Augusta Read Thomas
PRAIRIE SKETCHES I ...diamonds on orchid velvet‌
Full score
from the G. Schirmer Rental Library Date of Printing_________
G. Schirmer, Inc. New York, NY
Augusta Read Thomas
PRAIRIE SKETCHES I ...diamonds on orchid velvet‌
Commissioned by Suzann Zimmerman for the Chicago Kinder Voices
G. Schirmer, Inc. New York, NY
Instrumentation Flute Oboe Clarinet in B= Percussion (1 player) High pitched metallophones: Bar 139-147, 2 octaves of Crotales and Bar 148186, 2 octaves of Temple Gongs (Japanese Rin). The Rin are available from the composer, or can be substituted with bowed vibraphone, pedal sempre, motor on slow. N.B.: in bars 148 through 186 the “x” noteheads represent the full range of the Temple Gongs. Strike these instruments freely, resulting in an elegant and graceful resonance. Never dampen, “sempre l.v. molto.” This should be rubato, floating, and not motoric. Use many grace notes. Play Major Sevenths, Minor Seconds and Major Sixths and Minor Thirds more than other intervals. The desired sound is a reverberant glow. The player can simply count 39 bars and basically improvise for that duration.
Harp Solo Soprano (light lyric, slightly coloratura) Small Chorus (women with or without children; 3 to 5 women’s voices with 6 to 18 children’s voices is suggested) Violin Violoncello duration ca. 12 minutes Transposed Score Grace notes come before the beat Chorus may stagger breathing when necessary. Whenever possible this work should be played in a very resonant concert hall, a church, or a cathedral. A dry acoustic is not desirable.
Seating arrangement for performance with women’s voices only.
Seating arrangement for performance with women and children.
Chorus
Percussion
Percussion
Clarinet Harp
Clarinet
Flute
Oboe
Harp Flute
Oboe
Violin
Violoncello Soprano
Violin
Violoncello
Conductor
Soprano Conductor
Audience
Audience Chorus
If the chorus consists solely of women’s voices they should be seated on stage with the other performers.
When the chorus involves children (and depending on the acoustics of the hall) the chorus should be seated at the very back of the hall behind the audience. It should be a surprise when they enter. For some performances it may be necessary to employ two conductors, one for the Chorus and one for the Players.
PRAIRIE SKETCHES On a Kansas prairie plain, green blades stand tall and silent Refrain: My Soul, breathe deep awash in silken sunlight gazing toward morning skies in quiet splendor. The stillness of dawn’s glow spreads one timeless gaze. Refrain: My Soul, breathe deep At a moment’s wisp of wind, the whisper silence is broken as a gentle sway moves across the great expanse, grasses once still are as a sea foam of waves dashing against the shoreline of a cornflower blue sky.
in the waning daylight hours. Refrain: My Soul, breathe deep and drink the near-silent fragrance. As evening turns to dusk splendid grasses arrayed with wild flower patches will rest, as night-watch stars take up canvassed formations. And for a time all aglow, they pierce the black night sky like diamonds on orchid velvet. Bathed in misty morning air, they fade in sunlight brilliance of morn once again revealing slender green blades washed in daylight’s dawning mist. Awaiting the Willow-wisp’s song, the sea green field, dotted with patch quilt colors takes up a ballet of graceful movement, as wind sweeps across land that time has graced.
The dance begins. Sounds of rustling prairie current hold sway
—Suzann Zimmerman used by permission
to Suzann Zimmerman with admiration and gratitude
PRAIRIE SKETCHES I …diamonds on orchid velvet…
Suzann Zimmerman
Rubato, sempre colla voce
Augusta Read Thomas (2004)
= 76–84
Flute
Oboe
Clarinet in B echo Percussion
Harp
DCB E FGA
D
Solo Soprano
On
a Kan
sas
prai
rie
plain,
green
Chorus
Violin echo Violoncello sub.
echo
7
espr.
3
Fl. cantabile echo harp Ob. echo Cl. in B echo Perc. 3
Hp.
E G
solo
D
C B F
ossia Solo Sop.
blades
stand
tall
and
si
lent
Ch.
Vn.
espr.
echo solo
Vc.
echo harp
Corrected 3/05 Corrected 10/06
Copyright © 2005 by G. Schirmer, Inc. (ASCAP) New York, NY International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved. Warning: Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited by Federal law and subject to criminal prosecution.
espr. Property of: G. Schirmer Rental Library Bellvale Road Chester, NY 10918 SUPPLIED ON LOAN ONLY
2 13 Fl.
Ob. echo Cl. in B
Perc.
Hp.
chant-like bell-like Solo Sop.
My Soul,
breathe
deep
Oh chant-like: very slight vibrato
Ch.
My Soul, solo Vn. 3
espr.
3
sul D
Vc.
19 Fl. solo Ob. brassy
echo
Cl. in B echo Perc.
solo
B G
Hp.
solo
solo
B F G
3
silky Solo Sop.
a
wash
in
silk
en
sun light
Ch.
breathe
deep sul A
Vn. echo Vc. echo
3 25 Fl. 3
3
dramatic
Ob. dramatic Cl. in B echo Perc.
solo
3
F G
Hp.
Solo Sop.
gaz ing toward
morn
3
ing
skies
div.
Ch.
ah sul A and E
sul A
Vn. pizz. Vc.
30 Fl. smooth
3
3
Ob. 3
espr. espr.
Cl. in B smooth
3
3
Perc.
F
Hp.
C
prayerful calm Solo Sop.
in
qui
et
splen ah
sempre
dor. ah
The still ness
div. a3
Ch.
ah
ah
ah
sul D
Vn. arco Vc.
of
dawn’s glow,
4 35 Fl. sub. Ob. 3
sub.
Cl. in B sub. Perc.
E
Hp.
Solo Sop. 3
glow
oh,
spreads one
time
less
gaze.
div.
unis.
Ch.
glow
oh,
My Soul,
breathe
Vn. sub.
echo
Vc. 3
sub.
echo
40 Fl.
Ob.
Cl. in B
Perc.
Hp.
espr. Solo Sop.
My Soul, breathe 3
deep
div.
Ch. 3
breathe
My Soul, breathe deep,
deep
Vn.
3
Vc. espr.
deep
5 45
a tempo
= 76–84
Fl.
Ob.
Cl. in B 3
Perc.
G
Hp.
3
B
D
3
elegant Solo Sop. 3
as
a
gen
tle
sway
Ch.
non vib. Vn. echo
non vib.
Vc. 3
sub.
echo
49 Fl. sub. Ob. sub. solo Cl. in B smooth
3
Perc. solo
slow roll
3
Hp.
D C B E G
D
Solo Sop. 3
moves
a
cross
the
Ch.
vib. norm. Vn. sub. vib. norm. Vc. sub., espr.
great
ex
panse,
6 55 Fl.
Ob.
Cl. in B
Perc.
(D C B EFGA)
G
Hp.
Solo Sop. div.
unis.
div.
lence
is
ken,
unis.
div.
Ch.
whis per
si
bro
moves
a
cross
the great
Vn. sul A Vc.
60 Fl. solo Ob. espr.
3
3
sub.
7:4
Cl. in B
Perc. solo 5
D C E G 5
Hp.
Solo Sop.
grass es Ch.
panse, poco vib. Vn.
Vc.
once
still
are
ex
elegant (not machine-like) trill
7
gradually slow trill
65 Fl.
Ob. poss. Cl. in B echo echo Vn. Perc. 8va
slow, dreamy gliss. l.v.
(D CB E FG A)
Hp.
B F G
3
Solo Sop.
as
a sea foamof
waves
Ch. vib. norm.
solo
Vn. rubato
3
5:4
espr.
Vc.
70 Fl. echo Ob.
Cl. in B
Perc.
D C
Hp.
Solo Sop. 3
dash ing Ch.
Vn.
Vc.
a
gainst
the shore
line
of
a
corn flow er blue
sky.
3
8
= 96–104
accel. 75
Fl.
3
sub.
6
dramatic
3
sempre
Ob. 3
bold frenetic, uneven, sporadic trill Cl. in B
Perc.
.
gliss
DC B E F G A
E
Hp.
Solo Sop.
Ch. sul E 8va
frenetic, uneven, sporadic trill Vn.
3
5
Vc.
= 116–126
79
3
Fl.
Ob.
3
Cl. in B
Perc.
6
Hp.
dramatic
C B E
Solo Sop. Ch. (non trem.)
Vn. arco Vc. 3
9 83 Fl.
3
3 3
Ob. 3
3
3
3
3
3
Cl. in B
3
3
Perc.
Hp.
Solo Sop.
ah Ch.
Vn. 3
3 3
Vc.
87 Fl. sub.
sub.
sub.
sub.
sub.
sub.
Ob.
Cl. in B
Perc.
Hp.
sub. Solo Sop.
ah Ch.
Vn. sub. Vc.
sub.
10 rit.
90 Fl. 6
5
sub.
5
sub.
Ob. sub.6
5 5
sub.
solo Cl. in B 6
sub.
5
5
6
sub.
Perc.
Hp.
3
F G
3
3
sub.
sub.
5
Solo Sop.
ah
6
5
unis.
sempre
Ch.
Oo
Vn.
5
6
sub.5
sub.
con sord.
3
3
Vc. 3
94
Smooth
= 76–84
Fl. echo Ob. echo Cl. in B espr.
Perc. solo
Hp.
C E
E
intimate 5:4
Solo Sop.
Sounds
of rus
tling
prai
rie
cur
rent sempre
Ch.
(Oo) Vn.
Vc. sempre
Oo
hold
sway
in the
wan
ing
11 100 Fl. sub., cantabile Ob.
Cl. in B
Perc.
Hp.
Solo Sop.
day
light
hours.
Ch.
My Soul,
breathe
deep
and
drink
con sord. Vn. sub., cantabile Vc.
rit.
106 Fl. poss. Ob.
Cl. in B Crotales, brass mallets
l.v. molto, sempre
3
Perc.
solo
Hp.
3
Solo Sop.
As Ch.
the near
si
lent
fra
grance.
Vn.
Vc. espr.
12 = 60–66
111 Fl.
espr. Ob.
Cl. in B Crot. Perc. 3
B A
Hp.
D
Solo Sop. 3
eve
ning
turns
to
dusk
splen did grass es
ar rayed with wild
flow er
Ch.
Vn.
Vc.
116 Fl. echo Ob.
Cl. in B echo 2 octaves of Temple Gongs (Japanese Rin) (Crot.)
3
3
sim.
3
Perc. 7:4
D E F
Hp.
floating Solo Sop.
patch es
will
rest,
ah echo
Ch.
ah sul A Vn.
Vc.
13 121 Fl.
Ob. 3
echo Cl. in B echo
(Gongs) Perc.
Hp.
sub. Solo Sop. 3
as
night
watch
stars
take up
can vassed for
Ch.
Vn.
Vc.
126 Fl.
Ob.
Cl. in B
(Gongs) Perc.
slow
l.v. molto
gliss
.
Hp.
3
5:3
D C B EF GA
D B G
Solo Sop. 3
And
for a
time
all
a glow,
echo
Ch. sul A Vn.
Vc.
ah
ma
tions.
14 131 Fl. echo
solo Ob. 3
echo Cl. in B echo
(Gongs) Perc.
8va
slow, drea
my gliss.
(DC B EF G A )
Hp.
D B G A
Solo Sop.
they
div.
pierce
the black night
sky
Ch.
ah
Vn.
Vc.
136 Fl. echo Ob. echo Cl. in B echo (Gongs) Perc.
3
solo
Hp.
3
B E A 3
Solo Sop.
like Ch.
Vn.
Vc.
dia
monds
on
or
15
accel.
solo
140 Fl. solo Ob.
Cl. in B
(Gongs) Perc.
gliss.
8va
l.v.
(D C B E F GA )
Hp.
B
delicate
Solo Sop.
chid
vel
vet.
unis.
div. espr.
unis.
ah
Oo
sempre
Ch.
ah
via sord. Vn. via sord. Vc.
144
= 76–84
Fl. echo Ob.
Cl. in B (Gongs) Perc.
B E
Hp.
A
Solo Sop. 3
Bathed
in
mist y
div. Ch.
(Oo)
Oo
Vn. senza sord. Vc.
morn
ing
air,
they
fade
in
16 149 Fl.
Ob.
Cl. in B (Gongs) Perc.
Hp.
Solo Sop.
sun
light
bril
liance
of
3
morn
Ch.
Bathed
senza sord. solo Vn. 3
espr.
solo
5:4
Vc.
espr.
153 Fl.
Ob.
Cl. in B
l.v. molto
(Gongs)
gl
iss
.
Perc.
D C
Hp.
l.v.
l.v. s.
glis
D CB E F GA
E
Solo Sop. div. a3 sempre Ch.
in morn
Vn.
Vc.
ing,
they
fade
in sun
light
17 157
solo
Fl. (echo) Ob. (sempre ) Cl. in B
Perc. solo
G
Hp.
D C B
3
Solo Sop. 3
once
a
gain
re
veal
ing
slen der green blades
echo unis.
Ch.
ah
Vn.
Vc.
162 Fl.
Ob. solo Cl. in B
Perc.
Hp.
D E F G
Solo Sop. 5:4
washed
in
day
light’s
dawn
ing
mist.
Ch.
day Vn. espr. Vc.
espr.
18 167 Fl. poss.
poss.
Ob.
Cl. in B
Perc. solo
3
F
Hp.
Solo Sop.
Ch.
light’s
ah
ah
A
wait
ing
Vn.
Vc.
171 Fl. 3
Ob.
Cl. in B
Perc.
B F Hp.
graceful Solo Sop.
Oh
takes up
a
bal
let,
Ch.
the
Wil
low
wisp’s
song,
oh
3
Vn.
Vc.
19 gradually slow trill
solo
175 Fl.
6
gradually slow trill
Ob.
Cl. in B
Perc.
Hp.
3
smooth Solo Sop. 3
bal
let
of
grace
ful
Ch.
Oo gradually slow trill Vn. solo Vc. espr.
rit.
180 Fl. 3
Ob. 3
Cl. in B
Perc.
Hp.
3
3
Solo Sop.
move
ment,
Ch.
3
Vn.
3
solo Vc.
3 3
20 184
Elegant
= 60–66
Fl. sub. Ob.
Cl. in B
Perc.
D
Hp.
sempre Solo Sop. 3
as
wind
sweeps
a
cross
Ch.
Vn.
3
sub. Vc. sub.
189 Fl. 3
poss.
poss.
Ob.
Cl. in B
Perc.
l.v. molto solo espr.
Hp.
espr. Solo Sop.
land
that time
has
graced.
Ch.
ah solo
8va
sul E Vn. espr. Vc.