The Anunciation

[This is the second scene in a musical I've wanted to compose for the Nativity for quite some time now. For decades I have loved this refrain but not been satisfied with any other part of it..., until now. I think I may have finally figured out something for the verses, thanks to this challenge. 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.]

Mary: (begins humming to herself, repeating as necessary)

(Common or 4/4 time)

D G D G A7

5 | ‘ I ‘ 2 4’ 3 2 | 3— 5 | ‘ I ‘ 2 4’ 3 2 | 5 2 ‘ 7 5’ 2 3 |

G D A7 D A7

4’ 5 4 3’ 2 I | 2’ 3 2 I’ 7 6 | 5 2—

Gabriella/Gabriel: Listen! She’s humming the tune of the message God sent with me! I think she may already know.

Lucifer: But how? Do you think Ruach(Hebrew for Spirit) dropped some hints?

Gabriella/Gabriel: Could have been that Bina(Hebrew for wisdom) clued her in, kinda preparing the way, laying some groundwork to make my job easier. Let me see if I can sneak into her little tune…

(entering into the refrain quietly humming wherever Mary happens to be in it, slowly getting stronger/louder, beginning to sing the words in the second half of the refrain, singing at least once straight through, continuing until Mary notices & looks up startled)

In you the love of God is borne.

Through you the Word of God becomes flesh within this world.

And the name of this child,

Yes, the name of this child will be Jesus.

Lucifer: (speaking to the congregation over the singing/humming after “Jesus”)

Interesting note here. Did you know that “Jesus” is actually just the anglicized form of the Greek “Jesu”. And even that isn’t what Gabby/Gabe said to Mary. Greek would not have been her first language. That would have been Aramaic where the name would have been “Yeshua” (or possibly the Hebrew “Yehoshuah” if they were feeling a bit Torah-formal), both of which get anglicized as “Joshua”, all of which translate into “Yahweh rescues, delivers or saves”. So, all of you Joshuas out there, just know that you share your name with Jesus—though I wouldn’t recommend getting too full of yourselves over it, if you know what I mean. (pointing to someone random out in the congregation) I see you out there. I’ve got my eye on you.

(Music crescendos, Mary now singing with Gabriella/Gabriel, both rising to full voice as she suddenly looks up, startled, apparently unaware of what she’s been doing. She flees to put the table & chair between them.)

Gabriella/Gabriel: (singing freely as recitative, somewhat startled & panicked themselves)

(12/8 time)

A7 D G

5 ‘ ‘ I’’ 2 ɓ7— |

Don’t be a - fraid, Ma - ry!

A7 D

5 ‘ ‘ I ‘ ‘

It’s not the Passover,

(transitioning to duples)

G A7 E7

2 I ɓ7 ɓ6 5 4— |

I’m not here to harm you.

(speaking, trying to reset)

Wait! Let me try that again.

Lucifer: (speaking to Gabriella/Gabriel)

Yeah, it wasn’t Passover. I’m pretty sure of that. (chuckling to himself, tickled by the following thought) That would have been scary. Ooo, the angel of death, not passing over, must have forgotten to smear the lamb’s blood over the doorway?

Of course, isn’t that kind of the reaction either one of us gets most of the time? At any rate, It wasn’t Passover. I’m pretty sure it was mid- to late summer, in Galilee, in a place to the north called Nazareth. Go on, proceed. Take a big, deep breath, my friend. You’ve got this.

Gabriella/Gabriel: (taking a beat to get themselves together, then singing the first verse)

(common or 4/4 time)

(verse 1)

A7 G

5’ I— | 2’ ɓ7—

Fear not, Ma – ry

D

6 5 | 6’ 5 4 5 6— |

you are blessed a - mong wo - men,

Dmaj7 G

6’ 5 4 5 4 3 2 | — | ‘

you have found fa - vor with God.

Mary:

G A7

2 ‘ 4 5

What can this mean?

Em

2 ‘ 4 | 5

How can this be?

E7

2 ‘ 4 6 5 ‘ 4 | 5—

What kind of messenger are you?

Gabriella/Gabriel:

Refrain:

In you the love of God is borne.

Through you the Word of God becomes flesh within this world.

And the name of this child,

Yes, the name of this child will be Jesus.

(verse 2)

Fear not, Ma – ry

you are blessed a - mong wo - men,

you have found fa - vor with God.

You shall conceive

Within your womb

And bear a son, Immanuel.

Mary: (over G/G’s last note before they start the chorus again) I don’t think that’s how it works.

Gabriella/Gabriel:

Refrain:

In you the love of God is borne.

Through you the Word of God becomes flesh within this world.

And the name of this child,

Yes, the name of this child will be Jesus.

(verse 3)

This child shall be great,

Will be God’s only begotten

And sit upon King David’s throne.

Over Jacob

Rule forever

Holy reign without end.

Mary: Oh well, in that case…, what are you even talking about?

Lucifer: Keep tryin’ buddy. You’re gettin’ there.

Gabriella/Gabriel:

Refrain:

In you the love of God is borne.

Through you the Word of God becomes flesh within this world.

And the name of this child,

Yes, the name of this child will be Jesus.

Mary: (verse 4)

How can this be?

Seeing I’ve never known…

I’ve never been with a man!

What will they think?

My parents? Joseph?

Every gossip in town?

Gabriella/Gabriel:

(verse 5)

Hear me, Mary,

It’s the power of the Most High

Casting a shadow o’er thee.

By the Spirit

You’ll conceive

God’s only child within thee.

Refrain:

In you the love of God is borne.

Through you the Word of God becomes flesh within this world.

And the name of this child,

Yes, the name of this child will be Jesus.

(Instrumental repetition of the refrain as Mary contemplates, with G/G & Lucifer coaxing her, softly singing portions to her.)

(verse 6)

Behold your cousin,

Elizabeth,

Has conceived in her old age

This is the sixth month

She’s with child

No longer barren, amazed!

(speaking over the instrumental repetition of verse, vamping)

With God nothing is impossible.

Lucifer: (reassuring her) It’s true.

Mary: (after further contemplation)

Mary’s Refrain:

So let God’s love be borne in me.

So let the Word of God become flesh within this world.

And if you say God will save,

Let it be, we will name this child Jesus.

Mary, Gabriella/Gabriel & Lucifer:

Mary’s Refrain:

So let God’s love be borne in me/you.

So let the Word of God become flesh within this world.

Mary: (as the lights narrow to her)

And if you say God will save,

Let it be, we will name this child Jesus,

Mary, with Gabriella/Gabriel & Lucifer lightly supporting: (slowing)

G

4’ I— |

Je - sus,

F#

3’’ 7— | — |

Je - sus.

(End scene)