Full Score
ﻝﻱﻝﺓ ﺍﻝﻕﺩﺭ Twenty Seventh Night | A Chamber Opera in 8 minutes
Music
MICHAEL-THOMAS FOUMAI Libretto
SAMIYA BASHIR
Characters Leyla (Soprano) Sagal (Soprano) Assad (Baritone)
Instrumentation Violin Viola Cello Percussion Prayer Bowel (Any pitch) Crotales (F,G#,A) Small Hand Gong Propane Tank Bongos
Program Note This opera was composed as part of the University of Michigan 6x8 minute opera collaboration. Set on the night of April 12, 1991, the 27th day of Ramadan (known as the “Night of Power/Destiny�) at the dawn of the Somali Civil War in Mogadishu, Somalia. Leyla has returned home to rescue her youngest sister, Sagal, who fled the rest of the family in search of their eldest brother, Assad. They must all flee the city to safety before daylight and the return of the traitors who are fighting to overtake the city.
Duration: 8:00
For the UMMA 6x8 Opera Project Collaboration
Twenty Seventh Night Chamber Opera in 8 minutes
LIBRETTO SAMIYA BASHIR
ASSAD (Baritone)
Desolate, senza misura pp Spoken, whispered/out of breath 3" ALONE...ALONE! (fatigued)
I'VE GOT NOTHING BUT STARS, MY SOUL . . . THIS BODY STILL WHOLE. WAIT FOR ME!
Percussion
ASD.
Perc.
MICHAEL-THOMAS FOUMAI (2011)
Scene 1: Alone
(h=60) Propane Tank
Prayer Bowl
w/ brass mallet f
p
TRAITORS TOOK OUR CITY, OUR SEA, OUR HOME. (angry)
ff
ord. 2" Vc. s.p / ord.
ffp
8 ASD.
song?
s.p.
f
6
ord.
gal!
3
can
you hear
3
our
s.p / ord.
ffp
song!
p
Vc. ffp 6
A (h=90)
mf
ff
Our
Perc. ord.
Sa -
f
I'VE GOT NOTHING BUT STARS. MY SOUL!
A (h=90)
ALONE! (yearning)
2"
s.p.
© 2011. Michael-Thomas Foumai. All Rights Reserved (ASCAP) www.michaelfoumai.com
f
ord.
6
s.p.
6
f
mf
2 ASD.
(q=180)
2"
LISTEN FOR ME...HEAR ME! I WAS LEFT FOR DEAD, BUT I'M COMING HOME!
Perc.
2"
WAIT FOR ME! I'M COMING HOME.
WAIT FOR ME!
Prayer Bowl f 2" 2" (q=180) sul pont. no trill 3 ord. 3 3 Vc. ffp ffp f B Solemnly (h=60) WE CAN'T LET THESE THE MORNING TRAITORS DESTROY STAR'S NOT FAR ASD. THE LAST THING AND I KNOW
Perc.
WE HOLD DEAR
WE MUST GO.
Propane Tank
fp
Vln.
f
(h=60)
B Solemnly vib. poco
pp
Vla.
p
vib. poco
pp
vib. poco
ASD.
Vln.
. . . EACH OTHER.
C
WAIT FOR ME (Lead in)
Here,
a
f
I'm
-
Più mosso, (h=68)
C
-
lone,
a
-
lone.
(q=q)
Wait
(q=q) Più mosso, (h=68)
mf
Vc.
MY LOVES! DESTINY!
mf
Vla.
I'M COMING HOME, WAIT FOR ME DON'T LEAVE ME HERE ALONE
poco accel.
p
pp
p
Vc.
mf
poco accel.
29 ASD.
Vln.
3
for
me.
Vla.
Vc.
A
-
-
sul G vib. ord.
f espress.
vib. ord.
f espress.
vib. ord.
lone,
wait
f espress.
for
33 ASD.
Vln.
me.
Vla.
Vc.
poco rit.
poco rit.
)
)
)
(
(
6
(
)
(
Scene 2: No Time
4
D e.=144 Anxiously,
LEYLA mp
36
LEY.
SAG.
ASD.
No
time,
4
no
time,
Bongos w/ hands
Perc.
4:6x
f sempre
2
we
2
have
f
no
time!
D Anxiously, e.=144 Vln. p mp p Vla. Vc.
pp
pp
42
LEY.
SAG.
ASD.
ASSAD pp
Perc. Vln.
A
-
-
-
-
-
SAGAL mf A
- ssad,
mp
-
lone.
pp
2
We have
2
mf
A-
no time!
f
f
2
LEY.
SAG.
46
No 2
2
A
-
2
ssad.
mf
A
Perc. Vln.
time!
ssad!
ASD.
2
p
-
mf
f mf
-
2
sings!
He
f
2
-
He
5
lone.
f
LEY.
2
2
We have
f
SAG.
sings!
ASD.
f
50
Perc. p
no time!
2
We must
mf
Can't
re
you
pp
A
2
-
2
turn!
E
2
2
Hear what?
hear
The
him?
-
-
-
-
-
beasts? 2
No
f
2
2
2
2
E
2
time!
A - ssad,
Be - lieve!
He
f
lone!
2
f
Vln. f fp 2 Vla. f p p p poco poco 2 pizz. arco Vc. f 2
f
6 LEY.
57
ASD.
sings!
A - ssad,
Vln.
Vc.
SAG.
ASD.
Perc.
Vln.
Vla.
ssad,
A - ssad
he
p
A
f
mf
p
ssad
p
2
-
f
lone,
A
ff
Can't
you
here,
I'm
f
here
a
f
2
leave
-
2
pp
f
mf
can't
pizz.
f
f
(x=x)
yet.
lone!
pp
2 We
Propane Tank
pp
him?
time.
hear
f
No
p
p
(x=x) p
mf
mp
Vc.
-
p p ff p f p
time.
-
mf
F p
mp
p
mf
I'm
lone.
sings!
ffp
No
(Bongo)
62
ff
A
LEY.
-
F
Vla.
A
Perc.
SAG.
LEY.
69
Perc.
Vln.
No
A
-
-
ten!
He
3
sings
He
3
I'm
ff
A -
ssad! ff
a -
lone!
Bongos
here
7
time!
sings
f
f
f
f
No
time!
f
No time!
No time! No time! No
No
No
Time
No
(2+3) (q.=h) ff time!
f
f
ff
f
Vla.
f
f
f
arco
Perc.
Vc.
p sub. p sub.
SAG.
Vln.
f
No
f
G f p
74
ASD.
f
lone!
LEY.
Lis
ff
G
time!
Vla.
Vc.
SAG.
ASD.
f
ff
f ff
Hand Gong
pp
(2+3) (q.=h)
sfz
sfz
sfz
8
H Più mosso, h=72 78
LEY.
SAG.
ASD.
mp 3
3
sul pont. fp
sul pont.
fp
84
LEY.
SAG.
ASD.
Perc.
Vln.
He sings
our
our
a
song! ff
-
lone!
f
fp
f
fp
f
Vc.
-
p
mf
p
mf
p
mf
mf cresc.
song!
Our
3
Wait
for
song. cresc.
Our
3
me,
I am
f
lone,
e.=144 f ff
poco rit.
mf
3
3
here.
I'm co - ming
fp
fp
fp
fp
ord.
ord.
ord.
song,
fp
fp
I
3
home,
fp
Vla.
poco rit.
H Più mosso, h=72 pont. sul
3
A
fp
Vc.
(Gong)
mf
Vla.
mf
Lis - ten on the wind
Perc. Vln.
We've
I
lost
e.=144
our
bro - ther,
our
our home,
no time
lives,
2
to
ff
ff ff
LEY.
88
Perc.
Vln.
(x=x)
ff
dream!
SAG.
ASD.
J
mf
A
LEY.
ASD.
Perc.
Vln.
Vc.
My
soul,
my
fp
poco
The nights
-
thing
but
f
pp
stars,
poco
him?
my
pp
poco
Can you hear
3
A
-
ssad
(x=x) J q=108 f
mf
soul.
p
9
f
93
No
Crotales w/ brass mallet
fp
p
ssad!
sim.
Vla.
f
3
SAG.
q=108
mf
fp
Vc.
-
fp
Vla.
3
Can't
you hear
soul,
my
poco
mf
poco
soul,
this
pp
mf
His
poco
poco
pp
poco
pp
our on - ly safe
him?
mf
poco
mf
-
ty,
3
voice
mf
is
bo - dy
still
pp
poco
pp
poco
poco
pp
10 LEY.
98
SAG.
Perc. Vln.
dim.
wait
for
(Crot.)
mf
poco p
SAG.
Vln.
are
as
mp
A
-
3 and its
p
night, p
lone,
threads
as
a
mf
-
pp
-
mf
brief.
ppp
poco
pp
LEY. NO TIME! WE HAVE NO TIME!
ppp
ppp
LEY. TO WHAT? I KNOW YOU MISS HIM, YOU TWO WERE SO CLOSE... SAG. BELIEVE! LISTEN! CAN'T YOU HERE HIM?
lone.
repeat as needed
pp sempre
poco
poco
SAG. ASSAD! HE SINGS! BELIEVE! LISTEN
poco p
Speak as dialogue
pp
Vla.
Vc.
clear
night.
Perc.
- ty
mp
me.
safe
3
whole,
on - ly
pp
ASD.
our
mf
3
dim.
104
LEY.
3
The nights
night,
Vla.
Vc.
as
still
gliss.
whole,
mp
3
clear
ASD.
p
pp
pp
K
LEY. WE HAVE NO TIME SAG. LISTEN! HE SINGS! LEY. NO TIME. PAPA CAN'T LOSE US TOO! SAG. ASSAD! LEY. YOU HEAR A GHOST!
Perc. Vln.
Vla.
Vc.
LEY.
SAG.
ASD.
Perc.
e.=158
Bongos
f
K e.=158
Dictated
Dictated Vln. ff Vla. ff
Vc. ff
p p ff ff
p
PAPA SAID HE HEARD HIS CRY!
BUT PAPA NEVER SAW HIM... (Lead in)
sfz sfz
sfz
sfz sfz
sfz
L q=112
ff
spoken PAPA SAID THEY PRIED HIM FROM HIS ARMS! (Angry)
ff
114
11
Die!
fp
L q=112
sfz
sfz
sfz
12 LEY.
118
We've
sfz sempre
sfz sempre
Vc.
123
LEY.
Perc.
ten!
Lis
-
ten!
Lis - ten
Lis
-
3
here
ten! Lis
-
ten!
Lis - ten!
a - lone!
ord.
ord.
ord. f
sul pont.
ord.
fp
f sul pont.
ord.
fp
sfz sempre
sfz sempre
ord.
f
sfz sempre
Just
once!
sul pont.
fp
f
ff
Lis - ten
Lis -
Vla. Vc.
Vln.
ff
sul pont.
sul pont.
ser!
I'm
sul pont.
-
-
A - ssad!
clo
f
SAG.
ASD.
sfz sempre
A - lone!
ff
3
Dan - ger grows
Lis - ten!
Vla.
him!
f
Vln.
f
(Bongos)
Perc.
lost
SAG.
ASD.
f
f
3
fp
3
f
fp
fp
3
3
fp f
f
fp f
3
f
fp
LEY.
13
127
3 3
SAG.
ASD.
I'll
lis - ten,
Perc. Vln.
Vla.
Vc.
just
h=54
ASD.
ff
Perc.
mf
M h=54
pp
pp
Vc. pp
mfp
-
ff
pp
3
night
f
-
-
lone
pp
mf
mf
mf
-
ssad,
if you're
still
3
mf
with
us,
mfp
mfp
mfp
mfp
mfp
mfp
mfp
mfp
sim.
mfp
poco rit.
mp
Hand Gong
A
-
pp
ppp
A
pp
to
ff
pp
3
(q=q)
once.
M
SAG.
Vla.
131
Vln.
LEY.
(q=q)
poco rit.
sim.
sim.
14
135
LEY.
Perc.
let
us
3
hear
I
hear
the wind.
beasts!
3
hear
The
f
him?
Vln. Vla.
senza misura
139
LEY.
We have
mf
3
SAG.
ASD.
Vln.
Li - sten
h=54 sul pont.
mfp
sul pont.
mfp
sul pont. Vc. mfp
mfp
lost
mfp
ssad!
Just
3
A
-
f
mfp
mfp
mfp
3
note.
senza misura
one more
I...
him.
be - lieve
mfp
Vla.
poco
3
h=54
senza misura poco mf
h=54
h=54
mfp
I... (mouthing)
Vc.
mf
Can you
mf
you.
SAG.
ASD.
3
senza misura
mfp
mfp
mfp
ALO(NE)...
mfp
mfp
LEY.
143
Vln.
SAG.
ASD.
15
mp
3
A
-
ssad
A -
mfp
ssad.
FOR ME...
mfp
LEY. WE HAVE LOST HIM... WE'VE LOST OUR BROTHER... LET GO... LET GO, THE SUN WILL RISE. LOOK INTO MY EYES... SAY GOODBYE. OR DIE.
mfp
mfp
mfp
Vc.
pp
3
WA(IT)...
Vla.
Speak as dialogue
mfp
mfp
mfp
ord.
pp
mfp
ord.
pp ord.
pp
LEY.
147
Vln.
Vla.
Solemnly, h=68
SAG.
ASD.
N
p
A -
lone
p
will
ne - ver
mp
be
whole
N Solemnly, h=68 p
I
p
Vc.
with - out
poco
you.
16
O
152
LEY.
SAG.
Vc.
will ne - ver
O
lone
I will
be
whole
mp
ne - ver
be
with - out you
I
will
with - out
poco
ne - ver
be
poco
you.
p
whole.
whole
mp
Vla.
p
I
Vln.
A -
p
ASD.
A -
lone
LEY.
157
SAG.
P
p
3
Let
go,
mp
A -
ASD.
Vln.
I
will
P mp più
Vla.
ne - ver
be
Vc.
mp più
lone
whole
mp più
let
I will
go,
ne - ver
with - out you
p
mp
3
mp
be
I
let
whole
with - out
poco
will ne - ver
be
go,
whole.
mf
let
go!
poco
you.
mp
You are
LEY.
SAG.
mp
not
I
not
will
Vc.
You
are
not
time,
we
have
no time
to
dream
and
mp
whole.
mp
a - lone.
mf
be
Q poco più mosso, h=72 Vln. mf Vla. mf
ne - ver
mf
a - lone,
mf
lone
mp
No
A -
ASD.
17
Q poco più mosso, h=72 162
A -
a -
I
lone
mf
am
here.
LEY.
166
mf
cry.
SAG.
lone
ASD.
Vc.
No time,
Vla.
Vln.
mp
I
can
ne
mf
You
-
ver
be
are
not
time
to
whole
a -
lone
p sub.
poco
no
mf
poco poco
p sub.
p sub.
I
am
mf
dream
or
f
cry.
mp
go,
will
lone
I
can
ne - ver
be
a -
A -
I
here!
lone
Let
A -
mp
mp
18
170
LEY.
R
let
go,
let
ASD.
Vln.
whole.
A-
cresc. poco a poco
lone,
I
can
ne - ver
lone
be
ne - ver
I
can
poco accel.
go,
I
(f)
let
be with - out you.
go,
(mf)
A - lone
let
whole.
go,
cresc.
can
(mf)
R
Vla.
I
cresc.
Vc.
be
let
ne - ver
go,
cresc. poco a poco
SAG.
poco accel.
(mf)
cresc. poco a poco
can
ne - ver
be
let
whole
be
with - out
whole
with - out
you.
(f)
(f)
let
(f)
(f)
ne - ver
go,
(f)
cresc.
LEY.
SAG.
175
go,
let
you.
ASD.
Vla.
Vc.
ff
go.
With
Don't
Vln.
S A tempo, h=68
poco rit.
leave
poco rit.
No -
out
me
hear
you!
A -
a
ff
-
ff
time!
ssad!
lone,
Let
-
a
-
3
ssad!
S A tempo, h=68 ff
go!
A
Meno mosso, h=60
3
A - lone!
lone!
p
3
We are
p
a - lone,
3
p
We are
(q=q) a -
a - lone,
3 We are
a -
a - lone,
a -
Meno mosso, h=60 (q=q)
ff
ff
LEY.
181
3
lone,
SAG.
we are
a
-
lone,
we are
a
-
lone,
we are
a
-
lone,
we
Vla.
Vc.
are
a - lone.
a - lone.
we
are
we
pp
are
pp
a - lone,
Vln.
pp
a - lone,
3
lone,
a - lone,
3
lone,
ASD.
rit.
a - lone.
We
3
are
We
are
We
are
a
3
ff
-
a
3
- lone!
a 3
19
h=42 ff
lone!
ff
-
We are
a -
3
I
lone!
can 3
You
are
h=42
rit.
3
186
LEY.
lone,
SAG.
ne - ver
ASD.
not
Perc. Vln.
Vla.
Vc.
3
be
a -
3
lone,
ne
- ver
a
be whole
- lone.
a
whole,
3
poco accel.
poco rit.
-
with - out
I'm
you.
here.
(Gong)
poco rit.
lone.
pp
poco accel.
p
p
f
p f
f
20
T
h=68 188
LEY.
fff
A
-
fff
SAG.
A
ASD.
Perc.
Vln.
lone!
-
fff
-
ssad!
lone!
f
-
ssad!
Let
whole
ASD.
me
with
out
you!
A - ssad!
Vla.
Vc.
here.
3
Vln.
-
more
both
note
mourn,
me
I
you
lost
A - ssad
we
will ne - ver be
here
me.
Don't
f
f
leave
f
I'm
Here!
A
-
lone,
tell
U Meno mosso, h=60
me
you
hear
me.
f broadly
f broadly
f broadly
poco rit.
f
U Meno mosso, h=60
ff
we
Tell
ff
lone
ff
-
lone
poco rit.
go!
molto SAG.
A
one
molto
A
just
A
5
ff espress.
lone!
-
T h=68
I'm here!
193
LEY.
A
ff espress.
Vc.
A - lone!
A - ssad,
ff espress.
Vla.
A
201 ASD. Vln.
208 ASD.
Perc.
Vln.
Vla.
Vc.
Don't
leave
Vla.
Vc.
21
me
here,
wait
p
Perc.
A
213 ASD.
W
-
mf dim.
for me,
I
V p sub. p sub.
V
lone,
a
-
a
am here
p sub.
-
lone,
a
lone,
a
-
-
lone.
pp
pp pp
lone.
ppp
ff
ppp
15"
Repeat and fade out.
A - lone.
Propane Tank
ppp
n
fff poss.
* Hold on trem.
January 2011 Ann Arbor, MI