SEGMENT 18 of the musical "CANDELESCENCE" (written by Secretary Michael); illustration by Jennifer Stolzer); the latest SCRIPT is found below; click to find the sheet music to this segment's necessary songs: "Peace To You From Language Number Two" and the "Language Heroes" accompaniment.
Segment 18: Language Heroes
(The stage is split in half. On one side Baba is teaching Enemian to the Candelescent High students. On the other side, thousands of miles away, Twimfina is teaching English to the Garden School students. Both sides mirror each other, reciting the same words at the same time.)
Instructions:
B&T = Baba and Twimfina / Stu = Students / 1Stu = One Student from Each Class / Metronome speed is about 60 bpm / the underlined syllables fall on the beat (but aren’t necessarily accented) / the words are not sung, but are spoken with expression (which gives them a natural musicality) / there is an optional piano accompaniment;
1.
B&T: Now let’s start becoming heroes.
Stu: Heroes?
B&T: Heroes.
Stu: Heroes?
B&T: Heroes. Now let’s start becoming heroes, heroes of the world.
Stu: How can we become the heroes?
B&T: Heroes?
Stu: Heroes.
B&T: Heroes?
Stu: Heroes. How can we become the heroes, heroes of the world?
2.
B&T: When we learn a second language, heroes we become.
We connect the whole wide world so all can be as one.
We bilinguals work to keep the dialogue alive,
Else the world would just be islands, fighting to survive.
B&T: Now let’s start becoming heroes.
Stu: Heroes?
B&T: Heroes.
Stu: Heroes?
B&T: Heroes. Now let’s start becoming heroes, heroes of the world.
3.
Stu: Oh come on you make it seem bilinguals are so great.
Bilinguals this, bilinguals that, you just exaggerate!
B&T: No exaggeration, our heroics never cease
And on top of all of this, bilinguals bring us peace!
B&T: Now let’s start becoming heroes.
Stu: Heroes?
B&T: Heroes.
Stu: Heroes?
B&T: Heroes. Now let’s start becoming heroes, heroes of the world.
[two students raise hands during previous refrain; both B&T point to the students on the word “world” so that the acknowledged students can respond immediately]
4.
1Stu: Why we need to learn a language? We don’t understand!
We don’t know a single person in another land.
B&T: (chuckling) That’s the problem when you know just Language Number One
You miss the chance to know the world and miss a lot of fun
[two students raise hands during previous verse; both B&T point to the students on the word “fun” so that the acknowledged students can respond immediately]
5.
1Stu: What if someone laughs at us or tries to pick a fight
If we do not know a word or don’t pronounce it right?
B&T: Just ignore the laughter and the insults that are hurled.
Things like that can never hurt the heroes of the world.
[two students raise hands during previous verse; both B&T point to the students on the word “world” so that the acknowledged students can respond immediately]
6.
1Stu: The world has many languages – and all of them are great
Why pick this, the language of a people that we hate?
B&T: That is why we’re learning it – we’re knocking down the wall
Communication really is the answer to it all.
7.
B&T: You will find that when you learn this Language Number Two
You will have so many friends, you won’t know what to do.
(pointing to other side)
Far away a class like this is also filled with stars.
As we learn to speak their language, they are learning ours.
[two students raise hands during previous verse; both B&T point to the students on the word “ours” so that the acknowledged students can respond immediately]
8.
1Stu: If students over there are learning Language Number Two
We can just relax and look for something else to do! [2-beat pause for laughter]
B&T:(pointing to other side) What if there’s a joker over there who says the same?
[2-beat pause for laughter] That is why it’s only fair we all share in the pain
9.
B&T: When we learn their language, it would really be a treat
If somehow we could find a way that all of us could meet. [2-beat pause for excited response]
If we were to travel there, the first thing we should do
Is smile and shake their hands and sing out:
B&T:
(the tempo slows down here to about 48 bpm to match the tempo of the upcoming song)
(sung on the pitch C#5)
PEACE TO YOU FROM LANGUAGE NUMBER TWO
Stu: (sung on the pitch C#5)
PEACE TO YOU FROM LANGUAGE NUMBER TWO
BABA and TWIMFINA
(singing)
THOSE WHO KNOW JUST LANGUAGE NUMBER ONE
MISS A CHANCE TO HAVE A LOT OF FUN
MISS A CHANCE TO MAKE A LOT OF FRIENDS
CHANCE TO GO WHERE THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN
NOT THE GREATEST SITUATION
STUCK AT HOME WITH LANGUAGE NUMBER ONE
STUDENTS
(sung in unison)
WE ARE LEARNING LANGUAGE NUMBER TWO
DIFF’RENT CULTURES, DIFF’RENT POINTS OF VIEW
MEETING PEOPLE, MAKING LOTS OF FRIENDS
GOING PLACES WE HAVE NEVER BEEN
WE BRING GOOD THINGS, BRING THEM HOME TO YOU
WE THE STUDENTS OF LANGUAGE NUMBER TWO.
ALL
(sung in harmony; Garden School sings melody, Candelescent High sings both melody and countermelody)
WE BRING YOU:
CHINESE PHILOSOPHY, INDIAN SPICE
BANANAS FROM PANAMA, BASMATI RICE
WITH MANDARIN, HINDI AND ARABIC WORDS
COMES BEAUTY FROM BURMA AND SONG FROM CAPE VERDE
WE BRING STORIES FROM AFRICA, MEXICAN DANCE
AND FLOWERS FROM HOLLAND AND COOKING FROM FRANCE
ITALIAN OPERA, OLIVES FROM GREECE
AND BEST OF ALL WE BRING YOU:
PEACE, PEACE, BEST OF ALL WE BRING
PEACE, PEACE, BEST OF ALL WE BRING PEACE
AND WORD BY WORD WE BRING YOU TOGETHER
AND WORD BY WORD WE BRING YOU TOGETHER
AND WORD BY WORD WE BRING YOU...
WE BRING YOU:
CHINESE PHILOSOPHY, INDIAN SPICE
BANANAS FROM PANAMA, BASMATI RICE
WITH MANDARIN, HINDI AND ARABIC WORDS
COMES BEAUTY FROM BURMA AND SONG FROM CAPE VERDE
WE BRING STORIES FROM AFRICA, MEXICAN DANCE
AND FLOWERS FROM HOLLAND AND COOKING FROM FRANCE
ITALIAN OPERA, OLIVES FROM GREECE
AND BEST OF ALL WE BRING YOU:
PEACE, PEACE, BEST OF ALL WE BRING
PEACE, PEACE, BEST OF ALL WE BRING
PEACE TO YOU FROM LANGUAGE NUMBER TWO.
END OF SEGMENT 18
