Missy Mazzoli: Year of Our Burning (male chorus and marimba)

for six-part male chorus and marimba (2021, arranged 2025). Text by Laura Lomas.

Package of 10 octavi plus marimba part.

Commissioned by The Edinburgh International Festival Society, The King’s Singers Global Foundation, and the San Diego Symphony.

Duration: 13 minutes

Year of our Burning is a pandemic story.

Sections and Text
PART ONE: Darkness

PART TWO: Blame
Turn away.
Turn your face away.
Shut the door.
Don't let them in.

PART THREE: Alone
I can’t sleep
Awake awake awake
All these thoughts
All this time
Open the curtains
Close the curtains
Watch the day
Look at the screen
Tell them you’re ok
Days and days and days
Am I alone?
Where are you?

PART FOUR: Rescue
I'm right here.

PART FIVE: Rebirth