Nathania Vanessa

as if all the stars were laughing…

(2021)
for children choir (SSAA), piano, and orchestra

As the aviator’s plane repairs came to a finish,

the little prince saw the light and decided to come
home to his Rose up in asteroid B612. Wanting to tell
the news of his miraculous experience, the aviator
went to the well, only to find the prince talking to a
yellow, venomous snake.
The man demanded an explanation, but the
little boy talked about going home, looking dead, and
abandoned shells. Well, that snake’s slightest bite
takes just thirty seconds to bring your life to an end…

This piece intends to manifest the prince’s gift

for the aviator, which was his laughter. As the prince
went to the desert and was bitten by the Snake, the
Aviator chose to believe that the Prince’s soul went
home to reunite with his Rose.
Despite The Little Prince’s narrative as a story
for children, its ending clearly showcases the themes
of death and farewell. Sometimes goodbyes are not of
our choice, ain’t they?

In one of the stars I shall be living.

In one of them I shall be laughing.
And so, when you look at the sky at night,
it will be as if all the stars were laughing…

© 2022 Nathania Vanessa. All Rights Reserved.

 Lyrics:
I am going back home today
It is much farther and so far away
Now, it’s been a year
And the stars have aligned
So you can go back home
Do not come tonight
For the thing that is important
Is the thing that is not seen
"And at night you will look up at the
stars. Where I live everything is so
small that I cannot show you where
my star is to be found. It is better,
like that. My star will just be one of
the stars, for you. And so, you will
love to watch all the stars in the
heavens… they will all be your
friends. And, besides, I am going to
make you a present…"
Performer notes:
Cross notehead
Dialogue;
in a speaking manner
Diamond notehead
Giggle, small laughter
Slashed notehead
Shush; wind-like sound
effect
For the thing that is important
Is the thing that is not seen
So please, please remember
And don’t forget what we’ve been
And I’ll make you a present
When you look up at the sky
It’s as if the stars were laughing
Then you won’t forget this goodbye
“You are there… It was wrong of
you to come. You will suffer. I shall
look as if I were dead; and that will
not be true…”
“You understand… I cannot carry
this body with me. It is too heavy.
But it will be like an old, abandoned
shell. There is nothing sad about old
shells…”
“There now… that is all.”
Arrow up
Scrape the specified
piano string(s) with
fingernails
Beat without stem
Follow the acting
instruction given on the
score