thebut ter - -fly Eatsitswayout, eats itswayout soon

then thebut ter - -fly Eatsitswayout, eatsitsway out soon. And mfdarkly then thebut-terfly - Eatsitswayout, eatsitswayout

They f liveondew and

They f liveondew, theyliveondewandhoney,They f liveon dew, theyliveon soon. They f live ondew andhon-

They mf They mp do cresc. notstinglikewaspsandbees, They mf do cresc. notstinglikewaspsandbees, They mp do cresc. notstinglikewaspsandbees, They mf

they

do notstinglikewasps andbees, like

do cresc. notsting likewaspsandbees, they fpiùsecco do notstinglikewasps andbees, like do cresc notsting likewaspsandbees, they fpiùsecco do notstinglikewasps andbees, like do cresc.

M-S. (solo)

S.1

S.2 A

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wasps andbees, likewasps, ff andbees,and hor sfz -nets, And mf

wasps andbees, likewasps, ff andbees,and hor sfz -nets, And mf wasps andbees, likewasps, ff andbees,and hor sfz -nets, And mf wasps andbees, likewasps, ff andbees,and hor sfz -nets, And mf

M-S. (solo)

S.1

S2 A tobeas good f astheyareweshouldstrive mf Andto trattenuto beasgood p asthey stringendo are molto weshouldstrive ffnondim 96

tobeas good f astheyareweshouldstrive. mf Andto trattenuto beasgood p asthey stringendo are molto weshouldstrive. ffnondim.

tobeas good f astheyareweshouldstrive. mf Andto trattenuto beasgood p asthey stringendo are molto weshouldstrive. ffnondim.

tobeas good f astheyareweshouldstrive mf Andto trattenuto beasgood p asthey stringendo are molto we December24,2025 SaintPaul,MN shouldstrive ffnondim

A.1*

He mf thatisdown,needsfearnofall, Hethatislowno Pride: He thatis Andante(withrubato);q=72 1

He mf thatisdown,needsfearnofall, HethatislownoPride: Hethatishumble, - ev -

He mf thatisdown,needsfearnofall, HethatislownoPride: Hethatishumble, - ev -

A2*

He *Note:Mezzo-Sopranosoloistshouldsingoneofthe4parts(e.g.Alto1or2)

thatisdown,needsfearno fall, HethatislownoPride: He thatis

A2* hum ble, - shallhave GodtobehisGuide. HeshallhaveGodtobehisGuide. f mp

-er shallhaveGodtobehisGuide HeshallhaveGodto be his Guide, hisGuide f mp -er shallhaveGodtobehisGuide. HeshallhaveGodto be his Guide. f mp hum ble, - shallhave GodtobehisGuide. HeshallhaveGod tobehisGuide. f mp

S1

S2

A.1*

A2*

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Pocopiùmosso(q=86) 13

I fsub. amcontent - withwhatIhave, Little - beit,ormuch Little - be it, or be, or

I fsub amcontent - withwhatIhave, Little - beit,or muchLittle - be it, or be, or I fsub amcontent - withwhatIhave, Little - beit,or much.Little - be it, or be

I fsub amcontent - withwhatIhave, Little - beit,ormuch. Little - be it,or be, or

A2* be it much. mp And,Lord,Content f - -mentstillI crave,And,Lord,Content f - -mentstillI 19 be it much mp And,Lord,Content f - -mentstillI crave,And,Lord,Content f - -mentstillI it much. mp And,Lord,Content f - -mentstillI crave,And,Lord,Content f - -mentstillI be it much. mp And,Lord,Content f

S.2

S.1 S2

A1*

A2*

S.1

A2*

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crave,I crave,Be mf -causethou sav-estsuch. Be psub -causethousav-est such. 24

crave, Be mf -cause thousav-estsuch. Be psub -causethousav-est such.

crave, Be mf -causethou sav-estsuch Be psub. -causethousav-est such

crave, Be mf -causethousav-estsuch. Be psub -causethousav-est such.

Andante(ATempo);q=72 29

Ful mf -nesstosucha burden - is ThatgoonPilgrim - -age: Here, lit-tle,and here-

Ful mf -nesstosucha burden - is ThatgoonPilgrim - -age:Hereis little, - andhereaf - -terBliss,

Ful mf -nesstosucha burden - is ThatgoonPilgrim - -age:Hereis little, - andhereaf - -terBliss,

Ful mf -nesstosucha burden - is ThatgoonPilgrim - -age: Here, lit-tle,and here-

af ter - blissfromAgeto Age.

bestfromAgeto Age

A.1*

bestfromAgeto Age

A.2*

Hereaf - -ter Bliss,Isbestfrom

Hereaf - -ter Bliss,IsbestfromAge to

Here af-terBlissfrom Age to

af ter - blissfromAgeto Age Here af-terBlissfrom Age to

Age f to Age Here af - -terBliss,Is best from Age to Age f 40

Age f And here af - ter - Bliss, Here-after - BlissfromAgeto Age f

Age f And here-after - Bliss, Is best from Age to Age f Age f And here -after - Bliss, Is

M-S (solo) S1

Don't mfpleading drivemea-way, Harp-like;q=88 1

pp persistently

pp persistently

S2 A

pp

M-S. (solo) S.1 S.2 A.

But hear whatI say: f Bad fdarkly,withmenace men want the 6

p

M-S (solo)

S.2 A gold; They mfpleading willsteal ittonight, - Andyou

&bbb

(solo)

S.1

S.2 A must f takeflight; So phushed,butintensely be qui-et, so be

&bbb &bbb , &bbb , &bbb > &bbb , &bbb , &bbb ,

S1

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S2 A bequi-et andbusy, - be f qui growingmorefierceandconfident -et andbusy - and ff 26

dm be p qui-et andbebus-y andbequi growingmorefierceandconfident -et, andbebus f -y, bequi-et and

dmdmdm be p quiet - and bus-y, be f qui growingmorefierceandconfident -et and bus-y and ff

dmdm be p quiet - and bus-y, be f qui growingmorefierceandconfident -et and bus-y and ff M-S. (solo)

bold triumphantly Slip mfgently away - with Joyful,ButSecretively 31 be ff bold, triumphantly andbebold didm molto da dm pplikeasecret didmda dm di dmda bold, triumphantly be bold. dm dm molto da dm plikeasecret da dm di bold, triumphantly be bold, bebold, molto di

M-S. (solo)

S.1

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S2 A. me, Andyouwill see f What mf awiselittle - thingam f I; 36 mp dmdidmda dm pp didmda dmdidmda dm di dmda dmdi dmda

M-S (solo)

S1

Fortheroad I show Nomancan know, 41 dmdi mf dmda dm pp

S2 A.

M-S. (solo) S1 S2 A

Sinceit'sup, sinceit'sup, sinceit'supinthe path f less - sky 46 mp dm didmda pp dm didmda dm di dm da dmdidmda dmdidmda dm mp di dm pp da dm da dm di dm da dm mp da di dm pp da di dmda di dmda di dm da di

(solo) S1

S.2 A

(solo)

M-S (solo)

VI.Aria "ALileBirdIAm"

p-mpbirdlike little - birdIam, mf Shutfromthefieldsof air, p-mp And inmycageI sitandsing mf-f

ToHimwhoplacedmethere: p Well ppabitmelancholy pleasedaprisoner - tobe, Be p cause, heldback - myGod,itpleasespocorit.

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S1

S2 A. A p-mpbirdlike little - birdIam, mf Shutfromthefieldsofair, p-mp AndinmycageIsitandsing mf-f 20 plaire; Jechante ppsottovoce toutle jour, Seign-eur, c 'est pourte pourteplaire; chan ppsottovoce te - tout lejour, Seign eur, - c 'est pourteplaire; chan ppsottovoce te - tout lejour, Seign eur, - c 'est

M-S. (solo) S1

S.2 A ToHimwhoplacedmethere: p 24 plaire; Je vis p enli-ber-té, Quoique - dans l'escla - vage: mp - Je pourteplaire; vis p en li-berté, - Quoique - dans l'es mp -clavage:pourteplaire; vis p en liber - -té, Quoique

(solo)

S2 A Well ppabitmelancholy pleasedapris-onerto

visenli-ber-té, Quoique - dans l'escla - vage: fpp vis en li-berté, Quoique - dans l'es f -clavage: - vis pp en vis en liber - -té, Quoique - dans l'es f -cla-vage: vis pp en

(solo)

pocorit.

be, Be p cause, heldback - myGod, itpleases - Thee!

Quoique

M-S. (solo)

S.1

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haveIelsetodo; mf Isingthewholedaylong; mp AndHewhommostIlovetoplease mf-f

Dothlisten - tomysong, p

haveIelsetodo; mf Isingthewholedaylong; mp AndHewhommostIlovetoplease mf-f Dothlisten - tomysong, p

S.2 A.

haveIelsetodo; mf Isingthewholedaylong; mp AndHewhommostIlovetoplease mf-f

M-S. (solo) S.1 S2

Dothlisten - tomysong, p haveIelsetodo; mf Isingthewholedaylong; mp AndHewhommostIlovetoplease mf-f

Dothlisten - tomysong, p

He ppabitmelancholy caughtandboundmywande - -ringwing, But p still heldback Hebends tohearmesing pocorit. 42

He ppabitmelancholy caughtandboundmywande - -ringwing, But p still heldback Hebends tohearmesing. He ppabitmelancholy caughtandboundmywande - -ringwing, But p still heldback Hebends tohearmesing

He ppabitmelancholy

freely,adlib incorporatingandelaboratingonthemelody

gaz ppsottovoce -ouillant - mur-mure, Plus tendre - qu'ilne'est beau; Et

gaz ppsottovoce

oui - llant - murmu - -re,Plustendre - qu'ilne'estbeau; De

gaz ppsottovoce

oui - llant - murmu - -re,Plustendre - qu'ilne'estbeau; De

Whist
Whist

VII.Conclusion

"IWishIHadaQuietTomb"

LouisaMayAlco &bbb à à &bbb &bbb à &bbb à à &bbb à &bbb

M-S

I pp wishIhada qui p -ettomb,Be-side alit-tlerill; pp Wherebirds,andbees,and Somber;q=54 1

M-S. but p ter - flies, pp Would sing mp upon - thehill, Wouldsing p upon - the 7

M-S.

S1

S.2 A hill. pp I pwandering wish Ihada qui-ettomb, mp Be p -side a lit-tlerill; 11

I pp wish, I wish Ihada qui p et - tomb, Be pp -side a

I pp wish I had a qui p et - tomb, Be pp -side a

I pp wish I had a qui p et - tomb, Be pp -side a

M-S

S.1

S2 A

Where mf birds,andbees,andbut-terflies, f - Would ff 17 lit p -tle rill; Wherebirds, and bees, mp startingtosoar and but ter - -flies, little - rill;Wherebirds, andbees, where mp birds, startingtosoar andbut ter -little - rill;Wherebirds, and bees, where mp birds, startingtosoar andbut ter - -

S.2 A sing upon - thehill, Would f sing upon - thehill 23

Would f sing, would sing up on mp - the hill.

flies, would f sing, would sing up mp on - the -flies,Would f sing,wouldsing,wouldsing,wouldsing,wouldsing,sing mp upon - the hill

S2 A I patpeace wishIhadaqui-ettomb, mp a pp qui-et tomb. pocorit. 27 I pp wish, I wish Ihada qui p et - tomb, a pp qui-et tomb. hill, I pp wish I had a qui p et - tomb, a pp qui-et tomb. I pp wish I had a qui p et - tomb, a pp qui December23and28,2025 SaintPaul,MN -et tomb

&bbb à à

&bbb à à U &bbb à à U

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Epigraphs: A Cantata Inspired by Louisa May Alcott by Jonathan Posthuma - Issuu