New York Stories (Piano/vocal Score) by Robert Paterson

Robert Paterson

for Soprano, Baritone, and Chamber Ensemble

Librettos and Lyrics by Mark Campbell

Margo Connolly

David Cote

Briana Elyse Hunter

John de los Santos

Sokunthary Svay

Piano/vocal Score

billholabmusic.com

PERUSAL

Program Note

New York Stories began as a single duet for soprano, baritone, and piano called Crossing The Hudson with text by Mark Campbell, which was commissioned by the Five Boroughs Music Festival. A few years later, David Cote wrote lyrics for a duet with the same instrumentation called Extraordinary, as a concert ender for two song cycles we created, called In Real Life I and In Real Life II. After these two pieces, I sensed a pattern emerging, or at least a potential project: since both of these pieces take place in and contain texts by writers based in New York City, I thought it would be fun to ask four other talented New York City-based writers to write lyrics or short libretti, with the only stipulation that each piece be inspired by or take place in the five boroughs. The other writers I chose for this project include Margot Connolly, Briana Elyse Hunter, John de los Santos, and Sokunthary Svay. – Robert Paterson

Brief Synopses (In Performance Order)

Crossing The Hudson – Mark Campbell

When setting text to music, it is very fulfilling to have an opportunity to work with living writers, and especially a great writer such as Mark Campbell, one of America’s most celebrated librettists. The mission of the Five Borough Songbook project is to have composers and text writers create short pieces that are about New York City, so we decided to create a song entitled Crossing The Hudson about two people who cross each other on different Staten Island Ferries. Crossing The Hudson was commissioned by the Five Boroughs Music Festival for the Five Borough Songbook, Volume II. – Robert Paterson

Original and Only – Margot Connolly

Emma’s moved to Queens, and settling in is hard — new locker combination, nobody to talk to. Surprisingly, Harry Houdini has a lot of the same problems. With instructions from the internet, Emma tries to forge a connection amidst the gravestones of Machpelah Cemetery. – Margot Connolly

Shallow Wishes – John de los Santos

One day at a park in New York City (a different park than the one in Shallow Wishes), I happened to witness a photoshoot with a young bride in a couture gown in front of a fountain. When I looked closer, I saw an older man in the fountain behind her, digging for change. That bittersweet tableau has remained with me ever since as a reminder of the perilous, upward climb living in New York City necessitates on a daily basis. – John de los Santos

River Park – Sokunthary Svay

Separated by responsibility and opportunity, childhood friends, Christian and Mayra, reunite at River Park in the South Bronx after five years away from home. They share personal tragedies, accomplishments, and possibly more. – Sokunthary Svay

Rules In Effect – Briana Elyse Hunter

Our protagonist has to move their car for the street sweeper, but they wake up late! It’s a race against the clock to make it and they’ve parked several blocks away. They thought it was a holiday. They’re not prepared to sit in their car for an hour and a half. The dog has to poop but can’t decide where. They have a phone meeting scheduled; they’ll have to do it in the car. Must acquire caffeine! Tick Tock, the traffic cop is down the block. The traffic cop muses over all of the excuses. Please don’t give me a ticket, my grandmother died, I broke my leg, I have the flu, my car won’t start, my pet is sick, etc. Both characters move down the block from opposite directions; who will arrive first? Can our protagonist make it in time? A mini action-adventure tale. – Briana Elyse Hunter

Extraordinary – David Cote

Brian and Angela met on a dating app and have decided to meet. They’ve shared pictures (pet, apartment, and so forth) and now they’re ready to meet IRL. It’s Central Park after work, and they’re both a little nervous, since this kind of feels like a date…right? To make things trickier, it’s the middle of a pandemic: face masks and social distancing. As they meet, sit, and chat, we hear their inner thoughts as they pass through stages of awkwardness, panic, warming up, and genuine attraction. Extraordinary was commissioned by American Modern Ensemble with funding from the Doctorow Family Foundation. – David Cote

PERUSAL

World Premiere (Piano/vocal Version)

American Modern Ensemble

OPERA America’s National Opera Center, Marc A. Scorca Hall

New York, NY

May 24, 2024

World Premiere (Chamber Version)

Mostly Modern Festival, Mostly Modern Festival Ensemble

Willian Langley, Conductor

Skidmore College, Arthur Zankel Music Center, Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall

Saratoga Springs, NY

June 16, 2024

Total Duration: ca. 60’00”

IMPORTANT NOTICE

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PERUSAL

billholabmusic.com

MachpelahCemetery.It’sdaytime,afternoon.Sunlight.HarryHoudiniissittingonthestonestepsofhisownmonument. He’slookingintentlyatEM,shortforEMMA,ateenagedgirlwithabackpackandamission.She’sunloadingwhatlooks tobeDIYseanceparaphernalia—weirdandoutofplaceintheafternoonlight.Shecan’tseeHOUDINI,buthecanseeher.

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Right. EMarrangesrocks. HOUDINIgiveshimselfalittleshake. Triesagain.

reaching - out frombeyond - thegrave. But

they

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asifreadingorremembering directions

andwhenyou saw

them, you’dstand, ﬂingoutanarm and say—

tend, couldn’t - fakeyou at a

Duet:“SomeoneToTalkTo”

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listen - -ing.

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wanting - tospeakandhear—

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Yes. That’smyBess.

EMstartstocleanupwhatevermessshemadesettingupfortheseance.Thelast stepinhercleanupisthecircleofstonesshemade.Asshe’sclearingthemup, somethinghappens-Houdinigrabsthelaststone,holdsitouttoher.EM,almost withoutthinking,takesit.Onceshehasitinherhand,maybeshealmostdouble takes.Howdidthatgethere?Shedoesn’trememberpickingitup.Shelooksaround, lookstowardsHOUDINI.Amomentwhereshemaybealmostseeshim.Theylook ateachother,eyecontact.Amomentofbeingseen.ThenEMshakesitoﬀ-what wasshelookingatagain?EMmoveson,grabsherbackpack.Stillholdingthelast rockinherhand.

Anothermoment.EMcontemplatessayinggoodbye,butfeelsdumbdoingthat.Weighsthestoneinherhand. Startstoleavethecemetery.StopsatthefootofHoudini’stombstone-long,rectangular,clutteredwithplayingcards, handcuﬀs,rustykeysandlocks,etc.Sheclearsaspotandputstherockdown-aJewishactofremembrance.EMexits. HOUDINI,backathisearlierperchonthestonesteps.Lookingout,watchingasEMgoes.

Hemakesthesameﬂourishwithhishandsthathemadeatthebeginningofthescene, butthistimehefollowsthrough.Hesmiles,satisﬁed.Endofscene.

Itismid-morningonasummerdayinGrandArmyPlaza.ThesprayfromBaileyFountainmakesmistyrainbows. Georgeenters,barefoot.Herollsuphispantlegs,andstepsintothefountain’spool.Hebendsandsquatstocollectcoins.

RileyentersandseesGeorge,buthetakesnonoticeofher. Shesitsonabenchsomedistancefromhim.

God,

that'ssad. Sois sitting - here, avoid - -ingyourroommate, - her

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himI'mﬁne.

Tell

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Hesighsashepisseshimself.

Rileylooksatthesculpturesofthenudemanandwoman inthefountain.

Per

-fectcouple, - sailing - tall. Seagods splash ing. -

Theireyeslockforaninstant, thenRileyturnsaway,wincing. Bothcontinueconversing tothemselves.

Althoughtheyarebothlookingaway, theyremainacutelyawareofoneanother.

Helookssick. Idon'thavechange.Ihatethis.

Shewon'tlast.

Iwon'task. Harder - forherthanme.

Bar. Rileyseesabeautifullydressedbrideandherweddingparty movingtowardsthefountaintotakepictures. Georgenoticesthemtoo.

rit. 117

AsRileyexits,shecan’thelplookingatGeorgeonelasttime. Helooksbackandsmiles.Sheexitsinahurry.

Theweddingpartyhasreachedthefountain,arrangingthemselvesintoaperfecttableau. Georgelooksatthem,butdoesn’tbudge.

MayrawalksintotheparkwhereChristianissittingonthebench,waitingforher. Hiseyeslookupather,slightlyconfused,notrecognizingheratfirst, andthenbrightentorealizewhosheis.

Hismouthbreaksintoalargegrinashestandsup. Sheissmilingwithhereyes,andsighswithsomereliefasshewalksover.

Shewinksthenlovingly patshisshoulder.

rit.

- brownpaper - bag mf withchewy - SourPowers - in side.–

Lookingdown atherfeet.

Andantemoderato,withsadness,q=ca.72

brother... - died twoyearsago. - Hewasacashier. -

Heaskedabout

Thetwostandquietlybesideeachother lookingattheriver,ponderingthisbitofnews.

CentralPark,Fridayat6:30pm.Brianenters,inmask.Stands,lookingaround, checkingphone.Afteramoment,Angela,alsoinamask,appears.Theyseeeach other.Wave.Theyremovetheirmasksforrecognition.

Theysitonabench,judgingthedistancesubtly—sixfeetapart?— adjustingslightly.Theyremovetheirmasksentirely.Awkwardpause.

Pause.Helookseagerlyat her,expecting“funny.”She’s ataloss,soallshecanblurt outis:

carpet - bombing - the date. This date is a war-crime and

Butit’s not

not safe.

Butit’s not safe, not safe.

pocorit.

LightsuponourBaritone:cozy,gentlyrisingoutofslumber,theysnoozethreetimes.

orprinting - thedreaded - orange - tickets - Ibring order - tocha-os

Some days sure stink, Andmakeyou think, Youshould