I Can Take

Julie Herndon

I Can Take

octet for flute, oboe, b-flat clarinet, bassoon, harp, piano, violin, cello, and light bulb conductor written for Ensemble Proton Bern duration: 7-10’

2018

Program note Accepting: taking it for what it is, but twisting, interpreting, interpolating it.

Performance notes FLUID METER All instruments are metrically out of sync through the majority of this piece. Determine, either before the fact or spontaneously, an order of entrance. One player must lead; the subsequent entrances must adjust tempo and timing so that they are in a flexible canon, rather than unison. Exceptions are marked as such in the score (for example, piano at rehearsal B, strings at D). Note that measures have a varying number of beats. Use this as a precedent for your own flexibly-timed playing.

IMPROVISITORY CELLS

These markings designate improvisatory cells. Begin by playing as written (if there are 1+ cells, play through all consecutive). When no rhythm is specified, invent one.

Repeat and modify cell material with: • rhythmic augmentation, diminution • silence • microtonal inflections, pitch variations • articulation • timbral modification • local dynamic variation

In your improvisation with the cells: • Consider developing a unique language within the piece, playing in a way that exaggerates and embraces your own preferences and tendencies, referencing memories of having played this note before (perhaps even playing a short excerpt of another piece) • Imagine you are playing this note for the first time • Experience the sensation of departure from and return to the given material Each of the sections are cued by the conductor via light signal. Conductor also modifies light conditions; see notes for conductor for parameters.

IPA SYLLABLES Vowels:

[aɪ] [kæn] [teɪk] a as in father ɪ as in mitt æ as in mat e as in fetch Vowel mouth-shapes: unvoiced, with consonants sounding at the beginning or end of notes.

Sing/speak (rehearsal D): instrument is not used and the given syllables are vocalized into crook of elbow. This technique works best when long sleeves are worn: press mouth into crook of arm and sing given pitches, allowing arm to muffle voice sounds. If a performer is uncomfortable singing the pitches, an elongated speech in the approximate range written may be substituted. ([x] note head = whisper) Woodwind note heads: x spoken

u

breathy/air sound (flute only)

Piano harmonics: o Press finger close to bridge to produce harmonic (upper partials). Find any speaking node near the top of the

soundboard on an upright or within easy reach on a grand piano.

String note heads:

r

lightly bow strings, LH mute

Accidentals apply through the measure

LIGHT BULB CONDUCTOR Setup: [can be provided upon request] Connect floor lamp(s) with incandescent bulb (not LED) to slide dimmer and switch. Modulate brightness with fader on dimmer; flicker on and off with switch. In absence of a light bulb and dimmer, a flashlight could be used and moved up and down in accordance with the score.

Notation: top staff line = as bright as possible; bottom staff line = as dim as possible; rest = off Initiate changes between sections by using notated light cues or develop your own in rehearsal. Cues may be repeated as needed to signal mid-section entrances. To modify light during improvisatory cells, use fader for vibrato effects and switch for flickering.

STAGING Dark room with stand lights. Ideally, audience, lights, and players are positioned circularly around the room.

Alternately, audience faces light bulb(s); instrumentalists surround audience. (Instruments in diagram can be rotated/reversed for ease of staging).

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions: julieherndon@gmail.com

C Score

Conductor Light bulb

I Can Take &

lugubrious, dreamy q = ~46, but out of sync dim

Oboe

w

mouth vowel shapes (articulate consonants)

Clarinet in B b

Bassoon

Harp

Piano

& Ï Ïú B &

P

p

P a

-

ú

BÏ nú >kæn F gliss.

I

·

·

·

·

ú

teI

-

· ·

j À k

U

w

·

U

·

U

·

· mouth vowel shapes (articulate consonants) legato poss.

Ï pa

-

ú ɪ

Ï a p

-

ú I

k-a

mouth vowel shapes (articulate consonants) legato poss.

Ï

ú

&

·

·

·

U

?

·

·

·

U

·

·

&

·

·

·

U

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

trem. accel.

& jB . ¾ Ï Ï Ï. p ¹

decell. ord.

s.p.

gliss.

gliss.

trem. accel.

. s.p. ? ÏJ B Ï ¾Ï . ¹ p gliss.

gliss.

j Ͼ ú¾

Ï ú ¾J ¾

repeat and modify cell material (see notes)

¹

decell. ord.

repeat and modify cell material (see notes)

¹

© Julie Herndon 2018

U

U

p a

-

>Ï

j À

·

U

-

j À

·

?

Ï > F

mouth vowel shapes (articulate consonants) legato poss.

·

·

-

k-a

U

·

Ï > F

j À

?

s.t.

Cello

Ï nÏ Ï ·

&

s.t.

Violin

U

modify light in slow, dim wave-like vibrato motion with fader

bright

legato poss.

Flute

Julie Herndon

ɪ

F k -a

·

-

I Can Take

2

j Ï äÎ î

cue: 1 complete "I can take"

6

C./L. b.

&

(sim.)

·

6

Fl.

&

·

Ob.

&Ï -

ú

æn

j À

Ï

&Ï

ú

j À

Ï

ú

j À

Ï

F

t-e

-

w I

-

?

6

Bsn.

-

6

Hp.

&

?

6

Pno.

&

?

6

Vln.

t-e

F

æn

t-e

-

-

w I

w I

ú P

ú

gliss.

w F

repeat and modify cell material (see notes)

k

jä À

repeat and modify cell material (see notes)

p

-

k

À Jä

repeat and modify cell material (see notes)

p

-

k

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

&

Ï ÏÏw F

?

Ï ÏÏw

6

Vc.

Ï

F

æn

Ï ÏÏw F

p

-

6

B b Cl.

gliss poss.

jä À

6

dim vib., sparse flicker ad lib.

P

trem. accel.

ord.

ú P ú

ord.

p

gliss.

ú trem. accel.

gliss.

ú

s.p.

w¾ F w ¾ P

s.p.

ord.

ord.

I Can Take

3

Ï Ï

C./L. b.

&

11

Fl.

Ï Ï ä Jä J

Ï Ï

cue: fl, vln, vc have reached final cell

11

& Ï.

P

gliss.

j Ï Ï. p

¾ w

flz.

j ÏÏ w Ï ÏÏÏÏÏ F

repeat and modify cell material (see notes)

f

wild-ish switch freely between octaves add microtonal inflections

11

Ob.

Ï Ï ä J ä J

&

Ï

Ï Ï

fa - ɪ

j À

Ï Ï

k-æn

-

Ï Àj

teɪ - k

wild-ish switch freely between octaves add microtonal inflections

Ï Ï

11

B b Cl.

&

Ï a - ɪ f

?

f

11

Hp.

&

?

11

Pno.

&

?

11

Vln.

& Ï.

P ? Ï.

11

Vc.

Ï Ï

k-æn

-

Ï Àj

teɪ - k

wild-ish switch freely between octaves add microtonal inflections

11

Bsn.

j À

p

gliss.

gliss.

Ï

Ï Ï

a - ɪ

j À

Ï Ï

k-æn

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

ord.

j Ï Ï. p

j Ï ú Ï ÏÏÏÏÏ Ï F

Ï Ï.

J

Ï ÏÏÏÏÏ Ï J Ï ú

F

P

trem.accel.

ú

trem.accel.

ú

s.p.

w¾ f

w¾

F

s.t.

-

Ï Àj

teɪ - k

I Can Take

4

& ä

17

C./L. b.

17

Fl.

& &

17

B b Cl.

& ?

17

Bsn.

Vln.

Vc.

Ï

-

gliss.

a

Ï

decresc. with light brightness

-

gliss.

p a

decresc. with light brightness

f decresc. with light brightness

f

-

Ï Àj>Ï Ï ÀjÏ ú

ú

Ï ÀjÏ Ï ÀjÏ ú > kæn t-eI F

F

I

k-æn

I

F

I

k-æn

·

·

Ïo

P

Ã Û Ï ¸ Ï

(non arm.)

Ïo Ïo 8bassa ¡ throughout w P

w P

t-eI

ú

gliss.

p

-

Ï

Ï

P

À ä J k

-

jä À

-

À J ä

k

k

N Ï ( # Ï) # Ï ( n Ï) Ï # Ï # Ï ( n Ï) N ( ) Ï (# Ï) L.V. L.V. sim. # Ï (n Ï) P p p n # sim.

C # · ·

slowly pedal gliss.

slow, round, resonant hands desynchronized

Ïo

t-eI

> Ï ÀjÏ Ï ÀjÏ ú

ú

·

·

w P

ú

·

·

?

?

gliss.

p

&

17

Ï

decresc. with light brightness

?

&

U

gliss.

a

&

17

slow, dim vib. flicker ad lib.

p

17

Pno.

w w p

decresc. with light brightness

17

Hp.

A

imitate vln, a little behind gliss. poss.

decresc. with light brightness

17

Ob.

Ï

slow dim, flicker ad lib.

¹ Ïo

U

gliss.

U gliss.

repeat and modify cell material (see notes)

Ïo

w F

ú P

Ï F

w F

ú P

Ï Ï F

gliss.

gliss.

Ï

I Can Take

,

21

C./L. b.

& &w ¹

Fl.

ú

ú

21

P

w

Ï. ¹

gliss.

Ïú J

5

Ï

U

cue bsn. after vln/vc D C

Îî

ú.

·

. . Ï. ä ä Ï. ä ÏJ. Î Ï Ï J J 3 p P stacc. molto quasi tongue slap

21

Ob.

&

21

B b Cl.

& mouth vowel shapes (articulate consonants)

?

ÏÏ ú

21

Bsn.

21

Hp.

&

a-I

&

Ï. # Ï. p

Ï #Ï

cue: hp. bass

Vc.

k

Ï. .Ï b Ï. Ï. b Ï. . Ï. b Ï p ¹ ¸

P úo

trem. accel.

&ú p

? accel. ú p

21

-

(hands desynchronized)

opt.8bassa

Vln.

t - eI

pedal gliss.

?

21

¹

k-æn

j Àä

repeat and modify cell material (see notes)

?

21

Pno.

¹ p

Ï Àj Ï Ï Àj Ï ú

trem.

decell.

ú¾

decell.

ú¾

ú

ú

gliss.

gliss.

b úo ú F ú F

w

w

Ï. p

Ï. p

gliss.

gliss.

j Ïú

j Ïú

ú

ú

gliss.

gliss.

jä Î Ï

j ä ä Ïj Î Ï Ï Ï F P

jä Î Ï

j ä ä jÎ Ï Ï Ï Ï P F

pizz.

pizz.

3

3

I Can Take

6

C./L. b.

ord. Ï. Ï. Ï. Ï Ï & 3 F gliss.

27

Ob.

&

f

Ï bÏ ú

Ï Àj Ï

F

Ï bÏ ú

Ï Àj Ï

F

f

a - I

?

Ï Àj Ï ú

f match flute

k - æn

mouth vowel shapes (articulate consonants)

&

·

w

mouth vowel shapes (articulate consonants)

a - I

27

B b Cl.

Î î

w

Ï

U

cue: fl., vln., or vc. play B

·

&

27

Fl.

Ï

U

27

t - eI

Ï Àj Ï ú

k - æn t - eI match violin

-

k

À ä J

-

k

mouth vowel shapes (articulate consonants)

Ï Ï-

F

a - I

ÏÏÏ Ï ÏÏ Ï Ï Ï Ï 3 f Cn

27

Hp.

&

3

?

ú

27

Pno.

&

?

27

Vc.

úo

&Ï Ï Ï Ï f

27

Vln.

F

? pizz. trem.

3

Ï Ï Ï Ï f

gliss.

3

gliss.

Ï ¾

w ¾

pizz. trem.

w¾

Ͼ

decell.

decell.

Ï ÏÏÏ Ï Ï Ï ÏÏÏ Ï 3

3

B

ú

· b úo

·

À J ä

Ï bÏ ú

in tempo h = 40

U

î

¹

27

Bsn.

Î

b

w

w

kæn

accel. poco a poco

ÏÏÏ b Ï ÏÏ b Ï Ï Ï bÏ 3 F b E 3

· b úo

f

Ï Ï- ú teI

jä À

-

k

Ï ÏÏÏ b Ï Ï b Ï ÏÏÏ Ï 3

D

·

b

·

b úo p arco

w p P

gliss.

bú F

gliss.

bú

3

A

b

I Can Take 32

C./L. b.

Fl.

Ob.

&

Ï

Î

dim. with flicker decell.

32

dim. with flicker decell.

& & & ?

Hp.

3

?

accel. poco a poco 32

Pno.

&

Vln.

&

?

32

Vc.

·

b ÏÏ b Ï

·

·

3

b ÏÏÏ b Ï b ÏÏ b Ï ÏÏÏ Ï 3

3

dim. with flicker decell.

in tempo q = 50

bÏ b ÏÏÏ b Ï b ÏÏ b Ï b Ï bÏ bÏ ÏÏ p Gb

3

in tempo q = 50

·

?

32

·

dim. with flicker decell.

& b ÏÏ b ÏÏÏ b Ï bÏ

32

·

dim. with flicker decell.

32

Bsn.

w

32

32

B b Cl.

in tempo q = 50 Sudden, sharp change with pno

decell. flicker ad lib.

î

7

B

dim. with flicker decell.

dim. with flicker decell.

Å

3

F

·

p

3

ÏÏ Ï Ï

Ï 3

ÏÏ

bÏ Ï b ÏÏ Ï Ï Ï b Ï b Ï Ï Ï b Ï Ï Ï b b ÏÏ Ï b Ï Ï Ï ÏÏ Ï Ï Ï P FP

bú F

bú

·

·

I Can Take

8

,

35

C./L. b.

Fl.

Ob.

&

35

·

35

·

& & &

·

?

·

35

B b Cl.

35

Bsn.

bÏ Ï b ÏÏÏ b Ï b ÏÏ b Ï ÏÏ Ï ÏÏ Ï b Ï & b b ÏÏ b Ï 3 3 3 3 F

35

Hp.

?

bÏ Ï Ï Å b b ÏÏ ÏÏ b b ÏÏ Ï Ï ÏÏ Ï ÏÏ Ï & b b ÏÏ bÏ Ï Ï Ï f P ? bÏ. Ï bú.

· w

bw P *

cue: ob

·

·

·

bÏ bÏ Ï bÏ bw F P

f

·

·

·

·

w*

bÏ Ï bÏ Ï f

P ·

·

·

·

·

cue: cl

omit 2 more e attacks with each repeat drifting in/out tempo, increasingly dissociative

· omit 2 more x attacks with each repeat

·

·

·

·

·

?

·

·

·

·

·

35

Vc.

vary vib.

&

35

Vln.

cue ob

·

35

Pno.

w

*

play all figures once, then repeat and modify individual cells ad lib.

,

40

C./L. b.

& ·

40

Fl.

&

40

Ob.

&

·

·

I Can Take

9

w

bú

(sim.)

Ï Ï bÏ ÏbÏ.

*

P

f

b Ï. . Ï. . . b Ï Ï Ï b Ïb Ï Ï b Ï Ï b Ï Ï.

lightly

F

drifting in/out tempo, increasingly dissociative

freely ( ) = ~100 40

B b Cl.

& bw p ?

40

Bsn.

bÏ bÏ

drifting in/out tempo

F bw

bw p

*

w p

bw p

F

Ï

Ï

bw F

40

Hp.

&

?

·

·

·

·

·

&

·

·

·

·

·

?

·

·

·

·

·

40

Pno.

&

?

40

Vln.

40

Vc.

Ï bÏ

bÏ

I Can Take

10

without pulse

U

Î

45

C./L. b.

& & Ï bÏ & bÏ bÏ Ï F

45

Ob.

bÏ bÏ bÏ Ï Ï b Ï b ÏÏ Ï F

Ï bÏ Ï bÏ ÏbÏ Ï b Ï Ï Ï b Ï & P ?

45

Bsn.

bw P

Ï

bú.

&

?

45

Pno.

&

?

45

Vln.

&

?

45

Vc.

calm q = 58

in tempo q=58

bw

P

in tempo q=58

mouth vowel shapes (articulate consonants)

ÏÏ

bÏ ú äJ

rit.

p

a-ɪ

kæn

·

rit.

in tempo q=58

rit.

in tempo q=58

j bÏ

·

w

C

ord.

·

decell., dim. gradually thin texture to silence

45

Hp.

Ï

P

45

B b Cl.

,

rit.

45

Fl.

Ï

(q = 58)

brighten ad lib.

b ÏÏ

j bÏ

p

·

b b ÏÏÏ ·

decell., dim. gradually thin texture to silence hands desync.

b b b ÏÏÏÏ

b b ÏÏ. Ï p

bú

bú

Ï P

bÏ

bÏ

bÏ

·

b b ÏÏÏ.

bÏ b Ï Ï Ï Ïb Ï Ï b Ï Ïb Ï Ï F accel. pizz.

accel. pizz.

b ÏÏ

j bÏ

(out of tempo)

j bÏ

j bÏ

b b ÏÏÏ. j bÏ. Ï

bú Ï

(out of tempo)

Ï

Ï

ÏÏ

Ï Ï

(out of tempo)

(out of tempo)

Ï

bÏ bÏ bÏ

I Can Take 50

C./L. b.

&

50

Fl.

&

50

Ob.

&

Ï

D

Ï Ï ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï

(q = 60)

(sim.)

flicker

´

airy/breath sound

p

ú

ord.

bw P

ú

ú.

teɪ

-

Àä J

á p

k

bú

·

Ù~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ b w (b Ï ) w w key trill

50

B b Cl.

& P

U

·

o

bú

P aI

U

·

hushed, but sharp q = 60

in tempo q = 60 mouth vowel shapes (articulate consonants)

airy

w

11

kæ

in tempo q = 60 sing/speak into crook of elbow

bÏ

P

teIk,

ú a

-

?

Bsn.

·

·

·

·

50

Hp.

&

?

L.V.

·

·

·

50

Pno.

&

bÏ

P

ú a

&

?

50

Vc.

rapid as possible

¸ rapid as possible

¸

gliss.

-

ú

bÏ ú.

F

kæ - n

-

bÏ

ú

Ï I

Ï

bÏ ú.

j Ï

F

kæ - n

(n)

bÏ ú.

j Ï

P

teIk,

a

-

I

F

kæ - n

(n)

U

·

·

·

U

·

·

·

U

·

·

·

·

·

·

U

·

U

·

-

sing/speak into crook of elbow after cl

U

?

50

Vln.

let ring

I

ú

sing/speak into crook of elbow after ob

teIk,

U

bÏ

(out of tempo)

(out of tempo) 50

-

Ï Ï Ï ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ

in tempo q = 60

î

arco

bú F

in tempo q = 60 arco

bú F

gliss.

bú p

gliss.

bú p bú F

bú F

gliss.

bú p

gliss.

I Can Take

12 56

C./L. b.

&

ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ Ï Ï voiced

56

Fl.

& Ï bÏ F

À n

Ï j À

À

&

56

B b Cl.

&

bÏ ú P

teIk,

?

&

?

56

Pno.

&

?

56

Vln.

&

bú

kæ

-

I

ú

-

k

-

ú.

bÏ

ú

p

t-e

P

n

teIk,

´ I

a

-

Ï Ï ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ Ï Ï

j Ï -

k

bÏ I

Î

bÏ ú.

F

kæ - n

bú

F a

-

p

?bú

F

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

bú F

56

Vc.

F

I

-

airy

ord.

j Ï Àj

Ï

Ï I

dim. to whisper

56

Hp.

-

bÏ

´

airy

P bÏ

dim. to whisper

56

Bsn.

a

bú

ord.

t - e

56

Ob.

Ï Ï ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ Ï Ï

gliss.

ú

p

gliss.

ú

bú F

p

bú F

gliss.

bú p

gliss.

bú

bú F

p

bú F

gliss.

bú p

gliss.

bú

bú F

p

bú F

gliss.

bú p

gliss.

bú p bú F

bú F

gliss.

bú p

gliss.

I Can Take 61

C./L. b.

&

Ï Ï ú

· j À

& &Î &

bú

F a

-

·

U

À À.

U

kæ - n,

·

À À.

U

kæ - n,

·

À À.

·

U

·

U

·

U

·

?

Vln.

?

61

Vc.

P

·

·

kæ - n,

P

·

·

·

·

kæ - n,

î

p

·

whisper into crook of elbow

· bú

·

À À.

·

? &

I

·

whisper into crook of elbow

·

&

61

Ï

·

P ·

rpt. and modify 2-4x

U

whisper into crook of elbow

&

j Ïäú ·

whisper into crook of elbow

?

61

Pno.

·

P

61

Hp.

U

P

61

Bsn.

Ï

k - teI

61

B b Cl.

Ïäú J

À

61

Ob.

·

whisper into instrument

61

Fl.

·

13

·

·

sing/speak into crook of elbow

bÏ ú kæn, a P

-

Ï bÏ ú.

I

F

kæ - n

bow lightly length of breath LH: mute *

U

Ð ¹

U

Ð P

* mute strings at midway point with 4 fingers harmonic pressure

·

·

bow lightly length of breath LH: mute *

U

Ð ¹

U

Ð P

·

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