Annelies the Voice of Anne Frank
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A song sung from the heart can change any person’s tune. And, this is why the power of music can change lives. Conspirare, you are an inspiration in our community. Thank you for all you do to inspire change. We at UFCU also strive to inspire positive change in the lives of our members; we work hard to provide for their well-being. As par tners in our community, we will encourage you to continue giving the gift of inspiration ever y day. Annelies The Voice of Anne Frank UFCU.org January 8-9, 2016 Federally insured by NCUA Annelies The Voice of Anne Frank Season Sustaining Underwriter ® Photo © ANNE FRANK FONDS Basel-Anne Frank Stichting Amsterdam 1 1 PROGRAM PROGRAM TEXTS It Singeth Low in Every Heart It singeth low in every heart, We hear it each and all, A song of those who answer not, However we may call. They throng the silence of the breast; We see them as of yore, The kind, the true, the brave, the sweet, Who walk with us no more. Annelies The Voice of Anne Frank ’Tis hard to take the burden up, When these have laid it down: They brightened all the joy of life, They softened every frown. But, oh! ’tis good to think of them When we are troubled sore; Thanks be to God that such have been, Al-thought they are no more. More home-like seems the vast unknown, Since they have entered there: To follow them were not so hard Wherever they may fare. They cannot be where God is not, On any sea or shore; Whate’er betides, Thy love abides, Our God for evermore! – John W. Chadwick Al Shlosha D’varim Al shlosha d’varim haolan kayam. Al haemet v’al hadin v’al hashalom. – Pirkei Avot (Mishnah) The world is sustained by three things : by truth, by justice, and by peace. Annelies libretto by Melanie Challenger based on Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl 1. Introit – prelude 2. The capture foretold Up above you can hear the breathing, eight pounding hearts, footsteps on the stairs, a rattling on the bookcase. Suddenly, a couple of bangs. Doors slammed inside the house. (11th April, 1944) We are in blue sky, surrounded by black clouds. See it, the perfectly round spot? but the clouds are moving in, and the ring between danger grows smaller. We look at the fighting below, and the peace and beauty above, but the dark mass of clouds looms before us, and tries to crush us. O ring, ring, open wide and let us out! (8th November, 1943) 2 3 PROGRAM TEXTS PROGRAM TEXTS 3. The plan to go into hiding Alone. When would we go into hiding? Then for the first time, Where would we hide? I found a moment to tell you about it, In the city? In the country? In a house? In a shack? to realise what had happened to me (8th July, 1942) and what was about to happen. (10th July, 1942) These questions kept running through my mind. I started packing my important belongings. We’re Jews in chains, The first thing was my diary. chained to one spot, Memories mean more to me than dresses. without any rights, (8th July, 1942) a thousand obligations. We must be brave Ik zal, hoop ik, aan jou alles kunnen toevertrouwen, zoals ik het nog and trust in God. aan niemand gekund heb, en ik hoop dat je een grote steun voor me (11th April, 1944) zult zijn. 5. Life in hiding [I hope I shall be able to confide in you completely, as I have never The days here are very quiet. been able to do in anyone before, and I hope that you will be a great (1st October, 1942) support and comfort to me. (12th June, 1942) Having to sit still all day and not say a word, It seems like years since Sunday morning. you can imagine how So much has happened, hard that is for me. it’s as if the whole world had On ordinary days, we speak in a whisper. suddenly turned upside down. Not being able to talk is worse. (8th July, 1942) (29th September, 1942) 4. The last night at home and arrival at the annexe The silence makes me so nervous, My last night in my own bed. but the chiming of the Westertoren clock A warm rain fell. reassures me at night. The four of us wrapped in layers of clothing, (11th July, 1942) the stripped beds, the breakfast things on the table. We closed the door behind us. You no doubt want to hear (8th July, 1942) what I think of life in hiding? (11th July, 1942) Walking in the pouring rain, walking down the street, The blue sky, the bare chestnut tree, each of us with a satchel filled to the brim. glistening with dew, (9th July, 1942) the seagulls, glinting with silver swooping through the air. We arrived at Prinsengracht, As long as this exists, led through the long passage this sunshine and this cloudless sky, and up the wooden staircase how can I be sad? to the Annexe. (23rd February, 1944) The door was shut behind us, leaving us alone. 4 5 PROGRAM TEXTS PROGRAM TEXTS 1 Prospectus and Guide to the Secret Annexe. Der Winter ist vergangen. A Unique Facility for the Temporary Accommodation of Ich seh’ des Maien Schein; Jews and Other Dispossessed Persons. Ich seh’ die Blümlein prangen; Des ist mein Herz erfreut. Now our Annexe has truly become a secret, Da singt Frau Nachtigalle a bookcase has been built in front of the entrance. Und manch’ Waldvogelein. It swings on its hinges – German traditional and opens like a door. Translation: The winter is over. It is Open All Year Round, I see the light of May; Located in Beautiful, Quiet, Wooded Surroundings, I see blossoms everywhere; In the Heart of Amsterdam. and my heart is pleased. Inside it is Necessary to Speak Softly at all times, There sings the nightingale Singing is Permissible, only Softly and After Six pm! and the small forest birds. (17th November, 1942) Beauty remains, The strangest things happen when you’re in hiding. even in misfortune. Try to picture this. One who is happy will make others happy, We scrub ourselves in a tin tub, one who has courage will never die in misery. since the curtains are drawn, (7 March, 1944) we scrub ourselves in the dark, while one looks out the window Ade, mein’ Allerliebste! and gazes at the endlessly amusing people. Ade, schön’s Blümelein! (29th September, 1942) Ade, schön’ Rosenblume; Es muß geschieden sein! The children run around in thin shirts Das Herz in meinem Leibe and wooden clogs. Gehört ja allzeit dein. They have no coats, no socks, – German traditional no caps and no one to help them. Gnawing on a carrot to still their hunger, Translation: Goodbye, my beloved! they walk from their cold houses through cold streets. Goodbye, beautiful blossoms! (13th January, 1943) Goodbye, beautiful rose flower; I must leave you. One day this terrible war will be over, My love for you and we’ll be people again, will burn in my heart forever. and not just Jews. 1 Annelies Marie Frank was born in the German city of Frankfurt to (11th April, 1944) German parents, and lived in Germany until her family emigrated to 6. Courage Holland when she was four years old. Her mother was always more If you become part of the suffering, comfortable with the German language than with Dutch. Although Anne you’d be entirely lost. learned Dutch, and wrote the diary in her adopted language, she was (7th March, 1944) familiar with German poems and prayers, especially those given to her by her mother. This was originally a Dutch song that became popular in Germany during the seventeenth century. 6 7 PROGRAM TEXTS PROGRAM TEXTS 7. Fear of capture and the second break-in 8. Kyrie – Sinfoniz In the evenings, Kyrie eleison. when it’s dark, (Greek liturgical) lines of good innocent people and crying children Lord, Have Mercy. walk on and on, ordered by men who bully Help us. Rescue us from this hell. and beat them. (27th November, 1943) No one is spared, all are marched to their death. We must be brave and trust in God. (19th November, 1942) (11th April, 1944) Westerbork! Westerbork!2 Night after night, 9. The dream green and grey vehicles Last night, just as I was falling asleep, cruise the streets an old friend appeared before me. and knock on every door. I saw her there, (19th November, 1942) dressed in rags, her face thin and worn. Westerbork! Westerbork! She looked at me with such sadness. Sshh. I heard a sound from the bookcase, Anne, why have you deserted me? hammering on the door. Help me, help me, rescue me from this hell! We turned white with fear. (27th November, 1943) Had he heard something, this stranger? Open up! Open up! To me, she is the suffering of all my friends, In my imagination, and all the Jews. the man kept growing and growing, When I pray for her, until he become a giant, I pray for all those in need. the cruellest fascist in the world. (6th January, 1944) (20th October, 1942) Merciful God, 2 The Dutch Jews were required to build and pay for a refugee camp comfort her, when Justice Minister Goseling allowed 8,000 refugees into the remain with her so she won’t be alone.