Thompson | On Mars

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

On Mars

for mezzo-soprano, viola, and piano

Joel Thompson 2024

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce On Mars

for mezzo-soprano, viola, and piano

Joel Thompson 2024

Commissioned for Jamie Barton, Matthew Lipman, and Tamar Sanikidze by Music Accord, Inc.

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

Premiered on tour in January 2025, with performances at the following venues: Spicey Hall, Atlanta, GA (January 19) Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse (January 23) Celebrity Series of Boston (January 25) Fortas Chamber Music Concerts, Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center (January 30)

Program Note Dear Listener,

It’s a struggle to describe exactly why Ariana Benson’s poetry speaks to my soul– it just does. I’ve read her first book, Black Pastoral, several times this year– each poem revealing more of itself (and myself) in each re-reading.

There are many poems in this collection that I dare not bother with my music as they are perfect just as they are, but On Mars immediately sang to me right off the page. Why? It’s futile to try to explain the alchemical. But, I suppose that, while this Earth slowly burns and its most powerful governments seem intent on war and genocide and metastatically feeding off of our despair, it makes sense that I’d be drawn to Benson’s subtle urgings to hold onto hope by allowing my imagination to extend beyond the bounds of this atmosphere. Her words remind me and many other Black Americans that it is a revolutionary act to imagine a place that truly feels like home. It is a revolutionary act to dream of a life unfettered by concerns of brutality, poverty and prejudice. It is a revolutionary act to seek (and hold on to) our peace. I hope this piece functions not only as a reminder that our imaginations are fundamental tools for our collective liberation but I also hope these songs serve as an invitation for us to use them as we seek a more just future.

With love, jt November 2024

Instrumentation Mezzo-soprano Viola Piano

Duration: c. 16-18 minutes

First printing, October 2024

Text “On Mars” by Ariana Benson

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

i.

I was never much one for astronomy : My basic grasp of the universe and its terrifying contents satisfied me most of my life. Pluto was a planet then wasn’t, then was again. I think I didn’t go outside to witness the eclipse because I’ve spent too many moons waiting for obstacles to pass between my world and its light, for celestial corpses to align. To deem them Bodies implies life and humans have long known Earth only as a ghost // But when I see that water has been found on Mars, I feel a knot that my heart urges my tongue to curl into hope. I see life, blossoming bundles of cells that compose bodies instead of Confining them. I see babies’ tiny feet splashing in puddles from which their very existence sprung I see water on Mars and know my children must never call home by any other name ii.

Our backyard awash in desert rust, we’ll fashion palaces from red sand, all the while sipping tea sweetened with spoonfuls of stardust. When winter rains turn craters into ponds, we’ll skate atop their frosted faces and in summer laze in their pooled relief from the heat The natal knowledge of how to swim having never fled a single child’s mind // They’ll have a galaxy of nebulae to nightly gaze upon, hair bathed in cool slate absent whitehot sun Gravity an alien bondage they’ll play ball palm entire planets, bound through the asteroid belt, swing from Saturn’s rings with their fingertips Astral amphibians, they’ll breathe purified pink sky through their skin Not a single gasp will escape their grip iii.

On Mars there are no guns What good are bullets that can be batted down like balloons bleeding air?

My children will thrive they'll climb mountains only to leap fearless from the peaks and drift back to Mars serene like leaves in a crisp autumn breeze colorful and bright their true peaks and drift back to me. Colorful, bright, beautiful whole "On Mars" from Black Pastoral: Poems © 2023 by Ariana Benson.

Used by permission of the University of Georgia Press. All rights reserved.

Duration: c. 16-18 minutes

First printing, October 2024 Copyright ©2024 Joel Thompson. All Rights Reserved.

Program Note Copyright ©2024 Joel Thompson. All Rights Reserved Published by Just a Theory Press | www.justatheorypress.com

Commissioned for Jamie Barton, Matthew Lipman, and Tamar Sanikidze by Music Accord, Inc.

On Mars for mezzo-soprano, viola, and piano

Ariana Benson

Pno

M-S.

Pno

   







3

















Ethereal; otherworldly  = 60

 

  



  





    







   





  





 

          

   

 





  

         



Dismissive; parlando  = 108

  



   

            

7



ne - ver much one



 

 

for

a

-

   



  



  

     





Copyright © 2024 Joel ompson (BMI). All Rights Reserved.

Published by Just a eory Press | www.justatheorypress.com

   





           





  









    



 

I was



    

  



rit. poco a poco

  

      

 



      



 

          

stro - no - my







     

  



                  

My bas - ic grasp



Piano

M-S.





PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

I. Home

Joel ompson

of

the

JAT-137-036-SP

Joel ompson: On Mars

2

Pno

u

-

 



-





ni

-



Pno

M-S.

Pno





   







 



 

-





   



verse









     

11



ter - ri - fy - ing

      





    

 

 

        





M-S.



 

 





and



its





con

-

  

tents

sa - tis -



ed



me



most

of

 

                                 life.



   

       

 

 



      

 

   

 



       my

        = 60











 

 

 

 





12 Tempo I  = 60 rit.

 





 







PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

M-S.

10

   





 



  



      

 





Joel ompson: On Mars

Pno

M-S.

Pno

M-S.

Pno



Freely; recit-like  = 60

       



Plu - to was a pla - net,

      

then was - n’t,

  

 



                 

then was

a

-

gain,





 

I think.



  

   

  

I

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

M-S.





                       

14





   



    

think I



     





spent

 

 



             



did - n’t go

 





a tempo



 

too

  

out - side

      

  



 

 

to



man - y moons,

     

    

 

  

 



  

   











            

the e - clipse





 



  

  

 

 





   

 

          

be - cause I



rall.

                                

spent

 



wit - ness



                                             



   

poco rall.

17

19



3

  

too

    

man - y moons,

 

  

   

 

4

M-S.

Pno

M-S.

Pno



 

           

     



   



        

  



  







 

                                                                        spent too

man - y moons

wait

-

ing

                     

   

accel.

23

    

                                                                               ob - sta - cles

to pass

be - tween my

world



Pno





wait - ing for

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

M-S.

21

Joel ompson: On Mars

Suspended in mid-air  = 48



Desperate; appassionato  = 60



25



 

 

     

  

 

 

          

 

                                                                                                                             

 



and its light



 

Joel ompson: On Mars

Pno

M-S.

Pno

M-S.

Pno



 

   

   



   



27

              





 





  

                                                                                  wait

-

ing

wait - ing for ce -

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

M-S.

rall.

 

5

Trying to explain...  = 48





 

  

29

  

  

...the ache  = 72

-les - ti - al

       

     

  



ob - jects

  

 





    

          

33

bod - ies

      

   













a - lign.



 

to



 

and





    



   



  



 



  







              

 

 

      







   

hu - mans have long known Earth on - ly

 



To deem them

     

       

     

          

im - plies life

     

   

molto rall. poco a poco





as a

   

6

 

Va.

Pno

M-S.

Va.

Pno







 

41

  



       

 

44



Mysterious  = 60



 



     



                  



string.

  











rit.





 

 



 

















  

  

 

           

 





  



                   



 

 

     

Ominous  = 72



M-S.





 = 60

 

rit.

   

 



PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

Pno



Ethereal; otherworldly  = 48

       ghost.                                                 

36 M-S.

Joel ompson: On Mars



 

  

















 

   





   

Buoyant; less gravitional pull  = 72



 sub.

 

      

  



    

 

  





      

 

 

                   

 

     

  

 



 

Joel ompson: On Mars

  



48 M-S.

Pno

M-S.

Va.

Pno

M-S.

Va.

Pno





 

                

















      



  





            

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

Va.

7





     

  

52





     

 



But when



             











    

      

  

                

 

  

54

    

I



     



  

see

 

  







 

  

I





  



 

that



        

 

  

feel...

  





     wa - ter

   

has







 



                                         







 



 



feel

   







 

on





Mars,

 

 

   

         

           

  

 

been found

         I

 

  

  



   

 

 

  

 

8





Searching; reaching  = 72

molto rall.

      

57 M-S.

Va.

Pno

M-S.

Va.

Pno



 

  

a

 



knot



that



   

 

  

my

heart ur - ges my







      

59

 

tongue to turn





  

                  

 

63

 











   

    in - to

      

hope.

         



 







  I



 

see



   



   



 





   





              



      



Release  = 72



  

  



life:



        









      









                                                   



M-S.



       

 



    

accel.

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

Pno

 





Va.

    

Joel ompson: On Mars



  



 



   

blos - som - ing bun - dles of







   



                                                        







 

    

      

Joel ompson: On Mars

    

    

66 M-S.

cells

Pno

M-S.

Va.

Pno





   

          bod - ies

  

in - stead of con - n - ing them









                    



 







I

 

 

see



 





  











                                                  69                            





-





 

-

bies’



ti - ny



 



feet





  

 

 

splash - ing in



 







 



 

 





-



 

ba





      



Va.





M-S.





 

   

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

Pno

that com - pose





Va.

     

9

                                  rall.

     

71

    



pud - dles





   

     

 

   

from which their ve - ry ex - is - tence

      

                        

    

e ache...  = 52

 

 

 

   



  



 

 



sprung.

       



  



       

                     

   



     



Pno

Va.

Pno

Va.

Pno



 

73



    



 

                 

       



Va.

Joel ompson: On Mars

  

 



...becomes hope  = 108          

  





       

  

      





PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

10

 

                             



  

 



76

     



  









 

  

 

                             

           



               

                                                                

79



   

   

   























                                          

       



  

    

   









 

   

 





                

Joel ompson: On Mars

Va.

Pno

M-S.

Pno

       







 

 

 

  

 

          

         



 

 

 

         





    

                                         



             

 



90





 



                               

      

          

  

 

 

 



 

 

   



   





    

see



wa - ter











         



   

     

            I

 



Hopeful; colla voce  = 48





      

             93



Clarity  = 60 



      

         

on

Mars

  



 



   

  

  

and know my











rit.  



   

rit. 

 

  





 





     

       

molto rall.

 









86



Pno



 



Va.



 

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

Pno







Va.

82

11



 





 

   

    

chil - dren must ne - ver call home by

  



 

    

  

   

 

   

12



Joel ompson: On Mars



Ethereal; otherworldly  = 48

                

96 M-S.



Va.

Pno

 



  

 







     



 





  

 



2



 

  

4





 



  



 

      

Piano

        



  

           

   

         

  

    

   



  

         

Entering an alternate reality  = 48

    

 



   

II. Life

Pno



name.



Pno

    

oth - er



PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

Va.

a - ny

     



accel.

     

     





With insuppressible joy  = 80

                                   

  





 





















 



 

























                               



 

 















 

 













Joel ompson: On Mars



6 M-S.

Pno

M-S.

Pno

M-S.

Pno

M-S.

Pno













   











   



Our



PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

Va.











 

                                                   

 

   

8

13





 

 















 



  







 











                                                           back - yard

 



10



 

 



12



 

 

 

 



pa

a - wash

 

-

la

-









  

ces

in

from





de - sert - rust,



red

 

 

we’ll

fash





 

-







sand

ion





 



all the while

                                                

  



 



 











 



   















   



                                                         

 

sip

-

 

ping

tea





sweet - ened







 

 

with



spoon



-



fuls



of





14

Pno

M-S.

Va.

Pno

M-S.

Va.

Pno





  

 













  













                                                              star

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

M-S.

14

Joel ompson: On Mars

 



16



 

 

 



-







 

-



dust.







 













 

 























-





                                                               









18

  

 

  

 







 







When win - ter





 



rains



 

turn

 











 

 





cra - ters

 



   







in - to ponds,





we’ll

                                

 

 





 

 











Joel ompson: On Mars

Pno

M-S.

Pno

M-S.

Pno

M-S.

Va.

Pno







    

 

 

skate











a - top their fros - ted





fa - ces...







 

all the while

                                                

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

M-S.

20

15







 



22

 







 







 

 

 





 









  

 



 











  











 

                                                              



24



 

   





  





 

- ping

tea

sweet - ened









 



                             star

 

26

sip -

-

-



-

  

 



-



-

-





 

dust.

 

-

-





 



-





 

-





  





with

spoon - fuls



 

  





of





 

    



 

                               -

 



-

-

-

  



-





-



-





-



                                     

  





 





 

 



 





16



28 M-S.

Va.

Pno

M-S.

Va.

Pno



 

And

in





sum - mer

 







 



laze





in

their











pooled





re - lief

 



30



  

                                                             

 

  







  

from







 



 

  





 

                                               







 

32





 









know - ledge of how





 







to swim



    



   



   





   

hav - ing ne - ver



  













Not a care in the universe  = 64



the heat

 





ed

     











 

    



 







M-S.











Pno

  





PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

Va.



rit.

Joel ompson: On Mars

  









e nat - al

          





   

 

a









sin - gle

child’s









 



Joel ompson: On Mars



34 M-S.

Pno

M-S.

Va.

Pno





 

 

  

  





 

 

 

   



 















       

  

 

 









 

 

     



   

38

 



    





 

 





 

 



 



 



ey’ll have

 a



       



 







  



gal

-

 

a - xy

                 









36

 







 









 



 

 



 

 

   

  







of

 

neb



 



   

-



 

 

u - lae









to



   



 







night - ly





 



Va.





M-S.



mind.





PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

Pno



  



Va.



17

  



gaze



 

u-



18



   

40 M-S.

-pon,

M-S.

Va.

Pno

M-S.

Pno





 









bathed







in



cool









 

                                                        

    

42



slate

 



ab - sent





white







-

  

hot









sun.







 















 

                                                        

44



  

   

Gra

    

-

vi - ty

an

 



a - li - en





bon - dage,







string.





they’ll



  

play ball,

 



 

   

                                                                                                 



Va.







hair





Pno

 



 



PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

Va.

 



Joel ompson: On Mars

Joel ompson: On Mars

M-S.

Va.

Pno

M-S.

Va.

Pno

    

   

M-S.

Pno



  

46

Va.

 

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

   

19







  



palm

  

en - tire

 



pla - nets,



                              

48

 

Carefree  = 72

  

 

swing

         



 



       

  

        







-



tral



 



  



   









 

 

 

am

 



-



  

  



phi





-



bi

 











ng

    

-

ans,





 



   

 



 

er - tips.



 







 

 

 



     

   



 





  

  



-

 

 

 

  

  

with their

 





  

 

 

  

 

 

  



bound through the as - ter - oid belt,



rings

  

rall.

As

   



 

 

 

                 

from Sat - urn’s

    

49

  

 

  

 

they’ll

gliss.





 

20



50 M-S.

M-S.

Va.

Pno

M-S.

Va.

Pno



breathe,

 

 



 























they’ll











                                        

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

Pno



 

Imagining Eric and George alive!  = 80

gliss.

Va.

Joel ompson: On Mars

 









52

 

 



54



 





 

 

    





breathe,









 

   



 

















 

they’ll

  

                                                     

 









 











breathe



 

pur



 

 



-

 i



-







ed





 

pink













sky









                                                        

 

 











 

 











Joel ompson: On Mars



56 M-S.

Pno

M-S.

Va.

Pno

M-S.

Va.

Pno













 



 





 





through their







skin.



 

  

















 



58



 

  



                                                                 

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

Va.



21





 





 















 

 













                

ey’ll

breathe...



                                        

  



 





60

  

 









 

 













                                            

                                                 

 

 











 

 











22



62 M-S.

Pno

M-S.

Va.

Pno

M-S.

Va.

Pno







 

 





gasp



 





 



 



 



 





 

and



not





 a

                                                          

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

Va.

 

Joel ompson: On Mars

 



64



 

 

 

 





sin - gle









 



will

 

 



 



es - cape





their









 









grip...

                                                                  



66



 

 

 

 

 



rall. 

















 



 







 













                                                       

Joel ompson: On Mars

Pno

M-S.

Pno















 



   

 

70

Pesante; return to reality  = 52 rall. al ne

        

     

      

 

  

      

 

                              



  

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

M-S.

68

23

   

  



 

III. Peace

Viola

Piano

Va.

Pno





4

 



  



  





  





   

gliss.

  

  

  









 

sul pont.

   

Intense anxiety (the question) ( = 120) sul pont.            

  

   





 



 

  

 



 

 

pizz.













gliss.





     





ord. arco





ord.

 sub.

            



   



                   











    



Joel ompson: On Mars

24

Pno

Va.

Pno

M-S.

Pno

M-S.

Pno









arco













 



   



 

  

 

















PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

Va.

8



 





12















   

16

















   

 















 









 steady and hypnotic

      

 

        

 

19

                

guns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 







 





 





What good are

 

 



   

allow sound to fade completely before continuing



 

  

 

             

Tenuous calm (the answer) ( = 48)

      



molto rall.





 



  

On

Mars,







 

 

   

 

 

 

  





  

      

  

no



 

bul - lets

  

   

there are



  

that can

   



be

 

Joel ompson: On Mars

Pno

M-S.

Pno

M-S.

Pno

M-S.

Pno

     

 



 

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

M-S.

25

 











21

      

bat - ted



down

 



       

 

     

 

25

        

 

 

moun - tains



        

  



  

28

        Mars,



     

 

Mars,

 

  



 



 

 

  

 

  



 







 

       

leap





     



  

 



  

se - rene



 

 

air?

 

       

 



   

 

 

 

 

 

   

like leaves in a

 



 

 

 

      



they’ll

  

  

 

  

fear - less from the

 



 

thrive:

    



 

 



 

 



 

my chil - dren will

     

on - ly to



bal - loons bleed - ing



On

  



 

   

23

   

like

 

     

    

 

 

 

climb

     

    

peaks

   

 

and drift back to

      



  

 

  



  

       



 

 

 

 

crisp au - tumn breeze

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joel ompson: On Mars

26



        

31 M-S.

M-S.

Va.

Pno

M-S.

Va.

Pno



        

and bright and beau - ti - ful

and

   

    







    

 

 



 

whole



 



    



PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce 







  

    

  

On



 

Mars,



 

 



     

 

    

     

36

bul - lets

    

   





       



 

 

   

         



 

no

 



guns.

  

       

 

 





 

 

     

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 



   



   



What good are





 

 

bat - ted down like bal - loons bleed - ing

 



 



 



 

     

that can be



   

there are





 



      

34

   



Pno

    



Va.

co - lor - ful

              

 



 

air?

        

 

 

   

   

 

 

 



 

  

 

   

Joel ompson: On Mars

    



39 M-S.

Pno

M-S.

Va.

Pno

M-S.

Va.

Pno



    

   





    

  

On Mars,

 

  



   

my chil - dren will

  







      



               thrive:

they’ll climb





  

       

     



 

     







  

       

 

 

         

 

 



        

 

43

  

 

peaks



 



  





 

on - ly



to

 

  

  

 

  

 

  

     

    

to



  





Mars,





   

 

                     

   

   

from the

 

 

  



  

   

se - rene





           

  

  

fear - less

  

    

and drift back

 

leap



 

  

   

 

                          

           

 





moun - tains





 

 

 

 

 

41

    





   

PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

Va.



27



 

 

  

like leaves in a

 

 

 

   





 



Joel ompson: On Mars

28

      

    

46 M-S.

M-S.

Va.

Pno

M-S.

Va.

Pno







 



   

co - lor - ful



 delicate





and bright



   

 

  

and





          

 

     

 

           

48



 

 

beau - ti - ful



      

 

and

     

reach

 





                    

 

 

 

          

      

51

 

   

they will have

   



their true

 

 





 

          



      





all











      

 

 

 

       







           

peaks

 



of out - er space

                   

     

 



PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

Pno

au - tumn breeze



Va.

 

crisp

    





   

  

 







 

  

 

   

 

 







  

 





 

 

to







 



 



Joel ompson: On Mars

M-S.

Va.

Pno







 

back to

   



me.

 



      

  

Co - lor - ful











  





    







 





     

   

    





 

 

      



  

     





60

 



 







whole



 



 





  

-

ti

-

ful

   

   



              



rall.



 





beau

  

 









bright,

  

 



58

 



 





 

 







 



 

 



 

 





 



  



   









Pno



me,



Va.

 

to







M-S.



and drift back

    



Pno



PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

Va.



             

54 M-S.



29

   

 

 

     

  



PE R no US t fo AL rp S erf CO orm RE an ce

c

www.justatheorypress.com

JAT-137-036-SP

t:HTKATE*a gfcb+>