RNY 1339 - David Lang - Protect yourself from infection

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david lang

protect yourself from infection

re Co d py by rig U ht ni b ve y rs Re al d M Po us p ic py Pu M bl us is ic hi ng C

for choir with vocal soloists

from a 1918 pamphlet from the United States Department of Health

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plus various names to be remembered

la ss ic al re Co d py by rig U ht ni b ve y rs Re al d M Po us p ic py Pu M bl us is ic hi ng C te is in ad m

© 2020 by Red Poppy (ASCAP) Administered worldwide by Universal Music Corp. (ASCAP) International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved.

RNY 1339 ISMN 979-0-041-61339-0 Warning : Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited by Federal law, and subject to criminal prosecution.

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protect yourself from infection is made of two parts that are meant to run concurrently – a hymn-like ensemble part and a series of independent solos. The music was originally written to accompany a parade, in which a group of singers sang together as an ensemble, with individual solos emerging from the group to sing melodies made from the names of people who died in the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic, and the names of some of the health care workers who cared for them.

re Co d py by rig U ht ni b ve y rs Re al d M Po us p ic py Pu M bl us is ic hi ng C

The hymn is meant to be sung straight through, and may then be repeated, if desired. The solos are divided up among all the singers and are sung independently, uncoordinated with the hymn.

The order of events – starting or ending with the hymn, starting or ending with the solos, the amount of time they happen together or separately, the length of the performance, etc., should be dictated by the needs of each performance.

The overall effect is of one fixed element – the hymn - that is confronted and embellished and challenged and decorated by the freedom and independence of the solos. More specific instructions on the solos may be found on the first pages of the music.

If this music is being used in some other setting than a parade it is imagined that staging, lighting or movement may be useful in heightening the sense of independence of the solos.

Although the original purpose of the parade was to honor the names of people who died or who cared for the sick during the Spanish Flu epidemic the solos may be adjusted to honor people associated with more recent outbreaks or illnesses. The hymn text, taken from a 1918 pamphlet from the United States Department of Health, still offers good advice today, so it needs no updating.

The duration is variable. program note

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I was asked to contribute some music to the Mütter Museum's exhibition in honor of the centennial year of an infamous parade that took place in Philadelphia during the great Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918 / 1919. The parade was infamous because it was held in spite of the medical advice that people needed to isolate themselves, and because of this it became a major local vector for the spread of the disease. Completely coincidentally, I am named after a relative of blessed memory who died in that epidemic. Jews often name their children with the initials of relatives who have died - I am David Avery Lang, named after my father's cousin, Daniel Abraham Leibowitz. My Leibowitz ancestors had only fairly recently arrived in America from Lithuania. Young Daniel Abraham turned 18 and enlisted in the army, and was sent to boot camp in Georgia, where he got sick and died. He meant a lot to the family, because he was living proof of the deep and real commitment of the new immigrants to the United States. His enlistment meant that they would belong here, and his death rattled them all so much that they were still mourning him when I was born, 38 years later.

For my piece I wrote two kinds of music that coexist, separately. There is a kind of musical motto, sung by The Crossing and conducted by Donald Nally, which I made out of a health manual that the United States put out at the time of the epidemic, called 'Protect Yourself from Infection.' Over this motto, individual singers of The Crossing take turns singing solo melodies that I made out of both the individual names of Philadelphians who died from the epidemic and the individual names of Philadelphians who worked in healthcare during the epidemic, caring for the sick.

protect yourself from infection

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text – from a 1918 pamphlet from the United States Department of Health

re Co d py by rig U ht ni b ve y rs Re al d M Po us p ic py Pu M bl us is ic hi ng C

Protect yourself from infection Keep well and don’t get hysterical Avoid being sprayed by the nose and throat secretions of others Beware of those who are coughing or sneezing Avoid crowded streetcars Walk to the office if possible Keep out of crowds Avoid theaters, moving picture shows and other places of public assembly Do not travel by railroad unless absolutely necessary Do not drink from glasses or cups which have been used by others Unless you are sure they have been thoroughly cleansed You can do much to lessen the danger to yourself By keeping in good physical condition Avoid close, stuffy and poorly ventilated rooms Insist upon fresh air but avoid disagreeable drafts Eat simple, nourishing food and drink plenty of water Secure at least seven hours of sleep Avoid physical fatigue Do not sleep or sit around in damp clothing Keep the feet dry

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If you become ill don’t try to keep on with your work Fight the disease rationally and do not become unduly alarmed

protect yourself from infection solos - names to be remembered intone each line, independently, on one of the given pitches choose one of these tune templates, adjusting it to each name emerge from the ensemble at will

music by David Lang words from a 1918 US government document

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re Co d py by rig U ht ni b ve y rs Re al d M Po us p ic py Pu M bl us is ic hi ng C

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RNY 1339

RNY 1339

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re Co d py by rig U ht ni b ve y rs Re al d M Po us p ic py Pu M bl us is ic hi ng C

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protect yourself from infection hymn intone each line, together, on one of the given pitches sing naturally, calmly, in a spoken rhythm leave plenty of space between lines

music by David Lang words from a 1918 US government document

protect yourself from infection

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#ww “l=================================== & =l “l l ww “Ll=================================== ? =l keep well and don't get hysterical

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re Co d py by rig U ht ni b ve y rs Re al d M Po us p ic py Pu M bl us is ic hi ng C

#ww “l=================================== & =l “l l ww L“l=================================== ? =l avoid being sprayed by the nose and throat secretions of others

nwww “l=================================== & =l “l l ww “Ll=================================== ? =l 3

“l=================================== & =l ww “l l ww “Ll=================================== ? =l 4

beware of those who are coughing and sneezing

avoid crowded streetcars

#ww “l=================================== & =l “l l ww “Ll=================================== ? =l

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walk to the office, if possible

#ww “l=================================== & =l “l l ww L“l=================================== ? =l 6

RNY 1339

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keep out of crowds

nwww “l=================================== & =l “l l ww L“l=================================== ? =l avoid theaters, moving-picture shows and other places of public assembly

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re Co d py by rig U ht ni b ve y rs Re al d M Po us p ic py Pu M bl us is ic hi ng C

“l=================================== & =l ww “l l ww “Ll=================================== ? =l 8

#ww “l=================================== & =l “l l ww L“l=================================== ? =l 9

do not travel by railroad unless absolutely necessary

nww “l=================================== & =l _ww “l l “Ll=================================== ? =l 10

do not drink from glasses or cups which have been used by others

unless you are sure they have been thoroughly cleansed

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ww “l=================================== & =l “l l ww “Ll=================================== ? =l 12

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you can do much to lessen the danger to yourself

protect yourself from infection - hymn RNY 1339

by keeping in good physical condition

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avoid close, stuffy and poorly ventilated rooms

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“l=================================== & ww =l “l l w w L“l=================================== ? =l 14

re Co d py by rig U ht ni b ve y rs Re al d M Po us p ic py Pu M bl us is ic hi ng C

ww “l=================================== & =l “l l ww “Ll=================================== ? =l insist upon fresh air but avoid disagreeable drafts

“l=================================== & =l ww “l l w w L“l=================================== ? =l 15

eat simple nourishing food and drink plenty of water

“l=================================== & =l _ww “l l ww “Ll=================================== ? =l 16

secure at least seven hours of sleep

“l=================================== & =l _ww “l l w bw L“l=================================== ? =l

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avoid physical fatigue

“l=================================== & =l _ww “l l w bw “Ll=================================== ? =l 18

protect yourself from infection - hymn RNY 1339

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do not sleep or sit around in damp clothing

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“l=================================== & =l _www “l l w w L“l=================================== ? =l keep the feet dry

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re Co d py by rig U ht ni b ve y rs Re al d M Po us p ic py Pu M bl us is ic hi ng C

ww “l=================================== & =l “l l w “Ll=================================== ? w =l if you become ill #ww “l=================================== & =l “l l ww L“l=================================== ? =l 21

if you become ill

nwww “l=================================== & =l “l l ww “Ll=================================== ? =l 22

if you become ill don't try to keep on with your work

“l=================================== & =l ww “l l ww L“l=================================== ? =l

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fight the disease rationally and do not become unduly alarmed #ww “l=================================== & =l “l l ww “Ll=================================== ? =l 24

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protect yourself from infection - hymn RNY 1339

nwww “l=================================== & =l “l l ww L“l=================================== ? =l if you become ill

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if you become ill “l=================================== & =l ww “l l ww “Ll=================================== ? =l

re Co d py by rig U ht ni b ve y rs Re al d M Po us p ic py Pu M bl us is ic hi ng C

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#ww “l=================================== & =l “l l ww L“l=================================== ? =l 27

if you become ill don't try to keep on with your work

#ww “l=================================== & =” “l ” ww “Ll=================================== ? =”

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fight the disease rationally and do not become unduly alarmed

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protect yourself from infection - hymn RNY 1339

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re Co d py by rig U ht ni b ve y rs Re al d M Po us p ic py Pu M bl us is ic hi ng C

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