The Origin is an oratorio by American composer Richard Einhorn, with a libretto by Einhorn and poet Catherine Barnett.
- Docudrama:
- George Lucas Altered Version: The 2009 recorded version of the oratorio is 33 minutes long and centered on the soloists, whereas the original piece was much longer and relied on an orchestra and large chorus. The first two movements "Representation of Chaos" and "Primordial Chaos" are entirely missing from the recording.
- Historical Domain Character: The libretto's text is drawn from the letters of Charles Darwin, and Darwin serves as the protagonist and viewpoint character. Almost everything else is relayed via his narration.
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall
- Oratorio:
- Outliving One's Offspring: "Annie's Memorial" is follows the death of Darwin's daughter Anne. The movement is
- Posthumous Character: "Annie's Memorial" is a response to the death of Darwin's daughter Annie. The text is based on a letter sent to his wife Emma, describing Annie at some length.
- Pun-Based Title: "A Taste For Collecting Beetles" refers to Darwin's general fondness for beetles, but also to an incident where he's already holding newly discovered beetles in both hands, so resorts to putting a third captured beetle in his mouth. This plan goes badly.
- Speech-Centric Work:
- Squick: In "A Taste for Collecting Beetles", Darwin mentions that he ran out of hands, so put one of his newly discovered beetles in his mouth. At this point Darwin is represented by a soloist and the other singers, who were previously a chorus reinforcing his words, briefly drop out of character to express their disgust.Darwin: So I popped the one I held in my right hand into my mouthOther singers: [breaking character, not singing] EwwwwDarwin: Alas, it ejected some intensely acrid fluid—Other singers: [still out of character, not singing] Urghh.Darwin: —which burned my tongue.
