Symphony No. 15: Lincoln

Philip Glass

I. Lyceum Address, Part 1

SOLO BARITONE (sung):

We, the American people, find ourselves in the fairest portion of the earth in territory, in soil, and pleasant climate. We find ourselves in government leading more essentially to the ends of civil and religious liberty more than the history of former times tells us. We find ourselves the legal inheritors of these fundamental blessings. They are a legacy bequeathed us, by a once hardy, brave, and patriotic, and now departed race of ancestors. Theirs was the task to possess themselves, through us, in this goodly land. This task of gratitude to our fathers, justice to ourselves, duty to posterity, and love for our species, all must require us faithfully to perform.

SOLO BARITONE (spoken unaccompanied after Mvmt. I):

At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected?

I answer, if it even reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time or die by suicide.

II. Lyceum Address, Part 2

SOLO BARITONE (spoken):

There is, even now, something of ill-omen amongst us. The lawless in spirit, having regarded Government as their deadliest bane, make a jubilee of the suspension of its operation. There is no grievance that is a fit object of redress by mob law. We hope all dangers may be overcome, but some man possessed of ambition will spring up among us. Distinction will be his paramount object, and nothing left to be done in the way of building up, he would set boldly to the task of pulling down. Let a reverence for the constitution and laws; and that we remained free to the last; awaken our WASHINGTON. Let the proud fabric of freedom rest, as the rock of its basis; and “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

IV. Autobiography, Part 1

SOLO BARITONE (spoken):

Therewith is a little sketch. There is not much of it for the reason, I suppose, that there is not much of me.

SOLO BARITONE (sung):

I am, in height, six feet, four inches, nearly; lean in flesh, weighing one hundred eighty pounds; dark complexion, with coarse black hair, and grey eyes. Born in Hardin County, Kentucky, a wild region with many bears and wild animals. There I grew up, raised to farm work. Though very young, an axe was put into my hands. In my tenth year I was kicked by a horse, and was killed for a time. Education defective, my schooling did not come to more than one year. I did not know much. I could read, write, and cipher to the Rule of Three, but that was all. At twenty one I came to Illinois on wagons drawn by ox teams, built a log cabin, made rails to fence ten acres, broke the ground, and raised a crop of sown corn.

V. Autobiography, Part 2

SOLO BARITONE (sung):

Came the Black Hawk War, I was elected a Captain of Volunteers—

SOLO BARITONE (spoken):

but was in no battle. I did not break my sword, for I had none to break, but I bent a musket pretty badly, by accident. I had a good many bloody struggles with the musquitoes; and although I never fainted from loss of blood, I can truly say I was often very hungry. I ran for Legislature and was beaten, the only time ever beaten on a direct vote of the people. As a merchant, I got deeper in debt. The store winked out.

SOLO BARITONE (sung):

In 1834 was elected to the Legislature by the highest vote cast for any candidate. Encouraged to study law, borrowed books and went at it in good earnest. Elected to Congress in 1846. Served one term only. I was losing interest in politics, when the repeal of the Missouri Compromise aroused me as never before. What I have done since then is pretty well known.

SOLO BARITONE (spoken unaccompanied after Mvmt. V):

Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition. I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem. How far I shall succeed in gratifying this ambition, is yet to be developed. (pause)

If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong. I cannot remember when I did not so think, and feel.

VI. Slavery

SOLO BARITONE (sung):

On a steam boat to St. Louis there were on board ten or a dozen slaves, shackled together with irons, chained six and six together. In this condition they were being separated forever from the scenes of their childhood, their friends, their fathers and mothers, and brothers and sisters, and many of them, from their wives and children, and going into perpetual slavery. That sight was a constant torment for me; and I see something like it every time I touch the Ohio, or any other slave border. A thing which has, and continually exercises, the power of making me miserable. I contemplate slavery as a moral, social, and political evil. Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves.

SOLO BARITONE (spoken unaccompanied after Mvmt. VI):

Therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do order and declare that all persons held as slaves are, and henceforward shall be, free. I never in my life felt more certain that I was doing right than I do in signing this paper. If my name ever goes into history it will be for this act, and my whole soul is in it.

VII. The End of the War

SOLO BARITONE (sung):

This extraordinary war in which we are engaged falls heavily upon the soldier. All that a man hath will he give for his life; the soldier puts his life at stake, and often yields it up in his country’s cause. We meet this evening, not in sorrow, but in gladness of heart. The surrender of the principal insurgent army gives hope of a righteous and speedy peace whose joyous expression cannot be restrained. A call for a national thanksgiving is being prepared.

SOLO BARITONE (spoken):

No part of the honor, for plan or execution, is mine. To General Grant, his skillful officers, and brave men, all belongs. Now give three good hearty cheers for General Grant and all under his command!

VIII. Farewell Address

SOLO BARITONE (spoken):

My friends – No one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of that Divine Being, who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail.

SOLO BARITONE (sung):

Trusting in Him, who can go with me, and remain with you and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.

Dunvagen Music Publishers, Inc.

Read the Lyceum Address here.