Score
Ching-chu Hu
Snow Figure for soprano and mixed ensemble C Score(2009)
Ching-chu Hu
Snow Figure for soprano and mixed ensemble
text by David Baker soprano Flute Clarinet in Bb Piano Harp Violin I Violin II Viola Violoncello
Snow Figure 1.
____________________________________________
A humble night. Hush after hush. Are you
listening?
That’s what the snow says, crossing the ice.
And the blue creek out back—where my love and I
3.
came
A figure of speech is where desire forces a crisis, a
early one morning to remember nothing but blue
crossing—
one world and its weather suddenly brilliant with
and the muffled joy of a far night’s nothingness—
meaning.
the blue creek, teasing, wild beneath its ice,
My love and I came out early one morning to
says hush. Snow whiffs around on its glassine
forget
surface.
the humble one night when the snow fell over us
Why did we wish so hard to walk where it
deepens?
and we filled each other’s body with our own.
So the old snow burns crystal in the sun. So the
Why did we want to hold hands here?
ice
My love and I came to learn how to love
slipping the creek’s edges keeps teasing to be
the little that skates on the surface,
tried—
the nothing that flies, fast and fatal, beneath.
Trust me, it brags, black, thrilling, or empty.
2.
Why do we wish so hard to listen to what isn’t
I have put in a poem what has fallen from my life
here?
and what I would change. Are you here?
Here, the snow says, as if in response. My love
was here.
We left a slender pathway of tracks. It led
nowhere,
‐David Baker
if not to our bodies, and filled in our emptiness.
From After the Reunion (University of Arkansas
What I want most to say is what I never told her.
Press, 1994)
Don’t trust me. Trust me. How could I lie?
for Brave New Works
Snow Figure
Flute
Clarinet in Bb
Icy q=76
Harp
Soprano
mp
con sord. Violin I Icy q=76
Violin II
con sord.
Viola
con sord.
Violoncello
pp pp pp
mp 6
pp
Copyright © 2009 Sebtzi and Torena Music
pp
con sord.
6
3
mf
p
Piano
Ching-chu Hu text by David Baker
2
4
Fl.
Cl.
pp
Pno.
Hp.
S.
3
3
3
6
3
3
Vc.
Vla.
5
Vln. I Vln. II
5
pp
6
nat.
nat.
nat.
p
p
p
senza sord.
Fl.
6
Cl.
3
Pno.
Hp.
S.
Vla.
mp
3
senza sord.
3
p
3
5
mp
p
Vln. II
p
Vln. I
Vc.
3
mp
3
p
3
mp
3
senza sord.
3
4
Fl.
10
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
Vc.
3
p
p
Vla.
mp
A hum - ble
Vln. I
Vln. II
p
mp
p
senza sord.
p
p
5
A Fl.
14
Cl.
sparkling
Pno.
Hp.
S.
mp
night.
A Vln. I Vln. II
pp
5
Hush
p
Vla.
Vc.
af
-
ter
hush.
Are you
mf
lis - ten - ing?
mp
6
Fl. 18
p
Cl.
Pno.
Vln. I
mf
3
Vla.
Vc.
3
mf 3
snow
3
says,
That's what the
mp
p Vln. II
S.
5
Hp.
pp
p
p
p
p
7
Fl.
21
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
p
3
Ped as needed
5
cros
3
-
sing
the
3
Vln. I
Vc.
Vla.
Vln. II
ice.
And the
3
mf 3
B Fl. 24
p
Hp.
3
3
3
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
creek out
B Vln. I
mp
blue
S.
mp
Cl.
Pno.
8
mp
back
where my
mp
3
p
mp
mf
3
love and
I came
3
3
3
9
Fl.
27
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
6
3
p
mp
3 ear - ly
mp
3
3
one morn - ing
to re - mem - ber
no - thing but blue
Vln. I
pp
Vln. II
pp
Vla.
pp
Vc.
pp
3
10
Fl. 29
Cl. mp
Pno.
Hp.
S.
3
mf
mp
and the muf - fled
Vln. I
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
mp
mp
mp
of
mp
mp
mp
a far night's
joy
Fl. 32
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
no
-
thing
ness,
p
3
3
blue
3
creek
teas
-
ing,
the
Vla.
Vln. II
Vln. I
Vc.
11
3
mp
12
36
Fl.
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
3
6
3
3
wild
be - neath
3
mf
mf
Vc.
3
Vln. I
Vla.
Vln. II
mp
3
3
mf
mf
3
its ice,
says
gliss.
gliss.
gliissss.. gl
C
Fl. 39
13
p
Cl. 3
Pno.
mf
S.
Hp.
mp
3
hush.
C
Vln. I
p
Vln. II
p
Vla.
Vc.
p
p
14
43
Fl.
Cl.
Hp.
S.
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
Snow
whiffs
p
p
a - round
glas - sine
surface.
p
on its
p
Vln. I
mp
p
Pno.
3 3
Why did we wish so hard
mp
47
Fl.
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
Vln. II
3
mf
15
Vc.
deep - ens?
mp
Vla.
mp 5
to walk where it
Vln. I
3
Why did we hold
hands
3
here?
mp
3
mf
mf
mf
mf
51
Vla.
Vc.
f
My love and
I
Vln. II
D mf
mf
mf
mf
f
Vln. I
S.
Hp.
Pno.
Cl.
D
Fl.
16
came to learn how to
love
the lit - tle that skates on the
5
17
Fl.
54
Cl.
Pno.
S.
3
Vla.
the no - thing
Vln. I
Vc.
3
3
3
that flies,
mp
sur face,
p
Vln. II
p
mf
Hp.
3
mf
fast and fa - tal
be - neath.
3
18
Fl.
57
Cl.
Pno.
6
Hp.
3
66
3
3
mp
Vln. II
Vla.
S.
Vln. I
Vc.
mp
mp
E Fl. 61
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
19
Gently q.=68
mp
mp
I
Gently
E q.=68 pizz. Vln. I mp Vln. II
pizz.
mp
Vla.
p
Vc. mp
pizz.
20
Fl. 66
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
Vln. I
have put
mp
a poem
what has fal
-
len from
my life
and what I would change.
mp
Vla.
Vln. II
Vc.
Fl.
71
Cl.
Hp.
S.
Are
Vln. I
you
arco
21
mp
4:3
mp
4:3
mp
here?
Vla.
Vln. II
Vc.
mf
F
mp
Pno.
F
mf
mf
mp
pizz.
mf
22
Fl. 75
Cl.
Pno.
S.
Vln. I
We
Vla.
Vln. II
Vc.
Hp.
mf
mf
left
a
slen
-
der path - way
of
Fl. 79
2
mf
Cl.
mp
Pno.
Hp.
S.
23
It
led
2
no - where,
if not
to our bo - dies, and filled in
Vla.
Vc.
Vln. II
tracks.
Vln. I
our
24
Fl.
83
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
-
ti - ness.
mf
What
I
want
most
to
Vla.
Vln. II
Vc.
emp
Vln. I
Fl. 87
Cl.
Pno.
S.
say
is
what
I
ne
-
Vla.
Vc.
ver
told
4
4
4
her.
mf
arco Vln. I
Vln. II
mf
Hp.
25
arco
mf
arco
mf
26
91
Fl.
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
Vln. I
Vla.
Vc.
Vln. II
G
trust
mf
mf
mf
me.
G
mf
Don't
27
Fl. 95
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
Vln. I
mp
Trust
me.
Vla.
Vln. II
Vc.
What I
want
most
to
say
is
28
Fl. 99
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
Vln. I
mf
2
what
2
f
I
ne
-
ver
f
told
2
Vla.
Vln. II
Vc.
2
Fl.
102
Cl.
Pno.
S.
Vln. I
Vc.
2
her.
Don't trust
Vla.
2
2
mf
Vln. II
2
Hp.
29
me.
Don't
30
q=102
Fl. 105
Cl.
Pno.
S.
Vln. I
Vc.
trust
Vla.
mf
Vln. II
mf
Hp.
e=e
me.
Trust me Trust me.
3
Don't
trust
3
me.
How could
I
q=102
e=e
3
3
Fl.
108
Cl.
Pno.
S.
bell-like
Vla.
Vc.
f
lie?
Vln. I Vln. II
f
f
Hp.
H With a dance-like energy 31 5
H With a dance-like energy
32
Fl. 112
Cl.
Pno.
Vln. II
Vla.
Hp.
S.
Vln. I
Vc.
Fl. 115
Cl.
3
3
33
3
Pno.
Vln. II
Vla.
Hp.
S.
Vln. I
Vc.
34
Fl. 118
Cl.
Pno.
mf
mf
mf
mf
Vln. II
Vla.
S.
Vln. I
Vc.
3
3
Hp.
122 Fl. Cl.
Pno.
S.
3
Hp.
I Excitedly mysterious e=176
3
mf
I
Vln. II
Vla.
mf
Vc.
Vln. I
35
Excitedly mysterious
e=176
36
Fl.
127
Cl.
Pno.
p
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
Hp.
S.
Vln. I
arco
mf
132
Fl.
mf
Cl.
Hp.
S.
mp
Pno.
J
37
mp
A
fi - gure - of speech
J
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
Vln. I
38
Fl. 137
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
p
mp
is where de - si - re
de si - re
for - ces
a
cri - sis.
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
Vln. I
Fl. 142
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
39
mf
A
fi - gure
of speech
3
for - ces
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
Vln. I
a
40
Fl.
146
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
cros - sing one world, de - si - re,
3
for - ces
a
cri - sis,
a cros - sing, one
world,
and its wea -
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
Vln. I
K
Fl.
149
Cl.
Pno.
S.
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
3
sud - den - ly
bril
-
-
p
p
-
-
-
p
f
- liant
with
mean - ing.
K
f
p
mf
mf
ther
Vln. I
p
Hp.
41
f
f
f
42
Fl. 153
Cl.
p
Pno.
S.
Vln. I
Hp.
mp
My love
mp
and
I
came out
ear - ly
one
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
43
Fl.
158
Cl.
Pno.
S.
p
mp
Hp.
morn - ing to for - get,
my love and
I
came out
mp
3
ear
-
ly
one
morn - ing to for
Vln. I
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
mp
mp
mp
44
L
Fl.
163
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
get
p
hum - ble one night
p
the
mp
mp
p
p
when the snow fell
o - ver us
when the
Vln. I
L mp
mp
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
p
p
Fl. 168
Cl.
Pno.
S.
snow
Vln. I
Vln. II
fell
mf
mf
mf
o - ver us
mf
Vc.
Vla.
Hp.
45
mf
and we filled each
ot - her's bo
-
mf
46
Fl. 172
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
- dy with our own,
Vln. I Vln. II
filled each ot - her's
bo
-
-
-
-
dy with our
Vla.
Vc.
176
Fl.
Cl.
Pno.
S.
f
Hp.
47
f
own.
Vln. I
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
48
Fl.
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
Vln. I
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
M
178
6
f
So the old
3
3
f
6
f
snow
burns
M
f
3
cry - stal
in the
3
f
f
3
Fl. 181
Cl.
mf
3
Pno.
Hp.
S.
f 3
3
3
3
So the
ice
slip - ping
sun.
mf
Vla.
Vln. II
49
Vln. I
Vc.
mf
the
mf
mf
mf
50
Fl. 184
Cl.
Hp.
S.
Pno.
6
3 3 3 3
creek's
ed - ges
keep
Vln. I Vln. II
Vla.
teas - ing
to
be
tried.
Vc.
3
f
3
3
Fl. 187
Cl.
N
Hp.
S.
Vln. I
Vln. II
Vc.
f
Trust
me,
it
brags.
3
3
mf
mf
mf
mf
N
f
mf
Vla.
mf
f
Pno.
51
52
Fl. 190
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
Vc.
Trust
it
me,
me,
Trust
brags.
Vla.
Vln. I Vln. II
it
Fl.
53
193
Pno.
Vc.
black
Vla.
Vln. II
brags,
Vln. I
S.
Hp.
Cl.
thril - ling
black, thril - ling or
54
196
Fl.
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
Vla.
f
emp
-
Vln. I Vln. II
mf
O
-
-
ty.
O
f
f
3
f
Vc. f
Fl. 199
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
Vln. I
3
Vla.
mf
Vln. II
Vc.
55
3
56
Fl. 202
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
Vla.
mf
mf
3
Vln. I Vln. II
mf
mf
mf
Vc. mf
mf
mp
Fl. 206
Cl.
p
Pno.
Hp.
S.
5
3
p
pp
p
P
Vla.
3
Melancholy
p
p
Vln. II
Vc.
Vln. I
Melancholy
P
57
p
p
58
Fl.
211
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
Vln. I
Vln. II
Vla.
3
p
p
3
3
3
3
Vc.
3
3
Q
59
Fl.
216
Cl.
Pno.
3
S.
p
Why
Q Vln. I
Vln. II
Vla.
do
why
p
we
3
Vc.
3
Hp.
do
3
3
we
wish so
222
Fl.
Cl.
Pno.
Hp.
S.
R
3
Vla.
to
lis - ten
p
Vln. II
Vln. I
3
3
hard
Vc.
p
p
to
what is - n't
pp
p
here?
Here,
con sord.
60
R
the snow
pp
pp
pp
61
Fl. 228
p
Cl.
Pno.
p
Hp.
S.
Vln. II
if in
Vc.
as
p
Vla.
says,
Vln. I
re sponse.
3
the snow
says.
p
con sord.
3
Here,
p
con sord.
p
con sord.
p
62
Fl.
235
Cl.
Pno.
S.
Vln. I Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
pp
Hp.
My
love
was
p
here.
pp
pp
pp
pp
3
63
Fl. 240
Cl.
Pno.
S.
Vln. I
Vln. II
Vla.
3
3
3
Vc.
Hp.
pp
Copyright © 2009 Sebtzi and Torena Music