Sundown: Whispers of Ragnarok Libretto (bound)

from Sassafrass

We will print a new edition if we receive enough requests. If you are interested in a physical songbook, please e-mail sassafrassmusic@gmail.com to let us know. Meanwhile, a digital version is still available under the "Digital Goods" tab.

This bound book contains the complete script and lyrics for the stage play version of "Sundown: Whispers of Ragnarok" along with extensive mythological and cultural notes.

Physical libretto purchase also comes with an instant digital download of the PDF.

This 170 page book includes easy-to-read lyrics sheets for all twelve songs, including melody lyrics and all the subtle background lyrics that compete and interweave in larger choral pieces. It also includes 90 pages of original notes by composer Ada Palmer, discussing Norse mythology, Viking culture, the manuscript sources, the composition process, runes, modal music, and details about the lyrics, costumes and production of the Balticon debut performance. Extensively illustrated with black & white photographs from the production, and illustrations of manuscripts and artifacts.

Also included are eight Viking-themed poems by Hugo and Nebula Award-winning science fiction and fantasy author Jo Walton, including those which were written for the Kickstarter.

The book is coil bound to make it easy to set open on a music stand.

With this book in hand, you can read along with the CD, recreating the narrative of the stage play. Since the songs so often have multiple sets of simultaneous lyrics, the lyric sheets, spelling out the parts in clear columns, makes it possible to catch the subtle words hidden in harmony lines, and understand the interplay of world and characters created by the competing lines.

This libretto is also available as a DRM-free downloadable PDF e-book, which contains color photographs. The e-book can be purchased through the "Digital Goods" tab of this Bandcamp page.

TOPICS COVERED IN THE MYTHOLOGICAL NOTES INCLUDE:

The Content of the Eddas
Chronology of Mythic Events
Women and Gender in Norse Myth
Magic, Witchcraft, Seid
The Vanir, and Why We Know So Little About Them
The Elves, and Why We Know So Little About Them
Odin
The Allfather’s Names
Loki
Loki’s Names, and Association with Fire
Baldur
Hel
Frigg
Snorri
The Seeress
Magni, Modi and the Survivors of Ragnarok
The Music and Songs
The Composition Process
Modal Music: Basics
Notes on Individual Songs and Lyrics
Production Details
Costumes
Balticon and the Rehearsal Process
CD Production
Bibliography

All songs and notes were written by Ada Palmer; poetry by Jo Walton. Performers pictured in the photographs inside include Lila Garrott, Matt Granoff, Kara Hurvitz, Alessandro LaPorta, Emily Lewis, Ada Palmer, Irina Ruden, Lauren Schiller, Tili Sokolov, Alexa Weingarden, Ruth Wejksnora and Alexandria Wilkie.

Includes unlimited streaming of Sundown Digital Libretto (e-book download) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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Sassafrass Chicago, Illinois

Sassafrass performs Ada Palmer's original a cappella polyphonic folk music, complex pieces with lively narratives and fantasy, mythology or science fiction themes.

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