Cajuum Jaa Amajiis

Performed on 4/21/15 at Bucknell University by the Bucknell Opera company and friends.

Cast of Characters:
Cajuum – Tom Kroszner
Amajiis – Joanna Malaszczyk
Jānaaiijskā – Tim Lambert
Jaaiijskā – Claire Abram
Gölgo Ürse – Marcus Schenck
Ürsiijla – Allison Aaron
Kaaiipa (Narrator) – Colleen McGonigle
Käälpiijta – Chloe D'Addio
Finnëëk – Isabel Rodgers
Lasjiombia – Isabel Tague
Esciataariis – Livia Somkuti
Prajiis – Katie Manuel

Heavenly Chorus:
Conductor: Christian Humcke
Sopranos: Colleen McGonigle, Isabel Tague, Chloe D’Addio, Allison Aaron, Kathryn Stiadle, Christine King
Altos: Claire Abram, Livi Somkuti, Katherine Manuel, Karah Barrist, Ellie Frazier, Amanda Miller
Tenors: Eric Wengert, Sean McMahon, Daniel Willard
Basses: Samuel Robinson, Reeves Smith, Allen Taylor

Percussion: Eric Wengert, Christine King, Aaron Messersmith
Piano: Christian Humcke
Organ: Christian Humcke

--Act 1--

Ritual of Night: Kaaiipa, Ürsiijla, Kaalpiijta, Esciataariis, Lasjiombia, Prajiis, Finnëëk, Jānaaiijskā, Jaaiijskā
Luthovian Heritage: Kaaiipa
Coming of Age and Fear of Knowledge: Jaaiijskā and Jānaaiijskā
Insight of Gölgo Ürse: Gölgo Ürse and Jānaaiijskā
Realization and Rebellion: Cajuum and Amajiis
Lilting Chant (Procession to the chapel): Ensemble

--Act 2--

Riijstaa Domaande es Triija: Ürsiijla and Heavenly Chorus
Procession of the Bishop: Gölgo Ürse
The Keempli Children: Gölgo Ürse, Ürsiijla, Cajuum, Amajiis
Luthovian Destiny: Cajuum, Amajiis and Gölgo Ürse
Rage of Jānaaiijskā: Gölgo Ürse, Jānaaiijskā, Cajuum, Amajiis
Raa laa Miiraar: Cajuum, Amajiis and Heavenly Chorus
Repentance of Jānaaiijskā: Jānaaiijskā, Gölgo Ürse, Cajuum, Amajiis and Heavenly Chorus
All Hail Luthovia: Ensemble

Synopsis: The Liijuus family leaves from their politically corrupt and economically unstable nation, Luthovia, in hopes of finding a more prosperous life. They set sail to the more stable nation of Gulfania, but are shipwrecked not far off the coast of Luthovia on an island called Jüürskā. The parents perish, but their six-month-old twins Cajuum and Amajiis miraculously survive. Jüürskā is inhabited by the Kijstüüskā tribe, who are longtime enemies of the mainlanders. The leader of the Kijstüüskā tribe, Jānaaiijskā, sees a glowing and soon after finds the children washed up on the shore. He shows them to the rest of the tribe, and they are all in awe, for they know that these twins are the Këëmpli children! The Këëmpli children have the ability to detect mülsko, and when they are near this rare element they begin to glow. The tribe worships nature, and they believe that finding mülsko will bring them closer to their God. Mülsko is very rare and is also desired by the mainlanders for its economic value. The tribe teaches the children all of their rituals and beliefs. The children become completely assimilated. Since the tribe doesn’t get along with the mainlanders, they do everything they can to conceal the children. If the mainlanders find the twins they will undoubtedly want them back. The tribe raises the children for fifteen years. One day (fifteen years after the tribe’s discovery of the children) the bishop from the mainland cathedral, Gölgo Ürse, goes over to the island via a very narrow isthmus to collect some Bajaan leaves (since the fields on the mainland are out) for a vespers stew. Jānaaiijskā, however, sees him coming and stops him before he reaches the main part of the island. After Jānaaiijskā repeatedly denies the bishop of Bajaan leaves, Gölgo questions the alleged death of the twins aloud. Jānaaiijskā angrily chases him away. The twins hear all this, and realize that they have been deceived their whole lives. That night, they sneak over to the mainland in hopes of finding their real family. They come to a cathedral, where a vespers service is taking place. Upon entering the cathedral, they hear an ancient Luthovian plainchant, Riijstaa Domaande es Triija, and are mesmerized by its beauty. The whole choir then joins in, and soon after the bishop enters to give his welcoming remarks. As an offering of mülsko is being brought forward, Cajuum and Amajiis begin to glow. The people know of this legend and are in awe. The bishop walks out to them quietly and asks them where they have been for the past fifteen years. After the children explain, they must decide whether to go back to the island or to stay on the mainland with their real family. They are just about to decide what to do when the Kijstüüskā tribe storms into the chapel. A duel ensues. For a while, there is nothing but aggression and animosity, but eventually the twins are able to appease everyone (by singing to them) and are able to reunite the tribe with the mainlanders. They are subsequently able to restore and reunite Luthovia.