SCORE FOR THE
AUDIENCE
-
Miriam Sagan (U.S.A.)
I’d like to compose a piece of music
for the audience:
a cough, 3 in a row,
the noise of small random objects
dropping out of a purse or pocket
sighs
and unsilenced cell phones
going off in patterned ring tones—
a bird call, the opening notes of a
Golden Oldie,
chimes, church bells.
Add in construction from the street,
the gas company
retro-fitting lines
as noisy as if the road crew
were attempting to excavate Atlantis or
Mycenae but in the wrong location.
Now, add in a car alarm.
Sounds get wilder and wilder.
The audience applauds
between movements, between notes
while on stage the orchestra
murmurs “bravo!”
in its sleep.
****