The First Lady

The work uses text and music in the public domain: the first verse and tune of Yankee Doodle Boy by George M. Cohan; portions of Truman’s radio speech on VE day (Truman Presidential library); portions of the tune from “America”, based on “God Save the Queen”; a variation on a theme by Antonin Dvorak from the New World Symphony; verses 1-3 and the tune of “Faith of our Fathers”, words by Frederick W. Faber, refrain by James G. Walton; music, St. Catherine, arr. By James G. Walton; sections of the Book of Common Prayer from the Order of the Burial for the Dead; and verses 1,3, and 5 and the tune for “Onward Christian Soldiers”, words by Sabine Baring-Gould and music by Arthur S. Sullivan. Facts and themes were obtained from a variety of sources and materials in the FDR and Truman Presidential Library, including two letters from Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd located in the FDR Library and reproduced in other published sources. This is a work of historical fiction and while based loosely on historical events takes liberties in depicting characters, names, situations, timing of events, and circumstances and alters or paraphrases these sources to convey the work’s artistic themes. The libretto was copyrighted in 1992, and revised in 2006. The music was written between 1996 and 2006, and the complete, revised work was copyrighted in 2007-008. The chamber opera version was completed in 2007-2008 and revised in 2009. The opera is for soloists and chorus and chamber orchestra, with a rehearsal piano vocal score. The voice categories for vocal parts include: (solos) SSSAATTBBBB + SATB Chorus.