Τηε Γρεατ Τρεεσ - gwyneth walker · 2013. 11. 21. · Τηε Γρεατ Τρεεσ...

Full Score

Gwyneth Walker

Τηε Γρεατ Τρεεσ Musical Settings of the Poetry of Wendell Berry

for Soprano Solo, SATB Chorus, Clarinet and Piano

Τηε Γρεατ Τρεεσ Duration: 13’15”

THE GREAT TREES are musical settings of the poetry of Wendell Berry (1934 – ). The poetry and music focus on the beauty and spirituality of nature – trees, birds, still water – “one household, high and low.” Five poems have been selected for this set. #1, #3 and #5 are generally descriptive in character: quiet beauty The Peace of Wild Things; a clearing in the woods The Dark Around Us and great trees rising to heaven The Timbered Choir. These songs are scored for SATB chorus. Poems #2 and #4 are more introspective Silence, listening to the Steps of the City, and are composed for solo voice. A clarinet is added to the piano accompaniment, and indeed, is a featured element in this work. The clarinet was chosen for this role due to its gentle, “wood” wind sonority and appearance. In the first song, the clarinet portrays a lone bird in flight. In the second song, the clarinet provides commentary to the solo voice. Clarinet becomes the essence of the dance in the fourth song, and rises in range with the great trees in the finale. THE GREAT TREES is an expression of ecstatic reverence for the spiritual presence in nature. This expression ranges from the peaceful reverence of the “grace of the world” to the celebratory reverence of “O light come down to earth, be praised!” * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dr. Gwyneth Walker (b. 1947) is a graduate of Brown University and the Hartt School of Music. She holds B.A., M.M. and D.M.A. Degrees in Music Composition. A former faculty member of the Oberlin College Conservatory, she resigned from academic employment in 1982 in order to pursue a career as a full-time composer. She now lives on a dairy farm in Braintree, Vermont. Gwyneth Walker is a proud resident of Vermont. She is the recipient of the Year 2000 “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Vermont Arts Council as well as the 2008 “Athenaeum Award for Achievement in the Arts and Humanities” from the St. Johnsbury (VT) Athenaeum. Walker's catalog includes over 190 commissioned works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, chorus and solo voice. The music of Gwyneth Walker is published by E. C. Schirmer of Boston (choral and vocal music) and Lauren Keiser Music (orchestral and instrumental music). Further information concerning Gwyneth Walker and her works is available at www.gwynethwalker.com.

Τηε Ποεμσ (1) THE PEACE OF WILD THINGS When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free. (2) THE SILENCE Though the air is full of singing my head is loud with the labor of words. Though the season is rich with fruit, my tongue hungers for the sweet of speech. Though the beech is golden I cannot stand beside it mute, but must say “It is golden,” while the leaves stir and fall with a sound that is not a name. It is in the silence that my hope is, and my aim. A song whose lines I cannot make or sing sounds men’s silence like a root. Let me say and not mourn: the world lives in the death of speech and sings there. (3) THE DARK AROUND US The dark around us, come, Let us meet here together, Members one of another, Here in our holy room,

Here on our little floor, Here in the daylit sky, Rejoicing mind and eye, Rejoining known and knower, Light, leaf, foot, hand, and wing, Such order as we know, One household, high and low, And all the earth shall sing. (4) SONG I stood and heard the steps of the city and dreamed a lighter stepping than I heard, the tread of my people dancing in a ring. I knew that circle broken, the steps awry, stone and iron humming in the air. But I thought even there, among the straying steps, of the dance that circles life around, its shadows moving on the ground, in rhyme of flesh with flesh, time with time, our bliss, the earthly song that heavenly is. (5) GREAT TREES Slowly, slowly they return To the small woodland let alone: Great trees, outspreading and bright, Apostles of the living light. Patient as stars, they build in air Tier after tier a timbered choir, Stout beams upholding weightless grace Of song, a blessing on this place. They stand in waiting all around, Uprisings of their native ground. Downcomings of the distant light; They are the advent they await. Receiving sun and giving shade, Their life’s a benefaction made, And is a benediction said Over the living and the dead. In fall their brightened leaves, released, Fly down the wind, and we are pleased To walk on radiance, amazed. O light come down to earth, be praised!

The Great TreesGwyneth WalkerWendell Berry (1934 - )

© Copyright 2009 by Gwyneth Walker279 Brainstorm Rd., Braintree VT 05060

All rights reserved. Made in U.S.A.

Rubato q = ca. 100

Rubato q = ca. 100

Score in CCommissioned by the Wolf River Singers, Ben J. Legett, Director,

through the Choral Commissioning Project and a gift from Bob and Deb Cameron in memory of Edwin K. DimesPremiered on March 6, 2010 – Germantown, Tennessee

1. The Peace of Wild Things

*roll fingers on closed piano lid to simulate fluttering bird’s wing.

for SATB Chorus, Clarinet and Piano

Bb Clarinet

Piano

p peacefullyas a lone bird in flight

, , ,

roll fingers gently on piano lid*

6

Cl. ,

pp echo

,

p

roll fingers gently on piano lid

p

11

Cl.

mf

sneak a breath if necessary

mf

3

* Grace notes precede the beat.

15

Cl.

A

dim.

p

When

mf espr.Solo Alto

des

-

pp barely audible

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

A

A

17

A

pair

for the world

grows

in

me

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

19

Cl.

S

A

(p)

*

and

Solo Sop. mf espr.

I

wake

in the night

at the

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

4

21

Cl.

S

T

least

sound

inSolo Ten. mf espr.

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

23

T fear of what my life

and my chil

dren’s

- lives

may

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

25

Cl.

T

mf

be,

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

5

B

B

27

Cl.

S

A

T

B

p

I

Tutti p

go,

I

I

Tutti p

go,

I

ITutti p

go,

I

I

pgo,

I

p gently

31

Cl.

S

A

T

B

p

go

and lie down

where the wood

drake

rests

in his beau

ty- on

the wa

ter,

-

go

and lie down

where the wood

drake

rests

in his beau

ty- on

the wa

ter,

-

go

and lie down

where the wood

drake

rests

in his beau

ty- on

the wa

ter,

-

and

mfthe

go

and lie down

where the wood

drake

rests

in his beau

ty- on

the wa

ter,

-

6

36 rit.

rit.

C

C

a tempo (q = ca. 100)

a tempo (q = ca. 100)

S

A

T

B

I

(p)

I

(p)

great

her

on

3- feeds.

3 I

(p)

the

3great

her

on

3- feeds.

p

I

mf

p gently

40

S

A

T

B

come in to

- the peace

of

wild

things

who

do not tax

their lives

with

fore

thought

- of

3

come in to

- the peace

of

wild

things

who

do not tax

their lives

with

fore

thought

- of

3

come in to

- the peace

of

wild

things

who

do not tax

their lives

with

fore

thought

- of

3

come in to

- the peace

of

wild

things

who

do not tax

their lives

with

fore

thought

- of

3

7

43 D

D

Cl.

S

A

T

B

(p)

grief.

I

,

come in to

- the pres

ence

- of still

wa

ter.

-

And

,

I feel

a

-

grief.

I

,

come in to

- the pres

ence

- of still

wa

ter.

-

And

,

I feel

a

-

grief.

I

, come in to

- the pres

ence

- of still

wa

ter.

-

And

,

I feel

a

-

grief.

I

, come in to

- the pres

ence

- of still

wa

ter.

-

And

,

I feel

a

-

47 rit.

rit.

Cl.

S

A

T

B

mf

bove

me the day

blind

3

- stars

wait ing- with

their light.

For

, mf

a

bove

me the day

blind

3

- stars

wait ing- with

their light.

For

, mf

a

bove

me the day

blind

3

- stars

light.

For

, mf

a

bove

me the day

blind

3- stars

light.

For

, mf

a

8

E

E

Slower

Slower

50

S

A

T

B

time

I

rest

in the grace

of

the

3

world,

and

,

am

free.

time

I

rest

in the grace

of

the

3

world,

and

,

am

free

time

I

rest

in the grace

of

the

3world,

and

, am

free.

time

I

rest

in the grace

of

the

3

world,

and

, am

free.

for rehearsal only

mf a tempo (q = 100)

a tempo (q = 100)

54 rit.

rit.

Cl.

S

A

T

B

mf

p

p

p

p

Play

p

9

F

F

Slower

Slower

58

Cl.

S

A

T

B

p

I

go

and lie down

where the wood

drake

rests

in his beau

ty- on

the

I

go

and lie down

where the wood

drake

rests

in his beau

ty- on

the

I

go

and lie down

where the wood

drake

rests

in his beau

ty- on

the

I

go

and lie down

where the wood

drake

rests

in his beau

ty- on

the

61

Cl.

S

A

T

B

mf

p

wa

ter,

-

and

,

am

wa

ter,

-

and

,

am

wa

ter,

- on

the

wa

ter...

-

I

rest

in the grace

of

the

3world,

and

, am

wa

ter,

- on

the

wa

ter...

-

I

rest

in the grace

of

the

3world,

and

, am

10

*The ossia (Clarinet) and bracketed (Piano) passages are an alternate ending if the performance is not to continueinto the next song. If proceeding, the Clarinet plays the full-size notes as written and the piano is tacet for measure 73.

3’30”

65G

G

a tempo, (q = 100) as the beginning

a tempo, (q = 100) as the beginning

Cl.

S

A

T

B

mf

free.

free.

free.

free.

rit.

rit.

Cl.

S

A

T

B

*

p

70

pp

pp

pp

pp

*

roll fingerson piano lid

11




Slowly

Slowly



Freely, as a recitative (q = 120)

Freely, as a recitative (q = 120)

for Solo Soprano, Clarinet and Piano

2. The Silence

Bb Clarinet

Soprano

Piano

p

Though

mf freely

the air

is

full

of

sing

ing

- my

,

head

is

loud

with the

p

5

p

p

la

bor

- of

3words.

Though the sea

son

- is rich

with

p

p

9

fruit,

my

tongue

hun gers- for

the sweet

of

3speech.

12

A

A

p

mf

p

Though the beech

is

3gold

en

- I

,

mf

p

15

can not- stand

be side

- it

mute,

but

,

must say

“It is

gold

en,

-

3 3

3

mf

3

2

18

mf

p

,

gold

en,”

-

while

, the

3 33

3 3

3

3 3 3 3

3

3

21

mf

p

3

3 3

3

leaves

stir and fall

with a sound

that is not

a

name.

p gently

3 3

3

mf

3

24 B

B

33 3

3

It

p

is in

the

si

lence

-

that my hope

is,

and

my

3 3

3

dim.

p

3

3

28

aim.

A

mp

song

whose

lines I can

not- make

or

(p)

31

p

sing

sounds

men’s

3si

lence

- like

a

root.

Let

, fme

C

C

34

f

3

say

and

, not

mourn:

5 5 5 5

3 3

3 5 5 5 5

f

3 3 3 3

3

3 3 3 3

4

37 Slowly

Slowly

the

, world

lives

in the death

of

3 3

3

3

40 a tempo (q = 120)

a tempo (q = 120)

speech,

in

,

the death

of

speech,

and

, mf

pp barely audible

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

43

p echo

sings

there,

and

, mp

L.H.

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

(pp)

5

2’00”

45

sings

there,

and

, p

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

rit. to end

rit. to end

47

pp

sings

there.

pp

(pp)

5 5 5 5

6

Slowly and peacefully q = 100

Slowly and peacefully q = 100




Commissioned by the Wolf River Singers, Ben J. Legett, Director, through the Choral Commissioning Project and a gift from Bob and Deb Cameron in memory of Edwin K. Dimes

Premiered on March 6, 2010 – Germantown, Tennessee

*The piano accompaniment is provided to support the chorus, only if needed. Play minimally through measure 26, then play as written.

for SATB Chorus and Piano

3. The Dark Around Us

SopranoAlto

Tenor Bass

Piano

The

p

dark

a

round

- us,

unis.

,

come,

Let us meet

here

unis.

to geth

- er,

-

,

The

pdark

a

round

- us,

,

come,

Let us meet

here to geth

- er,

-

,

* ,

,

with pedal

p

6A

A

accel. poco a poco

accel. poco a poco

SA

TB

mem

bers- of one

an

oth

- er,

- Here

in our ho

ly

- room,

Here

, cresc. poco a poco

on our lit

tle

-

mem

bers- of one

an

unis.oth

- er,

- Here

in our ho

ly

unis.- room,

Here

,cresc. poco a poco

on

unis.

our lit

tle

-

,

pedal simile

cresc. poco a poco

11SA

TB

floor,

(accel.)(cresc.)

Here

in the day

lit

- sky,

Re

, joic

- ing

- mind

and

floor,

(cresc.) Here

in the day

lit

- sky,

Re

, joic

- ing

- mind

and

(accel.)

(cresc.)

Faster q = 120

Faster q = 120

15 rit.

rit.

B

B

q = 100

q = 100

SA

TB

eye,

(accel.)

Re

mfjoin

- ing

- known

and

know

er,

- Ah

Light,

p lightly, as birds hopping

leaf,

eye,

Re

mfjoin

- ing

- known

and

know

er,

-

Light,


leaf,

(accel.)

mf

p lightly

19SA

TB

foot,

hand,

and

unis.

wing,

Such

,

or

der

- as

we

know

And

unis.

all

the

foot,

hand,

and

wing,

Such,

or

der- as we know

One

house

hold,

- high

and

low,

2

25 accel. poco a poco

accel. poco a poco

SA

TB

earth,

the

earth

shall

sing,

cresc. poco a poco

sing,

and

unis.all

the

earth

shall

sing,

cresc. poco a poco sing,

Play

p cresc. poco a poco

29C

C

Faster q = 120

Faster q = 120

SA

TB

(accel.)(cresc.)

Ah

Here

f on our lit

tle

- floor,

(cresc.)

Ah

Here...

f lit

tle

- floor,

(accel.)

(cresc.)

f

33

SA

TB

Here

in the day

lit

- sky,

Re

joic

- ing

- mind

and

eye,

Re

join

- ing

- known

and

Here...

day

lit

- sky,

Re

joic

- ing...

- mind

and

eye,

Re

join

- ing...

-

3

rit.

rit.

*Optional accompaniment (as at the beginning) through m. 44, then play as written.

38D

D

q = 100

q = 100

S

A

T

B

know

er,

- Ah

Light,

p lightly, as birds hopping leaf,

foot,

hand,

and

wing,

,

and

all

the

earth,

and

know

er,

- Ah

Light,


leaf,

foot,

hand,

and

wing,

And

,

all

the

earth,

and

know

er,

-

Light,


foot,

hand,

and

wing,

, and

all

the

earth,

and

know

er,

-

Light,


foot,

hand,

and

wing,

, and

*

p lightly

accel.

accel.

44 E

E

In celebration q = 120

In celebration q = 120

S

A

T

B

all

the

earth,

the

earth

shall

sing,

f

the

earth

shall

all

the

earth,

the

earth

shall

sing,

f

the

earth

shall

all

the

earth,

the

earth

shall...

the

f earth

shall

sing,

all

the

earth,

the

earth

shall...

the

f earth

shall

sing,

Play

f

4

rit.

rit.

2’00”

48

S

A

T

B

sing,

the

earth

shall

sing.

ff

sing,

the

earth

shall

sing.

ff

the

earth

shall

sing.

ff

the

earth

shall

sing.

sing.

ff

ff

5 5 5 5

5

q. = 88

q. = 88

Score in C




Commissioned by the Wolf River Singers, Ben J. Legett, Director, through the Choral Commissioning Project and a gift from Bob and Deb Cameron in memory of Edwin K. Dimes

Premiered on March 6, 2010 – Germantown, Tennessee

for Solo Soprano, Clarinet and Piano

4. The Steps of the City

Bb Clarinet

Piano

tap lid lightly, as a joyous dance

Lively (q. = 88)

Lively (q. = 88)

5mf lightly

*

10


rit.

rit.

a tempo

a tempo

p

p

with pedal

15 A

A

Cl.

S

mf lightly

Solo

I

mf lightly

stood

and heard

the steps

of the cit

y

-

mf lightly

19

(mf lightly)

and dreamed

a light

er- step

ping-

than

I

23

heard,

the tread

of my peo

ple- danc

ing- in

a

2

27


ring

dan

p

cing,-

dan

cresc. poco a poco

cing,-

dan

- -


32

f

p

cing- in

a ring.

f

I

mf

f

B

B

37

mf

p

mf

knew

that cir

cle- brok

en,

-

the steps

a wry,

-

stone

and iron

mf

3

42 rit.

rit.

p

f

p sub.

hum ming

- in

the air,

f

in the air.

p sub.

f

p sub.

C

C

a tempo (q. = 88)

a tempo (q. = 88)

47 D

D

f

mf

f

But

mfI

thought

e ven-

f

mf

52

there,

a mong

- the stray

ing- steps,

of

the dance

that

cir

cles- life

a

-

4

57 E

E

mf

p

round,

its

p

shad ows- mo

ving- on

the ground,

p

61

rhyme

of flesh

with flesh,

65 rit.

rit.

time

mfwith

time,

our

mf

5

F

F

Grandly

Grandly

2’30”

69 Slowly, freely

Slowly, freely

f

bliss,

f the

, mf freelyearth ly- song

that heav’n

ly

-

2 2

f

a tempo (q. = 88)

a tempo (q. = 88)

73

p

mf

is.

p

mf

tap lid joyously

p

6




Stately q = 72

Stately q = 72



for SATB Chorus, Clarinet and Piano

5. The Timbered Choir

Tenor

Bass

Piano

mm

(hum) pp barely audible

Great

p

Trees,

Great

Trees,

Great

Trees,

p

6 A

A

A

T

B

mm

(hum) pp barely audible

slow

p

- ly,

slow ly- they

re turn

- to the small

wood land- let

a

-

Great

Trees,

Great

pp

Trees,

Great

Trees,

Great

Trees,

10 B

B

poco accel.

poco accel.

S

A

T

B

Great

p

trees,

out spread

- ing- and bright,

A

pos- tles- of

the liv

ing- light.

3

lone:

slow

pp

ly...

-

Great

Trees,

Great

Trees,

Great

Trees,

Great

Trees,

14C

C

Slightly faster q = 80

Slightly faster q = 80

S

A

T

B

Light...

(accel.)p

Pa

mp

tient- as stars,

they build

in

air

Tier

af ter- tier,

a

Pa

mp

tient- as stars,

they build

in

air

Tier

af ter- tier,

a

slow

ly...

- Pa

mptient- as stars,

they build

in

air

Tier

af ter- tier,

a

Great

Trees,

Great

mp

Trees,

Great

Trees,

Great

Trees,

(accel.)

mp

2

18

S

A

T

B

tim

bered

- choir,

stout

beams

up hold

- ing- weight

less

- grace

of

tim

bered

- choir,

stout

beams

up hold

- ing- weight

less

- grace

of

tim

bered

- choir,

stout

beams up hold,

- up hold

- ing- weight

less

- grace

of

Great

Trees,

stout

beams up hold,

- up hold

- ing- weight

less

- grace

of

poco accel.

poco accel.

21D

D

Faster q = 88

Faster q = 88

S

A

T

B

song,

a bless

ing

- on

this

place.

They

stand

mf in wait

ing

-

song,

a bless

ing

- on

this

place.

They

stand

mf

in wait

ing

-

song, of song,

a bless

ing

- on

this

place.

They

stand...

mf

song, of song,

a bless

ing

- on

this

place.

They

mf

stand

in wait

ing

-

mf

3

24 rit.

rit.

S

A

T

B

all

a

round,

- Up

ris- ings- of

their

na

tive

- ground.

,

all

a

round,

- Up

ris- ings- of

their

na

tive

- ground.

,

Up

ris

- ings...

-

,

all

a

round,

-

up ris

- ings- of

their

na

tive

- ground.

,

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

E

E

Slower

Slower

27 accel.

accel.

S

A

T

B

Down

fcom- ings- of

the dis

tant- light;

They

mf

are

the ad

vent- they

a wait.

-

Down

fcom- ings- of

the dis

tant- light;

They

mf

are

the ad

vent- they

a wait.

-

Down...

fof

the

light;

They

mf

are

the ad

vent- they

a wait.

-

Down...

fthe

light;

They

mf

are

the ad

vent- they

a wait.

-

mf

f

3

3 3 3

4

30F

F

Faster q = 88

Faster q = 88

Cl.

S

A

T

B

(accel.)

mf

* f

p

p

p

p

(accel.)

3

p

mf

f

3 3 3 3

3

3 3 3

33


Cl.

mf

3 3 3

3

mf

f

mf

3 3 3 3

3

3 3 3

5

rit.

rit.

36

Slower, freely

Slower, freely

Cl.

,

p

3

3

3

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

3

p

G

G

Stately q = 72

Stately q = 72

39

Cl.

SA

TB

Re

p tenderly

ceiv

- ing- sun

and giv

ing- shade,

Their

unis.

Re

p tenderly

ceiv

- ing- sun

and giv

ing- shade,

Their

(p)

41

Cl.

SA

TB

life’s a

ben

e- fac

- tion- made,

And

mf

is

a

life’s a ben

e- fac

- tion- made,

mf

6

43

Cl.

S

A

T

B

mf

ben e- dict

- ion- said

ben e- dict

- ion- said

o

ver- the liv

ing...-

o

ver- the liv

ing- and

the

o

ver- the liv

ing- and

the

6 6

6 6 6 6 6 6

45

H

H

Cl.

S

A

T

B

f

dead.

In

f

fall

their bright

ened- leaves,

re leased,

-

dead.

In

f fall

their bright

ened- leaves,

re leased,

-

dead.

In

f fall...

Fly

dead.

In

f

fall...

Fly

6 6

6 6 6 6

7

47

Cl.

S

A

T

B

to

to

down the wind

and we

are pleased

to

down the wind

and we

are pleased

to

6 6 6

6 6 6 6 6 6

rit.

rit.

48

accel. poco a poco

accel. poco a poco

Cl.

S

A

T

B

p

,

walk on ra

diance,-

a

p sub.

mazed.

-

O

, (p) light come down

to earth,

O

walk on ra

diance,-

a

p sub.

mazed.

-

O

, (p)

light come down

to earth,

O

walk on ra

diance,-

a

p sub.

mazed.

-

, to

(p)

earth,

O

walk on ra

diance,-

a

p sub.

mazed.

-

, to

(p)

earth,

O

,

p

6

6

8

50

Cl.

SA

T

B

(accel.)

mf

3

light

cresc.

come down

to earth,

O light

come down

to earth,

be

light...

cresc. to earth,

O light...

to earth,

be...

light...

cresc. to earth,

O light...

to earth,

be...

(accel.)

cresc.

6

6 6 6

6

6

I

I

Faster q = 88 in celebration

Faster q = 88 in celebration

52

Cl.

SA

T

B

f

6 6 6 3 6 6 6 3

praised!

f O

light,

be praised,

O light,

be

O

f

light,

be praised,

O light,

be praised,

O

f

light,

be praised,

O light,

be praised,

9

54

Cl.

S

A

T

B

6 6 6 6

praised,

be praised,

O

light

come

down

to

earth

be

praised,

be praised,

O

light

come

down

to

earth

be

O light,

be praised,

be praised,

O

light

come

down

to

earth

be

O light,

be praised,

be praised,

O

light

come

down

to

earth

be

10

rit.

rit.

3’15”Total: 13’15”

October 18, 2009Braintree, Vermont

57

Cl.

S

A

T

B

( f )

ff

praised,

be praised!

praised,

be

praised!

praised,

be praised!

praised,

be

praised!

ff

11

00_GreatTrees_FSinC_01_J00_GreatTrees_FSinC_02_E00_GreatTrees_FSinC_03_D00_GreatTrees_FSinC_04_D00_GreatTrees_FSinC_05_C

Τηε Γρεατ Τρεεσ - gwyneth walker · 2013. 11. 21. · Τηε Γρεατ Τρεεσ...

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