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DESCRIPTION: Top of act 2 of Les Miserables, in a sequence unofficially known as "The Letter"--wearing a mens' brown trench coat, hat, and trousers, Eponine attempts to pass as a boy in order to be allowed access to the barricade and be next to Marius, with whom she is secretly in love; however, she is discovered by Marius who initially sends her away over concern for her safety, but then realizes Eponine is his last hope to have a farewell letter for Cosette--the young lady he has fallen in love with--delivered. Eponine reluctantly delivers the letter, which is intercepted by Valjean who promises to give it to Cosette and sends Eponine on her way. He then reads the letter, discovering his daughter's secret love affair with Marius. Valjean is deeply moved by this news and comes up with a plan of his own.
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THIS IS NOWHERE NEAR DONE YET, hehe. Sorry for the yelling, but this was rendered right out of the sequencer, which means the mixing is minimal and at this time very muddy. This is only to share my progress as a preview. It contains nearly the full orchestra and only bits and a few instruments need to be added. As always, this is a recreation of John Cameron's original orchestration, which was set as the show's official orchestration for the next 25 years in 1987. My work as heard here so far includes:
Strings--6 Violins; 2 Violas; 2 Cellos; 1 Double Bass; Acoustic Guitar
Woodwinds--Piccolo; Oboe; Clarinet; Bassoon; English Horn.
Brass--2 French Horns; 2 Mute Trumpets; 2 Trombones.
Percussive--Glockenspiel
Keyboards--2 using the original DX-7 patches.
The tempo is all over the place at this time and needs major work. The guitar is only partially included for much of the beginning. Dynamics need to be tamed on the brass, most notably. The acoustic guitar in the middle and latter part of the song has been intentionally amplified because it's so damn beautiful. I could listen to it all day.
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"The Letter"
Lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer. Original French lyrics by Alain Boublil with input by Jean Marc Natel
Orchestrations by John Cameron
Music by Claude-Michel Schonberg
MARIUS
Hey, little boy, what's this I see?
God, Eponine, the things you do!
EPONINE
I know this is no place for me,
Still, I would rather be with you!
MARIUS
Get out before the trouble starts.
Get out, 'Ponine, you might get shot!
EPONINE
I've got you worried now, I have
That shows you like me quite a lot!
MARIUS
There is a way that you can help
You are the answer to a prayer!
Please take this letter to Cosette
And pray to God that she's still there!
EPONINE
Little you know!
Little you care!
(She walks to the Rue Plumet, where she meets Valjean)
EPONINE
I have a letter M'sieur
It's addressed to your daughter, Cosette
It's from a boy at the barricade, Sir,
In the Rue de Villette.
VALJEAN
Give me that letter here, my boy.
EPONINE
He said to give it to Cosette
VALJEAN
You have my word that my daughter will know
What this letter contains.
Tell the young man she will read it tomorrow
And here's for your pains
(He gives her a coin)
Go careful now, stay out of sight
There's danger in the streets tonight.
(He opens the letter and reads it aloud, as Eponine eavesdrops)
"Dearest Cosette,
You have entered my soul
And soon you will be gone.
Can it be only a day since we met
And the world was reborn?
If I should fall in the battle to come
Let this be my goodbye...
Now that I know you love me
As well
It is harder to die...
I pray that God will bring me home
To be with you.
Pray for your Marius.
He prays for you..."
- Genre
- Musicals