Kuster | KEPT

PERUSALSCORE

KEPT: a ghost story

Libretto

by Megan Levad

Music by Kristin Kuster

PERUSALSCORE

1. Prelude

2. Prologue

KEPT: a ghost story

an opera in one act

Music by Kristin Kuster

Libretto by Megan Levad

2017

TO ARRIVE SOMEWHERE WITHOUT GOING - AUTUMN NIGHT; 1842, A LIGHTHOUSE IN THE WOOD

3. Autumn Evening –

4. Given a Body –

5. No One Knows –

6. Trick the Devel –

7. Hushed –

8. The Baby Died, Too –

9. They Navigated –

10. Interlude I –

11. Asleep on the Wing –

12. Storm Fear –

13. Out Here on the Water –I4. Can Hear Her –

15. Interlude II (Storm) –

Keeper, Chorus, Marimba

Bride, 6 Trumpets, Marimba

Keeper, Marimba

Chorus

Keeper, Bride, Percussion

Chorus, 4 Trumpets

WATER, KEEP, CELLAR, DEEP – AFTER A FORTNIGHT

6 Trumpets, Marimba

Chorus, Marimba

Bride, Chorus, 6 Trumpets, Vibraphone

Chorus, 6 Trumpets, Percussion

Keeper, 6 Trumpets, Vibraphone

6 Trumpets, Percussion

ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE STONE STEPS – NOVEMBER WITCH, 1842

16. Dark Roses –

17. Why Did You Come Here –

18. Down & Down, Night After Night –

19. Cellar Feet –

20. Moth –

21. Finale –Marimba

Keeper and Chorus

Keeper, Bride, 6 Trumpets, Percussion

Chorus, Marimba

6 Trumpets and Vibraphone

Bride and Ghost

5 Trumpets and Vibraphone

SYNOPSIS

A passionate young woman, alone in the world, falls into trouble. A world-weary lighthouse keeper takes her in, despite her secrecy--and his distrust. Kept: A Ghost Story recounts their eerie, enthralling tale of desire, jealousy, and the silence and shame that lead to their undoing.

Kept marks the first operatic collaboration between acclaimed composer Kristin Kuster, whose music has been hailed by The New York Times as “commanding” and “invitingly tart,” and Megan Levad, whose poetry has been praised by critics as “exquisite,” “very smart,” and “invigoratingly original.” Kept’s stark, sensual story is told by a chorus, six trumpets, a percussionist, and a tenor who plays both the tormented keeper and his ghostly bride.

PLOT SUMMARY

TO ARRIVE SOMEWHERE WITHOUT GOING

A group of storytellers introduce us to a lighthouse keeper who is scanning the horizon for the woman he has arranged to marry. She is rowed to the wooded shore and they are wed as the sun rises. After the ceremony, the keeper tells his bride a little more about himself, and she is taken with his taciturn vulnerability. They consummate the marriage, surprised by how much they enjoy one another.

WATER, KEEP, CELLAR, DEEP

But sharing close quarters in an isolated place can be lonely, especially when you’re keeping a secret. The bride quickly develops a restless routine, spending much of her time alone in the wood that surrounds the lighthouse. However, as autumn deepens, shanty boys--lumberjacks-- begin cutting down the wood, and strong winds start to blow across the lake. When the winds become storms, the bride fantasizes that she will run out into the lake and be swept away. Meanwhile, the keeper realizes how little he knows about his young wife, and her life before the lighthouse.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE STONE STEPS

One of the shanty boys comes by to ask about courting the bride, assuming she is the keeper’s daughter. The keeper sends him off, but mentions the incident to her in a tender moment, fearful that his suspicions will be fed. In the ensuing argument, she admits that she thinks she is pregnant--and that she married him because she had nowhere else to go. Enraged by her manipulative deception, and afraid of what she might do next, the keeper locks her in the cellar. After several days go by, the shanty boys breach the lighthouse, and find her dead.

FOR OUR WOMEN

With generous support from: an Opera America Grand for Female Composers, made possible through the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation; the John Duffy Institute for New Opera and the University of Michigan Office of Research

Instrumentation

6 trumpets (Mutes: Harmon, Cup, Straight, Whispa)

Percussion (1 player): Crotales, Vibraphone, Marimba (5-octave), Suspended Cymbal, Bass Drum

Tenor

PERUSALSCORE

Mezzo-Soprano

Male chorus

Duration: 70'

First printing of this edition, March 2024

Copyright ©2017 Music by Kristin Kuster Libretto by Megan Levad. All Rights Reserved. Program Note Copyright ©2017 Music by Kristin Kuster Libretto by Megan Levad. All Rights Reserved Published by Just a Theory Press | www.justatheorypress.com

Trumpet

2. Prologue

In a shaft of moonlight, on a (seemingly) bare stage (Informally, one or more chorus members, at the company's discretion.)

PERUSALSCORE

CHORUS, spoken to audience: Whatisalovestorybutaghoststory?

Taketonight'stragictale,ourshadowplay: Aromanticyoungwoman (beautiful?notbeautiful,watchful,andstrangeandwild asthewood)approachesaglowingtower. Thereshefindsaman,ofcourse, darkandbrooding,amanwithapast. Whileshehasnone.Orhassheone?

Howmanyloversareinyourcellar?

Onecannotdesirewhatisinone'skeeping. Theunsaidiswhatgivesthestoryitsmeaning.

TO ARRIVE SOMEWHERE WITHOUT GOING

Autumn Evening, 1842, A Lighthouse on the coast of a Great Lake

3. Autumn Evening

(We hear a match hiss, and the Light Above--the lighthouse beam--is lighted, revealing the KEEPER. On stage there is a Living Space and a Cellar Door, in addition to the Light Above. It slowly becomes clear that the CHORUS is emerging from the wood and the shoreline mist that circles the lighthouse.)

PERUSALSCORE

each chord is long, change according to staging / action

as warm & lush as possible

Trumpet I

Trumpet II

Marimba KEEPER TENOR I

howwhen:whywherehowwhen:whywherehowwhen:whywherehowwhen:whywhere whenwhy:wherehowwhenwhy:wherehowwhenwhy:wherehowwhenwhy:wherehow wherehow:whenwhywherehow:whenwhywherehow:whenwhywherehow:whenwhy whywhere:howwhenwhywhere:howwhenwhywhere:howwhenwhywhere:howwhen

howwhen:whywherehowwhen:whywherehowwhen:whywherehowwhen:whywhere whenwhy:wherehowwhenwhy:wherehowwhenwhy:wherehowwhenwhy:wherehow wherehow:whenwhywherehow:whenwhywherehow:whenwhywherehow:whenwhy whywhere:howwhenwhywhere:howwhen

fillthespaceyoufill:wheregiven,-

5. No One Knows

(As the next song unfolds, the CHORUS creates waves around the KEEPER, who becomes the BRIDE and is rowed to the lighthouse.)

Trumpet I

Trumpet II

Trumpet III

Trumpet IV

Trumpet V

Trumpet

andaterror-flashedthroughmethattheywereus,thatwewerethemmy

sailedontoCeylon-tohearthesirens-singdrink

buckets--ofsweetarrack-andmeettheKandy-Kings

flyfrommylonesome-cellbutIammadeofdrossanddriftwood-nowandhollow-asa

shellInever-wanted-riches-justshorter-softer-dayssometimes-you

trickthedevil-butsometimes-youmustpay

7. Hushed

(They consummate the marriage as the CHORUS sings.)

gentle, sweet, savoring lullaby

their p many-petaled-mouthshushedthey q = 48 their p many-petaled-mouthshushedthey their p many-petaled-mouthshushedthey their p many-petaled-mouthshushedthey feedlikebeesonhoney-suckle-fallen,-

fallen-tostars,toharbors-whiletheshoreline-turns,

fallen-tostars,toharbors-whiletheshoreline-turns, fallen-tostars,toharbors-whiletheshoreline-turns, fallen-tostars,toharbors-whiletheshoreline-turns,

turn,turn,turns,turnsbackover,-over-int-o

turn,turn,turns,turnsbackover,-over-int-o turn,turn,turns,turnsbackover,-over-int-o

8. The Baby Died, Too

(KEEPER falls asleep. When he wakes again, pillow-talk ensues.)

Trumpet I

Trumpet II

Trumpet III

Trumpet IV

Trumpet V

Trumpet VI

Vibraphone



Istayedtoolong.But

airsmelledofmosses-andcoffee-

blossoms.-Theymaketheirricepudding-withthemilkofcocoa-nutsinstead-ofcows.The

child.Shewasvery-weak.Thebab

(Ped.)

(Tender, but exhausted--at the limits of patience with her already)

q = 56

9. They Navigated

Trumpet I

Trumpet II

Trumpet III

Trumpet IV

TENOR I

TENOR II

BARITONE

excited, lilting, like

new f ly-found,theynavi-gat-ed-bytheirsighsOchari-ot,-ObearO q. = 63 9

new f ly-found,theynavi-gat-ed-bytheirsighsOchari-ot,-ObearO

mapofacomet's-longhair,Omapofacomet's-longhair,

Omapofacomet's-longhairnewly-

WATER, KEEP, CELLAR, DEEP

10. Interlude I (Hearalding)

(Mezzo-Soprano is transformed from chorus member into silent stand-in for GHOST.)

q = 63

unpitched,emphasize consonantsinbold

11. Asleep On The Wing

unpitched,emphasize consonantsinbold

audibleexhales,varyduration,

willhethinkitis

tellshimwhatwillhethinkifshetellshim

whatwillhethinkifshetellshim

whatwillhethinkifshetellshimwhatwillhethinkifshe

audibleexhales&inhales, varyduration,non-sync

Percussion: crotales & sus. cymbal

12. Storm Fear

Be p ware-thebolts,Beware-theboltsfromnorthorwest,insouthoreasttheboltsbebest.Beware-

Be

ware-theboltsfromnorthorwest,insouthoreasttheboltsbebest. ware.

Beware.-Beware-theboltsfromnorthorwest,insouthoreasttheboltsbebest.Be-

Trumpet I

Trumpet II

Trumpet III

Trumpet IV

Trumpet V

Trumpet VI

Tenor

Baritone Bass

Why mf isthewildsomuchstronger-

theboltsfromnorthorwest,insouthoreasttheboltsbe (p) best.Beware-thebolts Beware-theboltsfromnorthorwest,insouthoreastthe (p) boltsbebest.Bewarewaretheboltsfromnorthorwest,insouthoreastthebolts

bebest.Beware-the

outhere?Itmakesclearacoldspacebetween-us.Ihavenotknownthiskindofstorm fromnorthorwest,insouthoreasttheboltsbebest.Bewaretheboltsfromnorthorwest,insouthoreasttheboltsbebest. boltsfromnorthorwest,insouthoreasttheboltsbebest.Be-

fear. Beware - theboltsfromnorth orwest. Thereisnowhere-elseformetofall.

the (p) boltsfromnorthorwest,insouthoreasttheboltsbebest.Beware-thebolts Be (p) waretheboltsfromnorthorwest,ornorth,ornorth, ware (p) theboltsfromnorthorwest,in,ornorth,ornorth,Be-

Fromsouthoreasttheboltsbebest. I'm mf surprised-thatIlovehimatall. 24 fromnorthorwest,insouthoreasttheboltsbe

best.Beware-theboltsfromnorth Beware-theboltsfromnorthorwest,insouthor

east,ornorthwest,waretheboltsfromnorthorwest,insouthoreast,

ornorthwest,-

Heisopen-ing-something-inside-me,hislonli-ness-wringsoutmycall. Red f orwest,insouthoreastthebolts,fromsouthwest,Idon'twanthim,Beornorth,orsouth,Beware-theboltsfromnorthorwest,beornorth,orsouth,fromsouthwest,Idon'twanthim,beware,-

sky (f) atmorning, - sailor - takewarnning.-Idon'twanthimtoknowhowIcrave Redsky 31 ware (p) theboltsfromnorthorwest,insouthoreast, ware, (p) beware,-beware,-beware,(p) beware,-beware,-Bewaretheboltsfromnorthorwest,insouth

Trumpet I

Trumpet II

Trumpet III

Trumpet IV

Trumpet V

Trumpet VI

Percussion

TENOR I & II

13. Out Here On The Water

stormsbeatupfromthedeep, 27 stormsbeatupfromthedeep,

pineroots-spread,spread,

spread,spread,spreadunder-thewa---spread,spread,spreadunder-thewa----

ter.Hehasadestine

PERUSALSCORE

go,go,go,go,go,go,go,tothe

coolquiet-cellarwithits

pickle-andjamdeep-Larder,-aheavy-hullinrough

PERUSALSCORE

Keepingdeepeningintothewater...

Trumpet I

Trumpet II

Trumpet III

Trumpet IV

Trumpet V

Trumpet VI

Vibraphone

Whenstormsmovein,Icanhearhercries.

Likeheruncer-tain-sighs.

15. Interlude II (Storm)

(A storm brews. As GHOST cowers in the Living Space, the KEEPER works quickly in the Light Above--raising flags, readying the foghorn, and pacing back and forth to look out over the water, and the woods.)

storm approaching

STONE STEPS

16. Dark Roses

bloom,bloom,darkroses-bloomevery-where-upon-you

(The long storm passes. The KEEPER hears a knock at the door. A CHORUS member as shanty boy approaches the house to ask the KEEPER about courting his BRIDE, assuming that she is the KEEPER’s daughter. The KEEPER sends him away and comes down to meet the GHOST in bed.)

roses-bloombetween-us,between-uswhenwetouch

rosesbloombetween-us,between-uswhenwetouch

Bar. B.

T. T.

Bar.

PERUSALSCORE

knowthatIhavetoraisetheflagsandsoundthehorn.Iwouldhavethoughtthatyouwouldhelp.You

havesomany-questions-about-every-thing-else.Younever-letmehelp.Icouldtakea

KEEPER: (Patronizing)

(Painfully honest, & a little surprised that this hadn't occurred to him)

Ihadnowhere elsetogo!

18. Down and Down / Night After Night

(GHOST runs up to the Light Above, as though to jump from the catwalk. KEEPER, in humiliated rage, pulls GHOST down from the Light to the Living Space. They struggle further down, to the Cellar Door. Just before KEEPER can push her in, GHOST walks in on her own, in icy defiance. The KEEPER, unexpectedly, locks the door behind her.)

downanddown,downanddown, downanddown,downanddown, downanddown,downanddown, downanddown,downanddown,

down f theywound,anddownanddown, down f theywound,anddownanddown, down f theywound,anddownanddown, down f theywound,anddownanddown,

theywound,and down

theywound,and

theywound,and or

theywound,and

one f hundred-andtwelvestonesteps

downanddown,down mf anddown, downanddown,down mf anddown, nev f er-athoughttothe downanddown,down mf anddown, downanddown,down

anddown,

cutting-handonehundred-andtwelvenever-athoughttothecutting-handone

stonestepsanddownanddown,down

theywound,

wound,anddownanddown,down

theywound, or f wheretheirwinding-leddown ff theywound, wound,anddownanddown,down ff theywound,

anddownanddownonehundred-andtwelvestonestepsnever-athoughttothecutting-hand

anddownanddownonehundred-andtwelvestonestepsnever-athoughttothecutting-hand anddownanddownonehundred-andtwelvestonestepsnever-athoughttothecutting-hand anddownanddownonehundred-andtwelvestonestepsnever-athoughttothecutting-hand

one f hundred-andtwelvestonesteps

orwheretheirwind

(KEEPER locks the door.)

(KEEPER runs to the Light Above and pauses to catch his breath.)

night

after-nightheclimbs,climbs,climbsacoldchain f around-

night mf after-nightheclimbs,climbs,climbsacoldchain f around-

andaround,-around-andaround,-around-andaround-tothe

andaround-around-andaround-around-andaround-tothe

lightheclimbs,climbs,climbsacoldchainaround-anda-

T.

B.

Perc.

T.

B.

Perc.

T.

B.

Perc.

19. Cellar Feet

(As the GHOST huddles in the Cellar Below, KEEPER paces back and forth in the Light Above. Pacing is echoed by the CHORUS in the woods.)

where,ontheedgeofthereckoned-world.Icouldnotfollow-it,soIstayed.

(The CHORUS makes their way to the Cellar, where they find her, dead. Before we see what they will do to the KEEPER, her GHOST abruptly snuffs the Light Above.)

PERUSALSCORE

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