Nørgård SEADRIFT

SAMPLE

EDITION WILHELM HANSEN WH30693

Per Nørgård

SEADRIFT for Soprano and Ensemble

Score

Dedicated to the ensemble Sub Rosa

Per Nørgård

SEADRIFT 1977-78

for soprano and ensemble

Text by Walt Whitman

Premiered by the ensemble Sub Rosa at the NUMUS Festival, Aarhus 9 May 1978

NEW EDITION 2006, WH 30693 replacing earlier edition WH 30008, © 1990

Score

Duration: c. 16 min.

Ensemble Soprano Violin Flute db. Picc. Fl. and Bass Fl. Violoncello Piano Guitar Percussion Small Bells, 4 Congas, 4 Cymbals (susp.), Vibraphone, Flexatone (or "Saw")

SEADRIFT is also available in a version for renaissance/baroque instruments: sop vl/recorder(s) db. crumhorn/viol hpsd/theorbe (or lute)/perc

Per Nørgård SEADRIFT 1977-78 for soprano and ensemble

Preface In Walt Whitman’s great poem SEADRIFT (Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking) from 1855 the situation is recreated where the boy Walt is first called to be a poet.

Walt follows the life and fate of two seabirds on the desolate coast of Paumanok in New England. He experiences their happiness at being together and suffers later on with the deserted male, hearing his forlorn screeches.

This juxtaposition is depicted in the two movements of the work: BEING TOGETHER and TORN APART; in the latter the happy memories fight with the sorrow and at last – desperation.

Per Nørgård

Walt Whitman SEADRIFT Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking Shine! shine! shine!

Pour down your warmth, great sun!

While we bask, we two together.

Two together!

Winds blow south, or winds blow north, Day come white, or night come black, Home, or rivers and mountains from home, Singing all time, minding no time, While we two keep together.

Blow! blow! blow!

Blow up sea-winds along Paumanok’s shore; I wait and I wait till you blow my mate to me.

Soothe! soothe! soothe!

Close on its wave soothes the wave behind, And again another behind embracing and lapping, every one close, But my love soothes not me, not me.

Low hangs the moon, it rose late, It is lagging — O I think it is heavy with love, with love.

Shake out carols!

Solitary here, the night’s carols!

Carols of lonesome love! Death’s carols!

Carols under that lagging, yellow, waning moon!

O under that moon where she droops almost down into the sea!

O reckless despairing carols.

Hither my love!

Here I am! Here!

With this just-sustain’d note I announce myself to you, This gentle call is for you my love, for you.

Walt Whitman, 1855

NOTES ON NOTATION AND SPECIAL FEATURES 1) Metrics This version of the score (NEW EDITION 2006, WH 30693) is a fully metric version, as opposed to the earlier version (WH 30008, 1990) which occasionally employed the socalled “golden” rhythmic notation, approximating rhythmically the proportions of the Golden Mean, as illustrated in the (approx.) proportions of 1-2-3-5-8-13 etc.

An approximation of the golden proportion is indicated by the occasional comma (slight delay) or grace-note (slight anticipation).

2) Alternative instruments If a performance with renaissance/baroque instruments (all or some) is prepared, please observe the following: The present score is used also for the “old” version, as the soprano part is identical. The relevant parts include appendixes detailing the changes necessary for each “old” version part.

The “old” version pitch is traditionally lower than contemporary concert pitch at A=440; “old” pitch is A=415, a half-tone lower than concert pitch. The pitched percussion has appendix with part transposed a half tone down, while the other instruments adjust by scordatura or by ear. A transposing keyboard with harpsichord sound may be used.

Per Nørgård SEADRIFT has been recorded several times: (listing in chronological order)

Bodil Gümoes, soprano with the ensemble Sub Rosa, Aarhus (ancient instruments) on the LP entitled DEN HIMMELSKE OG DEN JORDISKE KÆRLIGHED (The Heavenly and The Earthly Love) LP NO. 1001

Norma Enns, soprano with ensemble from the Hamburg Radio Symphony Orchestra on the all-Nørgård CD entitled SEADRIFT on the label Koch Schwann CD NO. 3-6765-2

Bente Vist, soprano with ensemble on the label dacapo CD NO. 8.226067 This all-Nørgård CD records also NOVA GENITURA and FONS LAETITIAE

I BEING TOGETHER page 1

II TORN APART page 19

SEADRIFT I. BEING TOGETHER ( 60) [poco string.]

Per Nørgård, 1978

a tempo ten.

Soprano Shine! Shine!

Shine!

Shine! Shine!

Shi(ne)

Violino

Flauto

Violoncello

Pianoforte

Chitarra 8

Percussione

5

ten.

Sopr. (i)

shn

ishnee

i

Pour

down

your warmth,

0

Vl. Fl. trem.

Vc.

Pno.

l.v.

l.v.

Chit.

8

Perc.

2

9

ten.

Sopr. great

sun!

While

we

0

ten.

Vl.

Fl. Vc.

Pno.

Chit.

8

Perc.

meno

14

Sopr. bask,

we two

to

ge

ther.

Two

Vl. meno

sub.

Fl. meno 0

Vc. meno

l.v.

Pno.

Chit.

8

Perc.

sub.

3

18

grand vibrato

Sopr. to

ge-

to

ge

ther

to

ge

(e)

the(r)

Vl. cresc. sempre

Fl.

Vc. quasi eco

Pno.

Chit.

8

Perc.

1/4 tone vibr.

22

(vibr. ord.)

cresc.

Sopr.

-er

two

two

two

to

Vl.

Fl. quasi rco

Vc.

Pno.

Chit.

8

Perc.

cresc.

4

28

Sopr. ge

ther,

two

to

ge

ther,

two

to

to

ge

ge

ther,

two

to

ge

Vl. ten.

Fl.

Vc.

Pno.

Chit.

8

Perc.

32

Sopr. to

Vl.

Fl.

Vc.

Pno.

Chit.

8

Perc.

ge

ther,

two

to

ge

ther,

ther,

5

36

Pi첫 lento (

dim.

90)

Sopr. ther,

to

ge

ther,

to

ge

ther!

Vl.

Fl. sub.

Vc.

Pno.

Chit.

8

Small Bells

15

Perc.

40

Sopr.

Winds blow

Vl.

Fl.

Vc.

Pno.

Chit.

8

15

Perc.

Small Bells

south, or

winds

blow

north,

6

44

Sopr.

Day

come white,

or

night

come

black,

Home, or

ri

vers and moun tains from home,

Vl.

Fl.

Vc.

Pno.

Chit.

8

15

Small Bells

Perc.

47

Sopr.

Sing

Vl.

Fl.

Vc.

Pno.

Chit.

8

15

Perc.

ing all time,

mind

ing no time, Sing

ing

all time,

mind

ing

no time,

Sing

7

49

Sopr. ing,

While we

two

keep

to

ge ther.

Vl. cresc.

Fl. Vc. cresc.

3

Pno.

Chit.

8 15

Small Bells

Perc.

52 gliss.

Sopr.

Close

on

its

wave

soo

thes

the wave

be

hind,

Vl.

Fl. Vc.

Pno.

l.v.

Chit.

8

Perc.

l.v.

8

55

Sopr.

And

a

no

ther

be

hind

em

bra

Vl.

Fl.

Vc.

l.v.

Pno.

l.v.

Chit.

8

Perc.

59

Sopr. cing

and

lap

ping,

close,

Vl.

Fl.

Vc.

Pno.

Chit.

8

Perc.

l.v.

close,

e

very

one

close,

close,

9

(dim. a niente)

63

(cresc. da niente)

Sopr. close

to

ge ther,

to

ge

(e)

ther,

Vl.

Fl.

Vc. (eco)

Pno.

Chit.

8

Perc.

1/4 tone vibr.

67

(vibr. ord.)

Sopr. (er)

two,

two

to

Vl. cresc.

Fl.

Vc. sim.

Pno.

Chit.

8

Perc.

10

71

ten.

Sopr. to

ge

ther,

two

to

ge

ther,

two

to

ge

ther,

two

Vl. ten.

Fl. ten.

Vc.

Pno.

Chit.

8

Perc.

76

Sopr. to

ge

ther,

two

to

ge

ther

two

Vl.

Fl. ten.

Vc.

Pno.

Chit.

8

Perc.

11

80

Sopr. to

ge

ther!

Vl.

Fl. Vc.

Pno.

Chit.

8

4 Congas) I

independente (sempre in tempo)

Perc.

IV

85

grazioso

Sopr.

Day,

Vl.

Fl.

Vc.

Pno.

Chit.

I - IV: cresc. pochissimo

Perc.

a

come