AUSCHWITZ MISERERE

Leon Zeldis

1. THE RAILROAD

Recorded music: railroad sounds, metal doors sliding shut brakes, steam blowing (locomotive), cries, dogs barking, growling muttered German orders, "schnell, schweigen, forwaerts", children's cries

Chorus O God, why are you silent

Be not quiet, O God,

God be not still.

Come now, destroy your enemies as then

When we heard your name.

Basso Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.

Et lux perpetua luceat eis.

2. THE SELECTION

Chorus Kyrie eleison

Lord have mercy

God have mercy

Narrator The men of working age

were put on one side,

the older men, women and children

were sent to the other side.

Chorus Kyrie eleison

Lord have mercy

God have mercy

Narrator A woman tried to save her child,

sending him to join his father,

on the other side.

A guard released his dog;

it jumped on the child,

seized his leg,

dragged him down,

then savaged his face.

The guards laughed.

Chorus Kyrie eleison

Lord have mercy

God have mercy

Narrator One guard was merciful.

He put a bullet

into the child's head.

Soprano Merciful

Merciful

3. THE GAS CHAMBER

Very fast music. Hurry. Hurry!

Narrator They came into the room and undressed, all together.

Some of the women hid their wedding ring.

Then they were led out to the gas chambers.

Chorus Pax vobiscum. Dominus vobiscum et cum spiritu tuo.

Recording: barking dogs, men laughing and making jokes, cries of anguish.

4. KADOSH

Narrator They were pushed into the chamber, crowded together.

Children's choir Mother, I'm afraid

Mutty,

mami,

mamá

Narrator Then the gas began to flow down from the ceiling. Heavy vapor.

Children's choir Mother, I cannot breath!

Mother, give me air!

Mother, save me!

Choir Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus.

Children's choir Kadosh. kadosh, kadosh

5. THE FIERY HELL

Angry music.

Narrator The day will come

And the Lord shall ask

Where were you?

Chorus What did you do?

Children's choir What did you do?

Narrator The deepest circle of hell

Is reserved for those

Who in the face of evil

Turned aside and did nothing

6. MERCY

Narrator Some young women were kept alive

For the pleasure of the guards.

One gave birth to a child.

It was taken from her

And the guard smashed the baby's head on the wall.

Then let the mother bleed

To death.

Soprano Lamb of God who takes away

The sins of the world

Have mercy on us.

Chorus Grant us peace

Grant us rest

Eternal rest

7. HALLELUIAH

Narrator Veh af al pee chen, despite it all

The human spirit will conquer all

Tenor I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart

My enemies stumble and perish before you.

The God of Israel gives power and strength

to his people.

Chorus Halleluiah!

Halleluiah!