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TheGoddess GetsDressed
asongcycleforsopranoandpiano
MusicandTextby KamalaSankaram
ProgramNote
esepoemsareinspiredbymemoriesfromchildhood:rstgrowingupintheIndianAmerican communityinLosAngelesandtheninthesmalltownofRamona,CA,whereImovedwithmy motherandtwosisters.esetwovariedgeographiesalsomapontothedualconsciousnessof beingamixedraceperson-theearlychildhoodsteepedinIndiantradition,followedbyamoveto aruralcommunitywithnoexperienceofIndiancultureandtheaccompanyingpushtoblendin.
us,I'vesetthepoemswithaneartowardmusicalduality:theyarelargelybased onHindustaniandCarnaticragasandtalas,includingMadhuvanti,Durga,andPantuvarali. isprovidesastartingpointforthesongstodevelopusingstructuresandharmoniesfromthe Europeanclassicaltradition.
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Co-commissionedbyJenniferLien(throughagrantfromtheMinnesotaStateArtsBoard) andtheCincinnatiSongInitiative
SopranoJenniferLienisascalyear2024recipientofaCreativeIndividualsgrantfromthe MinnesotaStateArtsBoard.iscompositionismadepossiblebythevotersofMinnesota throughagrantfromtheMinnesotaStateArtsBoard,thankstoalegislativeappropriation fromtheArtsandCulturalHeritageFund.
Instrumentation
Soprano Piano
DenitionsandPronunciationGuide
Ingeneral,theemphasisshouldalwaysbeontherstsyllable.
Hyderabadi-[ɦaɪdəɾaː baː di]ApersonfromtheSouthernIndiancityofHyderabad.
Lungi-[luŋɡiː ]AtraditionalcottonwrapwornbySouthIndianmen.
Nanna-[nɑːnː a]Teluguwordforfather.
Nayanamma-[nɑː jɐnɐmː a]Teluguwordformaternalgrandmother.esecondsyllableshould beonthefasterside.
Parvati-[pɑːɾvɐti]AHindugoddess,sheistheconsortofLordShiva.
Sari-[sɑːɾiː ]TraditionalgarmentwornbywomeninSouthAsia.
Sita-[siː ta]WifeofLordRama.SheisheldupasanexampleoffemaledevotionafterRama banisheshertotheforest.
Suji-[suː d͡ʒiː ]Semolina.
Tatagaru-[tɑːtaɡaː ru]-Respectfultermforpaternalgrandfather.
Tiffin-[tin]Alightmeal,usuallymid-day.
Upma-[ˈʊpmɑː]Aspicyporridgemadeofsemolinaour.
Vastram-[ʋɐst̪ɾɐm]Clothing.
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Text
Tiffin
Eightyearsold Makingtiffinwithnanna...
Tiffin!
Boilthecoffeeinmilk
(Nannasaysthecoffeemustcomerst) Dicetheonionsandchilis
Nannasays,“Makethepiecessmall.”
Heattheoiluntilitsputters
Addcashewsandsujiour
Spices,onions,chilis
Water
Letitsimmer
Nannasaysfoodtastesbetter whenyoueatwithyourngers
Butupmaweeatwithaspoon
White-HairedDoll
eylaughedwhentheysawher–edoll
Abirthdaygift
FromCaliforniaaunties.
eylaughed– MyHyderabadicousins
Laughedwhentheysawher–
eylaughedatherimpossiblebody
eylaughedatherbrowntannedskin AndMalibublondhair–Hairsoblonditwaswhite.
eylaughedwhentheysawher Andasked
Whydoyouhaveanoldladyforadoll?
eGoddessGetsDressed Vastram
eybatheherinmilk
Andwrapherinasariofredwithgoldbrocade
Iwonder–
IfParvaticouldchoose, Wouldsheaskforapairoflinentrousers
Andasensiblebutton-down
Suitablefordigginginthedirt
Whereisthedot? edot? Marcysaid Jennysaid Jessicasaid Maggiesaid Tracysaid Beckysaid Katiesaid Youhaveadot Tattooedonyourforehead. Whereisit? Whereisit?
Sitamma Ithinkofyou
Finallyandfullyalone
Iimagineyou
Inhalingthescentofdampearth
AndIpictureyou
Understandingthat echildrenthatyouboreandraised Arenowgone. Onegonefromourplaneofknowing eothersgonetooppositeedges Ofthiswideandunforgivinglandscape.
Sitatakesabreathandsinksintotheworld Mymotherduststhefurniture andsilentlywatchesthewindow.
Chess
Tatagaru’shandsaretranslucentbrown
Andsteadyashemoveshisrook
Steadyandpurposeful
Fingerslongandelegant
Tatagarusitsinhisbluelungi Andwhitecottonshirt
Scentedwithsandalwood Andtakesbarelyasecondtocontemplate hisnextmove.
Ilookatmyownhands
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Andconjuringtheworld?
eDot Whereisit?
Sheliftsmybangs
Withoutaskingpermission. Herfreckledfaceinchesfrommyown. Whereiswhat?
I’mcarefulnottomove
Tryingnottoinvitemoreattention
Fingersshortandnailsbittendown Ihaveneverwonagame (andneverwill)
NayanammaandIshareaname And(somesay)aface
Butoh!
IwishIhadTatagaru’shands
MusicandTextby KamalaSankaram
Nanna - says"Makethepieces - small." Heat
theon-ions andthechilis,
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eylaughedatherimpos - -si-blebod-y. eylaughedather
brown,tannedskin, Mal-i-bublond hair.
choose, wouldshe askforapair of linen - trousersand a sen-sible - button - -down suit-able - for
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One f gone from our plane ofknowing.f e o-thers scat tered - to op po - -site edg es - ofthe wide andunfor - -giving -
land scape. -
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Si p -tatakesa breathandsinksinto - the moltorit.
p moltorit. world. Mymother - duststhefurni --ture andsilent - -lywatches - thewindow. -
With p -out ask- ing per mis f - sion.f psubito
Her p freck led- face inches - from mine. Where is it? Where p is what?
Jen p -nysaidMarcy - said Jes-si-ca said that thatKat-y said Mag-gie said thatBecky - said Mary -
saidTracy - said that Stac f -y said that
q.=60
Ta-taga --ru'shands aretranslu - -cent brown and
steady - as hemoves his rook.
Steady - and purpose - -ful.
& ? &
gant. Ta-taga --ru sits in his blue lun gi- and white cotton - shirt. Scent-edwithsandal - -wood. Andbarely - takesasecond - to con tem -&
& ? & 30 & ?
plate his next move. hisnext move.
Nayanam - -maandI shareaname and, somewould say, aface.
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Sankaram: The Goddess Gets Dressed JAT-138-082-VS