This is the MIDI version of my work for tenor and orchestra, Letters from Elbert. The work sets to music letters written by my grandfather to his sister while he was in the U.S. Navy in World War II. They trace his journey from basic training up to a month before his discharge. The letters are at times humorous, at times poignant. They paint a vivid picture of his surroundings and his life in the Navy. I have only two memories of my grandfather from when I was a child, and I am grateful that through these letters I have gotten to know him better.

This work is dedicated to the memory of my grandfather, Lawrence Elbert Bahr, and to those in our family who have kept our family history alive: my great aunt Florence Maltby, my cousin Ed Coleman, and my late sister Julie Bahr-Kostelac.


Letters from Elbert MIDI

The Rexburg Tabernacle will host an Easter concert featuring singer Nathan Pacheco on April 25. Ella Zeigler interviewed Pacheco about this event. 

Rexburg Tabernacle welcomes Nathan Pacheco in Easter concert

Willie Doonan
Opera in 3 Acts
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Music by Nicholas Skedgell
Libretto by Valentina Dotsenko

Willie Doonan (Baritone): black US auto worker
Philip (Tenor): Willie’s white coworker and friend
*Katya (Soprano): Russian coworker
*Tonya (Mezzo): Katya’s friend and coworker
*Ivan (Baritone): NKVD officer
* NOTE: Russian roles are sung in Russian.

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Willie Doonan - Act 1
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Scene 1: (Detroit auto factory, Fall 1934)

Willie and Philip wait with other mechanics outside the Auto Plant worker's entrance gate. A group of men lament the scarcity of work and hope to be selected by the foreman. The meager list is read, a handful of workers enter and the gate is locked.

The group outside become enraged and their protest turns into a riot. Security is called, many are arrested and peace is restored.

Willie and Philip take the rejection in stride. They discuss their options for the remainder of the day.

A clerk enters and distributes announcement sheets. The plant is seeking trained mechanics to relocate to a new factory in Russia.

After some discussion, Willie and Philip decide to accept the offer. They leave to apply for the jobs.

Scene 2: (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia auto factory, late winter 1935)

Willie is outside, on the factory's lot tuning a new Model A. The overseas location is a big change for him. He questions his decision. Two Russian women (Katya and Tonya) enter to detail the car.

Philip enters dressed in a baseball uniform. He speaks some Russian and is able to briefly converse with Tonya.

Time for the baseball practice has begun. Tonya needs to get fresh cleaning rags. They leave together.

Willie and Katya build some rapport. They teach each other a few words of English and Russian. Katya asks about Willie's reason to visit Russia. His answer reveals the necessity, but also his love for America. Katya declares her love for Russia. Both acknowledge their shared love of country.

Two white, racist American auto workers appear. They see Willie working with Katya and become enraged. A fight ensues. Katya flees for help.

Katya returns with 2 NKVD agents and officer Ivan.

The racists are arrested and taken away.

A group of citizens and co-workers learned of the attack and gather to declare Willie a hero.

-- Curtain

Willie Doonan Act 1

Verano

Hermosas Estrellas

Smile

Amapola

Chica de Ipanema

Tu eres mi tesoro

Por una cabeza

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Jason Bahr is a composer living in southwest Florida. He has had over 600 combined performances of his works. Bahr has received a MacDowell Colony Residency, a Fromm Foundation commission, the Northridge Prize for Orchestral Composition and the Cambridge Madrigal Singers Choral Composition Competition. He holds masters and doctorate degrees in music composition from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and a bachelor's degree in music composition from the University of Missouri at Kansas City Conservatory.

Bahr has written a one-act opera (The Gift of the Magi), a choral symphony, a symphony for band, a flute concerto and other assorted works for orchestra, 20 chamber works, 15 piano preludes, 13 additional works for solo instruments, ten choral works, and 20 songs. His current project, Letters from Elbert, sets to music letters written by his grandfather while he was in the Navy during World War II.

Bahr is an active performer and is the bass section leader for the Opera Naples Chorus in Naples, FL. He has also served as the bass section leader for the First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs, the Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers and has sung with Gulfshore Opera among other groups.

A Kansas City native, Bahr is an avid fan of the Royals and Chiefs. He makes his home with his wife Rebecca and their cat Ray. SDG

Nicholas Skedgell - b. 1952
is a concert music composer whose work has been performed by leading musicians, including members of the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, Elmar Oliveira, Dale Clevenger, Leonard Raver, Orchestra New England and presented at Carnegie Hall, Yale University, Brooklyn College and St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. He is a graduate of Manhattan School of Music, a student of Nicolas Flagello, violin with Louis Carlini and a member of ASCAP since 1974.

New tracks tagged #tenor