DARK MISSION
An Opera in Two Acts
By John D. Nugent
Libretto by Charles Deemer
CAST (in order of appearance):
Cayuse Chorus
Tiloukaikt
Tomahas
Five Crows
Missionary Chorus
Marcus Whitman
Narcissa Whitman
Lorinda Bewley
Medicine Chief
Timothy
Joe Lewis
Father Blanchet
SETTING: Whitman Mission, Walla Walla Valley in eastern Washington, 1836-1847.
INSTRUMENTATION AND VOICES:
1 Piccolo
2 Flutes (1 doubles wood flute)
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets (doubling various tunings)
1 Bass Clarinet in Bb
2 Bassoons
1 Contra-Bassoon
4 Horns in F
3 Trumpets
3 Trombones
1 Tuba
Percussion 1 (Bass Drum, Snare)
Percussion 2 (Cymbals, perhaps a high tom)
Percussion 3 (Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Chimes, Vibraphone, Tambourine)
Timpani
Harp
I Violins
II Violins
Violas
Violoncelli
Basses
VOCAL RANGES
Tiloukaikt (Baritone)
Tomahas (Tenor)
Five Crows (Tenor)
Marcus Whitman (Tenor)
Narcissa Whitman (Soprano)
Lorinda Bewley (Soprano)
Medicine Chief (Baritone)
Timothy (Tenor)
Joe Lewis (Bass)
Father Blanchet (Bass)
SCENES:
1/ THE CAYUSE
Cayuse Chorus
Tiloukaikt
Tomahas
Five Crows
2/ THE MISSIONARIES
Missionary Chorus
Marcus Whitman
Narcissa Whitman
3/ WHO ARE THESE GHOSTS?
Cayuse Chorus
Marcus
Narcissa
4/ TO PLANT A GARDEN
Marcus
Narcissa
Lorinda
Tiloukaikt
Five Crows
Choruses
5/ THE CHILDREN ARE SICK
Tiloukaikt
Medicine Chief
Marcus
6/ NARCISSA'S DREAM
Narcissa
7/ TIMOTHY'S SEARCH
Timothy
8/ A SLEEPLESS NIGHT
Marcus
Narcissa
9/ TIMOTHY'S CONVERSION
Marcus
Timothy
Missionary Chorus
10/ TROUBLE
Joe Lewis
Timothy
Father Blanchet
Marcus
Narcissa
Missionary Chorus
11. / THE CHILDREN ARE SICK AGAIN
Tiloukaikt
Tomahas
Joe Lewis
12. / A STRANGE FOREBODING
Narcissa
Marcus
13. NOW IS THE TIME
Tiloukaikt
Tomahas
Five Crows
14. THE MEDICINE MAN MUST PAY
Tiloukaikt
Tomahas
Cayuse Chorus
Narcissa
Marcus
Missionary Chorus
Lorinda
Five Crows
15. A STRANGE COURTSHIP
Lorinda
Five Crows
Missionary chorus
Tiloukaikt
Tomahas
16. NOT GUILTY!
Tiloukaikt
Tomahas
Lorinda
17. MARCUS AND NARCISSA IN HEAVEN
Marcus
Narcissa
Missionary Chorus
Tiloukaikt
Tomahas
18. CODA: DARK MISSION
Tiloukaikt
Tomahas
Cayuse Chorus
Five Crows
Medicine Man
1/ THE CAYUSE
CAYUSE CHORUS:
We are the Waiilatpuan
Sometimes called Cayuse
Who ride our strong ponies
From the Blue Mountains
To the Walla Walla Valley
The place of rye grass
TILOUKAIKT:
I am Tiloukaikt
A strong and brave chief
Feared by Shishones
I fear no man
I steal their ponies
Now called Cayuse
TOMAHAS:
I am Tomahas
A strong and brave chief
Feared by the Snake
I fear no man
I drive them away
From salmon-filled rivers
CAYUSE CHORUS:
We are the Waiilatpuan
Named after hard stone
Called the imperial tribe
Whose name means Superior People
A people of great strength
And filled with much pride
FIVE CROWS:
I am Five Crows
A strong and brave chief
I fear no man
I hate no man
I am Five Crows
A strong and brave chief
CAYUSE CHORUS:
This is our land
From Blue Mountains to Walla Walla
The land of the Waiilatpuan
Land of the Cayuse
Who ride our swift ponies
In the place of rye grass
2/ THE MISSIONARIES
MUSIC suggests wind, dust. MISSIONARIES enter,
leaning into the wind, led by MARCUS WHITMAN.)
MISSIONARY CHORUS:
Step by step
One thousand miles
One thousand behind
One thousand to go
VOICE:
The wind too strong
I must give up
VOICE:
The dust too thick
I must give up
MARCUS:
Forward, you can make it!
Onward, you can make it!
Westward, you can make it!
MISSIONARY CHORUS:
Step by step
One thousand miles
One thousand behind
One thousand to go
NARCISSA:
Husband, I am weak
The trail too long
Too many bones
Along its stretch
The failure of those
Who passed before
The wind too strong
The dust too thick
My body frail
I am so weak
MARCUS:
Narcissa, dear wife
Strong in spirit
Where it counts
Don't you see
How God tests us?
This strength of wind
Thick clouds of dust
These tests of faith
So He might see
If we are chosen
MISSIONARY CHORUS:
Step by step
One thousand miles
One thousand behind
One thousand to go
VOICE:
Such a monotony, these long plains
VOICE:
Such an obstacle, these towering peaks
MARCUS:
Onward, across the plains!
Westward, over the mountains!
Never give up!
You can make it!
MARCUS (tune, missionary refrain):
These obstacles by God revealed
Are tests to judge our faith in Him, our
Strength to bring the word of God
Into a heathen land
MISSIONARY CHORUS:
These obstacles by God revealed
Are tests to judge our faith in Him, our
Strength to bring the word of God
Into a heathen land
Step by step
One thousand miles
Two thousand behind
And few to go
NARCISSA:
Marcus, look!
This beautiful valley
The long clear river
The sweep of rye grass
It looks like Eden
MARCUS:
Narcissa, yes!
I see it, too.
Might this be what
We are looking for?
It looks like Eden
MARCUS AND NARCISSA:
Step by step
The wind so strong
The dust so thick
And now at last
Our journey's end
(tune, missionary refrain):
This sacred spot by God revealed