Captain Moroni
I had the first idea for this in Spring of 1978 - living in Riverside CA. One night I drove someone to an airport in northern L.A. area. On my way home, alone in the car, I 'heard' my first version of #20, end chorus of Part 2, with full orchestra.
In US Air Force Officer Training School in Spring of 1981, I recall mentally composing the main themes of the March in Part 2 #19 while walking around the campus (when they were not playing Sousa, that is).
2 years later, in 1983 at Omaha NE, I formally gathered Book of Mormon verses for the text, in 4 sections as below, then put those notes (with sketch of chorus for #2 in Part 1) aside for many years. - After I had completed my Op. 55 'The Last Days' I was wondering what to work on next - then was struck by the idea of composing this oratorio - 'why not now?'
The result is below. I left out some of the original text, mostly in Part 3, Moroni's epistle.
This work is in Oratorio form (with Recitative, Arias, Choruses) but I call it a 'dramatic setting'. Total length is 1 hour 15 minutes.
Text is below. (Music files are after the text.)
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Captain Moroni
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A dramatic setting in 4 sections -
Part 1: Prologue;
Part 2: The Title of Liberty;
Part 3: The Scourge of War;
Part 4: Conclusion)
for Baritone Solo, 4-part mixed choir (SATB), and orchestra.
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Part 1: Prologue
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1. Fanfares
2. Chorus
"A cry of war throughout the land."
-- Alma 16:1
3. Recitative
"Amalickiah was angry with his brethren, and sought to slay them. He sought to be a king, and he sought for power."
"Power corrupts." (*)
"He flattered his followers, and led them to dissensions from the church."
"Absolute power corrupts absolutely." (*)
"He led away the hearts of many people to do wickedly; and he sought to destroy the church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted them."
"Liberty, granted by God."
-- Alma 46:2-7, 10.
(*) 'Lord Acton's dictum', after John Dalberg-Acton, 19th century English politician. If anyone wants to see in this a political parable for our time -- sobeit.
4. Chorus
"Thus we see how quickly the children of men forget the Lord their God, yea, how quick they are to iniquity, and to be led away by the evil one."
-- Alma 46:8
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Part 2: The Title of Liberty
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5. Fanfare
6. Recitative
"When Moroni heard these things, he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it -- In mem'ry of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children. He called it the title of liberty; and he bowed to the earth, and prayed mightily to his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren. When he had poured out his soul to God, he named all the land -- A chosen land, and the land of liberty."
-- Alma 46:11-13, 17.
7. Aria
"Surely God shall not suffer that we, who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall be trodden down and destroyed, until we bring it upon us by our own transgressions."
-- Alma 46:18
8. Recitative
"Moroni went forth among the people, waving the title of liberty, and crying with a loud voice."
-- Alma 46:19
9. Clarion
"Behold, whosoever will maintain this title on the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them."
-- Alma 46:20
10. Recitative
"The people came running together, with their armor on."
-- Alma 46:21
11. Chorus
"For our wives/husbands, and for our children, and for our religion and our God; and for our country, and our freedom, and our peace." [Text added]
12. Recitative
"They rent their garments as a covenant."
-- Alma 46:21
13. Chorus
"We will not forsake the Lord our God."
-- Alma 46:21
14. Recitative
"They cast their garments at the feet of Moroni, saying:"
-- Alma 46:22
15. Chorus
"We covenant with our God, that we shall be destroyed if we shall fall into transgression; yea, he may cast us at the feet of our enemies, if we fall into transgression."
-- Alma 46:22
16. Aria
"Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph; let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain. Yea, let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph."
-- Alma 46:23-24
17. Chorus
"For we shall perish if we do not stand fast in the faith of Christ."
-- Alma 46:27
18. Recitative
"Moroni sent forth and gathered together all the people who desired to maintain their liberty, to stand against Amalickiah and those who had dissented."
-- Alma 46:28
19. Recitative and March
"And the people marched." [Text added]
20. Chorus
"Thus Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites."
-- Alma 46:36
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Part 3: The Scourge of War
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(Chamber Orchestra)
21. Prelude
22. Recitative
"Moroni was a man of perfect understanding; a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and freedom of his country and his brethren; a man whose heart was thankful to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people. He was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his blood."
-- Alma 48:11-13
23. Recitative
"An epistle of Moroni." [Text added]
24. Solo and Chorus
"Great has been the slaughter among our people; thousands have fallen by the sword. My men have suffered exceedingly; hunger, thirst, fatigue, and all manner of afflictions of every kind.
Great has been your neglect towards us.
Our enemies are murdering thousands of our brethren who have looked up to you for protection. Many fought and bled out their lives for the welfare of this people --
And they perished because of your neglect.
Now, my beloved brethren, the blood of thousands shall come upon your heads for vengeance; for known unto God were all their cries, and all their sufferings. Do ye suppose they were killed because of their wickedness? Ye have supposed this in vain; for the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that his justice and judgment may come upon the wicked; behold, the righteous who are slain enter into the rest of the Lord their God.
Ye have neglected us.
I fear that the judgments of God will come upon this people, because of your neglect towards those who have been slain. Have ye forgotten the many times we have been delivered out of the hands of our enemies? Do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver us, while we do not make use of the means he provided us?
Except ye do repent of that which ye have done, and show unto me a true spirit of freedom -- I will smite you that you have no power to impede the cause of our freedom. For the sword of justice hangs over you; and it shall fall upon you to your utter destruction.
I do not fear your power nor your authority, but it is my God whom I fear; and according to his commandment I take my sword to defend my country. I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of God, and the freedom and welfare of my country."
-- Alma 60: various verses
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Part 4: Conclusion
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25. Fanfare
26. Chorus
"Because of the length of the war, many had become hardened, and many were softened because of their afflictions, they did humble themselves before God."
-- Alma 62:41
27. Chorus
"There was once more peace among the people of Nephi."
-- Alma 62:42
28. Recitative
"Moroni yielded up command of his armies; and he retired to his own house in peace."
-- Alma 62:43
"And he died."
-- Alma 63:3
29. Funeral March (His soldiers march slowly past and form ranks for a final salute.)
30. Chorus
"If all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, the very powers of Hell would be shaken forever; the devil would never have power over the hearts of men."
-- Alma 48:17
"Satan is bound by Captain Moroni." [Text added]
31. Chorus
"For he was a man of God."
-- Alma 48:18
32. Chorus
"Amen." [Text added]
Music files are accessible below. The "Amen" is a separate set of files due to the use of an SSAATTBB choir singing A Capella - however, it immediately follows the last measure of 'Part 4 - Conclusion' to end the work.
Captain Moroni - Oratorio (Op.56)
CaptMoroni-2-TitleOfLiberty.mp3
CaptMoroni-2-TitleOfLiberty.pdf