Program Notes:
Marie Laveau, often referred to as the "Voodoo Queen of New Orleans," was a legendary figure in 19th-century Louisiana. Renowned for her deep knowledge of Voodoo practices, spiritual healing, and herbal medicine, she gained a reputation for her influence in both the spiritual and social spheres. Laveau's charisma and skill in blending traditional African spiritual beliefs with Catholicism made her a powerful and enduring symbol of New Orleans' rich cultural heritage. Many prominent figures sought her out for fortune telling as well as advice. The knowledge gleaned from those same prominent figures would ultimately give her great power, influence and ability to “tell the future”, or at least it seemed so. Between the fortune telling and her voodoo background, very few, if any, challenged her.
I Have a History with New Orleans - I played piano bar in New Orleans while attending Louisiana State University. I enjoyed exploring the city, watching artisans and vendors, and taking historical tours. Marie Laveau’s footsteps and ghost tours inspired me to write music for her.
The Moon was in her Eyes - The form of the work is basically A, B, C, D then ending with a variation of B. A - is composed to make you physically feel New Orleans subtitled: “Laid back and doused with oppressive humidity.”
B - subtitled “The Big Easy” which is basically a rendition of how I hear New Orleans.
C - is “Love Potion #9” It’s somewhat of a love theme that later, goes terribly wrong.
D - is “That voodoo, that you do, so well” (While I could be quoting Frank Sinatra, I’m instead, quoting the character Heady Lamar, played by Harvey Korman in Blazing Saddles.) It pretty much sounds like voodoo. It concludes with a strong recap of “The Big Easy”, symbolizing Marie Laveau; The Voodoo Priestess of New Orleans, the Influencer, the Myth, and the Legend.
Recording coming soon!
Perusal Score
