of a Touch

Julie Herndon

of a Touch

for solo violin + amplification 2018

Program Note A musical instrument is an intimate object. How it is held, pressed, lifted—the instrument accumulates these touches over time. This is an imagined history of an object, of the ways in which one touches.

Performance Notes Like a poem, the lines of this piece are of varying lenths, but should generally be read attacca.

Violin should be amplified, if possible, with a DPA under the strings. Bring levels down at J to end.

Score is formatted for Legal size paper (8.5”x14”).

Scordatura

w & ww w

Violin tuning: GDAD (string I whole step lower)

Violin positions (may be performed sitting or standing)

Strings up, neck out LH holding vln. by waist

Strings facing audience LH holding vln. by waist

Strings facing player Violin Ord. LH holding vln. by waist ord. pos.

Geographical references nut . . . . . . . . . . . . bow directly in front of the nut m.s.t. (molto sul tasto ). . . bow over the fingerboard s.t. (sul tasto). . . . . . . bow close to the fingerboard ord. (ordinario). . . . . . . ordinary bow position p.s.p. (poco sul ponticello). . play slightly closer to bridge s.p. (sul ponticello). . . . . play closer to the bridge m.s.p. (molto sul ponticello). . bow very close to the bridge tail piece end button

Bow Bow position is notated between nut and bridge:

mid.

Neck near bridge (m.s.p.)

percussive wooden tip ( D ) tip

just below nut

---

horizontal movement ~~~~~ ~~~~~

vertical movement

RH . . . . . tapping with RH fingers c. (crini). . . . . with bow hair l.+c. (lengo e crini) . . . with both wood and hair c.l. (col lengo) . . . . . . . with the wood of the bow

frog

Techniques

. . . . . bounce bow on string(s) until the bounce decays  (ricochet) spiccato. . . . . . bow off the string finger flutter . . . . . finger tap. . . . . .

X. . . . . . . . . ( f ). . . . . . . . .

T. . . . . . . . .

RH thumb bow. . . .

0:00” + 0:00” . .

lightly tap fingers on strings ( F ) audibly finger note ( G ) negates time signature parenthetical dynamics indicate effort, not sounding result ( H ) thumb ( E ) slide side of thumb against string as if it was a bow ( H ) system duration, when followed by + is comprised of two timed sections

of a Touch Julie Herndon

w & ww w

Scordatura

10-14" just below nut

Focused

(approx. system duration, all timings felt) c.l. mid. bow

Neck

gently place bow, then adjust to balance on II and III below nut

&

Violin

near bridge (m.s.p.)

7-10"

:

U &

leave hand hovering near bow

:

8-10"

Enthralled, cautious

rebalance bow, if necessary

lightly slide balanced bow vertically

U

(balance)

& ww P

Vln.

7-10" nut bridge

&

Vln.

7-10" nut bridge

&

Vln.

A 12-30" nut bridge



7-14"

%

gently place and adjust bow to balance on IV (sim)

j *

¹ +c.l.

:

:

Ï

Unhurried

³

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~c.l.

crini c.l. (no horz. mov't) crunch/roll (sim)

Moving just a bit faster

c.l. tip

² w & ¹

~~~~~~~~~~c.l. crini

À p

roll bow toward nut

w ¹

~~~~~~~~~~~~~c.l.

crini

w p

À ¹

À ¹

~~~~~~~~~~~c.l. crini

À p

w ¹

tip

U ·

wI

P

roll bow in circle toward bridge, one turn on each string

w p

U

w

w

w c.l.

U& 5-7"

³ balancing point (bow)

frog

&

ww p

Brave

U&

(hand hovering)

c.l. mid.

nut

Vln.

% ÏÏ

balance

c.l.

bridge

bridge

p

+

nut

Vln.

 j Ï Ï

place

crini

w p

w

À ¹

~~~~~~~~~~~~c.l.

p

crini

À p

© Julie Herndon 2019

w ¹

frog

~~~~~~~~~~~~~c.l. crini

À

¹

w

p

tip

2 3-6"

c.l.

nut bridge

&

Vln.

B 10-15"

³ frog

w p

+

bridge

& 68 ..

Vln.

2-3"

ord. ric.

&

50

Vln.

&

D

tip

accel.

crunch bow hair (unpitched)

..

U 

ú. f

U    úú .. Ï . ÏÏ . Ï . . p

Up, optimistic (q. = ~56)



sim.

ÏÏ . .

ú. p

repeat ad lib.

3-5"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(ord.) c.l./c.

Ù ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ,

úÀ ..

F

o ÏÏ .. Ï . Ï.

sim.

úú ..

p

>Ï . Ï . Ï. Ï.

úú .

úú . .

F

6 ·

turn strings to audience

F

ord. tip cont. ricc. and fade

U.

ÏÏ . .

Fervent, obsessive (q = ~66)

ÏÏ . ÏÏ .. .

úú . .

F

U

..U... . . . . . . . . úú . .

.

 ·

turn strings inward

42

accel. poco a poco

~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~ 2    sim. Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï ÏÏÏÏÏ &4 ÏÏ Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï ÏÏÏ F p F

nut

crini with the wooden tip, percussive

bridge

Vln.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~     Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï & Ï ÏÏÏÏÏ Ï p f (~116)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

nut bridge

Vln.

E

Vln.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ï. À. Ï. À. Ï À Ï À Ï À P cresc. poco a poco

 & ú. ú.

F

C

Vln.

o

P

6 8

Spacious (q. = 46)

c.l./c. alt.

nut

Vln.

' tip

place bow aside

U

·

Introverted, reflective troubadour (q = 66 ) ord. RH pizz. quasi guitar finger picking T 1 2 3 2 1...

& Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï ÏÏÏ Ï Ï F

î

44

turn strings to audience

(page turn)

3

(q = 56)

F nut

RH finger flutter, lightly tap upwards in a sweeping motion 321321321...

3 3

bridge

U Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ

4 & 4 .. Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ P 3

Vln.

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

repeat at least 1x

..

¹

nut bridge

& Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏ ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ 3 3 3 3 3

Vln.

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

rit.

nut bridge

adding RH pressure

ÏÏÏÏÏÏ 3 Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï & ÏÏÏÏÏ ÏÏÏ ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ 4 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 o f 3

Vln.

G

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

U

Washy, nostalgic (q = 63)

RH finger tap pitches, pizz. open strings I

3 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ Ï 3 j Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï &4 ÏÏÏ Ï Ï . . Ï. . Ï Ï Ï 3 3 3 F F P

Vln.

1

III

2

3

Ù ú

moving violin to shoulder

RH gliss. 1 sul IV nut . ss gl i

& Ï . Ïj Ï Ï ú Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï # Ï bÏ Ï Ï Ï À.

F F

Vln.

H

j b Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï úÙ Ï b Ï Ï # Ï Ï Ï Ï ú & Ï. Ï 5 p (molto espress.)

Vln.

Vln.

I

LH finger tap (pizz. open str.)

1 2 3

#Ï Ï Ï Ï nÏ bÏ Ï Ï bÏ Ï Ï #Ï Ï & p dim.

Reflective (q = 66 )

RH pizz. quasi guitar finger picking

Vln.

ÏÏ UÏÏ ¾ P

ÏÏ & 42 Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï ¹

U

î

À.

bridge gliss.

5

Ï bÏ Ï #Ï Ï Ï Ï ú À.

tailpiece gliss.

U À.

end button

Ï ord.

·

Ù Ù j b Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï b Ï Ï Ï Ï # Ï n Ï Ï -Ï b Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï. Ï (f) cresc.

RH thumb bow: slide side against string

Ï bÏ Ï Ï #Ï

Ï bÏ Ï Ï # Ï Ï Ïj Ï

j 2 Ï 4

4

Ï Ï Ï ÏÏ Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï 43 Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï ÏÏÏÏ > ¹ F

&

Vln.

J

sim.

Vln.

& 43 ..

Vln.

1 & 4 ..

Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï > cresc. last repeat to arco > P pizz. rpt. to crossfade

Ï. Ï. Ï. Ï. p

3

Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï ßp ß ß ß ß ß f

sneaky IV

Ï ß P

Ï Ï .. Ï Ï Ï

gliss.

Ͼ

F

sweeping III IV

trem. slow

3 8 Ï. bÏ Ï¾ gliss. p

p.s.p.

ù . . .

124 II ù ù ¾ & Ͼ. gliss. Ï Ï 43 Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï § f

trem. slow

articulate

I II

fast

Ͼ J

sub.

gentle gliss.

P

a tempo

Vln.

1 3 4 # Ï¾Ï Ï¾ 4 Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï¾ gliss. ßßßßßßßß P § fast

b

3

3

gliss.

2 4. Ïú gliss p

snarky III

slow

trem. fast

b Ͼ glis

gliss.

s.

ord.

ÏÏ ¾ Ï Ï. 

ÏÏ Ï Ï Ï. Ï ¾ ä ÏÏÏ 3

Reel (senza tempo)

3

3

Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï ÏÏÏÏÏÏ p

fast

3

(trem. fast)

m.s.t. flautando

2 &4 Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï F f

p.s.p. ord. sweet II III

ord. grattato

3

Energetic (q = 69)

& 43

3

3

slow

42

gliss.

Ñ

gliss. sul II: alternate ord./harm. pressure ad lib. . gl i s gliss s. gl i s . s. s gl i s

X

3

3

Ä

3

3 4

3

repeat at least 1x, slowly transition: Reel (senza tempo) m.s.p. (m.s.t.) gliss. sul III, alternate ord./harm. pressure ad lib.

a tempo

Vln.

3

Ï. Ï. Ï. Ï. Ï. Ï. Ï. Ï. Ï. Ï. Ï. Ï Ï Ï Ï. Ï. Ï. Ï. Ï. Ï.Ï. Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï ÏÏ ÏÏ Ï Ï ¹ pos.

P

m.s.t.

&

L

Vln.

.. 42

m.s.p.

ord. arco ord.

arco spiccato

3

slow

Vln.

kk 41

Moody, erratic (unstable tempo ~q = 54)

K

Vln.

(repeat if necessary)

repeat at least once, transition over repeats: m.s.t. m.s.p.

& ..

Vln.

RH pick up bow LH pizz.

bÏ Ï bÏ Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï

ÏÏÏÏ

42 ..

..

X

Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï ÏÏÏÏ > ¹ f U

m.s.p.

¾ 2 4 Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï w b Ï Ï Ï n Ï Ï Ï b Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï &4 4 3 3 p F 3

3

Ñ

s.

gl i s

3

3

3

gl i s

s.

3

42 43

5

M nut

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LH finger

ord. crini

bridge

Vln.

Manic (approx. q = 96)

& 43 ¾ú . ¯

ú. ¾

44

w¾ ( Ï ) w

¾ ..

4 ú gliss.

4 .. úú .... ( Ä)

3

Ï

repeat ~6x dim. with each repeat

3

Ï Ï .. 41 .. Ï Ï Ï

c.l.+c. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

molto rit.

nut bridge

reluctantly disappearing trem. fast pos.

¾ & 44 ww ¸

141

Vln.

5-15" nut bridge

Vln.

¾ w w

¾ w w

slower

slow

Dedicated (senza tempo)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

c.l.+c.

adjust to balance on II and III below nut

&X :

1 Ï Ï ¸

:

U2

slow pos.

X

(

3

Ï

3

Ï Ï .. 44 Ï Ï Ï )