Metanarrative Passion Mini-Suite

March 29, 2013

In view of it being Good Friday, I previously posted “Abandoned and Unknown.” Here is the entire Passion section of Metanarrative. (Metanarrative is my incomplete musical journey through the story of the Bible. The MP3 downloadable below are “composition versions”—i.e. recordings of various roughness that I made while composing the pieces. The Metanarrative music project site is here.)

Movement 11: Confrontation

[Listen to composition version MP3 here.]

what is this merchandise
this is a house of prayer
the voice resounds
whose are these flashing eyes
tables fly everywhere
a whip comes down

a hush overcomes the people
could this be the one
prophet priest and temple
all rolled into one….

who does he think he is
some kind of voice from God
or something more
speaking so negative
dividing our house of cards
we can’t ignore

we can’t ignore
can’t ignore
this can’t be the one
we can’t ignore
can’t ignore
we’re gonna take him down….

Movement 12: Betrayal

[Listen to composition version MP3 here.]

in the secrets of the night
where plots are made
and plans are laid
every treason has a price
a traitor paid
for a man betrayed

is this you, my companion
the one I chose, the one I knew
friend untrue brings my passion
from one so close, could this be true

in the garden on the ground
a watch to keep
while others sleep
friends and foes, their weapons drawn
(it’s the hour of darkness)
a quiet kiss
it ends like this

is this you, my companion…

could this be true
is this you…

Movement 13: Simon’s Lament

[Listen to composition version MP3 here.]

God this night is cold
but I can’t face the dawn
I’m known as brash and bold
but that old me is gone

He said, you’re Peter –
you are the rock…
but what’s the meaning
if it’s only talk?

can’t say I wasn’t warned
yet still I could have sworn. . . .

a man must think he’s strong
a man can be so wrong

tell me Peter
what was that I heard
tell me Peter
what was that bird?

the man who’d go the farthest
[who’d never waver, never break]

it echoes in my ears
and everyone must hear –
I would even die
but I would not deny

first to falter
first to break
first to falter
first to fall

the man who’d go the farthest
now I go in the darkness
and I weep bitterly

Movement 14: Court of Kangaroos

[Listen to composition version MP3 here.]

in the secrets of the night
meets a court of kangaroos
cooking up a charge to write
passing judgment on the Truth

(tell me your secrets
your dirty little secrets)

and comes the light of day
a pagan defender
and a Jewish pretender
can’t find a thing to say

but hear the mob’s demand
you’re no friend of Caesar
if you release him –
you cannot wash your hands

speaking nothing in defense
it’s an uncontested fate
and as cruel death impends
like a sheep he stands and waits

so will you go silently
please don’t you tell me
you’ll go without a fight
please don’t go silently
into this evil night
into this evil night…

 Movement 15: Via Dolorosa

[Listen to composition version MP3 here.]

see the royal robe he wears
see the beating that he bears
see the thorns upon his head
see his body glisten red
(on the via dolorosa….)

see him stumble with that cross
is he humbled, broken, lost
see the spear run through his side
see the death that plots devise
(on the via dolorosa….)

is this you, blessed teacher
the one I loved, the one I knew
is this you, are these your features
flowing blood from open wounds

is it I, blessed master
the one you loved, the one you knew
was it my, my transgressions
that put you there, that murdered you

is it I, is it I, is this you

on the via dolorosa….

Movement 16: Abandoned and Unknown

[Listen to composition version MP3 here.]

all alone against the darkened sky
the Lord of life prepares to die
and we don’t know him
he came to his own unrecognized
just like coming home, no welcome sign
why didn’t we know him

my God, my God
we hear him cry
why have you forsaken me
this cup of wrath
these darkened skies
hell has overtaken me

is this you, blessed teacher
the one I loved, the one I knew
is this you, are these your features
flowing blood from open wounds

my God, my God….

Movement 17: Agnus Dei

[Listen to composition version Mp3 here.]

agnus Dei
qui tollis peccata mundi
miserere nobis

agnus Dei
qui tollis peccata mundi
miserere nobis

agnus Dei
qui tollis peccata mundi
dona nobis pacem

the lamb is slain
God has died
I cannot face
hope crucified
hope crucified

Movement 18: Triumph of Israel’s God

[Listen to composition version MP3 here.]

a stranger on the road
a face we didn’t know
“why are you crying”
are you the only one
who doesn’t know what’s done
a messiah dying

why can’t you see
so it must be
from days long ago
it’s all been foretold

the prophets have spoken
their words are not broken

and the words that he spoke
and the bread that he broke
a history of Israel’s blood
daylight dawned in my eyes
standing there undisguised
the triumph of Israel’s God

is this you, my messiah
the one I loved, the one I knew
didn’t they crucify you
yet here you stand created new

the triumph of Israel’s God
the triumph of Israel’s God

…has come at last