Mother’s Word
An extended work of song and spoken word
Lyrics by Marian Partee
Mother’s Word explores transformative moments in the lives of mothers from the Bible. The cycle honors the love and fortitude of mothers, but also examines some of the darker aspects of motherhood. Despite struggling and stumbling, these biblical women and their children ultimately fulfilled their divine appointments.
Originally for soprano, actor, and piano, Mother’s Word was premiered at La Cañada Presbyterian Church in May of 2019 by soprano Rebecca Sjöwall, actor Tina Tong (who also directed), and pianist Aiko Fukushima. In the original version, we told the stories of 9 women including Eve, Hagar, Sarah, Leah, Naomi, Bathsheba, Elizabeth, and Mary. Listen below to audio examples from this performance.
In 2022, we expanded Mother’s Word to include 8 additional characters. The expanded version, written for soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, piano, and actor, was premiered September, 2022 at La Cañada Presbyterian Church.
Image: Breathe With Me by Katie m. Berggren
Audience responses from the May 2019 premiere:
“profoundly insightful… I was moved to tears several times… Mary's song to Jesus has made her so much more a real person to me than she ever was…” (Christina B.)
“… beautiful and brilliant… thank you so much for giving voice to these vital characters of faith” (Alicia E.)
“This show connected the dots for me in a way that nothing else ever has” (Lynne P.)
“exquisite and extremely moving…” (Margaret M.)
“In my many years of preaching, I had never thought about how Leah might have felt…” (Stephen F.)
Eve: Dream For My Son from Mother’s Word
Performed by Rebecca Sjowall and Aiko Fukushima
Hagar: Desert Road from Mother’s Word
Performed by Rebecca Sjowall and Aiko Fukushima
Leah: Then He Will Love Me from Mother’s Word
Performed by Rebecca Sjowall and Aiko Fukushima
Mary: Our House from Mother’s Word
Performed by Rebecca Sjowall and Aiko Fukushima
For the Premiere of Mother’s Word in May of 2019, we partnered with, and raised money for Elizabeth House in Pasadena. Elizabeth House provides shelter and services for pregnant women experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and other sources of trauma. They seek to empower pregnant and parenting women in need to reclaim their lives and build successful family legacies. https://www.elizabethhouse.net
To find out more about bringing Mother’s Word to your venue, school, or church