And So It Begins

[This is the first scene in a musical I've wanted to compose for the Nativity for quite some time now. Above you will find my thoroughly inadequate rendition of the scene. Below you will see my shorthand system of notation for melodies & chords. Numbers reference the steps of the diatonic major scale where the Roman numeral I is for the root & alterations are signified by ɓ or #. Eighth note durations are indicated by ' with sixteenth durations indicated by x & sustained notes by a long dash. Measures are separated by |. Anything in italics that is not a part of the actual song are stage directions or explanatory notes. I hope you enjoy.]

(Spotlights come up on Gabriella/Gabriel & Lucifer,

seated at opposite ends in front of the dark stage.)

Gabriella/Gabriel: (freely)

I | 9/8 ‘’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘—

Be- fore the be-gin-ning,

x x | 2/4 ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ | 2— |

At a time when time was not,

‘’ ɓ7’ | I—

There was God,

x x | 3/8 ‘ ɓ7 ɓ6 | ɓ7’’ | I’’

And the Word was with Go- d.

(in common time or 4/4)

ɓ7x x | ɓ6 ‘ 5 x

But the Word was si-lent,

x ɓ6 ‘ ɓ7

It did not speak,

(same as previous two lines)

Like the “e” at the end,

Or the “h” after “g”….

Lucifer: (spoken, interrupting)

Enough!

Gabriella/Gabriel: (spoken)

Good point.

I was thinking along the lines of “ghastly” or “ghostly” or “ghoulish”.

But…, fair enough.

(singing)

Like “h” sometimes

when it follows “g”,

Lucifer: (spoken over the singing)

That’s better.

Gabriella/Gabriel: (continuing singing)

(each stanza of four lines modulate up one half step)

So all was void,

There was nothing broke,

‘Cause you can’t have sin

When you’ve got no folk,

Lucifer: (spoken over the singing)

So tragically true & boring.

Gabriella/Gabriel: (continuing singing)

Until God inhaled,

Took a mighty breath,

Lucifer: (spoken over the singing)

There was nothing to breathe…,

Gabriella/Gabriel: (continuing singing)

God spoke one Word,

Granting height & depth,

And length & breadth

To the skies above

And the earth beneath,

x x ɓ6 ‘ 5— (in current relative key)

God was filled with love.

Lucifer: (spoken to the congregation)

Meaning God saw it & said, “It is soooo- good.”

(spoken to Gabriella/Gabriel)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, we know all this part.

God created light (by the way, you know that’s me [as an aside to the congregation])

& darkness (I wonder who that must have been [hinting that it’s Gabriella/Gabriel who gives a slight glower at the suggestion])

(taking over the singing)

(returning to original key, continue modulating with final line same as before)

Sun & moon

& the stars of night,

& the fish in the seas,

& the birds in flight,

With the dry land here,

& the oceans there,

& the grass so green,

& the flowers fair,

& the creatures

Filling the neighborhood,

God just took a bow

Sa-ying, “That’s so good!”

(speaking to Gabriella/Gabriel)

And then God made human beings & they messed everything up.

Gabriella/Gabriel: (speaking to Lucifer)

No thanks to you, of course.

Lucifer: (speaking to Gabriella/Gabriel)

What can I say? It’s my job.

God wants to declare that it’s so very, very good, it’s up to me to shed some light & test it out. It’s my purpose, my entire reason for being. I’m Satan, the Devil, the one who accuses, all of creation’s prosecuting attorney. What good does it do to pronounce something good if it’s never tested?

Gabriella/Gabriel: (speaking to Lucifer)

God liked it.

Lucifer: (speaking to Gabriella/Gabriel)

God loved it! Unfortunately, most of them did not return the favor. No matter how many messengers God sent, no matter how many signs & proofs of God’s favor, the vast majority didn’t care. They just wanted to do their own thing.

Gabriella/Gabriel: (speaking to the congregation)

Which is why we are here right now: to bear witness to God’s response.

Lucifer: (speaking to Gabriella/Gabriel)

You know it’s going to have to be tested, & that means I’m about to have a whole lot of fun.

Gabriella/Gabriel: (singing to the congregation)

(returning to original key, continue modulating with final line same as before)

And the Word became flesh

& dwelt among

Certain people of earth

In their land & tongue,

Full of grace & truth

Heaven’s kin-dom come,

Preaching God’s good news:

“I am here, among…,”

Lucifer: (speaking, interrupting Gabriella/Gabriel)

And they didn’t have a clue.

Gabriella/Gabriel: (continuing to sing to the congregation)

God came to God’s own,

But God’s own didn’t know,

Couldn’t see, couldn’t hear,

God’s mercy bestowed…,

Lucifer: (speaking, interrupting Gabriella/Gabriel)

But…, we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

Gabriella/Gabriel: (speaking to Lucifer)

You’re right. So, where shall we begin?

Lucifer: (speaking, interrupting Gabriella/Gabriel)

Well God may have started it, but I believe you had the next word.

Gabriella/Gabriel: ( as the lights come up on Mary, center stage.)

And so it begins….

(End scene)