FOUR PIECES
on poems by William Carlos Williams for Chorus (S.A.T.B.)
BRAXTON BLAKE
I – SILENCE
II – TO A POOR OLD LADY
III – TO A MEXICAN PIG–BANK
IV – THE SADNESS OF THE SEA
FOUR PIECES on poems by William Carlos Williams was composed in the spring of 2001 and premiered on May 4, 2001 by the German-American Chorus of Frankfurt, James Schar, conductor.
Silence – by William Carlos Williams, from THE COLLECTED POEMS: VOLUME II, 1939-1962, copyright ©1953 by William Carlos Williams. Reprinted by permission of New Directions Publishing Corp.
To a Poor Old Woman – by William Carlos Williams, from THE COLLECTED POEMS: VOLUME I, 1909-1939, copyright ©1938 by New Directions Publishing Corp. Reprinted by permission of New Directions Publishing Corp.
To a Mexican Pig-Bank and The Sadness of the Sea – by William Carlos Williams, from THE COLLECTED POEMS: VOLUME I, 1909-1939, copyright ©1938 by New Directions Publishing Corp.. Reprinted by permission of New Directions Publishing Corp.
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BRAXTON BLAKE MUSIC
FOUR PIECES
II – TO A POOR OLD WOMAN
see it by her way she gives her self to the 20 one half sucked out
see it by her way she gives her self to the one half sucked out see it by her way she gives her self to the one half sucked out see it by her way she gives her self to the one half sucked out
III – TO A MEXICAN PIG–BANK
=120 Giocoso and a small flock
and a small flock and a small flock of clay of
accel.
of clay sheep
The pig
The
a shep herd be hind them The pig
The
of clay sheep
The pig
The
a shep herd be hind 10 them
The pig
The accel.
=120 Giocoso and a small flock of clay of clay sheep
clay sheep
Hair pin
Hair pin wires hold up the sheep
slot at the top
Hair pin
Hair pin wires hold up the sheep
slot at the top
shep herd wears a red
(Italicized words and syllables in brackets are silent.) [and] leggiero a [small flock] of [clay sheep] a [shep herd] be [hind them] The [pig is] paint [ed]
(Italicized words and syllables in brackets are silent.) and leggiero [a] small flock [of] clay sheep [a] shep herd [be] hind them [The] pig is [paint] ed
cantabile =
wears a red
ket a
yel [low] with green [ears] There’s a [slot] at the [top] Hair pin [wires] hold up [the] sheep [yel] low [with green] ears [There’s a] slot [at the] top [Hair pin] wires [hold up] the [sheep
blan
cantabile
The
The shep herd
low] with [green ears] There’s [a slot] at [the top] Hair [pin wires] hold [up the] sheep [turn der on his left
low [with] green ears [There’s] a slot [at] the top [Hair] pin wires [hold] up the [sheep] turn
poco rit.
ing] a [way The] shep [herd wears] a [red blan] ket [on his] left [should er]
ing [a] way The [shep] herd wears [a] red blan [ket] on his [left] should er
poco rit.
shoul der
on his left shoul der
IV – THE SADNESS OF THE SEA
This =66 ( =132) is the sad ness of poco rit. the sea–a tempo
This is the sad ness of the sea–
waves like words, all bro
waves like words, all bro
20
same ness of lift ing and fall ing mood. I lean
same ness of lift ing and fall ing mood. I lean
same ness of lift ing and fall ing mood. I lean
same ness of lift ing and fall ing mood. I lean
watch a tempo ing the de tail of brit tle crest, the de li cate im per rit.
watch ing the de tail of brit tle crest, the de li cate
watch ing the de tail of brit tle crest, the de li cate im
watch ing the de tail of brit tle crest, im
a tempo
There is no hope–
subito Tempo I ( =66)
altri
altri
subito Tempo I ( =66)
if not a co ral is land slow ly form
ing
if not a co ral is land slow ly form ing
if not a co ral is land slow ly form ing
if not a co ral is land slow ly form ing
Bass
Ten.
altri gli
altri gli
(soli)
form ing
to wait for birds to drop
to wait for birds to
form ing to wait for birds to
to wait for birds to drop
to wait for birds to drop
to wait for birds to drop
Bass
altri gli
(soli)
Alto solo
altri
(soli)
Gradually move from "ble" to "mmm".
– staggered among sopranos
– staggered among altos
Gradually move from "ble" to "mmm".
– staggered among tenors
Gradually move from "ble" to "mmm".
– staggered among basses