Baritone (voice)

Score is in C, except for octave transposition of contrabass
Descriptive note:
This song has been commissioned as part of a cabaret series presented by Sequitur, which biennially concentrates on specific themes; the cycle into which this work falls deals with “power”. Taking a concept from a work of Elias Canetti, I have crafted my own text. The piece falls into a recitative and aria form. ----Robert Carl

Elias Canetti, in his magisterial work, Crowds and Power, presents the concept of the “sting of command”. What is the sting? In every hierarchy, there is always one above all others. This one relays an order to the next one below, and with that order a “sting” is lodged. The only way to be rid of the sting is to pass it down to next lower on the chain of command. And so the sting travels through the structure, burning in one lieutenant after another, until it finally arrives at the poor soul who has no one left on whom to pin it. While the imagery is military, the concept applies to any organization--- political, industrial, cultural, familial.

Sacred Songs consists of three intense religious poems by the English poet George Herbert (1593-1633) in settings for baritone and piano. This poet's deep belief in a Christian God of love and salvation is fervently expressed, often in dialogues with his savior. The texts of the first and third poems, Love (I) and Love (II), are similar in form and are set with identical musical materials, so that the third song is a kind of mirror to and variation on the first. The middle poem, The Temper (I), is more discursive and conversational and its setting is more varied musically; at the heart of this song is a series of variations on a repeated bass line. Begun in 2010 at the suggestion of American scholar Chauncey Wood, the cycle was completed in early January, 2011. The texts used come from the 1633 publication of Herbert's The Temple.

Linda Larson, sopranoChris Trakas as Benjamin Button

Dominic Inferrera as young Benjamin Button

Last scene

Singspiel in one act and thirteen scenes.  For singer/actors.
Ranges are as follows: 5 Sopranos, 4 Mezzo sopranos, 1 Alto, 4 Tenors, 3 Baritones, 2 Bass.
Ranges are approximate and can be changed if necessary. Actors/Singers may duplicate roles within a production. Plot Summary:  Diane Forest is an artistically successful author who makes a deal with Mephistopheles to become financially successful.