Joy's Aria

("I used to love coming here")
from the opera A Brief History of Root Vegetables

Hear the beginning of Joy's Aria as performed in the opera version by Laura Estrada and the UTSA Orchestra, Eugene Dowdy, conductor

Composer/Librettist: David Heuser Instrumentation:soprano, piano Year Composed: 2011 Duration: 5 minutes Pages, piano score: 6 Cost: $3.00 Program Note: A Brief History of Root Vegetables was premiered in March 2010 by the University of Texas at San Antonio Lyric Theatre. Joy's Aria was extended after the premiere into the version presented in this song. In the song Joy reacts to Travis' sudden affection for her by remembering how they played together when they were young when he came to visit his grandparents' house each summer. The text is below. Joy’s Aria I used to love coming here. This house seemed so grand, so big, so wonderful, the grounds so magical. Endless summer days of sunshine stretching out, no end in sight. When evening came, cool and dark, we'd finally settle down. Catch fireflies, or trace the stars while lying on the grass, or one more game of hide-and-seek. You’d always win – I’d giggle and give myself away. But summer days were not forever! You would go and I resumed my simple life, in our old house, my lonely room cold all winter long, until summer came again. I used to love coming here. This house seemed so grand, so big, so wonderful, the grounds so magical. Not at all what I was used to. We were so poor, but your family had everything…

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