PERUSALSCORE
for 3 sopranos, male choir, and orchestra
Kristin Kuster
PERUSALSCORE
Myrrha
for 3 sopranos, male choir, and orchestra
PERUSALSCORE
Kristin Kuster
2006
MYRRHA
“Myrrha” from Ovid’s Metamorphosis Book 10 (Excerpts) Latin edited by Hugo Magnus (1885) English translation by Brookes More (1922)
Noctis
Nunc, quia iam meus est, non est meus
Me miseram
Flet tamen
Quia iam meus est, non est meus, ipasque damno est mihi proximus
Sanguis it in sucos, in mangos bracchia ramos, in parvos digiti, duratur cortice pellis
Nox caret igne suo
Amat
Fugit aurea caelo luna, tegunt nigrae latitantia sidera nubes: nox caret igne suo
It tamen, et tenebrae minuunt noxque atra pudorem
Amo!
Mors placet
Nec modus aut requies, nisi mors, reperitur amoris
Ninenti tamen est similis curvataque crebros dat gemitus arbor lacrimisque cadentibus umet
Quae quamquam amisit veteres cum corpore sensus, flet tamen, et tepidae manant ex arbore guttae
Stillataque robore murra nomen erile tenet nulloque tacebitur aevo
Amo!
Instrumentation
3 Flutes (2 doubles Piccolo, 3 doubles Alto Flute)
English Horn
Clarinet in Bb
Bassoons
4 Horns in F Trombone
Bass Trombone
Timpani
Night
Now, because he is mine he is never mine
I am wretched
She weeps still
Because he is mine he is never mine, Because he is near to me he is far from me
Her blood was changed to sap, her outstretching arms became long branches and her fingers twigs: and her soft skin hardened into bark
Night has lost her fires
She loves
PERUSALSCORE
Percussion (3 Players)
Harp
The golden moon flies from heavens, and black clouds cover the hiding stars and night has lost her fires
Yet she goes onward, it seems to her the black night lessens shame
I love!
Death comforts her
Turning back and forth she finds no rest from passion, save the rest that lies in death
The tree bends down and, while it groans, bedews itself with falling tears
Although all sense of human life was gone as quickly as she lost her human form, she weeps still, and warm drops from her (the tree) cease not to fall
(Above texts repeat and combine)
The valued myrrh distilled form the trunk, keeps her name, by which she is still known, and cannot be forgot in aging time I love!
Commissioned by American Composers Orchestra, Steven Sloane, Music Director; Robert Beaser, Artistic Director; with the generous support of Paul Underwood
For A.T.K.
Thank you
Crotales, Glockenspiel, Vibraphone, Marimba , Triangle, 3 Suspended Cymbals, Tam-Tam (large), 2 Bongos 2 Congas, 4 Tom-Toms, 2 Bass Drums
3 Sopranos
Male Chorus
Strings
Duration: 15'
First printing, January 2024
Copyright ©2006 Kristin Kuster. All Rights Reserved.
Program Note Copyright ©2006 Kristin Kuster. All Rights Reserved Published by Just a Theory Press | www.justatheorypress.com
SCOREISTRANSPOSED
Duration: c. 14'45"
for 3 sopranos, male choir, orchestra
Commissioned by American Composers Orchestra, Steven Sloane, Music Director; Robert Beaser, Artistic Director; with the generous support of Paul Underwood
tunings:
ŒŒŒ
PERUSALSCORE
