Peter Hammill - 14. An Influence

From the opera, The Fall Of The House Of Usher. This is from the 1999 re-release, "The Fall Of The House Of Usher (Deconstructed & Rebuilt)". The original 1991 release, under Some Bizzare Records, contained drum parts. When Hammill regained rights to the opera, he removed the drum parts and added string parts, played by Stuart Gordon on violin.



Music by Peter Hammill

Libretto by Chris Judge Smith



The House - Peter Hammill

Roderick Usher - Peter Hammill

Madeline Usher - Lene Lovich

Montresor - Andy Bell

The Herbalist - Herbert Grönemeyer

Chorus - Sarah Jane Morris



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(Madeline exits as Roderick enters)



RODERICK, MONTRESOR:

Yes, she does not know it yet;

Perhaps for the best

so sure she will recover

and so full of life full of life

full of life,

my brave

Madeline

This House devours her

so take her from this place

preparing the final torment

of its empty space

a silent, empty space

without

Madeline

Madeline

This is only a house, my friend



RODERICK: Which, by dint of long and undisturbed endurance,

by its mere form and substance,

has obtained an influence, a silent

yet importunate and terrifying hold

which, for centuries,

has moulded the destiny of my family

and now makes of me whatever it is I am.

The House is Usher and Usher is the House:

the two are indivisible.

It was born with us, prospered with us, suffered too.

And it will, in some way, die with us, soon.

I am the last of the Usher,

mine is the last drop of Usher blood,

The last of the Usher!

The House has told me in midnight breathing

from my chamber walls,

the House has told me in the secret murmur

of the stones that none can hear, save I.

I am the last of the Usher,

my sister’s death shall leave me so;

I am the last of the Usher,

so in Usher’s House I will wait alone.



MONTRESOR: Roderick, this is nightmare talk.

Come back with me, both of you, while you’re yet able

You can’t stay here and rot!