SEPTEMBER SHADOWS [Opening - Whispered ensemble builds to full chorus] ENSEMBLE: September seventeen Eighteen sixty-two Maryland morning Blood-red and new MCCLELLAN: Lost orders in my hand Lee's army split in two A chance to end this war If what I read is true ENSEMBLE: Dawn breaks over Antietam Creek (Dawn breaks, dawn breaks) Twenty-three thousand souls to keep (To keep, to keep) [First Battle Sequence - Explosive full company] HOOKER: Through the cornfield! ENSEMBLE: (driving percussion) THROUGH THE CORNFIELD! HOOKER: Men are falling! ENSEMBLE: ROW BY ROW BY ROW! FULL COMPANY: (Building to crescendo) The bloodiest day In American history No time to pray Just watch the mystery Of how many men Can die before sunrise Can die before sunrise CAN DIE— [The Sunken Road - Slower, haunting] ENSEMBLE WOMEN: (Ethereal harmonies) Sunken road Ancient path Now they call it FULL COMPANY: BLOODY LANE [Bridge - Overlapping voices] BURNSIDE: The bridge is ours to take! LEE: Hold the line at any cost! ENSEMBLE: (Layered counterpoint) Twelve hours of slaughter Brothers lost Fathers lost Sons lost All lost... [Climactic Turn - Full orchestration] MCCLELLAN: Lee retreats across the stream Victory seems within our reach But I hesitate— ENSEMBLE: (Cutting him off) AND TWENTY-THREE THOUSAND LIE DEAD! [Lincoln's Moment - Quiet, then building] LINCOLN: (Spoken over subtle strings) Now I have my victory Now I have my chance ENSEMBLE: The Emancipation Proclamation Is about to advance! [Final Sequence - Full company with counterpoint] FULL COMPANY: September shadows (Blood in the creek) September shadows (Victory incomplete) September shadows (Change is coming now) September shadows (Show us how, show us how) LINCOLN & ENSEMBLE: The bloodiest day has shown us all There's no turning back There's no turning back FROM THIS WAR AT ALL! [Finale - A cappella fading to single voice] ENSEMBLE: (Fading one by one) September seventeen Eighteen sixty-two Maryland morning What did we do? What did we... Do?
