FOR THE CALENDAR:

N.B.	The Oriskany Alliance, Inc. has negotiated and confirmed 6 performances in the 
	Central New York Region:

September 4, 2008 8 p.m. Earlville Opera House, Earlville, NY
September 5, 2008 8 p.m. Turning Stone Casino Auditorium, Oneida Nation at Vernon, NY
September 6, 2008 8 p.m. Dulles State Office Bldg. Auditorium, Watertown, NY
September 11, 2008 10 a.m. Oriskany High School Auditorium, Oriskany, NY (partial)  	
				cf Funding Needs, 1, 4 above 
September 11, 2008 8 p.m. Oriskany High School Auditorium, Oriskany, NY 
September 12, 2008 8 p.m. Hartwick College Music Hall, Oneonta, NY
September 13, 2008 8 p.m. Capitol Theatre for Performing Arts, Rome, NY

MOLLY of the MOHAWKS
An opera in 4 acts.
Music and Words by
AUGUSTA CECCONI-BATES
August 9, 2007
Copyright 2008
Many thanks to 
James Maracle, historian for the Bay of Quinte Mohawks; 
Eugene Seymour of the Mohawk community at Akwasasne. 
A special thanks to Sue Bazely for her research 
and to Jim Argo  for suggestions which have been 
incorporated in this libretto. 
A.C.B.

PERSONNAE
Molly Brant, soprano
William Johnson, baritone
Joseph Brant. Tenor
An Elder, Bass-Baritone
A second Elder, Tenor (from Chorus)
A Matron, Alto
A second Matron, Soprano (from Chorus) 
2 Farmers, Bass, Tenor 
Dancers, Chorus, Orchestra

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE             PRESS RELEASE         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW OPERA

MOLLY OF THE MOHAWKS, a new work based on the life  and work of the Mohawk Loyalist, Molly Brant, has been written and copyrighted by the composer Augusta Cecconi-Bates. All texts in the opera, as well as the music, are from the pen of Augusta Cecconi-Bates.

Now a four act opera which grew out of the original one-woman opera of 2003 as premiered in Kingston Ontario under the aegis of C.A.R.F. (Cataraqui Archaeological Research Foundation). The 2003 production was sung by the acclaimed Kingston  soprano Rhona Gale, with Carrie Wyatt, flute, and the composer at the piano.

The story line is taken from the history Molly Brant and the Mohawk people. The research paper, "Konwatsiatsiaenni, Who Was She?" by Sue Bazely (1995) forms the basis of the libretto. Songs from the original 2003 opus are used in the new opera. Additional music and songs have been composed for this four act opera.

Material gleaned from Mohawk oral histories and from written history helps fill out the drama. The roles of Joseph Brant, Matrons and Elders of the Mohawks, as well as the role of Sir William Johnson are now integral episodes in the opera. Three scenes deal with the Battle of Oriskany (August 6, 1777) when for the first time, the Iroquois Nations fought on opposing sides. By late 1779, the Mohawks went north, never again to return to the land of their beginnings.

The opera calls for Native drummers and dancers, paricularly in the scenes dealing with the Covenance Chain and the Wedding Scene after the Proclamation of 1763. The sopranos Eileen Strempel (2005, 2006) and Laura Enslin (2007) both have Native American bloodlines.

# # #

MOLLY OF THE MOHAWKS
SYNOPSIS

ACT ONE
After a brief Prelude, Scene 1: c. 1752  (Interior market scene) William Johnson is discussing trade with two farmers. They are impressed with his fairness. He tells them of his coming to the New World is his song "I Sailed Here from Ireland".
Molly and her brother Joseph enter. William is impressed with her. "Who Is This Maiden?" She flirts a bit with him "Dance the Wind" and then goes out to join the people at the outside muster--we hear her talking (Offstage) to the soldiers. William is smitten by her beauty.

Scene 2: 1754 (at a Mohawk village)  Elders and Matrons await the return of Molly from a conference in Philadelphia. She enters and sings of her meeting with the governors. "Mine, Now Is the Power". The Matrons and Elders respond asking, "Is Our Power Lost? and advise Molly to gain and keep the power by "bedding" with the important William Johnson, the Superintendant of Indian Affairs in New York Colony.  

Scene 3: (Mohawk Village near Molly's hut) William proposes to Molly. As the duet ends, she takes him into her hut.

ACT TWO
The setting for the entire act is interior of Johnson Hall -- 1762.

Scene 1: The room has many people. Dancers perform a   "Minuet" (Harpsichord and Flute). In her solo, "This Gentle Man Is Mine", Molly sings of her life with William. Several Native girls "Dance" (Flute Solo). Molly and William sing a celebration duet: "Johnson Hall Is the Centre", in which they tell of the many international visitors to their Hall.
 Many Iroquois enter, praislng Molly and William for their efforts in formalizing the "Covenance Chain".

Scene 2: (Offstage voice ) A portion of the ROYAL PROCLAMATION  of 1763.
Then Molly turns to William and speaks:  "Now I will marry you."

Scene 3: MOHAWK WEDDING CEREMONY--this scene uses Iroquois drummers and dancers.
The act ends as Molly and William sing their Love Duet: "All My  Love, My Love"

INTERMISSION

ACT THREE
Scene 1: 1774 (a room in Johnson Hall)  William, alone, ponders his life in the solo: "So Now We Hold the Chain".
He tells of his beginnings in Ireland, his work with the Mohawks, and his hopes for peace. Continuing, "So Much to Control" and "Mine Was the Power, and Yet", he remembers the difficulties in dealing with the English governors. 
 Molly enters and sings of her role in their life, "Someday the World Will Know". In his "The King Appointed Me", William, by then almost in a rage, complains again that his advice and pleas fall on the deaf ears of the English leaders. 
Molly urges him to "Call the Grand Council, Now".

Scene 2: (the same day, outside the Hall)  At the Grand council, the Iroquois greet him and listen, "We of All the Nations". In the middle of his address to them, William falls dead of a massive heart attack.

Scene 3: (inside the Hall) Molly is in mourning, sillently holding the Covenance Chain and looking to the four winds as a "Gentle Mourning" is played (Flute and 'Cello). Then in a dramatic scena, she sings the "Fifteen Stages of Mourning".

ACT FOUR:
Scene 1:  August 1777 (Outdoors, somewhere near Oriskany) Joseph and several Iroquois (Oneida, Mohawk, Seneca)chiefs and warriors are discussing the battles of late. Here Joseph ask them for their support for the King's men. He speaks of the "Symbol of Our Unity". Many disagree -- Oneidas and some others leave; Mohawks remain with Joseph. Molly enters to exhorting them to "Keep the Flame United".

Scene 2: (same). A voice calls out: "To arms!" Joseph, Mohawks run out. Molly walks off. The stage goes dark and the orchestra plays "Battle Music" symbolizing the conflict at Oriskany, August 6, 1777.

Scene 3: (The next day) Jospeh enters and in a dramatic scena, he describes the recent battle, "Oh, How We Fought"
(Molly enters and stands with Joseph as Offstage voice recites) the letter from George Washington to General Sullivan. Molly and Joseph turn facing rear of stage and shout "Destroyer of Towns (in Mohawk) 
(Joseph leaves.) Molly, alone, sings her credo-scena: "But, What of My People?".

Scene 4: Cataraqui, 1785 A Yorker presents her with her "Land Grant".
(In her apartment) Molly, a Matron and an Elder. They discuss the Land Grant, Molly's herbal medicine, and an invitation from the young United States government.
Molly's finale, the scena, "Here I Remain".

Fine