The Oath of Allegiance

for SSAATTBB and soloists

8 min
Melissa Dunphy

Composed for Volti Choral Arts Lab, 2013-2014

 The Oath of Allegiance

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and enƟrely renounce and abjure all
allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or
which I have heretofore been a subject or ciƟzen; that I will support and defend the
ConsƟtuƟon and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and
domesƟc; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on
behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant
service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will
perform work of naƟonal importance under civilian direcƟon when required by the law;
and that I take this obligaƟon freely, without any mental reservaƟon or purpose of
evasion; so help me God."

In 2008, just in time to register to vote for the presidential election, I raised my right
hand and spoke these words at the USCIS office in Philadelphia after a five‐year
process of immigration from Australia. Only a minority of Americans ever
experience becoming a citizen, and the ordeal brings most immigrants mixed
feelings. I love this country so much, I have chosen to make it my home, but I still
feel love for the country I left behind. I deeply admire the ideals that led to
America's creation, although I don't always agree with the decisions and political
direction of the government. I wanted the moment when my status as an American
was made official to be joyous and inspiring, but the wording of the Oath of
Allegiance reminded me that this country's history has at times been fraught and
controversial, and becoming an American citizen was not a decision to be taken
lightly or without some reflection on the nature of American patriotism. With this
piece, I hope to confront audiences with the range of conflicting emotions I saw
reflected on the faces of hundreds of fellow immigrants as we intoned these words
in unison that day in 2008, and to encourage natural‐born Americans to examine
the immigrant experience and what we as a country ask of our newest citizens.

For further reading, I encourage you to see other countries' oaths and pledges of
citizenship at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath_of_citizenship

— Melissa Dunphy

The Choral Arts Laboratory is an annual commissioning and residency program, begun in 2003,
which is designed to give American composers under the age of 35 the opportunity to work with
the professional singers of VolƟ during the composiƟonal process. The composer is invited not
only to create a work for the ensemble, but to develop the composiƟon in a workshop seƫng.
The composer is then given more Ɵme to work out issues discovered during rehearsal with the
singers, as well as during consultaƟons with ArƟsƟc Director Robert Geary and VolƟ’s longƟme
Resident Composer, Mark Winges. This collaboraƟon culminates in the world-premiere
performances given by Bob Geary and VolƟ during the regular concert season.
 The Oath of Allegiance
Solo group 1: SSAAT
Solo group 2: AATTB Melissa Dunphy
Solo group 3: SAATTB

Molto rubato, directly, deliberately

Solo group 1

p f pp
4
4
I, I, I, I, I,
SOPRANO
p pp
f
4
4
I,
p f pp
4
4
ALTO I,
p f pp
4
4
I,

p f pp
4
TENOR 4
I,

Solo group 2

f pp
5 I,

A.

I,
p f pp

I,
T.
f pp

I, I, I, I, I,

f pp
p

B.

I,

N.B. All metronome markings are approximate

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 Dunphy — The Oath of Allegiance

3
Solo group 3

9 f

S.

mf
I,

A.

I,

mp
I,

T.

I,

B.

I,

11 (solo)
f 3

here by de
S. tutti Sop. 1 & 2
p f 3 3
f

3
I here by, by, by de clare, de

3 3
tutti p f f
A.

I here by de clare
tutti p f

T.

I here by
tutti p f

B.

I here by

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 Dunphy — The Oath of Allegiance

15 tutti Sop. 1

clare on
S.
Sop. 2

clare on

A.

on
f
spoken
T.
staggered: "I hereby declare"
on

f
spoken
B.
staggered: "I hereby declare"
on

18 (f)
12
S. 8
oath, on oath,

12
A. 8
oath, I here by de clare on oath,

(f)
12
T. 8
oath, on oath,
(f) f
12
B. 8
oath, on oath, on

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 Dunphy — The Oath of Allegiance

5 A
21 Fluidly q.=60 Sop. 1
p
12
S. 8
that I ab so lute ly and en tire ly,

mf sustained ppp niente p Alto 1

12
A. 8
de clare on oath, that I en tire ly,

mf sustained ppp niente p

12
T. 8
that I
de clare on oath,
ppp p
12
B. 8
oath, that I ab so lute ly and en tire ly,

poco accel.
25

that I ab so lute ly and en tire ly, en tire ly,

S.
p p poco a poco crescendo

that I en tire ly, en tire ly, that I ab so lute ly

p poco a poco crescendo

that I ab so lute ly and en tire ly,

A.
p poco a poco crescendo

that I ab so lute ly and en

p poco a poco crescendo

that I ab so lute ly and en tire ly,

T.
p poco a poco crescendo

that I ab so lute ly and en tire ly,

Bass 1&2
B.

that I ab so lute ly and en tire ly, en tire ly, ab so

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 Dunphy — The Oath of Allegiance
28 poco a poco crescendo
6

ab so lute ly and en tire ly re nounce en

S.

and en tire ly, ab so lute ly re nounce en

ab so lute ly and en tire ly, re nounce ab so

A.

tire ly that I ab so lute ly and en tire ly,

T. ab so lute ly and en tire ly, ab so

ab so lute ly and en tire ly, re nounce en

poco a poco crescendo
B.

lute ly and en tire ly, en tire ly re nounce, re

f
30
9
S. 8
tire ly re nounce, re nounce, re nounce, ab so lute ly, en tire ly re nounce and

f
9
8
lute ly ab so lute ly re nounce ab so lute ly re nounce, re nounce and
A.
9
8
re nounce re nounce re nounce, ab so lute ly, en tire ly re nounce and
f
9
8
lute ly re nounce re nounce re nounce
nounce, re nounce, re nounce, re nounce, re nounce, and
T.
f
9
8
tire ly, re nounce re nounce
nounce, re nounce, re nounce, re nounce re nounce, and

f
9
B. 8
nounce, re nounce, re nounce, that I ab so lute ly re nounce re nounce, and

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 Dunphy — The Oath of Allegiance
q=100 rit.
molto
7 32 fpp ff
9 4
S. 8 4
ab jure_ all al le giance and fi del it y, all al le giance, all fi del it
fpp ff molto
9 4
A. 8 4

ab jure_ all al le giance and fi del it y, all al le giance, all fi del it

fpp ff molto
9 4
T. 8 4
ab jure_ all al le giance and fi del it y, all al le giance, all fi del it

ff molto
fpp
9 4
B. 8 4
ab jure_ all al le giance and fi del it y, all al le giance, all fi del it

B
q=60
38 ppp p mournfully
3

y to an y fo reign prince, po ten tate, state, or sove reign ty,

S.
ppp

* solo p simply

Ab so lute ly and en tire ly, ab so lute ly and en

* solo p simply
A.

tutti Alto 1 & 2 Ab so lute ly and en tire ly, ab so lute ly and en tire
ppp

y
ppp p mournfully
3

y to an y fo reign prince, po ten tate, state, or sove reign ty,

T.
ppp

solo spoken
repetitions, quietly and emotionlessly: "renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity"
B. tutti Bass 1&2
ppp

www.mormolyke.com * Alto soloists should be placed at opposite ends of choir space for maximum antiphonal effect.
 Dunphy — The Oath of Allegiance

42 poco rit.

of whom or which I have here to fore been a sub ject or cit i zen;
S.

hmm

(solo)

tire ly, ab so lute ly and en tire ly, ab so lute ly and en tire ly.

(solo)

A.

ly, ab so lute ly and en tire ly, ab so lute ly and en tire ly.

(tutti)

hmm

of whom or which I have here to fore been a sub ject or cit i zen;

T.

hmm

(solo)

repetitions: "renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity"

B.

hmm

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 Dunphy — The Oath of Allegiance

9
C With more movement q=92
46
p
S.

that I will sup port,

tutti Alto 1
p

(solo) that I will sup port, sup port,

A.
p Alto 2

that I will sup port, sup port, sup

p
T.

that I will sup

p

B. that I will sup

p

that I will sup

50 p mf
cresc.

S. that I will sup port, sup port,

cresc. p mf

that I will sup port, and de fend,

cresc. p mf

A. that I will sup port, sup port sup port, sup port,
cresc. p mf

port, I will sup port, sup port, sup port and de fend,
mf p
cresc. 3

T.

3
port, I will sup port, I will sup port, sup port and de fend, sup
cresc. mf p

B. port, I will sup port and de fend, sup

cresc. mf p

port, I will sup port and de fend, sup

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 Dunphy — The Oath of Allegiance

10

D
56 p f
3

sup port and de fend the Con sti tu tion and laws

S.

p f

and de fend the Con sti tu tion, the Con sti tu tion and laws

p f
3

sup port, sup port and de fend the Con sti tu tion and laws

A.

p f

sup port and de fend the Con sti tu tion and laws, and laws

f f
3

port, sup port and de fend the Con sti tu tion and laws

T.
f
3

port, sup port and de fend, de fend the Con sti tu tion and laws

f
3 3

port and de fend, sup port and de fend, de fend the Con sti
B.

f
3 3

port and de fend, sup port and de fend, de fend the Con sti

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 Dunphy — The Oath of Allegiance

11

60 E f

of the U nit ed States of A mer ic a ah, ah,

S.

of the U nit ed States of A mer ic a, A mer ic a,

of the U nit ed States of A mer ic a, A mer ic a,

A.

of the U nit ed States of A mer ic a, ah, ah,

of the U nit ed States of A mer ic a, A

T.
f

of the U nit ed States of A mer ic a, ah, ah,

tu tion and laws of the U nit ed States of A mer ic a, ah, ah,

B.
f

tu tion and laws of the U nit ed States of A mer ic a, ah,

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 Dunphy — The Oath of Allegiance

12

66 F
3
2
ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, a gainst

S.

3
2
A mer ic a, ah, ah, a gainst all,

3
2
A mer ic a, ah, ah, a gainst, ah,

A.

3
2
ah, ah, ah, ah, a gainst, ah,

3
2
mer ic a, a gainst,

T.

3
2
ah a gainst,

3
2
ah, ah, a gainst,

B.

3
2
ah, ah, ah, a

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 Dunphy — The Oath of Allegiance

13

72 sub p
3

all, a gainst all e nem ies,

S.
sub p
3

all, a gainst all e nem ies,

sub p
3

all e nem ies,

A.

sub p
3

all e nem ies,

sub p
3

a gainst all e nem ies, all

T.

sub p
3

ah, a gainst all e nem ies, all

a gainst all

B.
sub p
3

gainst all e nem ies,

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 Dunphy — The Oath of Allegiance
stringendo
14
75
pp
G
3

e nem ies, for eign and dom est ic; that I will
S.

3 pp

for eign and dom est ic; that I will

3 pp

e nem ies, for eign and dom est ic; that I will

A.

3 pp

e nem ies, for eign and dom est ic; that I will

3 pp

e nem ies, for eign and dom est ic; that I will

T.

3 pp

e nem ies, for eign and dom est ic; that I will

3 pp

e nem ies, for eign and dom est ic; that I will

B.

3
pp

e nem ies, for eign and dom est ic; that I will

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 Dunphy — The Oath of Allegiance
senza misura rubato
15 79 f p
attacca
4
4
S. bear true faith and al leg iance to the same;
f
spoken
4
4
repetitions: "I will support and defend the Constitution and laws"
bear
f p
4
4
A. bear true faith and al leg iance to the same;
f spoken
4
4
repetitions: "against all enemies, foreign and domestic"
bear
f p
4
4
T. bear true faith and al leg iance to the same;
f p
4
4
bear true faith and al leg iance to the same;
f
spoken
4
4
repetitions: "I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same"
bear
B.
f p
4
4
bear true faith and al leg iance to the same;

H
Presto, alarmed q=152
85 Sop. 1 & 2
ff
4 2 4 5
S. 4 4 4 4
that I will bear arms, arms, arms on be half of the U nit ed States, arms, arms, arms

Alto 1 & 2 ff
4 2 4 5
A. 4 4 4 4
that I will bear arms, arms, arms on be half of the U nit ed States, arms, arms, arms

Tenor 1 & 2 ff
4 2 4 5
T. 4 4 4 4
that I will bear arms, arms, arms on be half of the U nit ed States, arms, arms, arms

Bass 1 & 2 ff
4 2 4 5
B. 4 4 4 4
that I will bear arms, arms, arms on be half of the U nit ed States, arms, arms, arms
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 Dunphy — The Oath of Allegiance
90
5 4 16
S. 4 4
when re quired by the law, arms, arms, arms that I will per form non com bat ant ser vice in the

5 4
A. 4 4
when re quired by the law, arms, arms, arms that I will per form non com bat ant ser vice in the

5 4
T. 4 4
when re quired by the law, arms, arms, arms, that I will per form non com bat ant ser vice in the

5 4
B. 4 4
when re quired by the law, arms, arms, arms that I will per form non com bat ant ser vice in the

94
2 4 5
S. 4 4 4
armed, armed, armed ser vice of the U nit ed States, when re quired by the law,

2 4 5
A. 4 4 4
armed, armed, armed ser vice of the U nit ed States, when re quired by the law,

2 4 5
T. 4 4 4
armed, armed, armed, ser vice of the U nit ed States, when re quired by the law,

2 4 5
B. 4 4 4
armed, armed, armed ser vice of the U nit ed States, when re quired by the law,

I
98 Sop 1 & 2
S.

I will bear arms on be half of the U nit ed States, I will bear arms on be half of the U nit ed States,

A.

I will bear arms on be half of the U nit ed States, I will bear arms on be half of the U nit ed States,

T.
I will bear arms, arms, arms, I will bear arms, arms, arms,

B.

I will bear arms, arms, arms, I will bear arms, arms, arms,

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 Dunphy — The Oath of Allegiance

17
102
3
S. 2
I will per form non com bat ive ser vice in the armed for ces,

3
A. 2
I will per form non com bat ive ser vice in the armed for ces,

3
T. 2
ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,

3
B. 2
ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,

104 mp cresc.
4
S. 4
I will per form non com bat ive ser vice in the armed for ces arms, arms,
mp cresc.
4
A. 4
I will per form non com bat ive ser vice in the armed for ces arms, arms,
mp cresc.
4
T. 4
ah, ah, ah, that I will bear, that I will bear arms, arms, arms,

mp cresc.

4
B. 4
ah, ah, ah, that I will bear that I will bear arms, arms, arms

J
ff
107
2 4 5
S. 4 4 4
arms, that I will bear arms, arms, arms on be half of the U nit ed States, arms, arms, arms
ff
2 4 5
A. 4 4 4
arms, that I will bear arms, on be half of the U nit ed States, arms,
ff
2 4 5
T. 4 4 4
I will bear arms, arms, arms on be half of the U nit ed States, arms, arms, arms
ff
2 4 5
B. 4 4 4
I will bear arms, arms, arms on be half of the U nit ed States, arms, arms, arms
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 Dunphy — The Oath of Allegiance

18
112
5 4
S. 4 4
when re quired by the law, arms, arms, arms that I will per form non

5 4
A. 4 4
when re quired by the law, arms, that I will per form non

5 4
T. 4 4
when re quired by the law, arms, arms, arms, that I will per form non

5 4
B. 4 4
when re quired by the law, arms, arms, arms that I will per form non

115
2 4
S. 4 4
com bat ant ser vice in the armed, armed, armed ser vice

2 4
A. 4 4
com bat ant ser vice in the armed, armed, armed ser vice

2 4
T. 4 4
com bat ant ser vice in the armed, armed, armed, ser vice

2 4
B. 4 4
com bat ant ser vice in the armed, armed, armed ser vice

118
4 5 4
S. 4 4 4
of the U nit ed States, when re quired by the law, by the law, by the law,

4 5 4
A. 4 4 4
of the U nit ed States, when re quired by the law, by the law, by the law,

4 5 4
T. 4 4 4
of the U nit ed States, when re quired by the law, by the law, by the law,

4 5 4
B. 4 4 4
of the U nit ed States, when re quired by the law, by the law, by the law,
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 Dunphy — The Oath of Allegiance

19
K
molto rit. Fluidly q=66
121 mf mf
4
4
by the law; that I will per form work of
S.
mf mf
4
4
by the law; I will, I will per form work of
mf p mf
4
4
by the; that I will per form, per form work of
A.
mf p mf
4
4
by the; that I will per form, per form work of
p
4
4
by the; that I will per form work
T.
p
4
4
by the; that I will per form, per form work
p mf
3
4
B. 4
3
by the; that I will per form, I will per form work of na tion al im

126

S.

na tion al im port ance un der civ

3
A.

3
na tion al im port ance und er civ il ian di

T. mf of
3

of na tion al im port ance,

B.

port ance, im port ance und er civ

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 Dunphy — The Oath of Allegiance
Broadly q=60
20
128
f

il ian di rec tion when re quired by the law; and that

S.
f

il ian di rec tion when re quired by the law; and that

f
A.

rec tion when re quired by the law; and that

3
f

T. na tion al im port ance when re quired by the law;

f

I will per form when re quired by the law;

f

B.

il ian di rec tion when re quired by the law;

Sop. 1 & 2
131 fp fp f

S.

I, I, that I
f mf
solo spoken
"without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion"
I, I
A. tutti Alto 1 & 2
fp fp f mf

I, I, I, I
mf
solo spoken
"without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion"
T. I
tutti Ten. 1 & 2 f fp f mf

that I, I, I
fp solo spoken mf

"without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion"

I, I
B.
fp tutti Bass 1 & 2 f mf

I, that I, I

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 Dunphy — The Oath of Allegiance
135 ff
21 3

take this ob lig a tion free ly,

S.
ff
3

take this ob lig a tion free ly,

ff
3

take this ob lig a tion free ly free

A.
ff
3

take this ob lig a tion free

ff
3
T.

take this ob li ga tion free ly,

ff
B.

take this ob li ga tion, this ob li ga tion free ly,

138 rit. p

free ly, free ly, free ly;

S.
p

free ly, free ly, free ly;

p

A. ly, free ly, free ly;

p

ly, free ly free ly;

p

T. free ly, free ly, free ly;

p mf

free ly, free - - ly, free ly;

p
B.

free ly, free ly, free ly;

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 Dunphy — The Oath of Allegiance

22

L
141 Rubato
p (senza cresc.) p
S.

so help me God, so help me God,

p (senza cresc.) p
A.

so help me God, so help me God,

p (senza cresc.) p
T.

so help me God, so help me God,

p (senza cresc.) p

B.

so help me God, so help me God,

145 pp

S.

so help me God,

pp

A.

so help me God,

pp

T.

so help me God,

pp

B.

so help me, so help me God.

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