to a stranger for SATB double choir a cappella
Price Walden
Program note: I have always felt a kinship to the poetry of Walt Whitman, especially his poems about strangers. There is such a beauty and imagination there that I find irresistible. But when I originally tried to set one for this piece, nothing felt right. After much deliberation, I decided to take Whitman's frame and idea, but fill it with modern texts. I made two lists - one of phrases beginning with the words "I am", and one with the words "You are"- which serve as the text of the piece. I took phrases from the Internet, from Whitman's poetry, from friends, and some from myself. My idea was to take these little stories- some kind of funny, some heartbreaking, some simple, some deep- and to create a space for them to live side-by-side. I wanted to give voice to all the things we really wish we would say to one another.
"Stranger, if you passing meet me and desire to speak to me, why should you not speak to me? And why should I not speak to you?" -Walt Whitman
Performance notes: The piece was written for 8 solo voices, but more can be used, if you wish. The two choirs must be equal. The tempo should be very fluid throughout. Don't worry about strictness. It's more important that each of the phrases are allowed to breathe and move of their own accord. Don't be afraid to let the silences linger.
To a stranger Price Walden spacious qd = c 70
Soprano
Alto
Choir 1 Tenor
Bass
Soprano
Alto
Choir 2 Tenor
Bass
# 12 & # 8 Ó. # # 12 . & 8 Ó
œ œ Ó. œ. œ. œ. . .
Ó.
Ó. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ.
Ó.
You are
You are
beau - ti - ful
beau - ti - ful
œ œ Ó. œ. œ. œ. . .
Ó.
You are
good e - nough
œ. œ. œ. œ. œ.
You are
good e - nough
# 12 V # 8
? # # 12 8
# # 12 & 8
# 12 & # 8
# V # 12 8
? # # 12 8
Œ. ˙. I
Œ. ˙. I
© Price Walden 2015 All Rights Reserved
œ. am
œ.
am
To a stranger
4
6
S
A
T
B
S
# & # Ó. # & # Ó. V
##
? ##
œ œ œ œ œ Œ Ó.
œ œ œ œ œ Œ Ó.
You are my
You are my
A
T
B
sun - shine
you
œ. œ. œ. œ. œ œ ‰ ‰ Ó.
Œ. ˙.
##
œ. œ. œ. œ. œ œ ‰ ‰ Ó.
Œ.
I
w.
here
I
am
ha - ving
am
ha - ving
trou - ble
trou - ble
are
you
˙.
œ. œ.
you
you are
## w . & &
œ. œ. ˙.
sun - shine
here
œ. œ œ ‰ ‰ Ó.
I
am
˙.
so - rry
œ. œ œ
I
am
‰ ‰ Ó.
so - rry
# V #
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To a stranger
# & #
11
S
A
# & # œ. œ. ˙.
B
S
A
T
B
V
are
you
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## Π. &
you
œ. œ.
you
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you
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are
œ.
œ. œ.
you
you
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˙. you
you
are
are
you
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‰ ‰ Ó.
so - rry
œ. œ. œ.
œ œ
I
I
am
am
not
not
œ. œ. I
a
ha - ppy
are
you
˙.
œ.
œ.
are
you
you
are
œ. œ.
˙.
you
Ó.
not
you
œ. œ.
˙.
œ. œ. œ. œ.
˙.
œ. œ. ˙.
you
You
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are
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˙.
are
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Ó.
You
you
T
5
are
œ. œ. œ. œ.
not
Ó.
a
œ. I
ha - ppy
œ. am
so - rry
am
Ó.
œ. I
œ. am
To a stranger
6
# & # œ. œ. Ó.
Œ.
15
S
per - son
A
# & # œ. you
T
B
V
You
œ. ˙.
are
œ.
you
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you
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are
Œ.
per - son
S
## ˙ . &
œ. œ.
not
A
T
&
##
an
are
an
œ
go - ing too
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are
œ. Ó.
you
you
œ.
œ.
˙.
you
you
are
you
œ. œ œ
You
are
œ.
œ. Ó.
œ
go - ing too
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fast
˙. œ.
Œ.
œ. œ. ˙. are
œ. œ. ˙.
you
you
œ. œ. you
œ. Ó.
are
you
a - ddict
œ. œ. you
fast
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you
I
œ. œ. Ó.
are
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Œ.
a - ddict
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not
B
œ. œ œ
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œ.
˙. am
˙.
˙.
I
am
˙. I
˙. am
are
To a stranger
# . & # ˙
19
S
You
A
˙.
˙.
are
œ. œ. ˙.
you are you
T
B
V
you
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˙.
&
## ˙ .
œ
&
##
You
S
A
T
B
are
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˙.
you
you are
you
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œ. œ.
œ. œ œ œ. Ó. I am
œ. œ. ˙.
œ.
you are you
œ. œ. ˙. you are
Ó.
Œ.
you
œ. œ. ˙.
you are you
œ. œ. ˙. you are
you
œ. œ. you are
des - perate
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œ œ œ œ. œ. Ó.
? ## ˙ .
œ œ œ œ. œ. Ó.
strong
in - side
strong
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you are you
˙.
are
strong
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you are you
œ. œ. you
œ.
in - side
# & # œ. œ. ˙. ## ˙ .
œ.
7
I am
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des - perate
des - perate
˙.
˙.
I
am
˙.
˙.
I
am
˙.
˙.
I
am
To a stranger
8
# & #
24
S
A
# & # œ. œ. ˙.
B
S
A
T
V
## ˙ . you
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you are you
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&
##
&
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you
Ó.
Ó.
you are
you
You are
You are
You are
You are
not so smart
You are
˙.
˙.
I
am
pre
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am
pre
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˙.
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I
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I
am
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young
re - spon - si - ble
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Ó.
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re - spon - si - ble
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not so smart
˙.
œ œ
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young
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not so smart
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You are
œ. œ. œ œ œ Ó.
˙.
are
Œ
not so smart
Ó.
œ. œ.
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you
young
B
œ. œ.
You are
you are you
T
Ó.
˙. -
tty
-
˙.
tty
˙. -
tty
˙. -
tty
To a stranger
# & # œ œ ‰ ‰ Ó.
Ó.
# & # œ œ ‰ ‰ Ó.
Ó.
## œ œ ‰ ‰ Ó . V
Ó.
œ ? ## œ ‰ ‰ Ó.
Ó.
29
S
preg - nant
A
T
S
A
T
&
##
&
##
Œ.
You are get - ting
sure
w.
˙.
Ó.
# w. V #
˙.
Ó.
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˙.
old
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Œ.
˙.
lied to
lied to
œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ.
You are be - ing
I
Ó.
You are be - ing
old
Ó.
˙.
sure
old
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sure
B
lied to
œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. Œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. Ó.
w.
sure
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Œ.
You are get - ting
preg - nant
old
Œ.
œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. Œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. Ó.
You are get - ting
preg - nant
B
œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. Œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. Ó. You are get - ting
preg - nant
9
˙.
am
Œ.
lied to
˙.
˙. I
am
˙.
˙.
I
w.
w.
I
I
Ó.
am
To a stranger
10
# & #
# & #
##
? ##
œ. Œ. Œ œ œ
œ œ ‰ ‰ œ. œ. œ. œ.
33
S
A
T
B
S
A
T
V
&
##
&
##
˙.
I
am
go
˙.
˙.
am
˙.
go
˙.
˙.
am
go
˙.
˙.
am
go
I
# ˙. V # I
B
˙.
˙.
? ## ˙ . I
œ. œ. -
-
ing
to
œ. œ.
ing
to
œ. œ. -
-
ing
to
œ. œ.
ing
to
die
I
am
œ. Œ. Œ œ œ
die
I
am
œ. Œ. Œ œ œ die
œ.
die
I
Œ. Œ
am
œ œ I
am
lone - ly
I
am be - ing
œ œ ‰ ‰ œ. œ. œ. œ.
lone - ly
I
am be - ing
œ œ ‰ ‰ œ. œ. œ. œ. lone - ly
œ œ
lone - ly
‰ ‰
I
am be - ing
I
am be - ing
œ. œ. œ. œ.
To a stranger
# & #
# & #
##
? ##
Œ.
œ. œ. Ó.
Œ.
# œ. œ. . Ó V #
Œ.
Œ.
37
S
A
T
B
S
11
V
Ó.
Ó.
Ó.
œ. œ.
œ. œ. œ.
You
## œ . œ . Ó . &
Ó.
not a - lone
You
Ó.
œ. œ. œ. Ó.
œ. œ. are
are
not a - lone
œ. œ. Ó.
œ. œ.
bro - ken
œ. œ.
œ. œ.
You
You
are
are
Ó.
bro - ken
care - ful
A
T
&
##
care - ful
care - ful
B
? ##
œ. œ.
care - ful
Ó.
To a stranger
12
# & # Ó.
42
S
A
T
B
S
A
T
B
# & # Ó. ## Ó . V
œ œ œ Ó.
Ó.
Ó.
Ó.
œ œ œ
You are my
des - ti - ny
œ œ œ
œ œ œ
You are my
œ œ œ You are my
You
des - ti - ny
œ œ œ Ó.
œ. œ. œ. œ.
You
Ó.
des - ti - ny
are
are
œ. œ. You
are
œ. œ.
œ. œ. Ó.
˙.
You
are
me
˙.
You
˙.
are
œ. œ. Ó.
˙.
˙.
You
are
You
are
not
me
Ó.
œ. œ.
not
not
me
œ. œ. Ó.
˙.
˙.
˙.
? ##
&
##
&
##
# V #
? ##
Ó.
You
are
not
me
To a stranger
# & # œ. Ó.
Œ.
# & # œ. Ó.
Œ.
## œ . Ó . V
Œ.
? ## œ . Ó .
Œ.
47
S
strong
A
strong
T
strong
B
strong
S
## ˙ . & I
A
T
&
##
˙. I
# V # ˙. I
B
? ## ˙ . I
œ. Ó.
Œ.
Ó.
Œ.
˙.
You
˙.
are
fat
˙.
You
˙.
are
œ.
fat
˙.
˙.
œ. Ó.
You
are
fat
˙.
You
˙.
are
13
œ.
Ó.
Œ. Œ.
fat
œ. Ó.
Œ.
Ó.
Œ.
œ. Ó.
Œ.
˙.
You
˙.
are
drunk
˙.
You
˙.
are
œ.
˙.
˙.
You
are
˙.
You
˙.
are
drunk
drunk
œ.
œ œ ‰ ‰ Ó.
œ œ œ ˙
am
wo - man
I am the o - ther
˙. am
œ œ ‰ ‰ Ó.
wo - man
œ œ œ ˙
œ œ œ ‰ ‰ Ó.
˙
˙. am
œ œ ‰ ‰ Ó.
wo - man
œ œ œ ˙
œ œ œ ‰ ‰ Ó.
˙
˙.
œ œ
œ œ œ ˙
œ œ œ
˙
am
wo - man
‰ ‰ Ó.
I am the o - ther
I am the o - ther
I am the o - ther
wo - man
wo - man
wo - man
wo - man
‰ ‰ Ó.
Œ.
drunk
˙.
œ œ œ ‰ ‰ Ó.
Ó.
˙
œ ˙
œ
I
am fun
at
œ ˙
œ
am fun
at
œ ˙
œ
I
am fun
at
I
am fun
at
I
œ ˙
œ
To a stranger
14
52
S
A
T
B
S
A
&
##
˙.
You
are
# & # ˙.
You
˙.
are
## ˙ .
˙.
You
are
V
? ##
˙.
You
˙.
˙.
are
Ó. œ.
Œ.
œ. Ó.
Œ.
You
˙
there
œ.
You
Ó.
Œ.
˙
there
You
I
am mo - ving back
## œ ‰ ‰ Ó . & œ
˙
# V # œ œ ‰ ‰ Ó.
˙
œ œ
˙
par - ties
˙
You
par - ties
‰ ‰ Ó.
there
œ ˙
? ##
˙
there
˙
par - ties
B
Œ.
## œ œ ‰ ‰ Ó . &
par - ties
T
œ. Ó.
I
I
I
œ ˙
œ œ. Ó. -
œ œ. Ó.
am mo - ving back
œ ˙
œ œ. Ó.
am mo - ving back
œ ˙
œ œ.
am mo - ving back
Œ. Œ. -
-
Ó. -
are go - ing to
for this
hell
œ œ œ œ ˙ are go - ing to
hell
œ œ œ œ ˙ are go - ing to
hell
œ œ œ œ ˙
are go - ing to
hell
œ œ. Œ.
for this
œ œ. Œ.
for this
œ œ.
Œ.
for this
œ œ œ œ ˙
œ œ. Œ.
I
am go - ing to
for this
˙ ˙ I
Œ.
œ œ. Œ.
˙
I
Œ.
œ œ œ œ ˙
˙ I
hell
œ œ œ œ ˙ am go - ing to
hell
œ œ œ œ ˙ am go - ing to
hell
œ œ œ œ ˙
am go - ing to
hell
œ œ. Œ.
for this
œ œ. Œ.
for this
œ œ.
for this
Œ.
To a stranger
# & #
# & #
##
˙.
˙.
œ œ œ œ œ œ
You
are
in an
57
S
A
T
B
S
A
T
B
15
V
? ##
## Ó . &
Œ œ œ
## Ó . &
Œ œ œ
# V # Ó.
Œ œ œ
? ## Ó .
Ó.
I am
I am
I am
Œ
œ œ
œ. Ó.
in an
œ ˙.
a - bu - sive re - la - tion - ship
œ. œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ
You are
˙ ˙
œ ˙.
a - bu - sive re - la - tion - ship
Œ.
Œ.
Œ.
scared
œ. Ó. scared
œ. Ó. scared
œ.
I am scared
Ó.
Œ.
˙.
˙.
I
am
Ó.
œ. œ. I
am
To a stranger
16
# & #
# & #
##
? ##
&
##
&
##
62
S
A
T
B
S
A
T
V
Ó.
œ. œ.
You
Ó.
˙.
˙. I
˙.
am
I
w.
? ## ˙ . not
˙
œ
am
w.
I
# ˙. V #
˙.
I
˙.
am
w.
I
œ. Ó.
˙.
are
œ. œ. You
not
B
are
œ œ œ ˙
not near - ly scared
œ œ œ ˙ not near - ly scared
˙.
˙. I
am
w.
I
I
Œ.
Œ.
ta - king sides
˙
œ
œ.
ta - king sides
Ó.
œ
e -
œ e -
To a stranger
# & # œ. Ó.
Œ.
67
S
17
Ó.
nough
A
T
B
You
# & #
##
V
œ. œ.
Ó.
œ. œ.
You
? ## œ . Ó .
Œ.
nough
S
A
T
B
&
##
&
##
˙. I
˙.
˙.
˙.
am
I
w. I
˙.
am
I
w. I
w.
œ. œ. œ. œ. œ œ œ
œ. Ó.
œ. œ.
? ## Ó .
œ. œ.
œ. œ. œ. œ. œ œ œ
I
in
am
am
in
˙.
am
I
a
a
bet - ter place than
bet - ter place than
I
I
˙.
am
w.
I
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I
˙.
I
Œ.
Œ.
was
œ. Ó. was
are
are
To a stranger
18
# & # œ œ œ Ó.
Ó.
# & # œ œ œ Ó.
Ó.
71
S
suf - fer - ing
A
You
suf - fer - ing
T
B
S
A
T
B
V
##
&
##
&
##
Ó.
˙.
am
w.
˙. I
˙.
am
w.
I
Œ.
Ó.
Œ.
sad
a - bout be - ing
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ.
sad
a - bout be - ing
a - lone
are
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. Ó. sad
˙. I
a - bout be - ing
˙.
am
w.
I
a - lone
œ. œ. You
I
are
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˙.
are
œ. œ.
You
? ##
œ. œ.
Œ.
a - lone
˙. I
˙.
am
w.
I
˙. I
˙.
am
w.
I
I
# V #
? ##
To a stranger
# & #
# & #
##
? ##
&
##
&
##
76
S
A
T
B
S
A
T
V
# V # ˙. I
B
19
? ## ˙ . I
˙.
am
˙. am
˙. I
œ.
am
œ.
œ œ ‰ ‰ Ó.
˙. I
œ.
am
œ.
œ œ ‰ ‰ Ó.
˙.
œ.
œ.
I
am
a
brea - thing
brea - thing
a
a
-
-
-
Ó.
Œ.
œ.
Ó.
Œ.
œ.
Ó.
Œ.
œ.
shamed
shamed
shamed
To a stranger
20
# & #
# & #
##
? ##
80
S
A
T
B
S
V
## œ œ œ ˙ . & I
A
T
&
##
the new
œ œ œ ˙. I
am
the new
# œ œ œ ˙. V # I
B
am
am
the new
˙. ? ## œ œ œ I
am
the new
œ. œ. ‰. œ. ˙ J
œ
œ. œ. œ.
to
know a - bout
j œ. œ. ‰. œ . ˙
œ
per - son
per - son
you have
you have
œ. œ. ‰. œ. ˙ J
per - son
you have
œ. œ. œ. ˙ ‰. J
per - son
you have
Ó.
Ó.
to
œ. œ. œ.
know a - bout
œ
œ. œ. œ.
Ó.
to
know a - bout
Ó.
œ
œ. œ. œ.
to
know a - bout