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| Vigil | |
| Text Author: | Roger Zahab with assistance from General Lucius V. Bierce (Historical Reminiscences of Summit County-1854) |
| Date Completed: | August 26, 2002 |
| Duration: | about 14 minutes |
| Instrumentation: | SATB chorus, tenor and soprano soloists and orchestra: 2222 2210 timp chimes piano strings |
| First Performance: | Robert Frankenberry, tenor; Kimberly Anne Weston, soprano, members of the University of Pittsburgh Men's Glee Club and Heinz Chapel Choir and the University Orchestra under the direction of the composer in Bellefield Hall Auditorium, Pittsburgh, PA on September 25, 2002. |
| Program Notes: | Vigil text by Roger Zahab (© 2002) with assistance from General Lucius V. Bierce Dawn A sudden rush of fragrant air, waves of birdsong and a rumor of light raise the sun from the east. As sunlight warms the earth leaves bend and bodies stretch. This day holds promise; it is good to be alive. Massacre In the spring of 1782, Col. David Williamson, a notorious Indian hunter, assembled 80 or 90 men on the frontier of Pennsylvania and set out to destroy the Moravian Indians at Gnadenhutten, on the Tuscarawas. These Christian People had been converted by Moravians, whose principles forbid them to fight. Williamson found them an easy conquest and his men flew to their task. First they killed a young half-breed Indian called Schebosh in the most brutal manner. They fired upon him and broke his arm, and when he fell on his knees and begged for his life, saying he was the son of a white Christian, they chopped him to pieces - he was scalped and tomahawked. Then they took the remaining people and imprisoned them in log cabins and Williamson asked his soldiers whether the captives should be put to death. All but 16 said yes. During the short time of this judgement the Indians foresaw their fate. They sang and prayed and exhorted each other. They understood the result of the vote by the commencement of horrid butchery. In a few minutes those slaughter-houses were filled with the bloody remains of men, women, and children; from the grey-haired Patriarch to the prattling infant sporting on his mother's breast. Thirty-four out of the ninety six murdered were children. Where then is the hand of God in this affair? "Thou shalt love thy Neighbor as Thyself" - and yet those unloved neighbors even so believers in Christ's Redemption? Look to your affairs that you may not be surprised at the sudden fall of eternal night, when all colors will finally agree. chorus: Why bear children to see them torn to pieces? Why love what is precious to see it burned to ash? Friendship My child has a friend - they are always together. I love to hear their talk and laughter as they play. One day after a swim in the sun they were unusually quiet. They were taking turns listening to each other’s heartbeat and didn’t notice me, but I saw them - and the wonder opening their eyes. It is a miracle that in every moment of life the heart beats on - whether we sleep or play, whether we fight or love. Two friends may be unalike and come from different places, but the mysteries of heartbeat, sun-warmed skin and unbound laughter bind them together. chorus: Why bear children to see them torn to pieces? Why love what is precious to see it burned to ash? The Raving Men Raving men are drunk with visions of gods, as many gods as there are mirrors, and yet each god the only one. A day begun with great promise has ended in murder, and night falls with cries for revenge. The sacred words are poisoned by ambitious rulers and we are stripped of hope and compassion. Is it true that this misery will not end until only one is left standing? |