Melia Watras

MELIA WATRAS: MOZART DOESN'T LIVE IN SEATTLE
for voice (2017)

World Premiere: Vina Vu Valdés, recorded voice; April 17, 2019, Seattle, WA

Duration: 1:29

Program Notes:
Mozart Doesn’t Live in Seattle was written for Miss Vina Vu Valdés, the lovely and talented daughter of my dear friends and fellow Seattle musicians, Cristina Valdés and Cuong Vu. Cristina shared with Mike and me a story about a trip to Salzburg, when a then 4-year old (almost 5) Vina found out that Mozart was from Austria. Somewhat dismayed, she exclaimed, “but Mozart lives in Seattle!”

—Melia Watras 

Mozart Doesn’t Live in Seattle is part of the cycle, Firefly Songs. It can be performed independently, in different combinations with the other works, or as part of the complete set.

Mozart Doesn't Live in Seattle
poem by Michael Jinsoo Lim

If Mozart were here,
We’d have nothing to fear.
But Mozart doesn’t live in Seattle.

We’d get coffee with Wolfgang,
Or go somewhere to just hang!

We could jam with Amadeus,
To see what licks he’d play us.
But Mozart doesn’t live in Seattle.

Mozart doesn’t live in “A”-attle,
Mozart doesn’t live in “B”-attle,
Mozart doesn’t live in “C”-attle!

Go to SAM to see Goya,
Catch the Symphony at Benaroya.

See them dance at PNB,
Watch the Seahawks, No. 3!
I wish that Mozart lived in Seattle.

Mozart doesn’t live in “A”-attle,
Mozart doesn’t live in “B”-attle,
Mozart doesn’t live in “C”-attle!

…I think he lives in Tacoma.

© 2017 by Michael Jinsoo Lim