Robert Zuidam
a soldiers opera in 1 act
libretto by Valentijn Dhaenens inspired by Bastiaan Everink’s life
managed by albersen verhuur bv
Fijnjekade 160, 2521 DS The Hague, The Netherlands www.deussmusic.com
Robert Zuidam
Hercules
a soldiers opera in 1 act (2019)
libretto by Valentijn Dhaenens inspired by Bastiaan Everink’s life
managed by albersen verhuur bv
Fijnjekade 160, 2521 DS The Hague, The Netherlands www.deussmusic.com
Composed at the request of the NTR ZaterdagMatinee, Radio 4’s concert series in the Concertgebouw Amsterdam. Written with financial support from the Performing Arts Fund NL.
First performance on September 28, 2019 in the Concertgebouw Amsterdam by Bastiaan Everink (baritone), Annemarie Kremer (soprano), Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and James Gaffigan (conductor).
Duration: ca. 36 min.
Score dated 190717
Copyright © 2019 by Robert Zuidam and Deuss Music managed by Albersen Verhuur b.v.
Printed in The Netherlands
All rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording or information storage and retrieval) without permission in writing from the publisher: Deuss Music managed by Albersen verhuur b.v., Fijnjekade 160, 2521 DS, The Hague The Netherlands
www.robertzuidam.com www.deussmusic.com
Instrumentation
3 flutes (2nd also piccolo, 3d also alto flute)
3 oboes (3d also cor anglais)
3 clarinets in B b (3d also bass clarinet and contrabass clarinet)
3 bassoons (3d also contrabassoon)
4 horns in F
3 trumpets (in C)
3 trombones (2 tenor, 1 bass)
tuba
4 percussion
I: Timpani
Bassdrum
Synth. drum pad : 50 cal./the Mark/the SAW/ricochet
Large/med./small cymb.
Crotales e’’/g’’ (sounding 8+)
II: Vibraphone
Glockenspiel
Congas
Large pair of cymbals
Large/small tamtam
Small crash cymbal
Large cymbal
Synth. pad :AT4 (share with perc.4)
Woodblock (med.sized)
2 temple blocks (med./large)
III: Marimba
Large cymbal
Glass chimes
Logdrums (med./large)
Large sizzle-cymbal
3 tomtoms (small/med./large)
Gongs c # /e/g small octave
Guiro (med.sized)
IV: Siren (handheld)
Large/med./small cymbal
Large sizzle-cymb.
Vibraslap
Synth. drum pad : gunshot/ M203/AT4
Snaredrum
Large tamtam (share with perc.2)
harp piano
soprano baritone
strings (14/12/10/8/6)
Score in C
HERCULES
A soldier’s opera in one act
Libretto by Valentijn Dhaenens Inspired by Bastiaan Everink’s life
A dedication to all past, present and future soldiers fighting for freedom.
A private war in five beats Heart Shoulder Tongue Head Belly
Libretto
Part1.Heart
(Night, An army dormitory, 30 beds, all sleeping except He-Man)
HE-MAN
These damp barracks, in the last wee hours before cock-crow.
This early morning torpor, pregnant with teenage-dreams and smell of boyish night sweat.
All is quiet for now.
Now, just before dawn, we are one. One sleeping body, with 60 lungs filling up and letting go. Almost inaudible: this concert of breathing in different tempo’s.
How can they... rest, snore, surrender themselves to the dead of night? How can they... untroubled sleep off these dark hours swollen with expectations for a D-day to come.
Not me.
My heart does not beat the way it wants. It’s pumping the blood with mad fash, with more ecstacy than the farewell blow job I got just a few hours ago.
(He-man replays the dialogue with his Sweety, playing both parts, knickers on his head)
Calm down, sweety, calm down. I just want you to come before you go I promise to come before I go I don’t want you to go. Will you write? I will.
Will you send me pictures of your cock? Only if you will... And don’t be shy...aaaa...AAAAAi!
(A Siren-like-sound takes over the screaming of the orgasm, waking abruptly He-Man from his comic role play re-enactement, the time has come, everyone getting dressed, screaming, rushing, getting weapons and ammunition, thunder of boots)
Part2. Shoulder
(Day, slow driving patrole on enemy-road in armoured assault vehicle, vigilant)
HE-MAN (as a vow)
We, Brothers in Arms, Willingly, Give life for country Be sober, Be vigilant... constantly What happens here will change me forever.
We, Boys in cars, Drive, Gain territory. Fear I-E-D... continuously thus stay, in the middle of the road.
We, Buddies in blood, Qua Patet Orbis, Defend what’s most blessed and sacred... Foremost... and fiercely my fellow soldier... Whatever it takes.
(through the constant heat, exhaustion and tense concentration, the next two paragraphs are a slightly raving crescendo)
We Will not put the holy arms to shame This fear nourishing our appetite for a kill... pushy... Lock and load ... Wankers... Sod Off!
(yelling at an invisible enemy)
We’ve
Got your fucking Mommy here (on nipple rock.) gonna get medieval on her ass. Fifty cal, 240, The Mark, 203, The Saw, AT4’s, Small D’s I just love things that go BOOM!
(BigBang in Music, a roadside bomb went off, followed by a high pitch, constant tone)
HE-MAN (doddering) In a split second... Saw just in time... My buddy’s head... separating from his body... Body...body squat down. A horse... crashes... going... hard... to the ground.
A shoulder... Not mine is it? No...
A bone sticks out like a ham. Then... It feels like an axe... crashing... under my nose... Then... All is Dark.
Part3.
Tongue
(He-Man straight up, restrained with the back against a stretcher (straitjacket-wise). His head maybe bandaged like a mummy with dirty swaddling bands. Maybe only eyes and mouth visible. Maybe the singing has an expression of the wounded mouth)
SHE
God, my soldier is wounded I’m coming to you seaking your healing touch. through my hands in the name of Jesus.
HE-MAN
My feet?
I feel my toes. All of them. Hands as well. I’m still here. / Mommy?
SHE
Just like the Centurion who requested Jesus to heal his ailing servant in pain, I too pray for healing and restoration for my soldier
HE-MAN
I move my tongue in my mouth: Teeth gone. All of them. Grinded to bleak powder. Palate gone Void of pain. I’m still here. / Mommy?
SHE
For no spear shall harm those who believe in their survival. Those who fear death however, Fate will overtake even in peace.
HE-MAN
The smell of ether makes me nauseous. Death must be sneaking around, keeping an eye on me, getting closer, big, autumn-green eyes. / Mommy?
SHE I am not
HE-MAN Death?
SHE I am not
HE-MAN Premonition?
SHE Shhhh, hush now / just food. / I’m going to feed you. / Easy / Soup / Breathe, breathe, slowly / Get the food down. That’s all you have to care about. The rest is my business.
(voices overlapping, kind of Duet)
HE-MAN Will you make me a new face...?
SHE I’m going to feed you,
HE-MAN ...moulded in your hands?...
SHE get the food down,
HE-MAN ...Is what I want to say...
SHE That’s all you have to care about,
HE-MAN ... But my broken mouth...
SHE The rest is my business.
HE-MAN ...leaves the words mute.
SHE (Aria?)
A)
I can plump up a pillow Bring spoons of lukewarm soup to lips. I can put a needle inside a cramped body But I can never chase away the horror. That bedside devil always wins
B) No men here. Only mangled testicles, Chests with holes in, stumps where there used to be limbs, noseless or jawless faces. But no men.
So how on earth could I be a woman. No men, No men, No men,...
Part4. Head
HE-MAN
No Man, No Body, No man
When blood has drained, the flesh beaten and pounded, life becomes little.
A broken bird has been wrung its neck. What have I left?
All gave some, some gave all
Maybe a gun underneath my bed between my other recovered belongings. Three bullets in the clip. Three reasons to die.
One for the coward that couldn’t take it anymore
One for the man in the mirror: a beast
One for the spider in my head, entangling all I have left. (Climax to silence)
I can’t.
Not even courage has left one trace. This fear of the end nourishing our appetite for life, living... pushy... Nothing more or less.
(He-man plays the dialogue with his Sweety, playing both parts, though we don’t hear Sweety)
Calm down, sweety, calm down.
When you’re drafted you have to go. I had to go.
I couldn’t write. I just couldn’t. But I thought a lot about you.
I know.
... There isn’t any help for me. Can you send me a picture?
... Nevermind
Congratulations. Well, good luck to both of you.
Don’t worry. I won’t bother you anymore.
You to.
(sound similiar to broken telephone connection - ending in one monotone)
Part5. Belly
Hercules, old steel bird, swallow me down your belly, take me up there one more time, deafen me with your engine drone, deploy your Angel flares, forbid me on your static line, open up your jump door... Stand by!
One-thousand, two-thousand, three thousand. GO!
Throw (or rip) me out in the open
Robert Zuidam