We Come Only in Passing
Linda Tutas Haugen
About this work:
We come Only In Passing is the Prologue from the chamber opera
Pocahontas, by Linda Tutas Haugen, composer, and Joan Vail
Thorne, librettist. The opera was commissioned by the Virginia Arts
Festival and the Virginia Opera to commemorate the the 400th
Anniversary of Jamestown, and premiered in May of 2007 in Norfolk
and Williamsburg, Virginia.
The opera begins, using a contrast between soloist and chorus, with a
traditional text that reflects the spiritual perspective of many traditional
Native American cultures.
It is not true that we come here only to live,
We come only in passing.
We do not own all that is given to us.
On this journey we eat, sleep, and dream.
And whenever you are ready, O Maker of Life,
I’ll come home to you.
Year composed: 2007
Duration: 00:02:50
Ensemble type: Chorus, with or without Solo Voices:Chorus with Chamber Ensemble
Instrumentation: ,1 Soprano soloist(s)
Instrumentation notes: SATB Chorus, Chamber Ensemble