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LutherOpera in Two Acts
Composed by Kari TikkaLibretto by Kari Tikka and Jussi TapolaEnglish version by Gracia Grindal, Kari Tikka and Jussi Tapola, based on Rodney Fletcher´s translation
Soloists:Soprano Ave von Schönfeld (Ave Axt)Mezzosoprano Katharina (Katie) von Bora (Katie Luther)High Tenor Satan in various guises:Death, Confessor, Duke Georg of Saxony, the Pope, Doctor Ecken, Hans von Berlepsch, Thomas Müntzer, Hieronymus Baumgärtner, Erasmus of Rotterdam, Christ, a Future TheologianTenor Brother Sebastian, Professor John Eck, Emperor Charles V, Andreas Karlstadt, Philip Melanchthon, a Future TheologianBass Baritone Martin LutherBass Prince Elector of Saxony Frederick the Wise, Johannes Bugenhagen, a Future Theologian
Choir: Monks and nuns of various orders, bishops, cardinals, university professors, students, princes, courtiers, burghers, soldiers, craftspeople, peasants, farm- hands, maids, beggars, common people, children
Orchestra: fl.,(picc.), 2 ob., 2 bass., 2 tr., 2 tbn.,
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strings (5,4,3,2,1), percussion (2 players) Act One
Scene 1The Dance of Death Erfurt / Wittenberg, early 1510s
Ensemble and Chorus:Death. Death. Death.Takes us all.Youngest and oldest, richest and poorest.Death. Death. Death.
Ensemble:War and murder, famine, fear:the plague is raging!There is no place of refuge.
Satan:(in the guise of Death)I invite you, I invite you all to dance - now! Hey, Sin! You are my guide and helper, your power is the law of God. (We read Holy Scripture with our own interpretation.)Brand your name, brand your name on the people´s souls.Crush them down with God´s own law, with God´s law! All flesh is caught, caught in the toils of Sin.Everyone ends up, ends up in Death´s maw! Everyone!
Where now can you find Adam, Abraham and David,where is Solomon the Wise?Where now can you find Aristotle, Saint Paul and Saint Jerome, the great teacher Augustine?
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They all belong to me! They all belong to me! I make the slave a free man, I make the free a slave. I give back what you have lost, what you have lost I give.I take what you pilfer from others by fraud.
Ensemble and Chorus:Death. Death. Death.
Satan:Where now can you find Adam, Abraham and David,where is Mister Solomon?Where now can you find Aristotle, Saint Paul and Saint Jerome and a certain Augustine? They all belong to me! They all belong me, they all belong to me!
Ensemble and Chorus:Hell. Hell. Hell. Devours all.Highest and lowest,humblest and holiest. Hell. Hell. Hell.
Satan:All flesh is caught, caught in the toils of Sin.Everyone ends up, ends up in Death´s maw! Everyone!I invite you, I invite you all to dance – now!
Ensemble:The Lord is coming, time is ending: judgment´s nearing! To everyone according to his deeds!
Satan:(as Confessor to Frederick the Wise,Luther and Brother Sebastian)Now, which sins do you wish to confess before God, the Holy, Almighty, Creator of the world?
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Frederick the Wise:I poor sinner confess unto you that I am by nature sinful and unclean and that I have sinned against you almighty, holy God in thought, word and deed…
Luther:I cannot love the Lord my God with all my heart, all my heart,with all my soul, my soul,with all my strength, my strength, with all my mind, all my mind and my neighbor as myself.As myself, as myself, as myself, as myself!
Brother Sebastian:I am completely bound by sin. How shall I be saved from this body of death? Shall I go to eternal damnation, Father?
Satan:(to Frederick the Wise)Have you become one flesh with your “wife” for any purpose other than to beget a child, to beget more children? (to Brother Sebastian)God, the Holy, Almighty, Creator of all hates sin; God gave his law to show you his hate! (to Luther) Beautiful, Brother Martinus!Your delicate conscience is evidence of a spark that is even in you, of a spark that is in you!(to Frederick the Wise)Have you ever felt pleasure during sexual intercourse? (to Luther)If you nourish it, you´ll go further down love´s long road.(to Brother Sebastian)Repent earnestly! Your heart must break!
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Luther:I can´t. I can´t.I am not able to love at all,my weak faith is not enough.
Brother Sebastian:I have not fasted enough, forgive me!Blankets are not thin enough, forgive me!
Satan:(to Frederick the Wise)Do you use lustful and foreign positions when you make love? (to Luther)Maybe you have not totally given yourself or surrendered to God.
Luther:Given myself!If anyone has, I have surrendered myself.
Satan:(to Brother Sebastian)Maybe there´s still something you would like to confess?(to Frederick the Wise)Your free will could have prevented all those offenses. Amen. How do you promise to make up for these sins?
Brother Sebastian:Once I looked at a woman with lust. I´ve not been pure and not lived chast´ly.I am completely bound by sin!I am not really repentant. I am dying.
Luther:Almighty God hates sin.Almighty God hates my sins.Almighty God hates me.
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Satan:(to Brother Sebastian)Young flesh cannot find peace at all. (to Luther)There you have said it!(to Brother Sebastian)Fast and fight! Fast and fight! Fast and fight! Don´t give up!
Frederick the Wise:I will pray more, I will pray more among my relics.I will attend Mass more regularly.I´ll buy more of the new indulgencies. I´ll confess my sins more often. I´ll confess my sins more often.
Satan:(to Frederick the Wise)That´s good! Now more and more!Good! More indulgencies! More, more, next time tell me more about the pleasures of sexual intercourse!
Ave:Come on, come on, Katharina!
Katharina:I really don´t like unending masses or confessionsor the horrible fasting.
Ave:How can you say such a thing, becoming a nun?
Katharina:I just want to be a girl, just an ordinary girl: myself!
Ave:Ordinary girls, even they, must confess every sin.
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Katharina:Yes, we are forced!Oh father, why did you send me to a nunnery?
Ave:So that I should meet you.
Satan:Is your heart ready, my daughter, for confession?
Ave:I don´t know.We came here together, Katharina and I …
Satan:Together?
Katharina:Yes.
Satan:Together?
Ave:Yes.
Satan:So you sleep together? You two? What are you then talking all night? What do you get up to all night? Together?
Ave:I dare not say anything.
Satan:But you dare to approach the Almighty in an impure state.
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Ave and Katharina:My dear God, help me! Do not force me to…, do not force me to…to confess to that person.
Satan:You´ll confess according to the lists of the five senses and Beatitudes. Well? Well? Well?
Ave and Katharina:I will say nothing. I will say nothing.
Satan:Accursed pair!
Katharina:I´d rather call Satan to help me!
Satan:You´re Satan´s own bastards!
Chorus:Death. Death. Death.Takes us all.Youngest and oldest,richest and poorest.Death. Death. Death.
Ensemble:War and murder, famine, fear:the plague is raging!There is no place of refuge.
Satan:
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I invite you, I invite you all to dance – now!Hey, Sin! Your power is the law of God.Crush the souls with God´s law !All flesh is caught in the toils of Sin.Everyone ends up in Death´s maw!
Where now can you find Adam, Abraham and David,where is Mister Solomon?Where now can you find Aristotle, Saint Paul and Saint Jerome and a certain Augustine ?They all belong to me! They all belong to me,they all belong to me!
Ensemble and Chorus:Hell. Hell. Hell.Devours all. Highest and lowest,humblest and holiest.Hell. Hell. Hell.
Chorus:The Lord is coming, time is ending: judgment´s nearing!
Ensemble:To everyone according to his deeds!
Luther:I hate you, I hate you God! Your demands they accuse me. You´re supposed to be merciful.You´re a liar!You`re crushing me on purpose!I´ll kill you! I can´t. I can´t.I am not able to love at all,my poor faith is not enough. I am completely bound by sin!
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There is no place of refuge. I´m drowning.Why have you forsaken me, forsaken me? Why have you forsaken me, God?
Ensemble and Chorus:Hell. Hell. Hell.
Luther:Who are you, are you God? Or are you Satan,you eternal accuser? You are not God? Say who you are, who you are, you unknown, horrible being?Say who you are, say who you are!You must reveal your face!You must reveal your face!
Satan:You all belong to me!Hell. Hell. Hell!
END OF SCENE ONE
Audience:Out of the depths I cry to you; (LBW 295)o Father, hear me calling.incline your ear to my distressin spite of my rebelling.Do not regard my sinful deeds.Send me the grace my spirit needs;without it I am nothing.
All things you send are full of grace;you crown our lives with favor.
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All our good works are done in vainwithout our Lord and Savior.We praise the God who gives us faithand saves us from the grip of death;our lives are in his keeping.
It is in God that we shall hope,and not in our own merit.We rest our fears in his good Wordand trust his Holy Spirit.His promise keeps us strong and sure;we trust the holy signatureinscribed upon our temples.
My soul is waiting for the Lordas one who longs for morning;no watcher waits with greater hopethan I for his returning.I hope as Israel in the Lord;he sends redemption through his Word.We praise him for his mercy.
Scene 2Wittenberg, late 1510s
Luther:(alone, studies the Bible)Was it you who were here, Son of God, Jesus Christ?Did God abandon you, too? Were you, too, in Hell?You died, too.Why?
This is what you say.
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You took my sins as your own!You paid my penalty.You gave me a loving Father,you gave me freedom, life and heaven.
Jesus is mine, Jesus is mine!I live, I am free!
You fought with me against Satan, you destroyed my accuser.By your death you defeated Death and Helland it was a fiery fight!Satan, you old serpent hiding in many disguises.Your head is crushed to bits! It was my Christ, my Jesus who crushed it down. He is your Satan, a much more stalwart Devil!
Sin, you Satan´s assistant,you use God´s law, you use God´s law as your lance.But your lance is broken.It was my Christ, my Jesus who shattered it.
Law, you tyrant. Your hands and feet, your hands and feet are bound.You´re a prisoner of grace and freedom.I´m a sinner, yes, so try to catch me.I´m a sinner, yes, so try to catch me, if you can!It is my Christ, my Jesus who is your law!
Death. Death. Death!Death. Death. Death! You chained leader of the dance.How do you make us dance now?It was my Christ, my Jesus who danced you, who danced you to death, to death, to death, to death, to death, to
Hell. Hell. Hell!Hell. Hell. Hell! You stinking carcass!Here is the poison that killed you:
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it is my Christ, Jesus who is your Hell, your Hell, your Hell, your Hell!
Thanks be to you Satan, Sin and Law, Death and Hell.Thanks be to you, you hounds of heaven, you drove me, you drove me to Christ.
Jesus is mine, Jesus is mine!I live, I am free!
END OF SCENE TWO
Audience:Christ Jesus lay in death´s strong bands (LBW 134:1-4)for our offenses given;but now at God´s right hand he standsand brings us life from heaven.Therefore let us joyful beand sing to God right thankfullyloud songs of hallelujah! Hallelujah!
It was a strange and dreadful strifewhen life and death contended;the victory remained with life,the reign of death was ended.Holy Scripture plainly saysthat death is swallowed up by death,its sting is lost forever. Hallelujah!
Here the true Paschal Lamb we see, whom God so freely gave us;he died on the accursed tree –so strong his love – to save us.See, his blood now marks our door;faith points to it; death passes o´er,
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and Satan cannot harm us. Hallelujah!
So let us keep the festivalto which the Lord invites us;Christ is himself the joy of all,the sun that warms and lights us.Now his grace to us impartseternal sunshine to our hearts;the night of sin is ended. Hallelujah!
Scene 3Leipzig Debate, 1519
Satan:(in the guise of Georg, Duke of Saxony)Fine summer weather fits out the town.Leipzig is decked out in flowers this day of the great debate, of this great debate. We have invited fine guests from the Sorbonne in Paris, the university. Messieurs.And a little nearer, some from Erfurt. Gentlemen. Fine. The prosecutor is Ingolstadt´s own great Achilles, theologian, the doctor, professor John Eck.There he hones, he hones his sharp tongue.In the defense is monk and a doctor, Martinus Luther, Wittenberg,from the brand new university.
Frederick the Wise:My university!
Satan:He is known for his theses against the sale of indulgences. There were ninety-five altogether,
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ninety-five posted altogether.How on earth did they fit on the churchdoor at the Wittenberger Castle?
Frederick the Wise:My church and my castle!
Satan:Luther´s own intellectual friends have translated them to German,they have had them printed!It has caused a frightful lot of publicity and terrible damageboth for our beloved and catholic churchand for poor Doctor Luther himself.
Frederick the Wise:I was in Augsburg last fall when Luther came to speak for himself.But the papal legate Cajetan could not get him to take back his word, he could not squeeze from him the one word: revoco.
Satan:The indulgence seller Tetzel has responded with theses of his own.But the Wittenberger students burned upthe document Tetzel prepared.They also have come to hear this Leipzig debate in earnest,as you see!
Frederick the Wise:My Saxony!Holy Father the Pope then offered me shrewdly the Golden Rose if I would expel Luther from my estatesand hand him over to Rome, Rome!
Satan:But dear audience, you need not be frightened!There are armed men,there are sixty-five Leipziger armed men
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who are ready to keep order here,who are ready to keep order here,who are ready to keep order!John Eck:I appeal to the Gospel of St. Matthew:“And I tell you, you are Peter,and upon this rock I will build my church.I will give you, I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.”The Pope, as the successor of St. Peter,has the power given by our Lord Jesus Christ himself.
Luther:I can´t agree that all of Christ´s sheep are entrusted to the care of Peter.What about Paul? Or you John, or me?Keys to the kingdom of heaven, I say, have been given to all the baptized.
John Eck:The Bishop of Rome is the successor of Peter.That we can read in the early decrees of the Church.
Luther:Those decrees have no weight as evidence.
John Eck:We can read these statements also in the canonical laws.
Luther:It has been easy to falsify those canon laws.
Frederick the Wise:Luther´s my best theologian.I´ll not give him to the Pope in Rome.
Satan:One small question:
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does it make any difference if the Pope is papal, if the Pope is papal by God´s divine right or by the power of human decision?Is he not still the Holy Pope?I am wondering: is he not still the Holy Pope?I am wondering: is the Pope not papal? Is the Pope not papal?
Frederick the Wise:I´ll not give Luther to the Pope in Rome.(It´s not a mistake that I´m called the Wise.)
Luther:You are right!We respect the Pope even if we deny his divine origin,we could still respect the Pope (as vicar in the Roman congregation.)
John Eck:The Pope is Christ´s infallible deputy on earth.The whole world must be obedient only to the Pope!
Luther:I´m only obedient to my Christ, my Jesus,God´s Word made flesh, God´s Word made flesh.
John Eck:The Bible is to be interpreted by the Pope´s andthe Church Councils´ will only.
Luther:Satan binds your Bible in the Pope´s and the Church Councils´ tyranny!Satan can´t be beaten by the Pope´s andthe Church Councils´ infallible decisions.Satan can only be beaten by God´s Word! God´s Word only!
Satan:
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That man is supposed to be alone right?Luther thinks he knows more than the whole Church before him.You are supposed to be alone right? John Eck:People like you, they always go too far, too far, too far!
Frederick the Wise:Luther has not yet been named a heretic, not yet, not yet.
Luther:Satan has pushed the Pope above Jesus Christ our Lord.The Pope has become the Antichrist! Antichrist!
Satan and John Eck:Antichrist! Antichrist!
Chorus:Rise up, rise up, Lord!Rise up, St. Peter, rise!Rise up, St. Paul, arise!Rise up, all ye faithful!Rise up, Universal Church!
Satan:You will burn handsom´ly at the stake!
Frederick the Wise:The closed season for Luther is ending!
Luther:Time is ending, the Lord is coming, but there is a place of refuge: Christ!
Satan:(in the guise of the Pope, quoting from the Bull Exsurge, Domine) A wild boar has plunged into your vineyard, o Lord.Your interpretation of the Bible is being tampered with, o Church.
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John Eck:O Lord! A wild boar, o Lord! O Church! O Church!Luther:Don´t believe the Pope´s satanic interpretation of the Bible;it demands religious ceremonies and good works;it demands from you blind obedience.And take your hands off temporal matters, deputy of Christ,just take care of your spiritual chores!Germany will stop licking your ass!
Frederick the Wise:The closed season for Luther has ended!
Satan:I now pronounce Doctor Martin Luther
Satan and John Eck:excommunicated!
Luther:Christ pronounces us, Christ pronounces us condemned guilty ones free!Christ paid our penalty!Christ gives us a loving Father!He gives us freedom, life and heaven!
Luther and Frederick the Wise:Jesus is ours, Jesus is ours, we can live, we are free!We can live, we are free! Free! Free!
Chorus:Christ, o hear the German people!Christ, o hear the German people!Christ, o bless the German people!Deliver Germany from slav´ry to Rome!
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Satan and John Eck:Excommunicate! Excommunicate! Excommunicate!See you in Worms at the Diet there!Satan:(takes off the clothing of the Pope)Come on! Off to Worms everybody!
Chorus:I believe in the Pope, he binds and releases.I believe in canonical law.I believe that my sins can be bought away through the indulgences.I believe in the resurrection of flesh, I believe in the resurrection of flesh for the pleasure and joy of life,it´s prepared by our Holy Father, the Pope!Holy Father, the Pope! Holy Father, the Pope!
Luther:I am coming, I am coming, although Satan tries to detain me. I am feeble and weak, I don´t know why. It continues…Christ is living, off to Worms now. Satan, Hell and Death, I defy all of you!
Diet of Worms, 1521
Satan:(in the guise of Doctor Ecken)Doctor Martin Luther, you have been invited to Worms to answer, before His Majesty the Emperor Charles the Fifth and the Diettwo questions: Are you the author of these writings?Is there anything in them that you would now like to retract?
Luther:I have written these books. I´ve written many other things, too…
Satan:Do you defend them all, or are you prepared to retractsomething from them?
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Luther:The matter is great and important…I most humbly ask more time to think.Satan:Can not a professor of theology make his defense here and now?
Chorus:Let him think or the people will rebel.He must recant or the people will rebel.
Charles V:Let him think, but he must recant!
Frederick the Wise:My faith goes the way of Luther.My heart goes the way of Luther.
Luther:I´m afraid! Help me, help me!
Satan:(continuing on the next day)Doctor Martin Luther, are you the author of these writings?Is there anything in them that you would now like to retract? Luther:I´ve written these books.Some of them deal with faith and life so simply and in accordance with the Gospel that even my enemies would probably have to accept them.Other writings attack the despotism of the Pope.Those I can´t retract, since the Popes have elevated themselvesabove Christ, contrary to God´s Word.Roman tyranny destroys the whole Germany!
Chorus:Luther is right! Luther is wrong!
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Charles V:That man is a heretic! A heretic!
Frederick the Wise:My heart goes the way of Luther.
Satan:A heretic!
Luther: A few of my writings attack some private persons.These are perhaps unnecessarily violent.But, if you can prove me wrong on the basis of God´s Word,I shall willingly be the first to throw my books in the fire.
Satan:You always say you appeal to God´s Word, as do all heretics.Do you think you know more than the whole Church before you?You are supposed to be alone right?You are supposed to be alone right?Will you recant? Will you recant your books and their heresies?
Luther:I cannot and will not.I cannot and will not recant anything! Here I stand, I can no other. God help me.
Chorus:Christ, o hear the German people!Christ, o hear the German people!Christ, o bless the German people!Deliver Germany from slav´ry to Rome!
Charles V:I now pronounce Doctor Martin Luther
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Satan and Charles V:under the Imperial ban! Under the Imperial ban! Under the Imperial ban!Luther and Frederick the Wise:Jesus is ours, Jesus is ours, we can live, we are free!We can live, we are free! Free! Free!
Luther:I got through it! I got through it!
Frederick the Wise: I must rescue Luther!
Chorus:I believe in the Pope, he binds and releases.I believe in canonical law.I believe that my sins can be bought away through the indulgencies.I believe in the resurrection of flesh for the pleasure and the joy of life,it´s prepared by our Holy Father, the Pope!Holy Father, the Pope! Holy father, the Pope!
END OFSCENE THREE
The Audience: To me he said: ”Stay close to me, (LBW 299:7 – 10)I am your rock and castle.Your ransom I myself will be;For you I strife and wrestle;For I am yours and you are mine,And where I am you may remain;The foe shall not divide us.
“Though he will shed my precious blood,
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of life me thus bereaving,all this I suffer for your good;be steadfast and believing.Life will from death the vict´ry win;My innocence shall bear your sin;And you are blest forever.
“Now to my Father I depart,From earth to heav´n ascending,And, heav´nly wisdom to impart,The Holy Spirit sending;In trouble he will comfort youAnd teach you always to be trueAnd into truth shall guide you.
“What I on earth have done and taughtguide all your life and teaching;so shall the kingdom´s work be wroughtand honoured in your preaching.But watch lest foes with base alloyThe heav´nly treasure should destroy;This final word I leave you.”
Scene 4Wartburg, 1521
Satan:(in the guise of the governor of the Wartburg, Hans von Berlepsch)Alone, here, here in the kingdom of the birds.You have risen high, my friend, Junker Jörg.You are supposed to be alone right?You are supposed to be alone right?
Luther:
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No, it´s you who are.I am just a stinking bag of shit, that´s all.I just shit right in my breeches.Did you already record it along with my other sins?
Satan:Hahaha!“Here I stand, I can no other. God help me.”
Luther:Here I sit and write, I can no other.Get out, Hans, before I pull your breeches down!
Satan:Oho!
Luther:(throws an ink bottle)Get lost!
Satan:(catches it)Tut, tut. You will need this later.
Luther:(translates the Bible)Look at the birds of the air:they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns,and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.Are you not of more value than the birds?
Ave:(escaping the nunnery)Come on, come on, Katharina!
Katharina:Farewell to masses, confessions, fasting!
Ave and Katharina:Finally I can be, just an ordinary girl: me.
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Luther:Look at the birds of the air!German nightingales are singing just as wonderfully,wonderfully as Roman finches.
Ave, Katharina and Luther:Summer beaming at the door,winter long since vanished,dainty flowers everywhere.
Luther:He who began this, he will bring, bring it to completion.
Ave and Katharina:We can live, we are free!
Ave:Let us comb our pretty locks
Katharina:and set off for the market.
Ave:Let´s buy ourselves husbands there!
Katharina:Do you know how much a husband costs?
Luther:Look at the flowers of the field, how they rise from the ground…
Wittenberg, spring 1522
Karlstadt:Music from the organ wakens unseemly and worldly anddirty thoughts.Stop playing complicated music in church!
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Away with the pictures from the walls, down the statues also!Scripture says: ”You shall make no image for yourself.”
Satan:(in the guise of Thomas Müntzer)Why do we baptize uncomprehending infants?Adults should conciously work out their relationship with God.Scripture says:”He who believes and is baptized shall be saved.”Scripture says: “Faith first, then baptism.”
Chorus:God is the Spirit, Spirit, Spirit!
Karlstadt and Satan:The Spirit says: ”Holiness is my desire.” The Spirit says: “Yes, obedience is my desire.”The Spirit says: “To follow Christ is my greatest desire.”The Spirit says: “Absolute compliance I demand!”
Frederick the Wise:Luther did not teach like that! Watch it! Watch it!Be careful, dear gentlemen!Do not conjure Luther up now, it´s too dangerous!Germany cannot stand it!
Karlstadt ,Satan and Chorus:Where is Doctor Luther, Wittenberger Pope?Holy Father, the Pope! Holy Father, the Pope!Let him come to defend his spiritless doctrine!
Luther:(enters with force and starts preaching)Death. Death. Death.Takes us all.Youngest and oldest,richest and poorest.Death. Death. Death.Everyone ends up in Death´s maw!There is no place of refuge! There is no place of refuge!
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All flesh is caught in the toils of sin.Almighty God hates sin! Almighty God hates sin!You have gone too far! Satan has driven you into spiritual haughtiness! Satan!
Let the images be.Rejoice and be thankful for the lovely music.Let us praise our baptism.Through it God by his Word made us his childrenand freed us from the power of Satan.
I preach and teach good news.I write and speak good news.I compel nobody.Faith lives only in freedom.God´s Word conquers all hearts.
Satan:Faith lives only in obedience.The Spirit conquers all hearts.
(Germany, 1522-1525)
Karlstadt:God is the Spirit, Spirit, Spirit!
Satan:The Spirit says: “Obedience is my desire.”The Spirit says: “To follow Christ is my greatest desire.”The Spirit says: “Absolute compliance I demand.”Move ahead. Everyone to battle now!
Frederick the Wise:Luther did not teach like that!
Karlstadt and Chorus:Let´s advance! Move ahead!
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Satan:Move ahead! Everyone to battle now!Karlstadt and Chorus:(set off for battle)Young men and old men, all you peasants. Forward, march!This is a holy war!
Satan:(sets off for battle)To this holy war, I invite you all to war – now!
Dance
Satan:(in the guise of Hieronymus Baumgärten)I invite you, I invite you all to dance – now!(Hieronymus and Katie apart from the others)Your skin is of the finest silk.How your hair exites me.
Katharina:Ah, from your lips I drink sweet life!
Satan:I will return for Christmas.
Katharina and Satan:Roses will bloom the day I marry you!
Luther:(Luther and Ave apart from the others)Nightingales are singing in the grove.
Ave:Summer beaming at the door,winter long since vanished.You´re a strange man. Who are you?
Luther:I am flesh and blood!
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Ave:You are going too far!
Frederick the Wise:Germany cannot stand this!
Karlstadt and Chorus:Sword. Sword. Sword.Devours all.Highest and lowest,humblest and holiest.Sword. Sword. Sword. This is a holy war!
Katharina:Thank you God that you gave me Hieronymus!
Peasants´ War
Ensemble and Chorus:Stab, strike, kill!Your (our) sword is a weapon to fight for the Lord!
Satan, Karlstadt and Luther:Your sword is a weapon to fight for the Lord, peasant (prince).
Luther:The chief devil is Müntzer! I´ll kill you, Satan!
Frederick the Wise:He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword.Lord, have mercy on the German people!
Satan:I´ll kill you, Satan!Lord, have mercy on the German people!
Ave, Katharina and Women:
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Aa, aa, aa, aa…
INTERMISSIONAct Two
Scene 5The Feast of LifeWittenberg, summer 1525-
Ave, Melanchthon, Bugenhagen and Chorus:God bless you!Martin and Katie!
Katie and Martin:To this feast of life we invite you all – now!
Martin:Katie is mine!
Katie:Martin is mine!
Katie and Martin:We can live, we are free!Roses were blooming when we married!
Ave, Melanchthon, Bugenhagen and Chorus:God bless you!A renegade monk weds a runaway nun!
Katie:Mother died.Father rejected me.Hieronymus left me.
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Martin:I love you, I love you, I love you, Katie!Katie:I love you, I love you, I love you, Martin!
Katie and Martin:Fire burns, water moistens, my desire is for you!Martin (Katie) is mine!We can live, we are free!
Martin:This Black Cloister is now ours!Our Prince Elector gave it to us to use.I lived here before we got married.
Katie:One sleeps in the bed of one´s own making.(To the stable hands)Take away that stinking old straw!
Maids:Sage, marjoram and thyme.Where do the planters go?
Katie:Out by the wall.I´ll plant a garden there some day!
Stable hands:The pigs are in the barn, the horses, too.There is no room for the cattle.
Katie:Let them stay out in the meadow till the stalls have been prepared.The weather seems to be holding.(to the builder)
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Build an oven in the kitchen.Whitewash all the walls and finish with the plumbing soon. We´ll need a decent laundry on the ground floor.I´ve found only one rusty wash basin in the whole place.But, first we have to clean up that filthy outhouse!
Ave:Katie´s rolling up her sleevesand fixing up the monastery!
Malanchthon:That woman is just too much! What will the people say?
Four men:The stones are in the yard, as we were told.Will Doctor Luther sign for them?
Martin:What stones?
Katie: (to Martin)For the kitchen floor.(to the men)I´ll sign.
Martin:What´s wrong with the old one?
Katie:Pigs root around on dirt floors!
Martin:This house is getting too expensive for us!
Katie:No, Martin, no!We will have enough if we count each penny!
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Ave, Melanchthon, Bugenhagen and Chorus:This Black Cloister is just perfect for you (us)!Martin:You´re my Lord!
Katie and Martin:Fire burns, water moistens,
Ensemble and Chorus:my desire is for you!Basil (Martin, Katie, Grete, Kari, Eeva *) is mine! *Everybody singsWe can live, we are free! the name of his/her own!This Black Cloister is just perfect for you (us)!A renegade monk weds a runaway nun!Martin and Katie!Stab, strike, kill! (Martin´s nightmare)Your (our) sword is a weapon to fight for the Lord!
Martin:I killed all the peasants!I killed them all….but God gave the order.The responsibility is his!
Katie:You have to know if you have loaned it out or given just a gift.Loans must be paid back with interest.Loans do not turn into gifts.
Martin:Look at this hand, look at this hand.The reason why, the reason why they were made thus was that the money, was that the money could pour through myfingers, my fingers, my…
Melanchthon:
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What will the people say?A renegade monk wed a runaway nun,that produces Antichrist!Ave:Here´s my godson Johannes, Martin and Katie´s firstborn.
Bugenhagen:I baptized Johannes.
Melanchthon:(to Johannes)You have a strong-minded mother!
Katie:(to Martin)You have gone and sold or pawned the chidren´s baptismal presents.It´s no good! You won´t take any money for your work or lectures—you won´t take anything, not one mark!
Martin:Lord!
Katie:Look after Lisa!Watch your Lisa, so that I can be free to supervise the building of the laundry. We must finish it soonso it´s done before Christmas.
Martin:Certainly, Herr Katie!Better a man should be dead than have the very Devil for a wife!Teach me, Lisa!Teach me, Christ!
From heav´n above to earth I come (LBW 51:1,2,3,7,9,11,14)to bring good news to ev´ryone!Glad tidings of great joy I bringto all the world and gladly sing:
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Martin, Chorus and Audience:To you this night is born a childof Mary, chosen virgin mild;this newborn child of lowly birthshall be the joy of all the earth.
Chorus and Audience:This is the Christ, God´s Son most high,who hears your sad and bitter cry;He will himself your Saviour beand from all sin will set you free.
Look, look dear friends, look over there!What lies within that manger bare?Who is that lovely little one?The baby Jesus, God´s dear Son.
Bugenhagen, Melanchthon and Martin:O Lord, you have created all!How did you come to be so small,to sweetly sleep in mangerbedwhere lowing cattle lately fed?
Katie:For velvets soft and silken stuffyou have but hay and straw so rough
Katie and Ave:on which as king so rich and greatto be enthroned in humble state.
Ensemble, Chorus and Audience:“Glory to God in highest heav´n, who unto us his Son has giv´n.”With angels singing pious mirth:A glad new year to all the earth!Amen!
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END OF SCENE FIVE
Scene 6
Satan:(in the guise of Erasmus of Rotterdam)Surely you have free will!Consciously work your relationship out with God.Surely you have free will!It´s your responsibility!So make the right choice!Amend your ways and trust in God´s love.The Spirit defeats the flesh through upbringing, education andwith Jesus Christ our Lord.Your faith lives only in obedience.The Spirit conquers your heart!Amend your ways and trust in God´s love.Surely you have free will!Conciously work your relationship out with God.Surely you have free will!It´s your responsibility!So make the right choice!
Martin:The grace of God is surely all sufficient for me,for the strength of God is always perfect in weakness.When I´m weak, then I am strong.This is God´s great gift. Amen.For by grace we have been saved and even faith is not our own.It´s the gift of God for us and not the works that we have done.Don´t let anybody boast of this, it´s God´s great gift. Amen.
This weakness with contentment I accept in myself,all my hardships, pains and griefs that lie deep within myself.
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When I´m weak, then I am strong.This is God´s great gift. Amen.For by grace we have been savedand even faith is not our own.It´s the gift of God for us and not the works that we have done.Don´t let anybody boast of this, it´s God´s great gift. Amen.
You´re a genius, Erasmus. A genius.It´s only your ideas that are dung, dung!Either our Christ, our Jesus or our free will.
Chorus:Careful, watch out, turn, mend your ways, come here, pray now, watch out, be ware!
Satan:Why does the New Testament have dozens of plain and very clear commandmentsif it is not possible for a person to obey or disobey these commandments?Why are we thus commanded to choose if we are then incapable of choosing?
Chorus:If you hear, if you want, if you turn, if you stay.
Martin:Those commandments and exhortations are law.The function of the law is to show one´s guilt – sinand to crush one´s selfrighteousness before Godand to drive one to Christ.Christ is the end of law.
Chorus:Hilarius, Ambrosius,Hieronymus, Augustinus.
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Satan:Martinus, you are going too far, it´s people like you that always go too far.The best men of the Church:bishops and popes and the martyrs teach otherwise, otherwise, otherwise, other…Do you think you know more than the whole Church, the whole Church before you?You are supposed to be alone right?
Chorus:Faith alone and grace alone, yes!Christ alone, hahahah!
Martin:God invited, pushed and drove meto proclaim contrary to my skill!God invited, pushed and drove meto proclaim Christ contrary to my will!
Satan:(takes away the gown of Erasmus)Has God the Holy, Almighty really invited you,you vulgar drunkard?Your mother was a whore!Your father Satan!You lead people all the way to Hell!
Chorus and Ensemble:Stab, strike, kill!Hell. Hell. Hell.
Martin:Help me, Jesus!Lord, wake up! I´m afraid.
Satan:
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The function of the law is to show one´s guilt – sinand to crush one´s selfrighteousness and to drive him all the way to Hell!
Martin:Who are you, are you Christ?Or are you Satan,you eternal accuser?You are not Christ?Say who you are, who you are,you unknown, horrible being?Say who you are, say who you are!You must reveal your face!You must reveal your face!
Satan:Martinus, surely you are a believer?Be ware you do not go to Hell!
Ensemble and Chorus:Hell. Hell. Hell!
Martin:I hate you, I hate you Christ!Your demands they accuse me.You´re crushing me on purpose!I´ll kill you, Christ!
Satan:(in the guise of Death)Stab, strike, kill!
Ensemble, Chorus and Satan:Hell. Hell. Hell.
Satan:Jesus is mine! Jesus is mine! You can die, you are free! You can die, you are free!
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Ave:Lisa is dead!
Ensemble:God has given, God has taken; blest be the name, the name of the Lord.
Chorus and Ensemble:Death. Death. Death.Takes us all.Youngest and oldest,richest and poorest.Death. Death. Death.
Martin:My heart! Aah!I feel dizzy!
Katie:Bring some water! Quickly!
Martin:Pray for me, pray for me!
Ensemble:Lord, we pray, let Martin live!Blest be the name, the name of the Lord.
Martin:A mighty fortress is our God,a sword and shield victorious;
Ensemble, Chorus and Audience:He breaks the cruel oppressor´s rodand wins salvation glorious.The old satanic foehas sworn to work us woe!
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With craft and dreadful mighthe arms himself to fight.On earth he has no equal.
No strength of ours can match his might!We would be lost, rejected.But now a champion comes to fight,whom God himself elected.You ask who this may be?The Lord of hosts is he!Christ Jesus, mighty Lord,God´s only Son, adored.He holds the field victorious.
Though hordes of devils fill the landall threat´ning to devour us,we tremble not, unmoved we stand;they cannot overpow´r us.Let this world´s tyrant rage;in battle we´ll engage!His might is doomed to fail;God´s judgment must prevail!One little word subdues him.
God´s word forever shall abide,no thanks to foes, who fear it;for God himself fights by our sidewith weapons of the Spirit.Were they to take our house,goods, honor, child or spouse,though life be wrenched away,they cannot win the day.The Kingdom´s ours forever!
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END OF SCENE SIX
Scene 7Wittenberg, 1546 / Germany, Finland, USA, the World
Martin:This is what you say…
Katie:Alone, here.Are you not getting hungry?
Martin:Bring me some fried herring, bread and beer.I should go to Eisleben to settle the counts´ quarrels.
Katie:I love you, I love you, I love you, Martin!
Martin:I love, I love you.
Katie and Martin:Fire burns, water moistens, my desire is for you!A renegade monk wed a runaway nun!
Katie:Martin!
Martin:Katie!
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Katie:You have to know if you have loaned it out or given just a gift.
Martin:Look at this hand, look at this hand.God also has two hands:with the left He presses down;with the right He raises up.With both of them He loves!
Ave and Katie:Finally I can be just an ordinary girl: me.
Martin:God also has two hands:with the left He compels and punishes, presses down;with the right He frees and pardons. With each He loves!
Ave, Katie and Martin:Summer beaming at the door,winter long since vanished,dainty flowers everywhere.
Martin:Christ gives us a loving Father!He gives us freedom, life and heaven!
(From now on only Martin is in the year 1546,the others are already in the future)
Martin and a Future Theologian (bass):Jesus is ours, Jesus is ours, we can live, we are free!We can live, we are free! Free, free!
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Ave and Katie:We can live, we are free!
Chorus:Christ, o hear the German people!Christ, o hear the German people!Christ, o bless the German people!Deliver Germany
Ensemble and Chorus:from the slav´ry to Satan!
Martin:The war has been won, but the battle goes on!
Future Theologian (tenor):Luther did not want to lead people to live their lives irresponsibly.Spirit defeats flesh through upbringing, education and with Jesus Christ our Lord.Adults should consciously work their relationship out with God. Baptism alone is not enough;a personal decision is necessary.
Satan: (in the guise of a Future Theologian)Luther surely went too far, he went too far!The Bible is to be interpreted by the Pope´s and the Church Councils´ will only.You do your best and then trust in the merits of Jesus Christ.First repentance, then conversion;away with false certainty!
Chorus:Surely you have free will!God is the Spirit, Spirit, Spirit!
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Future Theologian (tenor) and Satan:The Spirit says: “Holiness is my desire.” The Spirit says: “Yes, obedience is my desire.”The Spirit says: “To follow Christ is my greatest desire.”The Spirit says: “Absolute compliance I demand!”Future Theologian (bass):Luther did not teach like that! Watch it! Watch it!Be careful, dear gentlemen!Do not conjure Luther up now, it can be dangerous!Dangerous…
Future Theologian (tenor), Satan and Chorus:Where is Doctor Luther, Wittenberger Pope?Holy Father, the Pope! Holy Father, the Pope!Let him come to defend his spiritless doctrine!
Chorus:Death. Death. Death.Takes us all.Youngest and oldest,richest and poorest.Death. Death. Death.
Ensemble:War and murder, famine, fear:the plague is raging!There is no place of refuge.
Satan:(in the guise of Death)I invite you, I invite you all to dance – now!Hey, Sin! Your power is the law of God.Crush the souls with God´s law!All flesh is caught in the toils of Sin.Everyone ends up, ends up in Death´s maw!
Where now can you find Adam, Abraham and David,where is Solomon the Wise?
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Where now can you find Aristotle, Saint Paul and Saint Jerome, the great teacher Martin Luther?They all belong to me! They all belong to me!I make the slave a free man,I make the free a slave.I give back what you have lost, what you have lost I give.I take what you pilfer from others by fraud.
Ensemble and Chorus:Death. Death. Death.
Satan:Where now can you find Adam, Abraham and David,where is Mister Solomon?Where now can you find Aristotle, Saint Paul andSaint Jerome and a certain Martin Luther?They all belong to me! They all belong to me,they all belong to me!
Ensemble and Chorus:Hell. Hell. Hell.Devours all.Highest and lowest,humblest and holiest.Hell. Hell. Hell.
Chorus:The Lord is coming, time is ending: judgment´s nearing!
Ensemble:To everyone according to his deeds!
Satan:I invite you, I invite you all to dance – now!
Ave, Katie and Chorus:Aa, aa, aa, aa…
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END OF THE OPERA
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