My Blood is as Red as Yours (2008)
For soprano and baritone soloists, SATB choir and orchestra. Commissioned by the Hallé Orchestra to celebrate World Aids Day 2008. Premiered by The Hallé Orchestra and Hallé Youth Choir, with Roderick Williams and Rebecca Botone as soloists. Conducted by Sir Mark Elder, at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester 1st December 2008. My Blood is as Red as Yours is a setting of ‘Duet, Major to Minor, Pen Pals’ by Jackie Kay.
Score available for purchase and parts for hire from CE
Instrumentation: soprano and baritone soloists SATB choir – 2 bassoons, 2 trumpets, 4 horns, harp, timpani, strings: 0. 0. 10. 8. 6.
Duration 13 minutes.
[flipbook pdf=”https://www.marc-yeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/My-Blood-is-as-Red-as-Yours-copy-2-1.pdf
Duet, Major to Minor, Pen Pals
SOPRANO: You and I have HIV But you are luckier than me Because my dear you have ARV And I am three of four
In an underdeveloped country Where the door
Is closed to me –
The access door for ARV.
TENOR: You and I have HIV
I was at the hospital yesterday
I got my ARV, I got my ARV
I wish I could give it to you too.
My heart is going out to you.
My blood is as red as yours.
I wish I could open doors.
The doctor tells me
Through ARV
My life could be prolonged indefinitely.
BOTH: Oh would all of our lives be Prolonged indefinitely
SOPRANO: My little daughter made me a memory box yesterday.
I don’t know what will happen
I hope I have given them enough love to get by.
I hope I will be able to look down on them from the sky
TENOR: My lover died some years ago He was a lovely man, I miss him so. And at every full moon, he told me
He would be watching over me
BOTH: Oh would all of our lives be Prolonged indefinitely
SOPRANO: If I had access to the treatment I would be a mother still
I wouldn’t be thinking of my will
I wouldn’t be thinking of memory box
TENOR When I was at the cinema yesterday I couldn’t stop thinking about you.
Whilst I am walking my dog,
Cooking my meals, going to my bed
You, my friend, are dying
And I can’t get you out of my head. I can’t get you out of my head.
BOTH: Oh would all of our lives be Prolonged indefinitely
SOPRANO: I have no combination therapy. I have no ARV
My immune system is shot to pieces.
I am losing weight rapidly.
But friend you have been with me to the end. I probably won’t write again.
Goodbye, my good friend.
BOTH: Oh would all of our lives be Prolonged indefinitely
TENOR: Oh my friend, oh my friend
Your friend was kind enough to tell me of your death. I will miss you. I will miss you.
I won’t forget you.
I cannot speak.
I cannot sing.
I hope you are in heaven.
Oh, my friend.
TENOR: Oh would that all of our lives be Prolonged indefinitely
Jackie Kay