This edition was prepared by Tim Blickhan — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Half an hour before the war
Staff Notation • Secular
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Half an hour before the war by Tim Blickhan — Lyrics
HALF AN HOUR BEFORE THE WAR (excerpts)
Half an hour before the war . . .
In Samarra, the imam stirred
weak jasmine tea,
nodding to the adamant whorls of the sura—
When the sky splits asunder
and reddens like a rose
or stained leather,
which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
While at Baghdad the new bride
panted in the blue hotel,
kneading this strange pair of shoulders
gone slack at last—
smeary with henna, lustrous
seventeen years old.
The airman from New Orleans
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About Half an hour before the war
This SATB setting of Tim Blickhan's Half an Hour Before the War offers a poignant reflection on ordinary moments interrupted by conflict. The text juxtaposes the serene ritual of an imam preparing tea in Samarra with the sensuality of a new bride in Baghdad, and the personal dreams of an airman from New Orleans, all occurring in the eve of war. Blickhan's music likely underscores the poignant contrast between these intimate human experiences and the impending violence, creating a powerful statement on the human cost of war. Suitable for secular programming, this piece challenges listeners to consider the lives and moments that are tragically cut short by global events.
