Shepherds, Shake Off Your Drowsy Sleep

1

SHEPHERDS, SHAKE OFF YOUR DROWSY SLEEP Based upon a medieval Besanรงon carol melody f o r C h o r u s (SATB)

B R A XT O N

BRAXTON

BLAKE MUSIC

20140917

B L A K E

2

Braxton Blake was raised in Galveston, Texas where he first studied composition and theory with Francis J. Pyle. He then attended the University of Houston from 1972-1976, studying composition with Michael Horvit and Thomas Benjamin, with additional concentration in piano and conducting. He enrolled at the Eastman School of Music in 1976, where he studied composition with Samuel Adler, Warren Benson, and Joseph Schwantner. At Eastman, he served as music director of the Musica Nova Ensemble (1978-1979). He received the degrees Master of Music in 1979 and Doctor of Philosophy in 1990.

Mr. Blake has participated in various music festivals, including the Aspen Music Festival (1978), the Bayreuth Festival (1980), and the Dartington Festival, (1984, studies in composition with Peter Maxwell Davies and conducting with Diego Masson). While living in Stuttgart, he studied composition with Milko Kelemen at the Staatliche Musikhochschule from 1984-1986.

His professional engagements include serving as music director for the Erick Hawkins Dance Company, New York (1981-1984), with which he toured extensively throughout the United States, as well as guest appearances with Ensemble Modern, Frankfurt, Musik Fabrik, Düsseldorf, the Stuttgart Philharmonic, the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, the South German Radio Choir, the Contemporary Music Alliance Stuttgart, the Koechlin Ensemble, Ensemble 20, the Stuttgart Ballet, the Studio Ensemble Stuttgart, and Musica Nova Stuttgart. He has recorded extensively for the South German Radio and has recorded for Muza and for Col Legno recordings.

Mr. Blake’s commissions include those from the Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester, Denmark (Four Songs), the Philharmonic Brass, Stuttgart (Brass Quartet), the Vail Valley Foundation, (Piece of Cake) the City of Mannheim (Saxophone Sonata), Ensemble 20 (Three Preludes), the Stuttgart Philharmonic (Viola Concerto), the City of Stuttgart (Octet), the West German Radio, Cologne (Creole Folksongs), the Stuttgart Ballet (Salome), and the John Cranko School of the Stuttgart Ballet (Alice in Wonderland). Recently, seven works of his have been recorded for broadcast and CD release by the Südwest Rundfunk (Baden-Baden) and both the Albany and Ars-Musici labels have released CDs of his music. His compositions are published by Theodore Presser and Columbia University Music Press. Mr. Blake is the recipient of the 2001 Wladimir and Rhoda Lakond Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

PHOTOCOPYING

PROHIBITED

BRAXTON

BLAKE MUSIC

http://braxtonblake.com 1508 Longshore Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48105 Tel/Fax 734/332-9277

3

SHEPHERDS, SHAKE OFF YOUR DROWSY SLEEP based upon a medieval Besançon carol melody

Text: Anonymous

Flowing .=70-74

Braxton Blake (2001)

solo

Soprano solo

Rise,

and

leave

your graz

ing

and

leave your graz

ing

solo

Alto

Rise, Tenor

solo

Bass

Shep herds, shake off

your drow

sy

sleep,

Flowing .=70-74 for rehearsal only

5 tutti

sheep;

Tid ings of

great

joy

are

Tid ings of

great

joy

are

joy

are

tutti

sheep; solo

tutti

An gels from hea

ven ’round are

sing

ing,

sing

tutti

Tid ings of

copyright © 2001 Braxton Blake 20140917

great

4 9

poch. rit.

10

accel.

a tempo

bring

ing.

Shep herds, the cho

rus come

and swell,

Sing No el,

No

bring

ing.

Shep herds, the cho

rus come

and swell,

Sing No el,

No

ing.

bring

Shep herds, the

cho

rus come

ing.

poch. rit.

and swell,

Shep herds, the cho

accel.

No el,

rus come and swell,

Sing

a tempo

poch. rit.

13

Sing No el,

poco meno mosso

a tempo

el,

No el,

Sing

No

el.

Hark! ev en

el,

No el,

Sing

No

el.

Hark! ev en

el.

Hark! ev en

el.

Hark! ev en

solo

Sing

(altri) Sing No el,

el,

el,

tutti

No el,

No

No el,

el,

Sing

poch. rit.

poco meno mosso

No

No

a tempo

No

No

5

20

17

now

the bells

ring

round,

Lis

ten

to

their mer

ry

sound;

Hark! how the

now

the bells

ring

round,

Lis

ten

to

their mer

ry

sound;

Hark! how the

now

the bells

ring

round,

Lis

ten

to

their mer

ry

sound;

Hark! how the

now

the bells

ring

round,

Lis

ten

to

their mer

ry

sound;

Hark! how the

21

birds

new songs

are

mak

ing, As

if

win

ter’s chains

were

birds

new songs

are

mak

ing, As

if

win

ter’s chains

were

birds

new songs

are

mak

ing, As

if

win

ter’s chains

were

birds

new songs

are

mak

ing, As

if

win

ter’s chains

were

6

poch. accel.

24

poco piĂš mosso

break

ing.

Shep herds, the

cho

rus come

and swell,

Sing

No

break

ing.

Shep herds, the

cho

rus come

and swell,

Sing

No

break

ing.

break

ing.

Shep herds, the cho

Shep herds, the

poch. accel.

poch. rit.

27

cho

rus come

rus

come

and swell,

and swell,

Sing

No

poco piĂš mosso

a tempo

poco meno mosso

30

poch. rit.

(ossia: solo)

el,

No el,

No el!

Sing

No

el,

No el,

No

el!

See how the

el,

No el,

No el!

Sing

No

el,

No el,

No

el!

No

Sing, No el,

No el!

el!

No

el,

No el,

No

el!

No

Sing

No

el,

No el,

No

el!

No

el,

No el,

No el!

poch. rit.

No

a tempo

poch. rit.

poco meno mosso

7 31

flo

35

wers all burst a

new,

Think

ing

snow

is

sum

er

dew;

el!

No

el!

No

el!

el!

No

el!

No

el!

el!

No

el!

No

el!

accel. poco a poco

stars a fresh are glow

No

el!

No

See how the

a tempo

ing, All

el!

their bright est beams are be

No

el!

stow

ing. Shep herds, the

Their bring out somewhat

No

el!

No

el!

No

el!

Their

No

el!

No

el!

No

el!

Their

accel. poco a poco

a tempo

8

poch. rit.

40

39

cho

rus come and swell, Sing No

el, No el,

No el!

Sing

No el, No el,

bright

est

beams be

stow

ing.

No

bright

est

beams be

stow

ing.

No

bright

est

beams be

stow

ing.

No

No

el,

el,

No

poch. rit.

Tempo I

44

(tutti)

el!

el!

Je

su,

Je

su,

Je

su,

Je

su,

(ossia: solo)

el!

Com eth at

el!

length the age of

Je

Tempo I

peace, Strife and sor row now

su,

Je

shall cease; Pro phets fore

su,

9

poch. rit.

50

49

No

el,

Je

su.

No

el,

Je

su.

told the won drous sto

No

ry Of

el,

this hea ven born Prince

of

Je

glo

ry.

a tempo

Shep herds, the

su.

poch. rit.

a tempo

poch. rit.

53

Lo,

he

comes,and

loves,

and

saves,

and

frees

Lo,

he

comes,and

loves,

and

saves,

and

frees

cho rus comeand swell, Sing No

Lo,

he

comes,and

el, No el,

loves,

and

No el!

saves,

Sing

and

No el, No el,

frees

poch. rit.

No

10

Tempo I

58

60

us!

Shep herds! then

up

and quick

a

way,

Seek

the

babe

ere break

of

us!

Shep herds! then

up

and quick

a

way,

Seek

the

babe

ere break

of

(tutti)

el!

Shep herds! then

up

and quick

a

way,

Seek

the

babe

ere break

of

us!

Shep herds! then

up

and quick

a

way,

Seek

the

babe

ere break

of

Tempo I

62

day;

He

is

the hope

of ev’

ry

na

tion, All

in

him

shall find

sal

day;

He

is

the hope

of ev’

ry

na

tion, All

in

him

shall find

sal

day;

He

is

the hope

of ev’

ry

na

tion, All

in

him

shall find

sal

day;

He

is

the hope

of ev’

ry

na

tion, All

in

him

shall find

sal

11 66

va

tion. Shep herds, the

cho rus come and swell,

Sing

No

el,

No el,

No el!

va

tion. Shep herds, the

cho rus come and swell,

Sing

No

el,

No el,

No el!

va

tion. Shep herds, the

cho rus come and swell,

Sing

No

el,

No el,

No el!

va

tion. Shep herds, the

cho rus come and swell,

Sing

No

el,

No el,

No el!

rit. poco a poco

70

piĂš rit.

No

molto rit.

Sing

No el,

No el,

el!

Sing

No el,

No el,

No

el,

No

el!

solo Sing tutti (altri)

Sing

No el,

No el,

No

el,

No

el!

Sing

No el,

No el,

No

el,

No

el!

rit. poco a poco

piĂš rit.

molto rit.

12

B R A X T O N CHORAL MUSIC Here’s One

B L A K E MUSIC FOR SOLO VOICE Cantate Domino

(2013)

based on Talk About a Child That Do Love Jesus

(2011)

Voice • Piano 4’

Chorus (S.A.T.B.) • viola • organ 6’

Four Poems of Christian Morgenstern Some Day

(2010)

Low voice • Chamber Orchestra 18’

(2013)

based on Heaven’s Beams by Charles Tindley

Three Songs

Chorus (S.A.T.B.) 5’

(2009)

poems by William Carlos Williams

Motet

Baritone • Piano 8’

(2013)

based on Deep River and Great Day

Six Songs

Chorus (S.A.T.B.) 5’

(1999)

poems by Dorothy Parker

Motet

Low voice • Piano 20’

(2013)

based on Hush, Hush, Somebody’s Calling My Name and Swing Low

Autumn

Chorus (S.A.T.B.) 4’

(1998)

poem by John Clare

The Cherry Tree Carol (2011)

Mezzo-soprano • Clarinet in B-flat • Percussion • Piano 23’

Chorus (S.A.T.B.) 4’

Six Morgenstern Songs Psalm 113

(1998)

poems by Christian Morgenstern

(2011) Chorus (S.A.T.B.) • harp 3’

Soprano • Mezzo-soprano • Baritone • Clarinet in Bb • Basset Horn • Bass Clarinet • Piano • Viola 14’

If Thou But Suffer God to Guide (2010)

Three Poems of Marianne Moore

Chorus (S.A.T.B.) • violin • organ 4’

(1995)

Mezzo-soprano • Flute 9’

The Coventry Carol (2010) Chorus (S.A.T.B.) • violin • organ 5’

Rückert-Lieder von Gustav Mahler

(1990)

Orchestrations for Mezzo-soprano and Chamber Orchestra

The Lord My Shepherd Is

Flute/Piccolo/Alto Flute • Oboe/English Horn • Clarinet in Bb • Clarinet in Bb/Bass Clarinet • Bassoon • Horn • Percussion • Harp • Celesta • Strings (1 • 1 • 1 • 1 • 1) 25’

(2004)

based upon an American spiritual Soprano solo • Chorus (S.A.T.B.) 4’

Shepherds, Shake Off Your Drowsy Sleep (2001) based upon a medieval Besançon carol melody

Three Songs for Mezzo-soprano and Piano

Four Pieces

Mezzo-soprano • Piano 11’

(2001)

Weihnachtslieder von Peter Cornelius

poems by William Carlos Williams

(1984)

Arrangements for Soprano and Chamber Ensemble

Chorus (S.A.T.B.) • Piano 14’

I’m Troubled

(1985)

poems by Theodore Roethke, Marianne Moore, and W. S. Merwin

Chorus (S.A.T.B.) 3’

Flute • Clarinet in Bb • Guitar • Violin • Viola • Cello 15’

(2002)

Three Poems of Amy Lowell

based upon an African–American spiritual

(1982)

Chorus (S.A.A.) • Piano 4’

Mezzo-soprano • Piano 13’

Lux Aeterna (2001) Chorus (S.A.T.B.) • Cello • Piano 7’

Orchestrations for Middle Voice and Chamber Orchestra

Liszt Lieder

Flute • Oboe • Clarinet in Bb • Bassoon • Trumpet in C • Horn • Piano • 2 Violins • Viola • Cello • Bass 6’

I Will Sing

(2000) Chorus (S.A.T.B.) 4’

The Burning Babe (1997) poem by Robert Southwell Chorus (S.A.T.B.) 5’

Light and Remembrance

(1982)

(1995/96)

Based upon 17th and 18th century spirituals Chorus (S.A.T.B.) • Harp • Piano • Percussion • Glass Crystals • Handbells • String Quartet 25’

BRAXTON

BLAKE MUSIC braxtonblake.com 1508 Longshore Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48105-1632 Tel/Fax (734) 332-9277