Resignation for voice and piano (2017) Shawn Jaeger
Performance Notes: Solid barlines indicate that rhythms and meters should be strictly observed. Dotted barlines, in contrast, denote a slightly freer approach to rhythm, to be performed with patience and a sense of waiting for the next event to “land.” While I have written out fairly subtle alterations in rhythmic duration and barlength within the dotted-barline passages, it is more important that these passages have a sense of patience and spaciousness in resonance than that the notated rhythms are precisely observed.
Program Note: “Resignation” takes its title from the American folk melody of the same name, better known as the tune for the Christian hymn, “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need,” with words, by Isaac Watts (1675-1748), paraphrasing Psalm 23. My song is built of fragments of text and music from the hymn—re-ordered and frozen (as if film stills), and repeated Watts’s complete text is printed below on the left, with the words I set given in italics. My assembled text is printed on the right: My Shepherd will supply my need, Jehovah is his Name; in pastures fresh he makes me feed beside the living stream. He brings my wandering spirit back when I forsake his ways, and leads me, for his mercy’s sake, in paths of truth and grace. When I walk through the shades of death, thy presence is my stay; one word of thy supporting breath drives all my fears away. Thy hand, in sight of all my foes, Doth still my table spread; my cup with blessings overflows, thy oil anoints my head.
no more at home my fears my work my head my days my need my stay my God thy house of truth a child away be praise and grace
The sure provisions of my God attend me all my days; oh, may thy house be mine abode and all my work be praise. There would I find a settled rest, While others go and come; no more a stranger or a guest, but like a child at home.
As re-ordered, these isolated phrases form a kind of litany or lament, delivered in protest against our 45th President, or against any authority who has betrayed trust. Seen this way, the word resignation connotes both the frustrated acceptance of something undesirable, as well as the act of giving up a position: post tenebras spero lucem.
Written for Lucy Dhegrae and Nathaniel LaNasa.
Resignation based on the American folk hymn
Shawn Jaeger
adapted from Isaac Watts
Like a lost idyll, q = 48
Voice
5 &8
4 4
∑
Ped.
(sempre)
6 &4
∑
6 &4
∑
6
?6 4
∏ (8)
7 & 16
11
7 & 16
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Ó
5 4
p ˙-
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U.C.
π
2 4
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w
3
"accented" releases let resonance fade, feathering Ped.
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4 4 4 4
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˙no
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U
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Piano
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7 16
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Tired, resigned; q = 48
3 4
3 4 Œ
Copyright 2017 © by Shawn Jaeger. All Rights Reserved.
no
∑ p ( ) ≈ œ- . œ Ped.
7 4 7 4 7 4
2
Resignation
7 &4
14
7 &4
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home
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Ó
3
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head
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my
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Ó
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fears
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≈ œ.
my
always within vocal sound
π 3
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my
simile
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q = 52 gradually warming, becoming incredulous
≈ œ. œ.
q = 56
p
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simile
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no
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6 4 œ ˙ ≈ œ. œ.
p ‰. œ œ
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more
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days
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my
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Resignation
22
q = 64
& . œ
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11 &8
25
˙ >.
q = 52
6 &4
28
my
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6 &4 Ó P ?6 4 ˙.
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stay
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F
rit.
6 4
∑
11 œ . &8 œ ˙ ? 11 8
≈ œ. œ.
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3 q = 72
13 œ ˙ 8 . ≈ œ. œ> my
God
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p
6 4 ≈ œ. thy
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p U œ. ‰
Ped. let resonance fade, feathering Ped.
q = 56 growing more emphatic, scornful
‰ œ.
11 8
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8 4 8 4
11 8
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13 Ó . 8 f 13 8 ˙.
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6 4 6 4
4
Resignation
œ ˙
31
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child
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œ
?
3
34 q = 72
13 & 8 œ. œ ˙ -
13 & 8 Ó f ? 13 8
8
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37
& œ. œ ˙ -
way
& Ó f ? ˙. 8
q = 64
way
≈ œ. œ. a
˙
a
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-
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8
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6 ‰. œ. 4 œ. œ ˙
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way
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a
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3
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child
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13 ≈ œ. 8
warm, free, resolved
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5
Resignation
40
& œ. œ ˙
˙
& Ó f ? ˙.
and
43
∑
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8
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8
47
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8
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8
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8
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F
Œ Œ œ
˙
8
2nd time only:
3
œ
˙ ∑ 8 >œ-
optional: continuing silently mouthing words in rhythm for 1 or 2 more repetitions
œ
ƒ
8
˙.
grace
‰ Œ Œ
˙.
Ó.
œ.
∑ 8 >œ-
Ó.
Œ Œ
œ ˙
Ó f
‰. œ œ
œ
8
?
‰ œ
>œœœœœ Œ J Ó. 3 p
praise
?
p whispered
..
..
poco a poco rit.
∑ 8 >œ-
Ó.
‰ Œ Œ ƒ 3
˙.
œ
˙
8
∑
q = 60
8
∑
8
.. Ó . ..
‰ Œ Œ 3
simile violent, piercing
œ
2nd time only:
˙.
8
∑
8
( >‚ )
>œ-
( >‚ )
˙ U
∑
U
‰ Œ Œ .. Ó . ‰ Œ Œ Ó . ‰ Œ Œ ∑ 3 3 3 miming the gesture: ∏ (n) silently depressing keys (but with normal playing gestures) U œ .. ‚ ∑ ˙ O. O O . O . hold playing position and let 8
8
any resonance fade completely