Lighthouse

for 8 solo voices (SSAATTBB), harp, percussion
Duration ca 40′
Commissioned by: Le Lieu Unique, Macadam Ensemble and Etienne Ferchaud

Premiere: December 5, 2014
Macadam Ensemble, Lucie Berthomier, Guy-Loup Boisneau; Etienne Ferchaud
Le Lieu Unique, Nantes, France

Instrumentation:
Crotales (antique cymbals) played by singers
Harp
Percussion: 2 Suspended cymbals, Tam-tam, 15 Thai gongs, Glockenspiel

The text is compiled by Evelin Seppar based on excerpts from the diary of Patrick James Dillon (lighthouse keeper at Whitehead) and poetry by E. E. Cummings.

sun moon stars rain autumn
everyb
ody’s elsewher
e except me

Autumn
I

a
utumn&t
he rai
n
th
e
raintherain
sun moon stars rain
October 25: Two steamers in sight. One going east in forenoon. One west in afternoon. Wind S.W. clear.
a
utumn&t
he rai
n
th
e
raintherain
(a
le
af
fa
ll
s)
November 12: My throat getting quite sore. Wind died out until evening & then sprung up to S.E. Got mail from the Casey boys. 1 paper and one letter.
everyb
ody’s elsewher
e except me
a
utumn&t
he rai
n
th
e
raintherain
sun moon stars rain
November 24: Wind N.E. in morn, S.E later. Joe went up harbour after landing ”Freedom” home. He got back home about 2 P.M. After night wind increased to a furious gale and continued all night. Tremendous sea rising. Seven or eight schooners passed going West during day. They must have had a dreadful night. Joe brought me no letters.
i
sit
(hearing
the rain)
th
e
raintherain
who are you
peering from some high
window; at the gold
of november sunset
December 17: Blowing and cold. Too much for Myers to go home. They helped in getting flour, meal, molasses, beef and coal from the Cove. In evening schooner ”Hope” came in from Canso with flag at half mast, having the remains of poor Mike McDonald on board. He and his two boys drowned off Canso yesterday. A sad house of mourning.
December 19: John&I went up to the funeral.
Storms and rough cold
snow will come soon
(and stars moon
sun fall rise come
go rain snow)
winter

Winter
II

January 3: Cloudy. Snowy and then foggy. Dan&I hauled home 4 cases oil.
it is winter
snowflakes
(falling&falling&falling)
eyes eyeslooking(alw
ays)while
earth and sky grow
one(sil
ently)fal
ling(e
ver
yw
here)s
Now
February 18: After dinner Dan&I went to Raspberry. Wind N.E.&E. snowing. A small schooner came from West and passed out to east of island.
February 20: Rather stormy with snow but wind moderate. Dan&I brought home 6 cases oil. During the night snowed quite a depth.
the sky is so near the earth does not
open her
eyes
March 1: The boys went to Raspberry and Mary came over with them.
March 2: They went up harbour. Landed Mary home and Pat Casey went up with them. Ice coming in from East.
March 7: Ice closed in again all around the island. Jerry Casey brought my mail. A letter from Mary.
March 10: Wind North very light. Ice moving out slowly.
(and stars moon
sun fall rise come
go rain snow)
but winter’s not forever, even snow
melts
dawn dark rain snow rain
winter goodbye
it’s Spring
O the sun

Spring
III

March 28: A fine day. Wind from N.W. to S.W. moderate and after night N.W. again. April 14: Wind S.S.W&S. moderate. During night blew fresh with rain. Heavy sea.
i
sit
(hearing
the rain)
on such a night the sea through her blind miles
of crumbling silence seriously smiles
look at it blue is the
high is
the deep is the far
a tall
wind
is dragging
the sea
April 16: Foggy in morning, calm, clear and fine during day. In evening light wind S.W. Got mail from the Casey boys. A letter from Mary.
April 29: Jeremiah and Jasper Casey came here in morning and Dan went with them up harbour. Brought bedstead, 3 chairs, 2 gallons molasses, beans&rice, and my mail. And Mary also came down harbour in boat.
O the sun
It’s Spring
May 6: A fine day. None of us away from island today. Mrs.Casey, Alf&I here all day.
Wind died out until evening & then sprung up to S.E. A letter from Mary.
May 21: Breezy north in afternoon. Went up harbour in the morning after Mary. A fine day.
who are you
peering from some high
window; at the gold
of sunset
O the sun
June 13: Alf&I brought nets in. Had only 12 mackerel. Alf said he saw a phantom last night. June 18: A fine day. Jerry, Pat&John Casey called here and I went up harbour with them. They landed me back about noon. I got a good many papers & three letters. A letter from Mary.

Summer
IV

June 24: The boys went to Raspberry and Mary came over with them.
summer
sun moon stars the all
I sit
here
and here reflecting
sunlight
sun moon stars the all
I sit
O the sun comes up-up-up in the opening
sky
the morning the young
morning with a warm world in it
summer
a sail a fishing boat
here
and here reflecting
sunlight
(everywhere sunlight
and everywhere you