Keane Southard
Bennington For
12-part a cappella SATB choir
(2015) (Duration: 6 mins.)
Program notes: Bennington was composed in the summer of 2015. It is inspired by a vocal warm-up that I heard earlier that year in a theater production at Bennington College for which I played piano. During that warmup, the ensemble of about 20 began by vocalizing on any pitch and each person moved to any pitch they wanted to and whenever they felt like it. The result was very striking to me, and I immediately thought about the possibilities of writing a choral work where pitches are not specified and each singer has the freedom to choose his and her own (within certain boundaries.) It is dedicated to the college and my two years living and teaching there. Keane Southard 2015
Performance Instructions: 1. In terms of pitch, this piece uses a three-line staff where a note on the highest line means that the singer should sing any pitch in the highest third of his or her vocal range, a note on the middle line signifies any pitch in the middle third, and on the bottom line any pitch in the bottom third. Singers should strive to find a good variety of different pitches within each register instead of returning to the same pitch for each successive note in that register. 2. In the beginning (m. 1-34) and ending (m. 93-126) sections, dashed barlines are used. This is because these sections are supposed to have no sense of meter, metric accents or even audible beats. Time signatures have been provided (4/4 for the most part) in order to facilitate coordination between the singers and conductor. The effect should be of a sound-cloud that gradually changes shape. The middle section (m. 35-92) should emphasize the fact that it has meter, beats, and accents to contrast with these outer sections. 3. In the beginning (m. 1-34) and ending (m. 93-126) sections,
singers should take quick discreet breaths when needed. However, breaths should not be taken between pitches and all changes of pitch and syllable are to be legato spanning a single breath in order to not accent the new pitch or syllable. 4. All diminuendos (reverse hairpins) followed by a rest should
end niente.
Pronunciation guide: Five vowels sounds are used in the piece: -“Ah” is pronounced like the vowel sound in “Mama” -“Oo” is pronounced like the vowel sound in “Food” -“Ee” is pronounced like the vowel sound in “We” -“Oh” is pronounced like the vowel sound in “Go” -“Eh” is pronounced like the vowel sound in “Set” Fifteen consonant sounds are used in the middle section of the piece (combined with the above vowel sounds): -“B” is pronounced as the beginning consonant in “Boy” -“D” is pronounced as the beginning consonant in “Done” -“P” is pronounced as the beginning consonant in “Post” -“J” is pronounced as the beginning consonant in “Joy” -“T” is pronounced as the beginning consonant in “Tone” -“K” is pronounced as the beginning consonant in “Kid” -“F” is pronounced as the beginning consonant in “Find” -“Y” is pronounced as the beginning consonant in “You” -“G” is pronounced as the beginning consonant in “Go” -“P” is pronounced as the beginning consonant in “Pie” -“S” is pronounced as the beginning consonant in “Say” -“Z” is pronounced as the beginning consonant in “Zoom” -“M” is pronounced as the beginning consonant in “Man” -“N” is pronounced as the beginning consonant in “Night” -“Z” is pronounced as the beginning consonant in “Zoom” This guide is to avoid any confusion between how the syllables in the piece would sound if reading them in English and how they should sound in this piece. (For example, “Gee” in this piece is pronounced differently than the same English word.)
Keane Southard/Spindrift Pages Email: keane.southard@hotmail.com Website: keanesouthard.instantencore.com
Bennington Keane Southard
q = 60 High Soprano 1 Middle Low High Soprano 2 Middle Low High Soprano 3 Middle Low
f
pp
Ah f
p
Oh
pp
Oh
pp
Ah f
p
Ah
pp
f
High Alto 1 Middle Low
Ah
High Alto 2 Middle Low High Alto 3 Middle Low
Oh
pp
f
Ah f
p
p
Oh
pp
Ah
High Tenor 1 Middle Low High Tenor 2 Middle Low High Tenor 3 Middle Low
pp
f
Ah f
p
Oh
pp
Ah f
p
Oh
pp
Ah
High Bass 1 Middle Low High Bass 2 Middle Low High Bass 3 Middle Low
f
pp
Ah f
p
Oh
pp
Ah f
Oh
pp
Ah
©2015
2 mp
9
S1
Oo
S2
(Oh)
Oo
p S3
Oh
A1
Oo
mp
Oo
A2
mp
Oo
p A3
T1
mp
Oh
(Oo)
Oo
mp
Oo
T2
T3
p
Oh
mp
Oo mp
Oo
mp
B1
(Oo)
Oo
p B2
mp
(Oh)
Oo
p B3
Oh
mp
Oo
3 16
S1
mf
S2
mf
S3
A1
f
f
Ee
T1
(Oo)
mf
T2
B1
B2
f
Eh
f
Ee
f
mf
mf
Eh mf
mf
(Ee)
Ee
f
Eh
f
Ee
Oo
f
Ee
(Ee)
Ee
Eh
B3
f
mf
Eh
(Ee)
Ee
Eh
T3
Eh
Ee
Eh
f
mf
f
Eh
A3
Ee
mf
Eh
A2
(Ee)
mf
Eh
Eh
Ee
mf
Eh
mp
Ee
A
Eh
mp
f
Ee
Oo
4 21
S1
mf
mp
Oo
S2
Oh
mf
mp
Oh
S3
Eh
mf
mp
Oo
A1
mf
mp
p
Oh
Oh
mf
Oh
A3
mp
Oo
T1
p
p
T3
mf
Ah
mp
Oh
Eh
mp
p
Oh
B1
B3
mf
Oh
p
Oo
mf
Eh
mp
Oh
mp
Oo
mf
Oh
Eh
Eh
B2
Oh
mf
Ah
Oo
Oo
mp
Eh
Eh
T2
p
Oh
mf
mp
Eh
mf
Oo
A2
Eh
mp
p
Ee
5 27
S1
Ah
S2
p
pp
Oo
Ah
p S3
pp
Eh
A1
Ah
pp
Ah
pp
A2
Ah
pp A3
pp
T1
T2
p
Oo
T3
pp
Ah
B1
p
B3
Ee
B2
pp
Ah
Ah
pp
6
pp 33
S1
B q = 132 f
Bah
f S2
S3
Dah
Yah
A1
f
A2
A3
Tah
Bah
Dah
Fah
Yah
T1
(Ah)
f
pp
T2
Ah
T3
Dah
Fah
Yah
Pah
(Ah)
f
pp
B2
B3
(Ah)
Dah
Fah
Kah
Yah
Jah
f
Tah
Bah
Ah
Gah
f
B1
Jah
Kah
(Ah)
Tah
Bah
f
Gah
f
Jah
Pah
Kah
f
Gah
f
Jah
Pah
Kah
f
Pah
Gah
Tah
Fah
7 43
S1
Foo
S2
Too
S3
Joo
A1
A2
Too
A3
T1
Too
T3
B1
B2
Too
B3
Poo
Joo
Boo
Koo
Doo
Yoo
Foo
Boo
Doo
Koo
Goo
Joo
Poo
Yoo
Foo
T2
Goo
Boo
Doo
Koo
Joo
Poo
Goo
Yoo
Foo
Doo
Boo
Poo
Yoo
Goo
Koo
8 pp
52
S1
Ee Oh Ah
S2
Ah Oo Ee
S3
Oh Ee Oo
Eh Oo Ah
Ee Eh Oh
Oh Eh Ee
Ah Oo Ee
Oo Ah Eh
f
Oo pp
A1
Ee Oh Ah
Eh Oo Ah
Ee Eh Oh
Oo
A2
A3
Ah Oo Ee
Oh Eh Ee
Oh Ee Oo
Ah Ee Eh
Ah Oo Ee
Ee
Ah
Oh
T1
Ee Oh Ah
T2
Ah Oo Ee
T3
Oh Ee Oo
Oo
Eh Oo Ah
Ee Eh Oh
Oo
Ee
Oh Eh Ee
Eh
Ah
Ah Ee Eh
Ah Oo Ee
Oo Ah Eh
Oh
f
Eh
See
f
Oh pp
Ah
f
Oo
Ah pp
Oh
B1
Ee Oh Ah
Eh Oo Ah
Ee Eh Oh
Oo
B2
Ah Oo Ee
f
Oo
Oh Eh Ee
Ah Oo Ee
Eh
f
B3
Oh Ee Oo
Ah Ee Eh
Oo Ah Eh
Oh
Oo
f
Ah
Pee
Pee
pp
Jee
Ee
Jee
pp
Jee f
Ee pp
Ah
pp
See
Eh
See f
pp
f
Kee
Eh
Oo Ah Eh
pp
Kee
Oh
pp
Kee f
Eh pp
Ah Ee Eh
C
f
Pee
9
S1
f
S2
f
f
59
Zee
Zee
S3
A2
A3
T1
T2
f
T3
f
B1
Nee
f
Zee
f
Tee
Bee
f
Bee
f
Zee f
Tee
B3
Zee f
Tee f
B2
f
Nee
Gee
Nee
Gee
f
Gee
f
f
Mee
Mee f
f
Mee f
Yee
f A1
Yee f
Zee
Yee f
f
f Bee
10 fp
65
S1
fp
Doh fp
S2
Doh
A1
A2
Toh
Noh
fp
Toh fp
A3
Toh
T1
T2
Moh fp
T3
B1
B2
B3
Zoh
Yoh
Koh fp
Koh
Soh fp
Soh fp
Soh
fp
Goh fp
Yoh fp
fp
Koh fp
Yoh fp
Zoh
fp
Zoh fp
fp
Boh
fp
Moh
Poh
Boh fp
fp
Boh
f
fp
fp
Poh
fp
Moh
Noh
fp
Noh fp
Poh f
fp
fp
Joh
fp
Joh fp
fp S3
Joh fp
Doh
f
Goh
fp
Goh
11
S1
73 D
f
Mee
Oh
f
S2
Mee
Oh
f
S3
f
A1
A2
A3
Oh
Too f
Ee
Oh
Too
Ee
Oh
Oo
Kah f
T3
Kah
B1
Beh Ah
Ee
Goh
Oo
Pah
Oo
Oo
Goh
Pah
Foo
Ee
f
Goh
f Beh Ah
B3
Oo
Foo
Pah
Jeh
Foo
Ee
f Beh Ah
B2
Oo
Ah
Ee
Jeh
Too
f
T2
Oh
Ah
Kah
Mee
Jeh
f
T1
Ah
f
Eh
See
Oo
See
See
Oh
See
Zoo
Ah
Ah
Ah
Zoo
See
Ah
Zoo
Oo
Zoo
Eh
Oh
Oh
Ee
Ah
Zoo
Ee
E
Zoo
Eh
Oo
Ee
See
Ah
Oo
Oo
Oo
Oo
Bah
Oo
Sah
Oo
Mah
12 77
S1
ff
Gah
S2
Seh
ff
Pah
S3
Teh
ff
Jah
A1
Beh
ff
Zeh
ff
Kah
T1
ff
Yeh
ff
Tah
T3
Jeh
Zah
T2
ff
Nah
A3
Keh
Yah
A2
Peh
ff
Dah
Meh
ff
B1
Deh
ff
B2
Geh
ff
B3
Neh
fff
84
S1
13
rit.
3
Mee
fff
S2
3
Gee fff
S3
3
Zee
fff A1
3
Pee
fff A2
3
Nee fff
A3
3
fff T1
Kee
3
Tee fff
T2
3
Bee fff
T3
3
Dee
fff
B1
3
See fff
B2
3
Jee fff
B3
Yee
F
14
q = 60
92
S1
pp
mp
Hmm
f
mp
Ah
(hummed with mouth closed)
S2
mp
Hmm (hummed with mouth closed)
S3
mp
Hmm
pp
f
mp
Oh
(hummed with mouth closed)
pp
mp A1
Hmm
f
mp
Ah
(hummed with mouth closed)
A2
mp
Hmm (hummed with mouth closed)
A3
mp
Hmm (hummed with mouth closed)
T1
f
mp
Oh
pp
mp
pp
Hmm
f
mp
Ah
(hummed with mouth closed)
T2
mp
Hmm (hummed with mouth closed)
T3
mp
Hmm
pp
f
mp
Oh
(hummed with mouth closed)
pp
mp B1
Hmm
f
mp
Ah
(hummed with mouth closed)
B2
mp
Hmm (hummed with mouth closed)
B3
mp
Hmm (hummed with mouth closed)
pp
f
Oh
mp
15 99
S1
mp
Hmm
f
pp
S2
mp
Oh
pp
mp S3
Hmm
A1
f
Oo
mp
Hmm
pp
A2
f
mp
Eh
pp
mp A3
Hmm
T1
f
Oo
mp
Hmm
pp
T2
mp
f
Oh
pp
mp T3
Hmm
B1
f
Oo
mp
Hmm
pp B2
mp
f
Eh
mp B3
Hmm
pp
Oo
f
16
G
104
S1
pp
f
mp
f
mp
Ah
mp
S2
pp
Hmm
mp S3
Ee
mp
Hmm
A1
pp
f
mp
f
mp
Ah
pp
mp
A2
Hmm
mp A3
Eh
mp
Hmm
pp T1
f
mp
pp
f
mp
Ah
mp
T2
Hmm
mp T3
Ee
mp
Hmm
pp B1
f
mp
pp
f
mp
Ah
mp B2
Hmm
mp B3
Eh
mp
Hmm
109
S1
H
mp
17
Hmm
S2
pp
mp
Hmm
S3
mp
mp
Oh
pp
f
f
mp
A1
Hmm
mp
Ee
Hmm
mp
Hmm
A2
pp
mp
Hmm
mp
mp
Oh
pp A3
f
f
mp
Hmm
mp
Ee
T1
pp
Hmm
mp
Hmm
f
mp
mp
Ah
Hmm
mp
T2
Hmm
T3
pp
f
mp
mp
Eh
B1
Hmm
pp
mp
Hmm
f
mp
mp
Ah
Hmm
mp B2
Hmm
pp B3
Eh
f
mp
mp
Hmm
18 115
S1
pp
f
mp
mp
Oo
f
mp
mp
Ah
pp
Hmm
f
Oh
pp S3
Hmm
pp S2
f
mp
Ah
pp A1
f
mp
mp
Oo
Hmm
A2
pp
f
mp
Ee
pp A3
f
mp
pp
mp
Ah
Hmm
T1
f
Oo
pp
f
mp
Eh
pp
f
T2
mp
mp
Ee
f
mp
B1
f
B2
f
mp
f
Ah
pp
Hmm
f
Eh
mp
Ee
B3
mp
mp
Oh
pp
Hmm
pp
pp
mp
Oh
Hmm
pp T3
Hmm
pp
f
Oo
mp
19 pp
121
S1
f
Oh
mp
S2
S3
f
Oh pp
f
Oh
pp A1
Ah pp
A2
f
f
f
Ah
T1
pp
pp
T3
mp B1
pp
Oo pp
B2
pp
B3
Yah fff
Yah fff
Yee fff
f
Yee fff
f
f
f
Yee
fff
Yoo fff
Oo
fff
Ee
Ee
pp
mp
Yoh fff
fff
f
Ee
T2
Yah
fff
Yoh
Ah pp
mp A3
Yoh
pp
fff
Oo
Yoo
fff
f
Yoo