Words from the Show

Some from the written dialogue, some from Domitila herself

The Cantata for Domitila is a song cycle featuring Bolivian rhythms and linked by bilingual dialogue to illustrate the story of Domitila Barrios de Chungara. Domitila is a remarkable and well-known woman, one of many people involved in the struggle for social and economic justice for the tin miners of her country.

The spoken words in the Cantata are in Spanish and English and as a composite they paint a picture of aspects of Domitila’s life and of the situation of the miners. Mary-Jane Field has written the dialogue, in some cases using words by Domitila herself from her book Let Me Speak! (Si Me Permiten Hablar, in the original Spanish).

Some of the words in the show:

“...Lo único que yo quería era apoyar a mi compañero y a los otros mineros..... dijeron cualquier cosa de mí! Pero tuve que hablar ¿no?...”

TRANSLATION: All I wanted was to support my spouse and the other miners.....people said so many things about me! But I had to speak out, 
didn’t I?

...¡Qué doloroso es saber que nuestros compañeros estaban botando sus pulmones en las minas solamente para dar riquezas al extranjero!...(Quoted from Domitila’s book). Un día me encontré con un minero y me dijo, ‘Dejaron los pulmones en el socavón.’

TRANSLATION: How hurtful it is to know that our spouses were destroying their lungs in the mines just to enrich foreigners! ...(From Domitila’s book). One day I met a miner and he said to me, ‘They left my lungs at the mouth of the mine.’

They left my lungs at the mouth of the mine
Where I go down to work, day after day 
They left my lungs at the mouth of the mine 
And no matter what I do, that’s where they stay

They left my lungs at the mouth of the mine 
Where I’m lost to the sun, the sky and the light
They left my lungs at the mouth of the mine, 
The doorway to the dark and the spiralling night

I left my heart at the mouth of the mine 
I’m broken down and tired and it’s hard to go on 
I left my heart at the mouth of the mine 
Who will tell my story? Who will sing my song?

I left my heart at the mouth of the mine 
And I may never find it, may never reclaim 
I left my heart at the mouth of the mine 
But I can hear it beating when you call my name

The people are strong, and they will never give up.One day, Heavenly Sun, your rays will light up a path of justice that we will all walk together. When that day comes, Pachamama, the promise of your gifts and riches will be fulfilled. Our hearts will be restored.

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Mary-Jane Field has a great admiration for the Bolivian people, their culture and their music. This is one of the reasons for the Cantata. It is a true labour of love, a way she can express her thanks for all the riches her association with Bolivian friends -- in Australia and in La Paz , where she visited and studied music -- has brought her.

But, she says, she has no idea why she has combined Bolivian rhythms and melodic themes with the koto! “It came to me and it works, and I am really happy with the sound that has resulted,” she says.

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Another motivation for the Cantata is expressed in some of Mary-Jane’s dialogue in the show. Domitila suffered many hardships, yet, like many others, she never allowed herself to stop speaking out:

“...If people like me speak out then perhaps we can all learn something, something we can use to protect ourselves and our children from social and economic injustice...”

Domitila writes in her book of the courage given to her by some of the leaders in the miners’ struggles, women and men who inspired her with their strength and dedication. Her father was the first person to instill in her the need to stand up for justice, and this is mentioned in the Cantata..

“...Cuando mi papá quedó viudo, la gente decía, ‘Ay, pobrecitas, cinco mujeres, ningún varón...¿para qué sirven?’ Pero mi papá estaba convencido que servíamos para mucho...”

TRANSLATION: When my father was widowed, people would say, ‘Oh, poor things, five girls, not on boy...what use are they? But my father was convinced that we would be of use for many things...

“...he stood by me all the way, giving me strength when I felt like giving up and speaking up for me when I was being denounced...”