Weir BLOND ECKBERT (Pocket version) - Vocal score

Vocal Score

Judith Weir

BLOND ECKBERT after Ludwig Tieck’s Der blonde Eckbert

Pocket Version (2006)

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SYNOPSIS Act 1 Flying Prelude A bird is telling a story to a dog: ‘In a region of the Harz Mountains, there lived a man who was known as the Blond Eckbert. He led a secluded life, and was never involved in the feuds of his neighbours’. Eckbert’s home becomes visible, situated amidst the wild beauty of a mountain landscape.

Scene 1: Eckbert and Berthe At Home Eckbert and Berthe are in their drawing room. Eckbert is anxiously awaiting the arrival of his friend Walther.

Scene 2: Walther has arrived Walther arrives and tells enthusiastically of his travels on the mountain, and of its natural wonders. He asks to stay the night. Eckbert suggests that, to pass the last hours before midnight, Berthe should tell Walther the story of her youth ‘because it’s very strange and interesting’. Berthe agrees to do this – the first time she has spoken this evening – but she asks Walther ‘do not take my story for a fairy tale, however strange it may seem’.

Scene 3: Berthe’s Ballad Berthe tells her story in the form of an extended drawing-room ballad. The actors and scenery in her story emerge from the confines of the drawing room – from behind the sofa, from under the rug, and so on. Or perhaps she simply shows Walther a home-movie of her life. The bird and dog play the parts of the bird and the dog in this story.

Her story is basically this: ‘I was born into a peasant family. I was thought of as stupid and clumsy.

Eventually my parents were so angry with me that I escaped from home. I passed through difficult, hilly country until I came to a lush mountain pasture. An old woman found me, exhausted and starving, and took me to live in her house. She had a pet dog with which I used to play – I’ve forgotten its name – and a bird in a cage, which said intelligent things, and laid precious stones instead of eggs. The woman taught me to spin, which I turned out to be brilliantly talented at, and she was very pleased with me. Presently she took to leaving me at home working, whilst she went on long expeditions.

Years passed in this way, and I was content, but I was still curious about my family, and eventually my curiosity got the better of me. One day, after the old woman went out, I tied up the dog, took a pocketful of the precious stones, and left with the bird in its cage. But as I travelled, the bird, still talkative, became abusive and accusatory, so I let it out of the cage and it flew away. After a long journey I arrived back at the village of my youth, but there was no-one there who remembered me – my parents were long since dead. I sold the precious stones, and with the wealth that this gave me, settled down in the district. I met Eckbert and we got married – we are still living on the proceeds of those precious stones, as Eckbert had no wealth of his own’. Leaving to go to bed, Walther thanks Berthe: ‘you told the story so vividly – I could just imagine you playing with that friendly little dog, Strohmian’: he goes up to bed.

Scene 4: Strohmian!

Strohmian! It is a Hitchcockian moment. How did Walther know the name which Berthe has never been able to remember? Berthe also leaves for bed, fascinated; but Eckbert stays in the room, alone, and his illease takes him over. He replays the scene in his mind (and perhaps visibly) over and over – each time he thinks about it, Walther appears to be a more malevolent character. The night passes in this way. As dawn breaks, Eckbert hears Walther leaving the house unobtrusively, off on another mountain walk. Eckbert follows him out, taking a crossbow with him.

Act II Prelude: Walther’s Death A cold outdoor landscape. Walther walks through the trees absorbed in studying the leaves and the moss that he finds growing. Eckbert stalks him; eventually he shoots. The arrow’s course is seen in very slow motion – an aerial ballet. Walther drops dead, and Eckbert rushes away.

Scene 1: Berthe’s Last Words Out of the darkness following Walther’s death, Berthe emerges, anxious and on her deathbed, writing a letter to Eckbert. She describes her bewilderment and terror at Walther’s revelations.

Scene 2: Accusation Eckbert finds himself alone in urban surroundings. A stranger emerges from the throng, and introduces himself as Hugo. With warmth and kindness, Hugo befriends Eckbert, and calms him down somewhat.

As they walk Eckbert tells Hugo his version of the story; at first he feels that Hugo receives what he says sympathetically, but then, suddenly, he begins to think that Hugo is growing suspicious and critical of him. As they meet other walkers, it seems to Eckbert that Hugo is taking them aside and warning them about his evil nature. Then, as he looks at Hugo, he sees Walther’s face. Eckbert runs away.

Scene 3: Eckbert, fugitive In seclusion, Eckbert finds himself in the countryside, in the landscape described by Berthe in her ballad.

It is a jagged and uncomfortable journey. At one point he seems to recognise a passer by – as Walther.

Scene 4: At the End Eventually, at the crest of a hill, he sees the old woman’s house; the dog is playing; the bird is chattering away. The way is barred by the old woman, who tells Eckbert ‘I was Walther; I was Hugo’ – and she reveals herself briefly as both these characters. Then she tells Eckbert ‘Berthe was your sister; your parents abandoned her in that village’. Eckbert cries ‘Why have I always imagined this dreadful thing?’.

She replies ‘In your childhood you once heard your father talk about it; he could not keep his daughter, because she was the child of another woman. She was raised by a shepherd.’

At this moment – at the extreme point of Eckbert’s agony – the bird closes off the scene, finishing the story she has been telling for the duration of the opera, and flies away, chased by the dog.

The original version of this work was commissioned by English National Opera with funds provided by the Geoffrey C. Hughes Charitable Trust. It was first performed by English National Opera at the London Coliseum on 20th April 1994.

The Pocket Version was commissioned by The Opera Group and Sequitur. It was first performed on 14th June 2006, at Linbury at the Royal Opera House, London, by The Opera Group (Owen Gilhooly, baritone; Heather Shipp, mezzo-soprano; Claire Wild, soprano; Mark Wilde, tenor; Patrick Bailey, conductor).

CAST Blond Eckbert

baritone

Berthe, his wife

mezzo-soprano

Walther, his friend/Hugo, his friend/An old woman

tenor

A bird

soprano

A dog

non-singing role

Chorus (Act II Scene 2 only)

S.A.T. (sung by members of the cast)

ORCHESTRA Oboe 2 clarinets in B (2nd doubling bass clarinet) 2 horns in F Harp 2 violins 2 cellos

Duration: c. 60 minutes Study score on sale: Order No. CH71016 Vocal score on sale: Order No. CH71016-01 Conductor's score, vocal score and parts on hire

Blond Eckbert Judith Weir

Act I Flying Prelude = 72 : Animato

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PIANO 3

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A bird flies across the stage, pursued by a dog.

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Š Copyright 2006 Chester Music Ltd.

CH71016-01

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energico

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Bird Ah.

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Bird Ah.

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The bird settles 52 Bird Ah.

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down, and begins to tell the dog a story.

55 Bird ...in

.

a

re

gion

of

the

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Bird Harz

moun tains,

there lived a

man who was known as the

Blond

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Eckbert’s home becomes visible, situated amidst the wild beauty of a mountain landscape

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3

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Bird Eck

bert.

He

led

a

se clud ed

life,

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67

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Bird and was

ne ver in volved in the feuds of his

neigh

bours.

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sempre 3

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72 Bird

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His

wife

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.

6 77

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Bird loved

so

li

tude as much as

he;

they ap

peared

to

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81 Bird love each

o

ther deep

85

ly.

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Bird Mo de

ra

tion

reigned

in

his home;

tem

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89

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Bird go verned his house hold.

3 3

.

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3

pe rance

7 93 Bird On his own,

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Bird a

cer

tain re

serve

stole

o

ver

him,

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3 3

3

102

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Bird a

still,

re

tir

ing

me lan cho

ly.

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3

attacca

Scene 1: Eckbert and Berthe At Home Eckbert and Berthe, at home in their drawing room.

Eckbert stares out of the window.

Berthe is absorbed in some domestic task.

107

= 116 : con fuoco 3

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3 3

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.

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8 111

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115

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119 3 3 3

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123 3 3

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3 3

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127

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3 3 .

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131

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3 3

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3 3

135

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139

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quiet, withdrawn 144

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Eck. How

late

it

is, 3 3

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149

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10 3

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153

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157

3 3

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161

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166 Eck. How

sul len the

sky.

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171

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11 3

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175

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3 3

179

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183

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= 80: Animato 188

suddenly, a little animated

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Eck. How

soon the clouds

fly

past.

Is that a

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192

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Eck. 3

light

in the dis

tance?

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12 195

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Bird A fre quent 3

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guest was named Wal ther* 3

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Bird to whom he 3

at

tached

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him self

af

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3 3

201

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Bird find ing his

way

of

think

ing

the

same as

his

own.

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3 3

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again, more detached 204

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Eck. 3

He seems to know the paths

well.

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* Walther: anglicised pronunciation (soft ‘w’, hard ‘th’). .

3

ter

13 207

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Bird Wal 3 3

211

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,

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Bird ther’s home was in

Fran

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co

nia, 3 3

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3 3

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Bird But he of ten vi

si

ted Eck

bert’s neigh

bour hood,

ga ther ing plants 3

3 3

and stones,

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217

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Bird and sort

ing them out.

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Eck. 3

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He seems to

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.

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14 220

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Bird He 3

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lived

on a

le

ga

cy,

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Eck. come near er, then far

ther a

way.

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Bird and was con nec ted with no one.

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a little animated Eck.

Can it be 3

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227

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Bird

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Eck bert

fre quent ly

Eck. Wal

ther?

It’s so

late!

3 3

.

joined

15 231

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Bird him,

in

his

se

que

stered walks,

and their friend

ship

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Bird grew

e

ver more in

ti mate.

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(to himself) Eck.

There 3

are

times 3

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3 3 3

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237 Eck. when it is a grief

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240 Eck. to have

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16 244

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Eck. a ny sec rets at all.

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248

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poco

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Eck. In

such hours,

the

soul

longs

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to

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3 3

3

251

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Eck. dis

close

to

a

friend;

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Eck. in

such

mo

ments

the

gen

tle

re veal

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3

.

17 257

3

3

Eck. them

selves,

and

yet

it

can

hap

pen

that

one

can

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3 3

3

260

Eckbert sees Walther’s face through the window.

3

Eck. - coil

with fear from the

3

face of the o

ther:

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3

Scene 2: Walther Has Arrived Walther enters. In the first moments, he appears in a sinister light, but when he starts to sing, he is amiable and disarmingly enthusiastic. He is perhaps festooned with greenery and specimens gathered during his recent expedition.

= 96: Misterioso

3

264

3

268

3

3

.

re

18

272

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275

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278

3

3

3

Walt.

8

I

found my

path,

deep in the

3 3

3

3

281

3

3

3

with

the

3

3

3

Walt.

8

moun tains, 3

rush ing of wa ter and rus tle of

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.

3

3

trees;

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284

3

3

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3

Walt.

8

I

mused

on

how

I had

left my fa mi

liar home, 3

3

3

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3

3

287

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Walt.

8

a way from the round of the 3

e ver re cur

ring com mon place.

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3 3

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290

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292

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Walt.

8

I

sat on the bank of a

3

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3 3

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.

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20 295

3

Walt.

8

brook that foamed,

re gret ting

I could not com

pre hend its speech,

3

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3

298

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Walt.

8

but then

I looked, and it seemed I was cheer ful and hap

I seized new cou rage, and 3

3

3

3

py.

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3

301

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Walt.

8

star ted to sing in

a ring

ing voice,

a me lo di ous 3

3

3

304 Walt.

8

3

3

3

3

3 3

3

3

.

3

hunts

man’s song:

21

307

3

3

Walt.

8

Through

310

the

3

3

woods

the

3

3

Walt.

8

horns

re 3

soun

ding, from

the

rocks 3

3

3

the

3

3

cries re boun ding;

3

3 3

313 Walt.

8

‘Wel come, hun ter bro ther hood!’ 3

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3

316

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3 .

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3

22 319

3

3

3

Walt.

8

While

I

sang,

the sun sank

deep in the west, 3

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3

322

3

3

Walt.

8

and there were sha

dows

on

the ground.

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325

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3 3

3

328

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Walt.

8

My

.

dear

est friends,

the hour was

late -

23 331

3

3

I

thought of

Walt.

8

you

3

334

3

3

Walt.

8

at

home

and

safe.

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3

3

3

3

Poco pi첫 mosso 3

3

337

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3

impulsively 339

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3

3

Eck. Stay,

spend the night

in friend ly con

ver sa tion.

3 3

.

3

3

24 (340)

341

3

3

3

Eck.

3

Sleep

3

3

un til mor ning

in

one of our rooms.

3

3

3

342

3

Eck.

3

3 3

ther,

my friend,

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3

3

Wal

3

3

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3

(343)

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3

344

Eck. I have long meant to tell you . . . .

3 3

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3

345

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3

Eck. I

mean,

you must let my wife

ex plain.

3 3 3

.

3

25 (346)

347

3

3

Eck. It 3

3

3

is

the his

to

ry

of

her youth.

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3

3

348 Eck. It

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

is strange,

but

3

3

3

(349)

350

3

They settle down.

Eck. it

will

in

terest you.

351

3

Walt.

8

Glad 3

3 3

.

3

3

3

3

3

ly.

26 353

to Walther, with intensity and concentration

3

Bert.

Pro

mise

me one

thing;

3

3

356

3

Bert. what

e

ver hap pens,

how

e

ver strange

it

3

3

359

3

3

3

Bert. may

sound,

do

3

3

362

3

Bert. for

.

a

fai

ry tale.

not

take

my

sto

ry

27

Scene 3: Berthe’s Ballad

she tells her story with energy and complete involvement.

= 108 : semplice

367

with sudden animation 3

Bert.

I

was born

in

a

small

vil lage,

we lived in

a

hut;

my

fa

ther

3

371 Bert. was

a

poor

shep

herd.

Life

3

375 Bert. did not

go well

for

my

pa rents -

their moods

were black,

and they had no

i 3

379 Bert.

- dea

how they were go

ing

to

feed

and

clothe

a child.

3

3

3

.

28

3 3

383

3

3

3

3

3

387

3

3

3

3

3

Bert.

I

was

awk

ward

and clum sy, I

was

al

ways

3

391

3

3

Bert. drop

ping things;

I

could not

learn to

sew

or spin,

but

I

3

396

3

Bert. un

der

stood

my

pa

rents’ mi

se 3

3 3

.

3

3

3

ry;

I

of

ten

29 399

3

3

Bert. dreamed

of

sud

den

wealth,

and

how

I

would shower

them 3

3

3

3

402

3

3

Bert. with

gold

and

pre

cious

trea

sures.

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405

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410

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.

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30

414

3

3

Bert.

My fa

ther

was

al

ways an

gry

be

cause

I

was

a

bur

3

3

418

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Bert. den

on the house

hold;

he 3

3

3

422

3

3

Bert. pu nished me most

harsh

ly;

I

de 3

3

3 3

3

3

426 Bert.

5

5

5 3

3 .

5

5

ci ded to es 3

3

cape.

3

31

430

3

Bert.

I

crept

out

5

furtive

3

3

434

5

3

3

3

Bert. when day

be gan to

dawn.

I found my self in

3

3

o

pen fields, 3

3 3

3

439

3

5

3

Bert. and then

a

fo

rest

with out the light of

day, 3

5

5

3

5

3

442

3

3

3

Bert. and then through boul ders

to

the moun

tain side; 3

3

.

3

3

3

3

3

3

fear drove me 3

3

3

3

32

446

3

3

Bert. on -

I

al

most

fain

ted

with

ter

ror.

3

3

449

454

eroica

3

Bert.

I

458

ga thered all

my

strength;

3

3

Bert.

I

.

walked

fas

ter and then

I

saw

woods

and mea dows,

dis

tant,

33

462

6

Bert. plea

sant hills,

and then I saw an old 6

3

3

3

466

3

Bert. wo

man

dressed

in

black,

and

she 3

3

3

so

subito

3

470

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Bert. led me to her house

which was with in

a val ley full of birch

trees.

3

3

3

473

3

3

3

3

3

3

Bird Ah.

.

3

Ah.

Ah.

3

3

34

478

3

3

3

3

Bird Ah.

Ah.

Bert.

As

483

3

we

de

3

3

scen

ded,

I

3

heard

a

mar

vel

lous

3

Bird Ah.

Ah.

Bert. song,

487

3

as

3

3

3

3

3

if

from

a

3

Bird Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

Bert. bird,

and

it

sang:

3

3

.

3

3

3

35 suddenly blunt and shrewd 491 Bird * Wald

495

ein

3

sam

3

Bird - keit

I

feel

499

all

right;

A

3

lone

in

3

Bird wood,

things

go

as

they should.

503 Bird Wald

* German pronunciation .

ein

sam

keit.

All

day

and all

night;

a

36

508

staccatissimo

512

3

3

Bird Ah.

Bert.

You would have thought the horn

3

515

and the

3

o

boe were play

ing.

3

3

Bird Ah.

519

3

3

Ah.

3

3

Ah.

3

3

Meno mosso:

= 72

Bird Ah.

Ah.

6

.

6

37

523

3

3

3

Bert.

In

side

the

house

there was the bird

in its

cage,

and

6

526

3

Bert. be

side

it

a

lit tle

dog

was

play

ing.

3

6

[SPOKEN:]

529 Bert.

Now what was his name?

That lit tle dog!

I can never remember....

: deliberate 6

532

3

3

.

3

38

535 Bert.

And

in

the

3

morn

3

3

ing

3

she

3

3

538 Bert. taught me

to

spin,

which

I

ea

si

ly

learned;

sim.

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

541 Bert. and she gave

3

3

3

me

the

3

3

care

3

of the dog

3

3

3

and

3

the bird.

3

3

that

this

544 Bert.

Soon 3

3

.

3

3

3

I

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

felt

3

3

way

it

should

3

3

3

was the

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

39

547 Bert. be;

that the wo man

was

not

ve ry strange,

3

3

550 Bert. and her dwel ling

was

nor

mal

and

com mon,

3

3

3

553 Bert. but the

3

3

3

3

3

556

bird,

3

3

the bird!

3

with its

3

3

3

song

3

3

and its beau

3

3

3

ti

ful

3

3

3

Bert. fea thers

3

.

of

3

my

3

ri

3

3

3

3

3

ad

co

3

lours:

3

3

that was not

40

559 Bert. nor

mal,

that

was

won drous

ly

odd,

and

stran

ger

and

pearls!

562 Bert. far;

it

seemed

to

lay

eggs

which were

je wels

565 Bert.

We stored them

in

jars

,

568 Bert. a

way.

,

.

and

hid

them

by

41

571 Bert.

Time

passed,

and

I

was

574 Bert. trus

ted:

she would

tra

vel

lit

tle

a

far

577 Bert. and

leave

me

in

so

li

tude.

580 Bert.

My

.

spin

ning

wheel hummed,

the

dog barked,

the

42 583 Bird Ah.

Ah.

Bert. mar

vel

lous

bird

sang

its

song:

3

587

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Bird Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

Ah. 3

Bert.

No

3

3

3

one came there by

3

590

3

3

3

3

Bird Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

3

Bert. chance,

3

.

there was

3

3

3

calm all

3

a

round,

and

3

I

ne

3

ver

re

43 593 Bird

Bert.

- mem

ber

a

storm

cloud.

3

596

= 92 : Poco agitato 599

3

3

Bert.

My

602

3

un

der stan

ding grew;

3

Bert. my in

no cence left

me,

3 3

.

the

sun

shone,

44 606 Bert. the

611

trees

glis tened,

I thought of the out

side world.

3

Bert.

I thought of

es

cape!

I

found

the

3

615 3

Bert. mo ment:

I tied up the

dog,

I

seized

the

3

619 Bert. bird,

.

I

stole

the stones....

Down

the path!

45

623

3

3

Bert. through the fo rests and rocks

sensed

be hind me

3

3

627

I

3

3

Bert. the

dis tant

cries

of

the

dog,

the re proach

ful stares

of

3

631

3

Bert. the bird:

it

puffed up its fea

thers

635 Bert. and

fi

nal ly

star

ted

to

sing:

5

5

5

.

5

5

46

638

as if airsick

Bird A

lone

in

a

wood,

I

5

5

5

5

641 Bird don’t feel so good.

5

5

5

3

5

3 5

5

5

644 Bird You

took

me

a

way,

5

5

5 3

3

5

5

647 Bird You did

wrong

and you’ll

pay

All

5

5

.

day

and

47

651 Bird all

night

a

void

wrong

5

5 3

3

5

5

654 Bird and

do

right.

5

5

5

5

5

657

5

Bert.

I

let

5

it

go:

it

5

rose

up

5

in

to

the

air

5

sim.

5

5

sim.

660 Bert. and

flew

a

5

5 5

.

way.

5

5

5

48

Steady

663

666

3

Bert.

I came to a

vil

lage

it was the

670

one

I

had left, years

3

3

Bert. a go:

my

673

pa

rents were dead

3

and

3

no

one

re

mem bered me.

3

Bert.

I sold

a

few

stones

and was

mo derate ly pros

pe rous.

3

.

49

677

3

Bert.

In

a 3

plea

sant

town

I

3

ren

ted a

house

with a

gar den.

3

3

3

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

680

3

3

Bert.

The world

did not

seem

as

I

had

i

ma

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

683

3

Bert. gined it.

I

be

gan

to

for

get,

3 3 3

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

686 Bert. and

I lived quite con tent.

I

met this good man,

3

3

3 3

.

3

50 689

3

Bert. and here my

tale

is

at

an

end.

an impassioned outburst

Eck. You should have seen

her

3

5

693

3

Eck. then -

her

youth,

3

her

grace,

the

in

con cei

va

ble

charm that

her lone

5

3

3

5

698

3

3

3

3

Bert.

It’s grow ing

late!

we must

Eck. - ly

life

had

gi

ven her!

3

3 .

3

3

go

to our

beds!

51 703 Bert.

3

Eck. I

had

no

for tune:

she

brought me pros pe

ri

ty -

our mar

riage has caused us

3

Walther rises, about to retire to bed.

708 Walt.

8

Dear

Eck. no

re grets.

3

714

3

3

Walt.

8

La

dy,

thank

you, 3

3

.

3

52

719

3

3

I

can real ly

Walt.

8

How

well

you

told your tale;

3 3

3

3

724

3

Walt.

8

- ma gine the

bird,

and

3

3

728 Walt.

8

dog,

.

Stroh

mi an.

that

friend

ly

lit

tle

i

53

Scene 4: Strohmian!

Walther leaves for bed: Eckbert and Berthe are left in (separate) amazement.

Eckbert is worried, Berthe fascinated.

732

= 112 : Pi첫 mosso

3 3

737

3

3

3

3

3 3

3

741 3

3

3

3

3

746

3

3

3

5 3

3

751

3

3

.

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

54 756 Bert.

Was

it

by chance?

Was

it

by

Eck. Was

I

not

a

fool?

3

3

3

3

761 Bert. chance?

Eck. I 3

3

3

3

3

3 3

3

766 Eck. my

self made my

wife

tell

her

sto

ry 3

3 3 3

.

55

771 Bert.

Did

he

guess

the

3

3

776 Bert. name?

3

Eck. ‘Stroh

mi an!’

781 Bert.

Did

Eck. Won’t he

a

3

.

buse

our trust?

3

he guess

the

56

786 Bert. name?

Did

he know it?

791 Eck. Won’t he 3

3

3

3

tell

our

tale

to

o

thers?

3

797

3

3

Bert.

Did he

men tion

it

de

li

berate ly?

3

3

3

3

803 Eck. Won’t he 3

.

3

be

seized

by

greed

57

809

for our

pre cious

stones?

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

815

3

3

3

3

3

3

Bert. and

what

does

this

man

have

to

do

with

my

fate?

Eck. Stroh 3 3

3

820 Eck. mi an!

.

58

825 Eck. Won’t

he

be

seized

by

greed

for

5

our

pre

cious

6

stones?

7

3

829

3

Eck. Won’t

he

con

spire

to

6

steal

them?

5

3

Berthe leaves for bed; Eckbert is left alone with his anxiety.

834 Bert.

Stroh 3

3

3

3

mi an!

3

3

3

3

3

3

840

3

3

3

Eck. And 3

3

3

3 .

3

3

when

he

said

"Good night",

59

846

3

3

Eck. was

his

fare well

sin

cere?

3

3

851

3

Eck. Were

his

words

to

me

3

856

3

3

Eck. ho

nest?

Was

3

861

it

na

tu

ral

5

3

Eck. af

.

ter

the

in

ti

mate

words

that were

60

866

5

Eck. said? -

in

ti mate

words! -

3

871

3

Eck. My

sus

pi

3

876

cion

was a

3

roused;

it

3

Eck. will

880

find

con

fir

ma

tion,

3

3

Eck. I

.

re

proach

my

self,

I

re

61

884

3

5

3

5

Eck. proach

888

my self

for

3

my

mis

trust,

but

5

Eck. free

my

self

from it.

The early light of dawn is suddenly apparent; Eckbert sees Walther leaving the house unobtrusively, off on another nature study expedition.

894

3

3

3

3

3

3

900

3

3

907

.

I

can

not

62 3

3

913

After some moments’ thought, Eckbert follows him, picking up his crossbow as he leaves.

918

922

End of Act I

Act II : Prelude Walther’s Death "It was a raw stormy winter day; deep snow lay on the mountains, and bent down the branches of the trees. He roved about; the sweat was standing on his brow. He found no game, and this embittered his ill humour. All at once he saw an object moving in the distance; it was Walther gathering moss from the trunks of trees. Scarcely knowing what he did, he took out an arrow, aimed; Walther looked round and made a threatening gesture, but the arrow was already flying, and Walther fell to the ground." [Ludwig Tieck]

= 60: Melancholy and still

PIANO

3

3 3

4

3

3

3

3 3

3

3 3 3

.

63 6

3

3

3

3

3

3

9

3 3

3

13

17

21 3

.

3

3

3

3

3

64 24

3

3

5

3

3

3

3

27

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

5

3

30

3

33

3

36

3

3

5

6

6 6 5

.

5

6

5

65 5

38

6

5

6

5

6

5

3

3

3

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

6

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

40

3

3

3

3

5

5

3

3

3

5

5

5

5

5 5

3

5

5

5

5

42

3

3

3

Bird O 5

5

5

5

5 5

5

5

3

44 Bird Wald

ein

sam keit;

wie liegst

5

.

5

5

3

du weit!

5

5

66 47 Bird O 5

dich

ge

reut

Einst mit 5

3

49

5

Zeit

3

5

3

3

3

der

Bird Ach

einz

’ge

Freud,

Wald ein

sam

keit!

5 3

5

5

Subito molto mosso: 51

3

3

= 80 3

6

Bird O 6

6 6

53 Bird Wald

ein

sam

keit 6

6

.

3

3

67 56 Bird wie liegst

du weit!

6

6

6

6 6

6

59 Bird O dich ge reut

Einst mit der Zeit

3

62

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Bird ach 3

einz

’ge

Freud

ach

einz

’ge

Freud!

3

65 5

67

.

5

6

6

68

( = 104 = Pi첫 mosso) Broadly 69

3

3

3

3

3

5

3

5

3

71

3 3

3

3

3

73

3

75

3

3

3

3

77

3

3

.

3

3

3

3

69

3

79

3

3

81

3

3

83

3

3

85

3

3

3

3

3

3

attacca

Scene 1: Berthe’s Last Words Out of the darkness following Walther’s death, Berthe emerges, anxious and on her deathbed, writing a letter to Eckbert.

87

( =104) accel.

=112

Berthe My 3

3

6

3

est

3 3

3 3

.

dear

3

3 3

3

70 90

3

Berthe hus

band,

I

must

dis

close

to

you....

3

3

3

3 3

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

93 Berthe This has dri ven me out 6

3

3

6

The

blood

has

of

3

my

mind.

6

6

3

96 Berthe left

my

cheeks, 3

3

6

6

3

6

99 Berthe and

my

eyes

burn

with

fe

ver.

3

6

6

6

3

.

71 102 Berthe You

3

know

when

I

re

3 3 6

3

6

6

6

3

105 Berthe - called

my

youth,

no

mat

ter

how

3 3

3 6

3

3

6

108 Berthe I

tried,

3

I could ne

3

3

3

3

3

ver

re mem ber

3

3

the name

3

3

3

111 Berthe of the lit

tle

dog

I

loved,

but

3

6

.

6

3

Wal

3

ther

3

3

72 114 Berthe spoke

to

3

me

of

6

3

3

that friend ly

lit

tle dog.

6

3

“Stroh

3

3

117 Berthe mi an."

Did 3

he

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

120 Berthe guess

the

Did

he know

3

3

3

3

name?

3

3

123 Berthe it?

And

3

.

3

3

3

3

what

3

3

does

3

this

3

3

3

73 In another part of the stage, Eckbert is seen reading the letter Berthe has written to him.

126 Berthe man

have

to

do

with

my

fate?

3

3

3

Eck. Some

3

times

I

strug

gle

3

3

3

3

3

3

129

3

3

Berthe Some

times

I

strug

gle

with

my

self,

3

3

Eck. my 3

3

6

3

6

3

3

3

3 3

132 Berthe as 3

if

I

was

on

ly

i

ma

gin

3

Eck. self, 3

6

.

3

3

3

ing

it;

74 135 Berthe but

6

it

3

is

cer tain, all

too

6

3

3

cer

tain.

6

3

6

138 Berthe When

a

stran

3

3

3

3

Eck. A

stran

ger

knew

my

tale.

3

3

3

3

3 3

3

142 Berthe - ger

knew

my

tale,

ter

ror

seized

3

Eck. my

tale

3 3

3 3 3

3

3 .

3

3

3

3

75

145 Berthe me -

ter ror,

ter ror,

6

ter ror

seized

me.

6 5

3 3

148 Berthe Eck

bert,

what

do

you think?

5 3

6

3

3

5

6

3

151 Berthe What 5

5

3

do 5

3

you 5

3

think?

3

5

5

3

3

3

154

3

Eck. Ter

ror

seized

me.

3

3 5

6

3 .

5

3 3

3

76 156

3

3

3

3

Eck. What

do

you

think?

What 3

3 3

3

3

158

3

3

3

Eck. do

you

think?

3

3

160

3 3

3

3

162

3

3

164

.

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

77

Scene 2 : Accusation Eckbert is alone and unnoticed amidst an urban scene 166 (sempre

=112) Molto animato sung by The Bird

S A sung by Berthe Offst.

Chor.

Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

sung by Walther T 8

169 S A Chor.

T 8

173

.

78 176 S A Ah. Chor.

T 8

Ah.

179 3

S A Ah.

Chor.

3

T 8

Ah.

3

182 3 3

3 3

.

3

79 186 S A Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

Chor.

T 8

3

3

191

3

Eck. I

saw

my

3

196

3

3

friend 3

ly

3

ing

3

3

3

3

3

3

Eck. in

the 3

wood,

I

saw

my

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3 3

3

3 3

3

3

200

3

3

3

3

3

Eck. friend

ly

ing

in

the

wood, 3

3

3 3

3 3

3

.

3

3

3 3

3

3

3

80 204

3

3

Eck. and

then

a

bird

flew o

ver and

3

3

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3 3

208

3

Eck. said: Chor.

"Your friend

S A Ah. 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

213 Eck. died 3

in

the

3

3

3

wood."

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

217 3

Eck. Dead

in

the

win try

3

3

3

3

3

3

wood!

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3 3 .

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

81 3

221 3

Eck. Dead in

the

lone

ly,

win try wood!

3

3

3

3

3

3

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

3 3

3

225 Eck. said

the

bird, 3

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3 3

3

229 Chor.

S A Ah. 3

3

3

3

232 Chor.

S A Ah.

.

82 235 Chor.

S A Ah.

Ah.

3

238

Hugo emerges from the throng, and tries to comfort Eckbert

Poco meno mosso ( = 104)

241 Hugo 8

Friend, 3

Chor.

S A Ah.

3

3 3

5 5

3

245

3

3

3

Hugo 8

my

name

is

3

5

5 .

go:

5

5

3

Hu

3

3

3

83 249 Hugo 8

Be

calm,

at

ease.

3

253

3

3

3

3

3

Hugo 8

"Your friend

died

in

the

wood.�

3

Eck. In

3

3

3

3

the

3

3

3

3

wood...

3

3

3

257

3

Hugo 8

Dead

in

the

win try

wood.

3

Eck. In

3

3

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

the 3

3

win

try wood.

3

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

3 3 .

3

3

84 261

3

3

Hugo 8

Dead in

the

lone

ly,

win try

wood, 3

3

Eck. In 3

the

win

try 3

3

3

3

3

wood,

3

3

3 3

3 3

3

3

3 3

poco rit.

Poco meno mosso ( = 104)

265

3

3 3

3 3

3

270

3

3

3

3

3

3

Hugo 8

Your

tale

moved

me,

5

3

3

5

274

3

3

Hugo 8

feel

no

shame.

3

3

Eck. Kind 5

5

ger,

3

3 5

3

5

5

.

stran

5

85 278

3

3

3

Eck. you

have

saved

me

5

I 5

5

5

3

3

282

3

5

5

3

3

Hugo 8

3

3

Be

still.

3

3

Eck. had

des

paired.

3

3

286

You

were

so

3

3

3

3

Eck. pa

tient,

3

dear

est

friend!

3

Suddenly the scene freezes as Eckbert sees Hugo in a new, threatening, light.

290 Tempo primo ( = 112) S A Chor.

Mur

der

er!

Mur

der

er!

T 8

.

86 295 Eck. I thought I saw a

ma

3

li cious smile

3

his face.

3

3

3

cross

3

3

3

a

3

3 3

3

3

3 3

3

3

3

299 Eck. He was

su

spi cious

of

my

in

ti mate re

3

3

3

3 3

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

304 Eck. ve

la

3

tion.

3

3 3

3

3

309 Eck. 3

He

spoke

to

my

foes,

but

not

to me.

S A Cri mi nal!

Chor.

3

T 8

Cri mi nal!

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3 3

.

3 3

3

3

3

3

3 3

3 3

87 313 Eck. They asked him

ques tions

in

a

sin

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

316 Eck. gu

lar

way.

3 3

3

3

3

3

321 Eck. I looked at

Hu

go

and saw Wal

ther’s

face.

S A Mur

der er!

Mur

der er!

Chor.

T 8

3

3

3

3

3

3 3

.

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3 3

3

3

88 325 Eck. All S A Dead!

Chor.

T 8

Dead!

329 Eck. his

fa

mi

liar

ex

pres

sions.

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Eckbert leaves, hurriedly. Hugo, amidst the city scene, is left behind.

332

337

.

3 3

3

3

3

3

3 3

89

Scene 3: Eckbert, fugitive Eckbert finds himself in the countryside, in the landscape described by Berthe in her Ballad.

342

= 84 : Light, nervous 6

345

6

6

6

6

6

348

3

Eck. She came this way:

she was

6 3

351 Eck. here.

6 6

6 6 3

3

354

6 6 3

3

3

.

3

90 356

3

Eck. Down the path, 6

6

6

6

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

359

3

3

Eck. through

the fo

6

6

rests

and

rocks,

6

6

9:8

9:8

3 3

3

3

362

3

Eck. she

sensed

be

hind

her 3

3

3

3

3

3 3

5

3

5 5

365

3

3 3

.

3

3 3

3

3

3 5

3

3 5

91 368

3

Eck. The

dis

tant cries

of

3

3

3 3

3

the

dog,

the

re proach

ful

3

371

5

5

Eck. the

bird.

3

3 3

8ba

A peasant passes by.

374

377

380

.

Relaxed, amiable

stares

of

92 383 Eck. That man

who passed,

that man

who passed

by,

386

389 Eck. I

could

be lieve,

I

could

be lieve

it.

392 Eck. I

.

could

be

lieve

it

was

none

93 3

395

3

Eck. o

398

ther than

Wal

ther:

3

3

Eck. it

was

Wal

ther!

3

401

3

3

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

404

3

3

3

3

3

3

rit.

407

3

3 3

.

94

= 76 : Poco meno mosso

410

,

413

,

,

Eckbert approaches the area near the Old Woman’s house.

416

,

3

418

3

3

3

3

3 3

Eck. The

trees

whis

per

in

3

420

3

3

Eck. the

in

ter

vals

,

.

The

,

mar

95 The Bird flies overhead.

423

= 72 : Pochissimo meno mosso

3

3

3

Bird Ah. 3

3

3

Eck. vel lous,

min

gled with the com mon place!

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

426

3

3

3

3

3

3

Bird Ah.

Ah.

3

3 3

3

3

3

3

Ah. 3

3

3

3

3

3

3 3

3

429

3

3

Bird Ah.

A

lone

in a

3

5

5

5

at

3

3

3

3

3 .

wood,

3

3

96 433

3

3

3

Bird last

it’s

good.

3

Eck. The mar 3

vel lous

bird!

3 3

3

5

3

5

3

3

3

436

3

3

3

3

3

3

Bird Now

no

thing’s wrong,

you’ll

hear

my

song.

Eck. 5

3

3

3

5 3

3

3

5

Broadening slightly

439 Bird Ah. 3

In

3

Eck. Now hear 3

the song!

3

3

3 3

.

3

97 443

3

3

3

3

3

Bird truth’s clear, blind

ing

light -

Wald,

Wald 3

3

3

5 3 3

5

3

3

447

3

3

3

3

Bird ein

sam

3 3

Wald

ein

sam

3 3

3

5 3

3

Scene 4: At the End 452

3

3

3

3

3

3

Bird keit. like a folk song.

Ah.

3

Ah.

3

Old W. 8

Kommst

du

her,

mein’ schö

ner

Vo

gel?

5

5

5

5 3

.

3

3

3

98 455 3

3

Bird 3

3

Ah.

3

Old W. 8

Komm

3

zu r端ck,

du

klei

ner

Vo

gel!

Eck. The

path ends.

5

3

3

5

5

5

3

458 Bird Ah. 3

3

Old W. 8

Komm

zu

r端ck,

du

3

Eck. No thought,

no

461

3

me mo ry

3

5

3

3

3

5

3

Bird Ah.

Ah.

3

Ah.

3

Old W. 8

klei

ner

Vo

gel!

6

5 3

3

3

3

.

3

3

3

3

3

99 464

Slightly broader

Bird

suddenly confronting Eckbert 3

3

3

Old W. 8

Are you bring ing me my bird,

my

pre

5

5

5

468

cious

5

5

3

Old W. 8

jew

els?

3

3

Eck. Why

do you speak

to

me?

3

5

5 5

The Old Woman reveals herself in the guises of Walther and then Hugo 472

3

3

3

Old W. 8

Eck bert,

3

.

I

was

Wal ther;

I was

Hu

go.

3

100 477

3

3

Eck. In

what

so

li

tude

have I

lived

my

life!

3

3

urgently

482

3

Eck. Tell

3

of

485 Old W. She

was

your

sis

ter.

5

5

5

quietly and reflectively 489

3

Eck. Why

have

I

al ways

i

ma gined this dread

3

.

the

5 5

8

Ber

3

3

3

me

ful

thing?

101 492

= 66 : Broadly

Old W. 8

3

3

You heard your fa

in agony

ther

say

Eck. Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

3

495

3

3

3

3

Old W. 8

it

when you 3

3

were

3

3

a

child.

3

3 6

Eck. Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

Ah. 3

3

3 6

3

6

3

3

3

3

3

497

3

3

Old W. 8

She was the daugh 3

3

3

ter

3

Eck. Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

3

3

.

3

3

3

of

a

knight,

102 499

3

Old W. 8

your

3

fa

ther’s

daugh

ter.

3

Eck. Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

3

3

3

501

3

3

3

3

3

3

Eck. Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

3

3

3

Ah.

3

3

3

503 3

Old W. 8

She 3

was

not

your

3

Eck. Ah.

3 3

3

.

mo

ther’s

child.

103 505

3

3

Old W. 8

Your

pa

rents

would

not

keep

her.

3 3

Eck. Ah.

3

3

3

3

507

3

3

3

3

Eck. Ah.

Ah.

3

Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

3

3

509

3

3

3

Old W. 8

She

was

3

Eck.

3

.

raised

by a

shep

Ah.

3

3

3

Ah.

herd.

104 511

3

3

Bird Wald

ein

sam

keit,

my tale is

fi

nished.

3

3

3

Old W. 8

Her tri als and tri

bu

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

514 3

3

3

Old W. 8

la

tions

were

al

most at

an

end.

3 3

Eck. Ah.

3 3

3

3 3

516

3

Bird Eck

bert

lay

on

3

the

ground...

3

3

Eck. Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

3

3

3 3

.

3

Ah.

105 518

3

Old W. 8

Why,

3

why

did

she

leave

me?

Eck. Ah.

3

Ah.

3

3 3

3

3

520 Bird 3

... in

3

sane

Old W. 8

For

shame,

that

she 3

a

ban

doned

me.

3

3

Eck. Ah.

3

Ah.

3 3

3

3

3

3 3

3

522 3

Bird and

dy

ing...

3

3

3

Old W. 8

Her 3

3

3

Eck. 3

Ah.

Ah. 3 3

3

3 .

3

3

tri

als

and

tri

bu

106 524 3

3

3

Old W. 8

la

tions

were 3

al

most at

an

end.

3

3

3

Eck. Ah.

Ah. 3

3

3

3

3

3

3 3

3

3

526 3

3

Bird Numbed

and

be

wil

dered,

3

he

3

heard...

3

Eck. Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

3

3

3 3

3

3

3

528 Bird 3

The

Old W. 8

Why did she leave

me?

3

Eck. Ah. 3

3

.

Ah.

Ah.

107 531 3

3

Bird old

wo man speak

ing,

and...

3

3

3

Old W. 8

in

your youth,

you

heard

it

said...

3

3

Eck. Ah.

3

3 3

3 3 3

534

3

Bird ...the

lit

tle dog bark

ing.

3

3

Old W. 8

in

3

3

Eck. Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

3

3 3

.

3

3

your

youth,

you

108 536 3

Bird and

3

the

bird

Old W. 8

heard

it

3

said...

Eck. Ah.

Ah.

Ah. 3

3

538

3

The bird closes off the scene and flies away, chased by the dog

3

Bird re

peat

ing her song:

3

3

Eck. Ah.

Ah.

3

3

3

540 Eck. Ah. 9

9

9

9

9

9

542

9

9

9

9

9

9

End of Opera .