Mason Bates "Sirens" for SATB by Ricordi

Sirens

for satb a cappella chorus (originally for 12-part a cappella chorus)

score

Warning: Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited by Federal law, and subject to criminal prosecution.

SIRENS

commissioned by Chanticleer, San Francisco, CA in 2008

SATB version commissioned by Young People’s Chorus of New York City • Francsico Núñez, music director

The commissioning and production of this work is made possible by The Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation, and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Emerging Composers 2007 initiative

I. from The Odyssey (Book XII) p. 1

ΙΙ. Die Lorelei (Heinrich Heine) p. 10

III. “Stelle, vostra mercè l’eccelse sfere” (Pietro Aretino) p. 20

IV. “Sirinu nuqa rikuni a” (native Quechua) p. 27

V. from The Book of Matthew p. 42

VI. from The Odyssey (Book XII) p. 56

PROGRAM NOTES

The sirens, those mythical beings of the island of Circe, occupy a unique place in literature. Unlike other temptresses, their lure is art, a song of such overpowering beauty that it draws sailors to a rocky death. In contemplating a large work for Chanticleer, I imagined alluring and haunting music that would fully explore their special gifts.

Perhaps one thinks of lyrical, melodic music coming from sirens, but this cycle casts a wide net in exploring seduction music. For example, the hypnotic and pulsing can also entrance, and this is the music that floats across the ocean to Odysseus in the work’s beginning and end. The shattered Greek words from Book XII of the Odyssey weave an intricate, bewitching mosaic. The rhythms soften in a central, lyrical section marked by melting portamento, but the eerie tapestry of rhythms returns in the end, with Odysseus’s fractured name floating distantly away. This is followed by the simpler and more direct retelling of the famed Lorelei, a 19 th Century German tale about a siren singing atop a riverside rock. The strophic form of Heine’s poem is reflected in the music, which nods to his century’s musical conventions, but the piece dissolves into a trance at the mention of her “strange, powerful melody.” As the melancholic narrator tells us, both fisher and boat are never seen again.

But sirens do not always involve danger, and in fact sometimes they are personified as pure, heavenly beings emanating harmonious music. Pietro Aretino’s 16th-Century sonnet, a love poem in one breath, pays homage to the stars (“Stelle”), who are each blessed with a lovely siren atop them. This celestial setting gives way, in the central piece of the cycle, to the earthy and rich world of the indigenous South American people. The Quechua Indians associated sirens (“Sirinu”) with equal parts mystery, temptation, and magic. Sitting in a rainy hollow, our sleepy narrator tells of the sudden appearance of a beguiling, singing siren of indefinite color. The dreamy music of the opening soon turns into a bluesy, ritualistic dance when the siren begins its song. But even when the siren disappears, the half-asleep narrator still cannot rid his mind of its strange song.

The cycle goes furthest afield, at least on the dramatic level, in the inclusion of Christ’s calling of the first disciples from the Book of Matthew. Fishing on the Sea of Galilee, Peter and Andrew are approached by Christ, who offers perhaps the most intriguing (and haunting) line in history: “Come, follow me, and I will teach you to be fishers of men.” The meditative, highly static music of the fishermen breaks from its confines when Jesus speaks.

Many thanks to Joseph Jennings and Chanticleer, who navigate a linguistic minefield of five languages in bringing this to life. In addition, poet Ron Smith deserves very special thanks. My high school literary mentor, he suggested that I take my starting text (the fisherman of souls passage) and apply it to siren imagery, and I am thankful his teaching still pays great dividends. For pronunciation help, many thanks to Yiorgos Vassilandonakis, Filipo Andrei, Katra Byram, and especially to Zoila Mendoza, who very generously walked me through the nuances of Quechua.

I. from The Odyssey, Book XII (Homer)

Οδυσεν

Odysseus… Otisef…

νηα καταστησου , ιυα νωιτερηυ οπ ακουσης.

Bring in your ship, listen to our voices. Nia katastison, ina noiterin opakousis.

ου γαρ πω τις τηδε παρηλασε υηι µελαιυη,

For none has ever passed in a black ship ou gar po tis tithe parilase nii meleni,

πριυ γ ηµεωυ µελιγηρυν απο

After hearing from our honey-dripping lips prin yi’meon meligirin apo στοµατων οπ ακουσαι, this ecstatic song, stomaton op akouse,

αλλ ο γε τερψαµενος υειται και

Then went his way rejoicing al o ye terpsamenos nite ky πλειονα ειδως. with larger knowledge. e pliona ithos.

Δεϑρ ’ αγ ιων , πολυαιυ Οδυσεν,

Come, Odysseus, whom all praise, Thevr’ayion polien Otisef,

µεγα κυδος Αχαιωυ! great glory of the Achaians! mega kithos Aheon.

II. Die Lorelei (Heinrich Heine)

Ich weiß nicht, was soll es bedeuten,

I don’t know what it could mean Daß ich so traurig bin; That I am so sad; Ein Märchen aus alten Zeiten, There’s a tale from old times Das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn.

Die Luft ist kühl, und es dunkelt,

That I can’t get out of my mind.

The air is cool and dusk settles, Un ruhig fließt der Rhein; And the Rhine flows quietly by. Der Gipfel des Berges funkelt The top of the mountain glitters In Abendsonnenschein. In the evening sunshine.

Die schönste Jungfrau sitzet

The most beautiful girl sits Dort oben wunderbar, Up high, wondrous to tell. Ihr goldenes Geschmeide blitzet, Her golden jewelry sparkles Sie kämmt ihr goldenes Haar. As she combs her golden hair.

Sie kämmt es mit goldenem Kamme

She combs it with a golden comb Und singt ein Lied dabei; And sings a song Das hat eine wundersame, Which has a peculiar, Gewaltige Melodei. Powerful melody.

Den Schiffer im kleinen Schiffe

The boatman in his craft Ergreift es mit wildem Weh; Is moved by this to great woe; Er schaut nicht die Felsenriffe, He looks not to the rock shoals below, Er schaut nur hinauf in die Höh'.

He looks only to the rocks above.

Ich glaube, die Wellen verschlingen

If I’m not mistaken, the waters Am Ende Schiffer uns Kahn;

Finally swallowed up fisher and boat; Und das hat mit ihrem Singen

The Lorelei did this.

And with her singing Die Lorelei getan.

III. “Stelle, vostra mercè l’eccelse sfere” (Pietro Aretino

)

Stelle, vostra mercè l’eccelse sfere

Stars, thanks to you the lofty spheres, Dette del Ciel Sirene hanno concesso

Called the heavenly Sirens, A lei non solo in belle note altere,

Not only granted their name itself

Come titol gradito, il nome istesso,

As a lovely title, they even imprinted Ma de le lor perfette armonie vere

The sound of their perfect harmonies Con suprema dolcezza il suono impresso

With sublime sweetness N e le sue chiare e nette voci: ond’ella

On her clear voice, so that she speaks Quasi in lingua de gli Angioli favella.

Almost in the language of angels.

IV. “Sirinu nuqa rikuni a” (native Quechua)

Sirinu nuqa rikuni a.

Yes, I saw the siren. Ajina parapi chuqurkuspa. Just like that, as I was sitting in the rain Ajina punuyta chuturqurikasqani. as though day-dreaming. Chaymanta wuuu… wu… miiii. And then: wuuu… wu… miii… Waynu junt’ arkurimushasqa, chay mirkata. it came, completely filling the hollow. Libristuta! Honestly!

Challtikujina rikuq kani,

As an indefinite color I saw them, challku kay kinray kay, on that slope, an indeterminate color. kinray challkujina.

Chay Lurin arqinan, chaypi,

There by Lorenzo’s llama in a cave I sat, kuywapi parapi chukusaq kani, while it was raining, chaypi jinapi punuyta chutushasqani, as though carried off by sleep, punuta chutushaqtirqa wuu … wu … aaaata, day-dreaming … wuu … wu … aaaata, pinkillus “uj.” the pinkillu flutes sounded ‘uj.’

Chay mirkamantaq sunarqamun kampaq,

From that hollow it sounded karnawalqa. during Carnival.

V. from The Book of Matthew

The Calling of the First Disciples (Matthew 18)

Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee. He saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

At once they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 13:47)

The kingdom of heaven is like a net, which was put into the sea and took in every sort of fish.

VI. from The Odyssey (Book XII) (Homer)

Οδυσεν…

Odysseus… Otisef…

Bring in your ship, listen to our voices. Nia katastison, ina noiterin opakousis.

For we know that on the plain of Troy Ithmen gar ti panthos eni Trii evrii

Argives & Trojans suffered at gods’ behest. Argii Troes te theon iotiti mogisan.

We know whatever may befall Ithmen th’osa genite

upon the bounteous Earth. epithoni poulivotiri.

, Come, Odysseus, whom all praise, Thevr’ayion polien Otisef,

great glory of the Achaians! mega kithos Aheon.

I.From The Oddessy (Book XII)

II. Die Lorelei

Daßichsotraurig -

Sinn.

Die p Luftist kühl, mp undesdun kelt, - Und

A p bend - son - nen - schein, - Abend - son - nen - schein. Die A p bend - son - nen, - Abend - son- nen - schein, Die A p bend - son - nen - schein, - Die

schönste - Jungfrau - sitzet - Dortoben - wunder - bar, mp - Ihrgol mf den- es- Geschmeid - e- blitzet, - Sie

schönste - Jungfrau - sitzet - Dortoben - wunder - bar, mp - Ihr mp gol mf den- es- Geschmeid - e- blitzet, - Sie

p ihrgold'nes, - Haar, kämmt ihrgold' nes, - kämmtihrgold'nesHaar, p

kämmt p ihrgold'nes, - Haar, kämmtihrgold'nes - Haar. p kämmt p ihr gold'nes, - kämmtihrgold'nes Haar.

kämmt p ihrgold'nes, - Haar, Sie

Lied, Lied, Lied, Melo- -

Lied, Lied, Lied, Melo--

dei, Melo-dei,-Melo-dei,-Melo-dei,-Melo-dei,-Melodei,

-Melo-dei,-Melo-dei,-Melo- dei,-Melo--

dei,Melo-dei,-Melo-dei,-Melo-dei,-Melo-dei,-Melodei,

-Melo-dei,-Melo-dei,-Melo-dei,-Melo-

q = 88 64

Den p Schiffer-im kleinen- Schiffe-Ergreift-esmitwildem-Weh;Er schaut mf nichtdieFelsen--

Den p Schiffer-im kleinen- Schiffe-Ergreift-esmitwildem-Weh;Er schaut

nichtdieFelsen--

Den p Schiffer-im kleinen- Schiffe-Ergreift-esmitwildem-Weh;Er schaut mf nichtdieFelsen--

rif fe, p -Erschautnurhinauf-indie Höh,hinauf-indie Höh,hinauf-indie Höh.'

rif fe, p -Erschautnurhinauf-indie Höh, hinauf-indie Höh.' rif fe, p -Erschautnurhinauf-indie,hinauf-indie Höh,hinauf-indie Höh.'

rif fe, p -Erschautnurhinauf-indieHöh'.

mp simple, almost conversational glaube,-dieWellen-verscling-en-AmEnde-Schiffer-unsKahn;Und

III. "Stelle, Vostra Mercé"

Stelle, -

Stel p le, - stelle, - stelle,stelle, stel - stel le, - stel - le, - stelle,stelle, stellestelle,-

Stel p le, - stelle, - stelle, - stelle, stel - stel le-stel le,-stelle,- stel stel le, - stel le, -

IV. "Sirinu Nuqa Rikuni A"

Chant S. A. T. B. Shk. Cha p sempre y - Lurin - arqi - ñan, - kuywa - pipara - pi - chiku - saq- ka - ni, -

ri mf nu - nu mf qa - riku - ni - a. Aji p na

puñuy - tachutu - shaq - tir- qa. Chay - Lurin - arquiñan - kuywa - pi,

S. A. T. B. Shk.

ta,para - pi, - (si—) rinu, - Ajina, - Ajina,parapi, -

ta,para - pi, - (si—) rinu, - Ajina, - Ajina,parapi, - chuqur - kus - pa,tapara - pi, - Si...Ajina,

& quieter...

(chutu - saq- tir- qa...) - (chutu - saq- tir- qa...) - (chutu - saq- tir- qa...) -

chay mp manta: - "wu, f wu, "wu," "wu," "wu," "wu," "wu," "wu," ppp "wu, wu, "wu," "wu," "wu," "wu," "wu," "wu," ppp "wu,

stage whisper: p

!om The Book of Matthew

Simon,- andhisbrother,-Andrew.- Theywere

andhisbrother,-Andrew.-

me," "Come, followme, follow

come, come, follow,-follow,-follow,-follow-me,follow,-follow,-follow-follow-me, Come, follow-me,Come, Come, fol Come, low,-follow,-follow,fol

me, and

come, and

I willmakeyouﬁshers-of follow,-follow,-follow,-me and

I willmakeyouﬁshers-of me, Come." follow,-follow,-follow,-fol low-meand

men, ff ﬁshersofmen, ﬁshersofmen, decresc.

men, ff fishersofmen, fishersofmen, decresc. men, ff fishersofmen, fishersofmen, fishersof men, ff fishersofmen, fishersofmen, fishersof

men,men, of

men. The mp kingdom-of

men,men, of decresc. men. The mp kingdom-of men. decresc. The mp kingdom-ofheav'nislikeanet. men. decresc. The mp kingdom-ofheav'nislikeanet.

heav'nislikeanet. Thekingdom-ofheav'nis

(sop. 2) ∑ & bbbbbb & ‹ bbbbbb ? bbbbbb ? bbbbbb & bbbbbb (sop. 1) (unis.) & bbbbbb &

heav'nislikeanet. Thekingdom-ofheav'nislikeanet.

Thekingdom-ofheav'nislikeanet.

poco cresc. & bbbbbb

Thekingdom-ofheav'nislikeanet. Thekingdom-ofheav'nis

Theking dom-ofheav'nis like like poco cresc. a a net. net. The 77

likeanet,

Thekingdom-ofheav'nislike poco cresc. anet. The likeanet. The poco cresc. kingdom-ofheav'nislikeanet. The poco cresc. kingdom-ofheav'nislikeanet.

? bbbbbb

kingdom-ofheav'nislikeanet. which cresc. wasputintheseaandtookin

Thekingdom-ofheav'nislikeanet.

(L)oo (L)oo

ev f 'ry-sortoffish,ev'ry-sortoffish,ev'ry-sortoffish,whichtook in ev'ry-sortoffish, e = e

ev f 'ry-sortoffish,ev'ry-sortoffish,ev'ry-sortoffish,whichtook in ev'ry-sortoffish,

Ev f 'ry-fish,Ev'ry-fish,Ev'ry-fish,tookinev'ry-fish,

S. A.

ev'ry-sortofﬁsh,whichwasputinto-theseaandtookinev'ry-sortofﬁsh,

ev'ry-sortoffish,whichwasputinto-theseaandtookinev'ry-sortoffish, ev'ry- fish, ev'ry- fish, ev'ry- fish, ev'ry- fish, ev'ry- fish, ev'ry- fish, (L)oo

ev'ry-sortofﬁsh,whichwasputinto-theseaandtookinev decresc. 'ry-sortofﬁsh,

ev'ry-sortofﬁsh,whichwasputinto-theseaandtookinev decresc. 'ry-sortofﬁsh, ev decresc. 'ry-

'ry ev decresc. 'ry-

decresc.

ev'ry-sortofﬁsh."

And

Jesus-said: poco rit.

And

Jesus-said:

ev'ry-sort of ﬁsh.

Come,

follow-me,

Come,

follow-

Come, follow-me,follow,-follow,-follow,-follow-me,follow-me,"Come, mp followCome, "Fol mp low,-follow,-follow,-follow"Come,"Come, mp

ﬁshers-ofmen, decresc.

VI. Odyssey (Book XII

& bbbbb

Ní p a - ka tas mf - ti - son - ína - noi- tér mf - in p - opa - kou - sis - Oogar -

Ní p a - ka tas mf - ti - son -

Oogar -