Duration: 134:00 Ms (photocopy); original score and piano reduction in CMC Toronto. Cast of 35 including 5 principals -- soprano, mezzo-soprano, 2 baritones, bass, chorus(SATB)/2(picc)22BassCl1/4331/timp, perc(2), harp, piano, synth, tape/strings. Cast list: William McDougall, British Soldier, Ambroise Lépine, Thomas Scott, Joseph Delorme, Janvier Ritchor, Elzéar Goulet, André Nault, Elzéar Lagimodière, Baptiste Lépine, Louis Riel, Dr. Schultz, Charles Mair, O'Donaghue, Bishop Taché, Sir John A. MacDonald, Sir George Carrier, Donald Smith, Julie Riel, Sarah Riel, Colonel Garnet Wolseley, Hudson's Bay Scout, Marguerite Riel, Gabriel Dumont, James Isbister, Poundmaker, General Sir Frederick Middleton, Father André, Wandering Spirit, Clerk of the Court, Judge, F. X. Lemieux, B. B. Osler, Dr. François Roy, Prison Guard. Piano reduction volume III - There is no piano reduction for pages 261-263 (solo part).
The “Kuyas” aria is not to be performed nor listened to. It was taken from a Nisga’a song, which belongs to the House of Sgat’iin, and is to be sung only by the head of the House. It marks, among other things, the spiritual and legal passing along of inheritance. Singing of the song by others, in other contexts, is considered an egregious breach – harmful to the singers, harmful to the audience, harmful to the House of Sgat’iin.
The aria has been replaced by “Dodo, mon tout petit”, composed by Ian Cusson in 2019, based on the original words of Mavor Moore. "Dodo" is to be performed in place of “Kuyas”.
Indigenous Themes