CHILDREN'S OPERAS: The Talking Stones of Machu Picchu

CAST:

piano, pan flutes (soprano and alto recorders may be substituted),
synthesizer; percussion: claves (tom tom, finger cymbals, temple bells,
miracas, bongo drums, tin can, vibra slap). Incan instrumental sounds can be generated on the synthesizer and with drums and recorders if
indigenous Incan instruments are not available.

CHORUS:

DANCE:

some simple movement optional

COSTUMES, PROPS:

may be simple and home-made

SOURCE OF TEXTS:

libretto by Michele Miller Sigg except where otherside noted.

LANGUAGE:

English

MUSICAL STYLE:

Transparent folk-classical crossover style. Imitation of Incan melodies and rhythms

SOUND SAMPLES:

Viracocha's Theme (computer midi)
Maiden of Ampato Theme (computer midi)
Humming Llamas Theme (computer midi)
Finale (computer midi)

SCENES:

PREMIER:

DURATION:

45 - 60 minutes

STAGE DIRECTOR:

Ellen Greist

MUSIC DIRECTOR:

Susan Smyth, Kodaly-trained teacher of music at Worthington Hooker School.

SYNOPSIS

These stories are interrelated, so it is recommended that all of them be performed.

Among the sculpted stones of Machu Picchu, a young girl misses her grandmother who used to tell her stories. Her grief is so great that the stones around her come to life and tell her four tales.

Story 1: Las Piedras Cansadas,
or Why the Stones Became Weary
by Michele Miller Sigg

The sun god is jealous of Huatana, the god of the stones, because he is handsome and young. The sun god also knows that if Huatana were to fall in love with a human woman, he would turn into stone. So the sun god sets out to make a woman. Since he is not the creator god, however, the woman he makes turns out to so ugly that Huatana recoils in horror at the sight of her. The woman weeps. Out of pity for her, Huatana embraces and comforts her. This causes her heart to soften, and she becomes a great beauty. Huatana falls in love with her and, to the sun god's delight, turns to stone. The bereft woman is left to wander through the mountains forever. Her tears of blood can be seen at sunset seeping through the crevices of the rocks.

Story 2: Why the Incas Greet the Sun
by Johan Samuel Sigg, Grade 4
Worthington Hooker Elementary School

A young father named Coufi loves children and hates Inti, the sun god, because his heat burns the children excessively. When two of Coufi's children are badly burned by Inti, Coufi shoots arrows at him. In fear, Inti hides, and the earth goes dark. The people panic and pray for Inti to return, and the creator god Viracocha responds with a command to Inti that he return. Inti complies. Viracocha also returns Coufi's two sons to him, their burns healed.

Story 3: Why Llamas Hum
by Adeline Mitchell, Grade 4
Worthington Hooker Elementary School

Coya, a young slave, tries to win his freedom by entering a weaving contest. He does not win. In his disappointment, he runs away, taking his flute and llama with him into the mountains. For solace, he plays his flute, and soon his llama picks up the tune and begins humming it. Coya's master, meanwhile, comes out to find him, and Chuto's humming gives them away. Coya is taken to be sacrificed, but as he stands tied to the stake, Chuto and many other llamas begin to hum, and a snowy white llama comes and carries Coya off into the sky.

Story 4: The Maiden of Ampato,
or Ima Sumac's Gif
by Michele Miller Sigg

Sisters Ima and Dulza watch as the young priest Yaku worships on a mountaintop. Urcu, the cruel old village priest, wants Dulza for himself and is jealous that she loves Yaku. When Yaku is made high priest, Urcu's rage increases. He captures Yaku, makes a slave of him, and silences him for blasphemy. Dulza, meanwhile, is sad because Yaku may no longer marry her; a high priest may only marry a sun maiden.

Dulza and Ima search for Yaku for many days, finally discovering him among a group of slaves and slated to be sacrificed to the volcano god. Ima prays to Viracocha for Yaku, and temple guards take her away as well, to make her a sun maiden.

As a sun maiden, Ima may offer herself to be sacrificed to the volcano god in Yaku's stead, and she does. Viracocha appears to Ima just as she is about to be sacrificed and carries her off into the sky. Dulza and Yaku marry, and Urcu experiences an eternity of being spit upon by indignant llamas.

A rousing FINALE ends the piece.