Laurie San Martin: Reply to a Dead Man for Actor and Ensemble

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Reply to a Dead Man is a musical setting of the Walter Mosley short story by the same title. Scored for actor and chamber ensemble (flute, oboe, guitar, viola, and bass), it is variously cryptic, frustratingly elliptical, but ultimately serendipitous. I’ve placed the actor at the forefront of the ensemble, with the instrumentalists weaving in and out of his narration. Although much of the music in this piece provides a simple and unobtrusive backdrop, it occasionally becomes more active, at times even provoking the listener.

There are many musical motives that develop over the course of the work, some of which are tied to specific characters in the story. For example, Roger’s next-door neighbor, Rose Henley, is always accompanied by the brighter sounds of the flute and oboe. And while we only meet Dearby (Seth’s sister-in-law) for a brief moment, we fondly associate her with a spectacularly drunken passage in the solo string bass. It might be difficult for us to understand the specific actions and reactions of Mosley’s characters, but they are never anything less than painfully human and real. I hope my music complements these characters, and Mosley’s mysterious and evocative writing.

Performers:

David Moore, actor
Stacey Pelinka, flutes
Jesse Barrett, oboe
Michael Goldberg, guitars
Phyllis Kamrin, viola
Michel Taddei, bass