The Diviner and the Witching Rod by Linda Verrier

<p dir="ltr">Composers by Linda Verrier, this duo for bassoon and marimba is based on distant childhood memories of watching a Water Diviner working in the Gaspé, Québec.</p><p dir="ltr">The Australian Premiere was given by Lyndon Watts and Brent Miller on Tuesday 2nd August 2022.</p><p dir="ltr">In the words of the composer:</p><p dir="ltr">Water divining is an ancient practice that has passed down through time, across cultures and folklore, evoking the mystic. I am captivated with the phenomenon of the magical and curious properties that surround the Diviner and his Witching Rod.</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">In my tale I have changed the universal laws of physics. The wand (also known as the 'Witching Rod') can not only locate the source of the water but can also pull on the water like a magnet, bending it at will. As noted in history, the Diviner can at times appear to pass into a psychic state, while the Witching Rod twists violently round and round.</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">The piece is written in programmatic form.</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">The Diviner and his Witching Rod are searching for water. They dance with the characters they meet on their journey, but it is the eerie and final sad cries which leave the listener questioning.</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">Synopsis:</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">The land is rocky, grey and uneven. There is no horizon. The sky, pewter in colour, has merged into the darkest woods. Silver branches pointing downwards are searching for the earth. Shadows appear and flicker faintly in between the light.</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">A Woodcutter’s axe strikes a soft rolling beat. It wistfully meanders, drifting on the rising mist.</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">On this remote peninsula, embraced by the sea, a mystical Diviner can be found wandering.</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">The Diviner searches and happens upon a Woodcutter who is in desperate need of his “water witching.”</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">A bargain is struck between the two.</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">The Witching Rod's magnetism shakes with excitement as it senses the spirit of a Water Nymph hiding nearby, in her deep underground pool. (She too feels the magnetic energy and shudders with a premonition.)</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">The Nymph tries to elude the Witching Rod, becoming more and more agitated – dancing, bargaining, and pleading with the Diviner.</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">Despite her best efforts, concealing her stream beneath the earth, she is discovered. The Nymph is to be pulled up to the surface and her tears tenderly fall into the pool.</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">The Woodcutter is euphoric! “X marks the spot” he sings, wielding his shovel over his head.</p><p dir="ltr">Drunk with excitement he dances a jig (mostly out of time)!</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">Conjured up by the Witching Rod, the Stream makes its shy entrance.</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">The Water Diviner appears to fall into a hallucinogenic state as his Witching Rod wildly gyrates.</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">The Woodcutter digs the hole deeper and deeper, his shovel knocking against the stony earth…</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">The Nymph is caught!</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">Tentative bubbles from her pool slowly fill up the hole as the incarcerated Nymph sings bitterly that her tears will be forever trapped in the well.</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">The Diviner returns slowly to the conscious realm and cannot recall a thing but acknowledges that the Woodcutter will now have a drinking well…and it will never run dry!</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">The next day the Woodcutter continues to chop the trees as he always has done.</p><p dir="ltr">The Water Diviner moves on alone, wandering silently, forever following his Witching Rod.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>