Leon - Ethos

Tania León Ethos for Piano and String Quartet

Contents I. In the cage where the heart paces ............................ 1 II. blaze of lights ........................................................ 16 III. Viridian. Ochre. Cobalt blue. .............................. 30

Ethos (2013) is dedicated to Isaiah Sheffer (1935-2012), co-founder and Artistic Director of Symphony Space, New York City, and host of the radio series “Selected Shorts.” It was commissioned by Symphony Space with support from the New York State Council on the Arts Individual Artists Program, and written for Ursula Oppens and the Cassatt Quartet, who gave the premiere.

Ethos is a work with a range of stylistic devices, influences, and references from Western music, evoking traditional roots of a diverse mixture of ideas and traditions. I gratefully acknowledge the generosity of Susannah Sheffer for offering her poems, which inspired the titles of the movements; and of Ethel Sheffer for lending me CDs that were dear to Isaiah. One CD in particular, sung by Moishe Oysher, resonated with the intention of the piece. Two selections from the CD were sources of inspiration for the first two movements of the work: “Greene Bletter” (a Yiddish folk song) in the first movement; and “Hayom” (a cantorial song performed during Rosh Hashanah) in the second.

I. In the cage where the heart paces The work opens with a series of meditative chords in a slow processional pace of movement and stillness. The processional pace gives way to a myriad of propelling lines in contrast to a series of emerging rhythmical structures.

A multitude of fast passages in swirling motions, while notated, may be perceived as improvised.

II. blaze of lights In the second movement, the whirlpool of propulsive rhythmic impulses weave into tapestries and mixtures of different musical worlds. Calls and responses evoke conversational interactions for traditional chamber music participation. The movement ends with a fragment inspired by the Cantorial song “Hayom,” recalling the slow processional pace of movement and stillness.

III. Viridian. Ochre. Cobalt blue.

The third movement may be translated as my homage to a joyful spirit that is characteristically jazzy. A distinctive sonic territory engulfed in a liberal mix of Latin and jazz musical elements is imbued with a final whirlpool of rhythmic pulses.

—Tania León

Titles of the movements are from “This Kind of Knowing” Copyright © 2013 by Susannah Sheffer All rights reserved.

First Edition Cooper Dillon Books San Diego, California www.CooperDillon.com Used by permission of Susannah Sheffer I. From the poem WHAT HAPPENS (page 1) II. From the poem FLYING AGAIN (page 18) III. From the poem IN THE STUDIO (page 25)

in memory of Isaiah Sheffer written for Ursula Oppens and Cassatt String Quartet

Ethos I. In the cage where the heart paces, Tania León

Meditative, very peaceful q = 40

Violin I Violin II

Viola

Violoncello

6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4

Meditative, very peaceful q = 40

l.v.

6 4 Piano

ppp

3

6

6 4

pp

4

* p

pp * pp * p

pp *

p

pp 3 3

pp

7

3 3

mp

* The l.v. tie indicates extend the pitch briefly.

The notation in these measures is proportional. © Copyright 2014 by IROKO Music Songs of Peer, Ltd., Administering Publisher for the World International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved.

pp

2 sul tasto 8

pp ghostly

p

3

3

3

3

p pp

poco rall.

11

q = 46

poco accel. ord.

3 4

con sord.

6 4

III

ppp

pp

con sord.

3 4

6 4

II

III

ppp

3 4

pp

con sord.

con sord.

q = 46 l.v.

3 4

*Stop tone: press at base of string

mp

6 4

ppp

poco accel.

p

6 4

ppp

3 4

poco rall.

*

3 III

3 4

6 4 6 4

pp

poco

3 14

6 4 6 4 ppp

6 4 6 4

6 4

9

pp

p

6 4

6

poco

Più mosso 16

3

mfpp

3

mp

mfpp

mp 3

I

ppp

mfpp

mfpp 9

pp

3

mp

5 3

mp

Più mosso

poco

4 3

3

18

3

f 3

mp

3

f

3

3

f 3

mp 3

3

3

f

5

3 3

f

5

3

mp

f

3

3

5

3

3 3

f

mp

3

f

3

3

5

sfp

19

3

3

8 4 mf

5

8 4 mf

5 5

3

3

mf

8 4

mf

8 4 5

mp

8 4 mf

8 4

5 20

3

5

8 4

mf 3

5

3

mf 3

6 4

3

3

6 4 6 4

5 3

3

mf

5

3

3

6 4

3

l.v.

8 4

21

6 4

mf

mf

8 4

3

5

3

mf

8 4

3

mf

5

8 4

6 4

mf

5

8 4

3

5

6 4

A tempo q=46

sul tasto

3

3

3

mp

6 4

3

3

sul tasto

mp 5

6 4 mp

6 4 6 4

A tempo q=46

sul tasto

poco

6 4 mf

3

mp

3

6 22

breve

via sord.

breve

via sord.

breve

via sord.

breve

via sord.

3

n

breve

5

6

5

6

breve

6

mp

senza sord. ord.

23

mf

* molto

senza sord. ord.

* molto

senza sord. ord.

* molto

senza sord.

* molto

3

5

mp

3

3

5

5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4

3

mp

3

mf *Cut off with accent

5 4

3

5 4

3

p

7 25

7

5 4 5 4 5 4

mp

10

6 4

poco a poco cresc.

6 4

3

mp poco a poco cresc.

6 4

mp

5 4

6 4 mp

3

5 4

6 4 mp

5 4

3

mf

(mf )

6 4

poco accel.

26

6 4

4 4

mp

6 4 6 4

4 4

mp

4 4

mp

6 4

4 4 mp sub.

poco accel.

6 4

4 4 7 3

6 4 mp

3

mp

4 4

8 27

4 4

q = 40

accel.

a tempo s. glis

mp

mp

pp

4 4

. gliss

mp

mp

pp

mp

mp

pp

mp

mp

pp

4 4 4 4 q = 40

. gliss

accel. a tempo

4 4 4 4

s. glis

n

mf

accel.

a tempo

29

mp mp

mp

mp

a tempo

accel.

f

mf

9 31

pizz.

f

p

q = 40 6

32

f

7 8

3 4

6 6

6

7 8

f

f

mp

6

arco

6

f

q = 40

6

7 8 6

6

3

3

mp

poco

poco 3

mp

3 4

poco

7 8 7 8

3 4

mp

6

7 8

6

3 4

6

3 4 mp

3 4

10 34

q = 40

accel.

3 4

6

mf

3 4

6 4

mf

mf

mf

6 4

6

3 4

6 4 mf

mf 6 6

3 4

6

6

6

6 4

mf

q = 40

accel.

3 4

6 4 pp

3 4

mp

6 4 f

36

6 4

6

3 4 poco

6 4

6

6

poco

6

poco

mp

6

6

6

6 4 mp

6

6

3 4

6

6

6 4

3 4

poco

6

6

3 4 6

6 4

3 4

6 4

3 4

11 37

Poco più mosso

3 4

4 4

mp

3 4

mf

mp

3 4

4 4 4 4

mp

3 4

4 4 mp

Poco più mosso

3 4 3 4

4 4 mf

mp

4 4

accel.

39

4 4 fp

4 4

pp sub.

4 4 pp sub.

4 4 pp sub.

accel.

4 4 4 4

mp

12 41

2 4 mp

3

2 4

mf

2 4

3 3

mp

5

2 4

5

f

mf

2 4 mf

f

2 4

sempre rubato al giusto 42

irregular

3

2 4 f

3

5

p rubato

2 4 mf

2 4 2 4 2 4 2 4

sempre rubato al giusto

(e)

3

13 45

al sord.

p

5

2 4

3 4

2 4

3 4

2 4

3 4

2 4

3 4

2 4

3 4

2 4

5

5

p

p

48

3 4

poco

3

2 4

3 4

3

mf

2 4

al sord.

3 4

3

2 4

al sord.

3

3

mf

3 4

mp

2 4

3 4 fp

2 4

3 4 mf

2 4

3 4

14 51

con sord. non vib.

3 4 con sord. non vib.

3 4 con sord. non vib.

3 4 3 4

al sord.

con sord. non vib.

pp

pp

3 4 12

3 4

54

accel.

molto rit.

pp

molto rit. accel.

pp

pp

15 ord.

non vib.

56

pp

ppp

non vib.

ord.

ppp

pp

non vib.

ord. ppp

pp

non vib.

ord.

ppp

pp

p

3 3

10

3 3

10

via sord.

58

via sord.

via sord.

via sord.

3

10

16

II. blaze of lights Allegro moderato 60

3 16

pizz.

3 8

f

3 pizz.

16

arco

3 8

3

f

3 16

5

arco

pizz.

arco

3 8

f

3 16

pizz.

arco

3 8

f

5

Allegro moderato

3 16

3 8

3 16

3 8

5

64

6 16

3 8

6 16

3 8

mf

mf

6 16

3 8 mf

6 16

5

3 8 mf

6 16 6 16

3 8 mf

3 8

17

68

pizz.

3 16

2 4

3 4

2 4

3 4

2 4

3 4

2 4

3 4

3 16

2 4

3 4

3 16

2 4

f pizz.

3 16 f

3 16 3

f

pizz.

3

pizz.

3 16

arco

f

arco 71

mf

2 4

6 16

2 4

6 16

mp

mf 3

arco

2 4

6 16

mf

3

3 4

2 4

6 16

mf

3 4 3 4

mp

arco 3

3 4

7

3

3 4 3 4

6

mp pizz.

mp

2 4 2 4

6 16 5

6 16

3 4

18 74

9 16

6 16

9 16

6 16 mf

pizz.

9 16

6 16

mp

mf

9 16

arco

6 16 f

9 16

6 16

mp leggero

mf

9 16

6 16

77

2 8 mp

mp

2 8 poco

2 8 p arco

2 8

( ) mf

mp

2 8 2 8

19 82

2 8

6 16

2 8

6 16

mf

poco

2 8 2 8

6 16

3 8

mf

6 16 3

3 8

mf

pizz.

3 8

mf

poco

85

3 8

2 8

6 16

3 8

2 8

6 16

3 8

3

3

3 8

2 8

6 16

2 8

6 16

2 8

6 16

2 8

6 16

3 8

2 8

6 16

3 8

2 8

6 16

mf

3 8

mf

mp

f 3

3 8 mp

3 8

mf

mp

3

mp

p arco

3

f

mf

mp

mf

mf

20 89

6 16 mp

poco

6 16 mp

6 16

pizz. mp

mf

poco

6 16

pizz. mf

6 16 mf

6 16

94

mf

mp

mf

mp arco

pizz.

21 99

mf

arco

mp

mp

mf

mp

arco

mp

mf

104

mf

mp

4

4 4

mf

mf

4

mf

4

4

22 109

2 4 p

2 4 p

2 4

mp

p

mp

2 4 2 4

mp

mf

9

2 4 9

113

2 4

6 16 p

2 4

6 16 p

2 4

6 16 p

2 4

6 16 mp

p

2 4

6 16 7

2 4

mp

6

p leggero

6 16

23 117

2 4 mp pizz.

arco mp

pizz.

arco

mp

mp

2 4 2 4 2 4 2 4

13

mp

121

mf

12 3 16 ( 4 )

2 4

mf

2 4

12 3 16 ( 4 )

2 4

12 ( 3 ) 16 4

2 4

12 ( 3 ) 16 4

2 4

12 3 16( 4)

mp

12 3 16 ( 4 )

6

6

mf

mf

2 4

2 4

6

24 6

123

6

6

5

5

6

6

5

5

mf

6

3

mf

6

125

6

6 5

5

5

5

5

3

( )

mf

25 6

127

6

6 5

5

mf

5

5

5

3

mf

3

rall.

129

p

mf

p

mf

p

mf

p

mf

rall.

mf

3

3 3

26 132

a tempo

mfp

6 16 6 16

mfp

6 16 mfp

6 16 mfp

a tempo

mf

6 16

n

6 16

135

f

f

f

f

f

mf

27 138

3 4 poco a poco dim.

3 4

poco a poco dim.

3 4 poco a poco dim.

3 4 poco a poco dim.

3 4 3 4

141

3

Senza tempo ca. 7"

4 4

3

3

3

3

9

4 4

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

3 4 Senza tempo ca. 7"

n 44

10

3 4

4 4

3

f (senza pedal, let sound decay)

3 4 3 4

28

144

Flowing, molto espressivo, poco rubato q=ca. 78

3 4

con sord.

3 4

con sord.

pp

4 4 4 4

pp con sord.

3 4

pp

con sord.

3 4

4 4 4 4

pp

Flowing, molto espressivo, poco rubato q=ca. 78

3 4

4 4

mp

3 4

3

3

4 4

*Based on the Hebrew Cantorial "Hayom Haras Olom" on the occasion of Rosh Hashana

150

3

3

3 4

4 4

3

3 4

4 4

3

3 4

3

3 4

3

3

3 4

3

3

3 4

3

3

3

4 4 4 4

3

3 4

3

3 4

3

3

3 4 3 4

3

4 4 4 4

3

3

3 4 3 4

29

154

Senza tempo ca. 5-7"

3 4

4 4

2 4

3 4

3

3 4

3

4 4

2 4

3 4

3 4

3

4 4

2 4

3 4

3 4

3

4 4

2 4

3 4 Senza tempo ca. 5-7"

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

3

p

2 4

3 4

2 4

3 4

(senza pedal, let sound decay)

30

III. Viridian. Ochre. Cobalt blue.

158

q = 60 Jazz feel with rubato

3 4 3 4 3 4 3

3 4 f

q = 60 Jazz feel with rubato

3 4 3 4

G. P.

160

f

5

3 G. P.

*begin f, after 2 beats, begin fluctuating dynamics between f and mp

31 164

3

3

5 5

3

3

166

G. P.

G. P.

f

171

3

3 3

3

3 5

3

5

32

G. P.

173

G. P.

5

177

f

3

179

3

5

3

5 4

4 4 f

3

3

3

3

5

3

5

5 4

4 4

5 4

4 4

5 4

4 4

5

33

182

4 4 sfz

f

4 4 sfz

f

4 4 sfz

4 4 sfz

f

f

sfz

4 4 4 4

sfz

sfz

188

sfz

sfz

sfz

sfz

mf

34 192

3 4

sfz

3 4 sfz

3 4 sfz

3 4 sfz

3 4 mf

9 10

3 4

3

mf 195

sfz

6

sfz

sfz

sfz

sfz

sfz

sfz

sfz 6

6

6 6

f

6

35 196

2 4 mf

4 4

sfz

2 4 mf

4 4 sfz

2 4 mf

4 4 sfz

2 4 mf

4 4 sfz

2 4 2 4

4 4 mf

4 4

mf

201 q=56

5

4 4

mp cresc.

5

4 4

mp cresc.

5

5

5

5

4 4 mp cresc.

4 4 5

mp cresc.

q=56

4 4 5

4 4

mf

5

5

36 202

3 4 mf

3 4 mf

3 4 mf

3 4 mf

5

3 4 6

6

7

mf

mp

3 4 5

205

4 4

Poco rubato

mp

4 4

3

3

sfz mp

4 4

3

mp

3

4 4 mp

4 4 sfz

p

cresc.

4 4

Poco rubato

37 3

209

A tempo q=56

3

poco cresc.

poco cresc.

poco cresc.

poco cresc.

A tempo q=56

mf 211

cut off with accent

3 4 mp

4 4

6

3 4

6

mp

cut off with accent

cut off with accent

3 4

4 4 4 4

6

cut off with accent

3 4

4 4

6

3 4

4 4 3

3 4

3

mp

mf

4 4

38 con sord.

213

7

4 4 mp

7

5 4

cresc. con sord.

4 4

mp

5 4 7

7

cresc.

con sord.

4 4

mp

7

7

cresc.

con sord.

4 4

mp

5 4 7

7

cresc.

4 4

5 4

4 4

5 4

q=64 214

5 4

senza sord.

5 4

ff

5 4 5 4 5 4

senza sord.

senza sord.

senza sord.

Recit. poco accel.

pizz.

4 4 sfz

pizz.

4 4

ff

sfz

ff

sfz

4 4

pizz.

5

4 4 mp

q=64

Recit. poco accel.

5 4

4 4

5 4

4 4 mp

3

39 A tempo, poco rubato ad lib.

216 q = 56

arco

3

3

mp

mp

arco

3

mp

mp

3

sfz p

arco

3

3

mp

mp

mf

mf

218 Poco meno mosso

2 4

mp 3

poco cresc.

3

7

3 4

3

mf

2 4

3

3 4

poco cresc.

mp

mf

2 4

3

poco cresc. mp

3

2 4 mp

222

5

3 4

mf

7

7

3 4 7

poco cresc. mf

Recitativo ad lib.

4 4 4 4 4 4 5

mf

4 4 3

40 223

4 4

A tempo, molto ritmico

f

4 4 f

4 4 f

4 4 4 4

A tempo, molto ritmico

f

f

4 4

224

3

5

5

5 5

sfz

3

sfz

3

sfz 3

sfz

3

sfz

41 226

mf

mf

mf

mf

mf sfz

228

f

42 229

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

f

f

f

f

231

4 4

2 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

mf

2 4

43

pizz.

233

3 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

2 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

3 4 3 4

pizz.

pizz.

pizz.

236

2 4

4 4

6 8

4 4

6 8

4 4

6 8

4 4

6 8

2 4

4 4

6 8

2 4

4 4

6 8

sfz

2 4 sfz

2 4 sfz

2 4

sfz

44 239 q=60

6 8

arco sul tasto

arco sul tasto

6 8

senza vib. con sord.

pp senza vib. con sord.

ppp

pp arco sul tasto

6 8

arco sul tasto

6 8

ppp

senza vib. con sord. pp senza vib. con sord.

ppp

pp

ppp

q=60

6 8 6 8

mf

senza tempo 244

3 8

pppp

ca. 10" without motion

3 8

pppp

3 8

pppp

3 8

pppp

3 8 pp

senza tempo

3 8 New York, Jan. 2014