DAVID LANG ARK LUGGAGE
VERSION FOR VOICE AND PIANO
WORDS BY PETER GREENAWAY
CopyrightbyRicordiNewYork
© 2012 by Universal Music Corp. (ASCAP) International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved. RNY 1012 ISMN 979-0-041-61012-2
Warning : Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited by Federal law, and subject to criminal prosecution.
arkluggage
forsopranoandstringquartet note
In2005IdidaprojectwiththeEnglishartistandfilmmakerPeter Greenaway,called writingonwater.Itwasakindofcircus,withlive calligraphy,livemulti-screenvideoandfilmprojectiononfourscreens thatsurroundedthestage,andtheLondonSinfonietta.Ienjoyeditalot. WhatIenjoyedthemost,however,wasthebeautifullibrettothatPeter hadcraftedoutoffragmentarydescriptionsofseatravelandshipwrecks fromTheTempest,TheRimeoftheAncientMariner,andMobyDick. ThistextwassomovingtomethatIaskedPeterifhewouldwriteme anotherone,thistimepossiblyonareligioussubject,oratleast somehowrelatedtoanoldtestamenttheme.ArkLuggagewasthetext hesentme,alistof92thingsNoahtookalongwithhimduringtheflood. ThewayIinterpretedthistextwastonoticehowPetershowsthe confidenceNoahhasinpackingforhislifeaftertheflood,confident abouthissurvivalpastthecatastrophe.Theactofpackingthese suitcasesitselfbecomesastatementoffaith,andasimplelistbecomes akindofprayer.
arkluggage wascommissionedbyGlasgowConcertHallsandwas writtenforElseTorpandtheSmithQuartet,whopremieredit24March 2012,inGlasgow,Scotland thedurationisapproximately9minutes
arkluggage isdedicatedtoElseTorp
CopyrightbyRicordiNewYork
ARKLUGGAGE
ALISTOF92SUITCASESNOAHTOOKTO ARARAT
92SuitcasesfortheFlood LuggageforaFloodJourney
1 drinkingwater, black&whitesmoke, &ice.
redribbons. rope, coal&ashes, sand&earth.
horse-shoes, twentyGoudacheeses. candles, lightbulbs, tulipbulbs, locks&keys.
freshlinen, cleansheets, warmunderwear. clearalcohol(formedicinalpurposes), newandoldbootsforwalkingthedeck, boot-laces, fish-hooksforfishonFridays. CopyrightbyRicordiNewYork
2. potatoes, swedes, carrotsforseeinginthedark, turnips, coinsandbuttons, bread, bunsfortheelephants. cook-books, tobacco(forchewing). safety-pins. brushesforpainting, brushesforsweeping, brushesforcleaningyourteeth.
greenapples, hens’eggs, blood&ink, bottlesforsendingmessages. jokes. redroses, goldpaintforcelebrations, oldtestamentbibles, spoons, forks, cleansaucepans, tomatoesformakingtomatosauce, toysforamusingthechildrenincasethereshouldbeany, dolls(ditto). CopyrightbyRicordiNewYork
3.
clocks&calendars, colanders, mousetraps&rat-traps, passports, lemons, bricks. flea-powder, antimacassars.
needles, navigationalmaps, iodine&medicines.
ahebrew-dutch-hebrewdictionary.
spectacles, sharpenedpencils, buttons&string, combsforwomenandhorses, scissors.
hay, cannon-balls(forballastonly), firewood, instrumentstomeasureby.
board-gamesforpassingthelongevenings, zooanimalsinminiatureforremindingusofwhatisbeingsaved. CopyrightbyRicordiNewYork
4. feathersforsoftpillows, bonesfordogs, umbrellas. parrotseed, honey, redyarn. sou’westers, anewtoilet-seat, mirrors, gloves, thread, &onions. soapandwashingpowder, aspirin. flags&banners&bunting, wings&stars. champagne. place-namesfornewtownsandvillages. &songs, &somemusicforrejoicing, &thankyouletterstoGodandtheangels, &whitebeachpebblestoedgethebordersofmynewgarden. CopyrightbyRicordiNewYork
spokenbythesoprano: "ArkLuggage; Alistof92suitcases NoahtooktoArarat."