The Charter

[Intro][Style: solo cello, eight bars, modal. French horns enter. The chord is grave, not sad.] [Verse 1][Style: female mezzo solo, English, simple, declarative — the opening of the UN Charter, set to melody] We the peoples of the United Worlds — determined to save the children of the children from the scourge of war, from the scourge of war — We who have seen the ships sail full of bodies We who have seen the auctions, seen the chains We who have known what English meant in cargo holds We are determined, we are determined, we are determined again [Style: The choir enters softly — adult voices only, humming the melody, no words] [Verse 2][Style: Spanish, soloist switches or harmonizes — a different vocalist, mezzo or soprano] Nosotros los pueblos — los pueblos que vieron desaparecer a sus hijos en la noche, en la noche, en la noche sin juicio, sin nombre, sin tumba Y juramos: nunca más Y juramos: nunca más Y juramos: nunca más [Verse 3: Mandarin, third soloist] 我们人民 — 经历过文化的火 — 看见邻居举报邻居 — 看见孩子举报父母 — 我们记得, 我们记得, 我们记得 [Pre-chorus][Style: the children's choir enters for the first time. Wordless. Just an *ah* on the tonic. This is the song's first goosebump.] [Chorus][Style: full adult choir + children's choir + mezzo lead, slow, hymn-like, in English so the chorus is the *universal* moment] This is the Charter — not the dream, but the writing Not the feeling, but the form Not the hope, but the binding — Article by article we hold the line Article by article we hold the line And every line is a child not buried And every line is a child not buried And every line is a child not buried tonight [Verse 4][Style:: Russian, fourth soloist, deeper voice — alto or low tenor] Мы народы — пережившие лагеря — Помним каждое имя, выбитое в стене Помним, что бумага может спасти жизнь Когда подписана правильным человеком В правильный час [Verse 5][Style: Arabic, fifth soloist] نحن الشعوب — الذين فقدوا البيت الذين حفظوا المفاتيح لأبواب لم تعد موجودة نحن نعرف ما يعنيه اللاجئ نحن نعرف, نحن نعرف, نحن نعرف [Verse 6][Style: French, sixth soloist] Nous les peuples — qui avons collaboré — Qui avons signé les listes — Qui avons regardé par la fenêtre Pendant qu'on emmenait les voisins — Et nous jurons — Plus jamais par notre silence Plus jamais Plus jamais [Bridge][Style: the music pulls back to almost silence. Solo children's choir. They sing — in unison, no harmony, the way children sing in school assemblies — the actual text of Article 3 of the Universal Declaration:] Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person. Everyone. Everyone. Everyone. [Style: A held breath. The full orchestra crashes in — French horns, strings, full choir. Timpani for the first time in the song.] [Style: Key change up a perfect fifth — the *constitutional* modulation, the one that signals an oath being taken] [Final chorus][Style: all six soloists return, singing in their own languages simultaneously — a controlled babel,. The chorus melody holds them together. Children's choir on top.] This is the Charter — not the dream, but the writing Not the feeling, but the form Not the hope, but the binding — Article by article we hold the line Article by article we hold the line And every line is a child not buried And every line is a child not buried And every line is a child not buried tonight [Tag:][Style the six soloists trade off, each singing *we the peoples* in their own language, one after another, like a roll call] We the peoples — Nosotros los pueblos — 我们人民 — Мы народы — نحن الشعوب — Nous les peuples — [Final line][Style: all together, English, the children's choir on top, the orchestra holding the tonic] We are determined. [Style: Single timpani strike. The chord resolves. End on the downbeat. No fade.]