Bell A LITANY IN TIME OF PLAGUE

Iain Bell

A Litany in Time of Plague Concert Ayre for mezzo-soprano and chamber ensemble

FULL SCORE 12th May 2015

Chester Music

CH83809 Š 2015 Chester Music Limited Published in Great Britain by Chester Music Limited Head Office: 14-15 Berners Street London W1T 3LJ England Tel +44 (0)20 7612 7400 Fax +44 (0)20 7612 7549 Sales and hire: Music Sales Distribution Centre, Newmarket Road Bury St. Edmunds Suffolk IP33 3YB England Tel +44 (0)1284 702600 Fax +44 (0)1284 768301 www.musicsalesclassical.com All Rights Reserved Printed in Great Britain No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior permission of Chester Music Limited.

Commissioned by Freunde und FĂśrderer der Musikalischen Akademie des Bayerischen Staatsorchesters.

First performance 20 July 2015 at Haus der Kunst as part of the Munich Opera Festival 2015 with Tara Erraught (mezzo-soprano) and members of the Orchestra Academy of the Bayerisches Staatsorchester, conducted by Constantinos Carydis.

DURATION c. 9’

SCORING Mezzo-soprano Piccolo Flute Oboe Clarinet in Bb Bassoon Horn in F Trumpet in Bb Tenor Trombone

2 Violins Viola Violoncello

Score is notated in C, with the usual octave transposition for Piccolo.

Performance Note: Metronome markings are advisory; tempi may be changed at the discretion of singer and conductor to suit the performance space.

Trills are semitonal to the note above, unless stated otherwise.

At the end of hairpins dynamics should rise or fall to the one immediately above or below, unless stated otherwise.

Brass mutes are all straight mutes.

A Litany in Time of Plague

(1600)

Adieu, farewell, earth’s bliss; This world uncertain is.

Fond are life’s lustful joys; Death proves them all but toys.

None from his darts can fly.

I am sick, I must die.

Lord, have mercy on us!

Rich men, trust not in wealth; Gold cannot buy you health.

Physic himself must fade, All things to end are made, The plague full swift goes by.

I am sick, I must die.

Lord, have mercy on us!

Beauty is but a flower Which wrinkles will devour.

Brightness falls from the air.

Queens have died young and fair; Dust hath closed Helen’s eye.

I am sick, I must die.

Lord, have mercy on us!

Strength stoops unto the grave, Worms feed on Hector brave.

Swords may not fight with fate.

Earth still holds ope' her gate; “Come, come!” the bells do cry.

I am sick, I must die.

Lord, have mercy on us!

Wit, with his wantonness, Tasteth Death’s bitterness.

Hell’s executioner Hath no ears for to hear What vain art can reply.

I am sick, I must die.

Lord, have mercy on us!

Haste, therefore, each degree, To welcome destiny; Heaven is our heritage, Earth but a player’s stage.

Mount we unto the sky.

I am sick, I must die.

Lord, have mercy on us!

Thomas Nashe (1567- 1601)

A LITANY IN TIME OF PLAGUE Text by THOMAS NASHE

IAIN BELL

Delicately sinister, creeping q = 56

Piccolo

Flute

4 4

p legato

4 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

p legato

Oboe

4 4

Clarinet in Bb

4 4

Bassoon

4 4

p legato

p legato

3

p

Horn in F

4 4

3 4

Trumpet in Bb

4 4

3 4

mute

p legato Trombone

4 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

Mezzosoprano

4 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

Violin I

4 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

Violin II

4 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

Viola

4 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

Delicately sinister, creeping q = 56

Cello

pizz. p

1

10

poco accel. a tempo

2 4

Picc.

4 4

pp

2 4

Fl.

p

p

4 4 p

mp

2 4

Ob.

4 4

pp

p

2 4

Cl.

mp

4 4 mp

pp

2 4

Bsn.

4 4 3

2 4

Tbn.

p

3

mp

p

4 4

mute p

p p

2 4

M-S A

© 2015 Chester Music Limited

dieu,

fp

4 4 fare

well,

CH83809

earth’s

bliss;

p

This world un cer

tain

is.

05/2015

2 16

Picc. p

Fl. mp

p

Ob. p

Cl. pp Bsn. pp

Hn. p

mp

Tpt. pp

mp

Tbn. mp

pp mp 3

M-S Fond

are life’s

lust

ful

joys;

Death

proves

them all

but

poco rit.

20

2 4

Picc.

4 4 mf

p

2 4

Fl.

2 4 2 4 p

p

mf

p

mf

4 4 mf

Cl.

4 4 mf

p

4 4 p

mf

2 4

Tbn.

mf

p

2 4

Bsn.

mf

4 4 pp mp

2 4

M-S toys.

None

from his

p

4 4 mf

Ob.

mf

darts

can

mp fp

4 4 fly,

fly.

I

p

am

3

2 24

q = 50

accel.

Picc.

Fl. p

Ob. p

Cl. pp Bsn. p

pp

mp M-S sick,

2

I

must

die.

Lord, have

mer

cy on us!

Rich

q = 50

accel.

arco con sord., poco vibr.

Vln. II pp arco con sord., poco vibr.

Vla. pp con sord., poco vibr.

Vlc. pp

3 29

Greater urgency q = 72

Picc. p

Fl. pp

Cl.

Bsn.

M-S men,

3

Greater urgency q = 72

Vln. II

Vla.

pizz.

Vlc. p

trust

not in

wealth;

Gold

can

not,

can

not

buy

you

4 32

Picc. mp Fl. mp

p

Ob. p

mp

Cl. p

mp Bsn.

p

mp Tpt. p Tbn. p

mp

M-S health.

Phy sic him self must fade,

All things to end are made,

the

plague

full

swift

goes

poco a poco piĂš vibr.

Vln. II p

mp poco a poco piĂš vibr.

Vla. p

mp

Vlc. mp

Solemn q = 56

4 36

Picc. mf

Fl. mf 3

Ob. mf

p

Cl. mf

Bsn. mf

p

Tbn. mf fp

mp

3

* M-S by.

I

am

sick,

4

molto vibr.

Solemn q = 56

Vln. II mf molto vibr.

poco vibr.

Vla. mf

p

Vlc. mf * pulse repeated notes, rather than separate as staccato.

I

must

die.

5 40

Ob.

3

3

Bsn. 3

p M-S Lord, have

mer

cy on

us!

con sord., molto vibr.

Vln. I p (con sord.) molto vibr.

Vln. II p

Vla. arco poco vibr.

Vlc. p

5 46

Tender, fragile q = 66 mp

3

3

6

3

M-S Beau

5

ty

is

but

a

flow

er,

beau

ty

a

flow

er,

flow

er

which

Tender, fragile q = 66

Vln. I (molto vibr.)

Vln. II p

molto vibr.

Vla. p

accel., surge forward

52

rall.

a tempo

Bsn. mp

Tbn. p mp

3

M-S wrin

kles

will

de

vour.

Bright

ness

falls

from

the

air.

accel., surge forward poco a poco sul pont.

Queens

rall.

s.p. poco a poco pi첫 trem. e nat.

a tempo nat., molto vibr.

Vln. I mf poco a poco sul pont.

s.p. poco a poco pi첫 trem. e nat.

poco a poco sul pont.

s.p. poco a poco pi첫 trem. e nat.

p

f nat., molto vibr.

Vln. II mf

f

p

nat. pizz.

arco nat., molto vibr.

Vla. mf s.p. poco a poco pi첫 trem. e nat.

f nat. pizz.

Vlc. mp

mf

f

p

have

6

accel., surge forward

57

rall.

a tempo

Picc. p

Fl. p

Bsn. p

mp M-S died

young and

fair,

fair;

Dust hath closed

He len’s eye.

vibr. ord.

Vln. I f

mp

f

mp

p espress.

Vln. II

vibr. ord.

Vla. f

p espress.

arco nat., molto vibr.

Vlc. p

6

mf

p

q = 56

rall.

molto accel.

65

Picc. pp Fl.

Cl. pp

pp

pp

pp

p

p

Bsn.

(mute) Tpt. pp open, play into music stand Tbn. p

p

pp

3

M-S I

6

am

sick,

I

q = 56

rall.

must

die.

Lord,

have

mer

cy on us!

molto accel.

Vln. I p

Vln. II p pizz.

arco

p

p

Vla.

vibr. ord. senza sord.

Vlc. pp

p

7

Menacing, insistent q = 80

7

(accel.)

71

Picc. p

p

Fl. mp

p

mp

p

Ob. p

p

Cl. mp

mp

mp

p

Bsn. mp

p

Tpt. p

p

p

ord.

Tbn. p

mf

3

M-S Strength

7

(accel.)

stoops

un to the

grave;

Worms

feed

on Hec

tor

brave.

Menacing, insistent q = 80

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla. mp

p

mp

al talone

3

Vlc. mp

3

p

3

8

75

accel.

Picc. mp

Fl. mp

mp

mp

Ob. mp

Cl. mp

mp

mp

Bsn. mp

mp

mp

Hn. p

Tpt.

Tbn. p

M-S Swords

may

not

fight with fate.

Earth

still

holds

ope’

her

accel.

Vln. I

al talone, senza sord.

3

3

3

Vln. II mp

mp

mp

Vla. mp

3

3

3

3

3

Vlc. mp

mp

mp

9

80

Urgent q = 128

(accel.)

Picc. mf

Fl.

Ob. mf

Cl. mf

Bsn. mp

mf

mf

mf

f

Hn. mp

Tpt. mp

Tbn. mp

f M-S gate;

“Come,

come,

come!”

the bells

do

cry.

Urgent q = 128

(accel.)

Vln. I

3

3

3

3

3

Vln. II mp

mf

al talone, senza sord.

mf

mf

3

3

mf

3

3

Vla. mf

3

mf

3

mf

3

mf

3

3

Vlc. mp

mf

mf

mf

mf

10

rall.

q = 60

8

85

Picc. f

p

mp

Fl. mp

p

Ob. f

p

f

p

Cl.

Bsn. p

Hn. p

f Tpt. f

p

Tbn. f

p mp

M-S I

am

sick,

8

rall.

q = 60

Vln. II ff

3

3

3

3

Vla. ff 3

3

Vlc. p

ff

90

Picc.

3 4

Fl.

3 4 p

3 4

breathe as necessary Cl. pp

3 4

Bsn. p

3 4

Hn. p

3 4

Tpt. pp

3 4

Tbn. pp

p

3

3 4

M-S I

must

die.

Lord,

Lord

have

mer

cy on us!

ord.

3 4

Vln. II ord.

p

3 4

Vla. p

pp

ord.

3 4

Vlc. ppp

11

9 97

Fl.

Agitated, fitful q = 88

3 4

2 4

mf

mp

3 4

Cl.

2 4

3 4

4 4 mp

4 4

4 4 mp

mp

3 4

2 4

4 4

(repeated quavers played as pulses, not distinct notes)

3 4

3

2 4

4 4 mp

mute with hand

4 4

mp

3 4

Tpt.

2 4

3 4

Tbn.

3 4

M-S

mf

with his wan ton ness,

9 Agitated, fitful 3 pizz.

4

q = 88

3

2 4

p

mp

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

p 3

4 4

Tast eth Death’s

bit ter ness,

bit

ter

ness.

Hell’s

ex

e

cu tion er

Hath

no,

no

4(snap) 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

mp

mp

3 4

Vln. II

3

2 4

Wit,

Vln. I

3

4 4

4 4

mp

p

mp

open

3 4

4 4

2 4

p

3 4

p

Hn.

p

3 4

3

mf

Bsn.

3

4 4

mp

3 4

Vla.

mp

3 4

Vlc.

mp

q = 56

10 102

Fl.

4 4

3 4 mf

Ob.

Cl.

p

mp

4 4

3 4

4 4 mp

p

mf

4 4

3 4 mf

Bsn.

mp

4 4

mp

mf

with Viola (breathe as necessary)

4 4

mp

4 4

p

3 4

4 4 f

Tpt.

4 4

3 4

4 4 p

M-S

4 4

3 4 ears

Vln. II

4 4

for to hear

What

3 4

fp

4 4 vain

4 4

art

can re ply.

I

am

mp

sick,

10

q = 56

f sul tasto, poco a poco sul pont.

Vla.

4 4

3 4

4 4 f

Vlc.

4 4

3 4

4 4 f

p

I

must

12 108

Picc. p Fl. p

Cl.

Bsn. p

Tbn. pp 3

M-S die.

Lord,

have

mer

cy

on

us!

arco, senza sord.

Vln. I p Vln. II p s.p., poco a poco nat.

nat.

Vla. pizz.

Vlc. p

112

poco accel.

11

Brisk, brimming with joy q = 72

Picc.

Fl.

Cl. p Bsn. p open Tpt. p Tbn. p mf M-S Haste,

poco accel.

11

Brisk, brimming with joy q = 72

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

arco Vlc. p

13 114

Cl.

Bsn.

Hn. pp Tpt. pp Tbn.

M-S haste,

there

fore,

each

de

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vlc.

116

Ob. mp Cl.

Bsn.

Hn.

Tpt.

Tbn.

M-S gree,

to

wel

come des

ti

ny;

Vln. I

Vln. II mf Vla. mf Vlc. mf

14 118

Ob.

Cl.

Bsn.

Hn.

Tpt.

Tbn.

3

M-S Hea

ven

is

our

Vln. I

Vln. II mf Vla. mf Vlc. mf

120

Ob.

Cl.

Bsn.

Hn.

Tpt.

Tbn.

M-S he

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vlc.

ri

tage,

Earth

but

a

15 122

Fl. mp

mp

Ob.

Cl.

Bsn.

Hn.

Tpt.

Tbn.

M-S play er’s

stage.

Vln. I

Vln. II p Vla. p Vlc. p

12 124

Fl.

Ob. mp Cl. mp Bsn. mp

Hn. mp Tpt. mp Tbn. mp M-S Mount

we,

mount

12 Vln. I mf Vln. II mp Vla. mp Vlc. mp

we

un

to

the

16

126

accel.

Picc. mp

Fl.

Ob.

Cl.

Bsn.

Hn.

Tpt.

Tbn.

M-S sky,

mount

accel.

Vln. I

Vln. II mf

mp

mf

mp

mf

mp

Vla.

Vlc.

we.

I

am

17

With wild abandon q = 88

128

Picc.

Fl.

Ob.

Cl.

Bsn.

Hn.

Tpt.

Tbn.

M-S sick,

With wild abandon q = 88 Vln. I

Vln. II mf

Vla. mf

Vlc. mf

I

must

18 130

Picc. f

Fl. f

Ob. f

Cl. f

Bsn. f

* Hn. mf

* Tpt. mf

* Tbn. mf

M-S die.

Vln. I f

Vln. II f

Vla. f

Vlc. f * brass must NOT overwhelm the climax

19 132

(q = 52)

rall.

Picc.

Fl.

Ob. p

Cl. p

Bsn. p

Hn. p

Tpt. p

Tbn. p

M-S

rall.

punta d’arco

Vln. I pp

Vln. II

Vla.

Vlc. pp

(q = 52)

20 135

13

rit.

Solemn, desolate q = 60

(solo)

Cl. p (solo) Bsn. pp

p

mp M-S I

am

sick,

13

rit.

I

must

die.

Lord,

Lord

have

mer

cy.

Lord, have

Solemn, desolate q = 60

Vln. I punta d’arco

Vln. II pp (solo) Vla. p dolce e legato

pp

Vlc.

142

(solo)

Picc. pp

Cl.

Bsn.

M-S mer

cy,

mer

cy.

Lord,

have

mer

cy

on

us!

Vln. I pp

Vln. II pp

Vla.

Vlc.

London, February 2015