FROM THE OTHER SKY
a narrative song cycle in three movements and a postlude for Coloratura, Mezzo-soprano, Male Voice (Actor), Keyboard Solo and Chamber Orchestra
original story and libretto by WANG JIE
Orchestra
Flute/Piccolo
Clarinet in B-flat
Bassoon/Contrabassoon
Horn in F Trumpet in C
Trombone
Tuba
3 Percussions:
k I: Slap Stick, Kick Drum, Tambourine, Medium Gong, Snare Drum, Whistle;
k II: 4 Tomtoms (include a pair of very high pitch, meduim high & medium), 5 Woodblocks, Flexatone, Xylophone;
k III: 4 Tomtoms (include a high pitch, meduim, medium-low & low), 5 Woodblocks, Glockenspiel
Piano, Harpsichord (amplified) & Celesta
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Violoncello
Double Bass
Duration: ca. 17 min
Premiere
Oct 15th, 2010 | Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall
American Composers Orchestra
George Manahan, conductor
About the Story
Thirteen Zodiac Animals (in the order of Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig, and Lark) live in their extravagant palace above the sky From this remote distance, twelve of the animals install personalities in human newborns. The exception is the Lark, whose sole responsibility is to revere the Rat and entertain her fellow Zodiacs with music
The Lark performs highly virtuosic and entertaining repertoire, which pleases The Rat and his fellow Zodiacs But The Rat hasn ’t been so pleased lately, because there have been fewer and fewer newborns The lack of business has put the Zodiac gods to devastation One day, the Rat summons the Lark to fly down to the human world and check out why
Once there, the Lark discovers that a plague has broken out amongst the mankind She then hears the voice of a crippled woman selling baby shoes that have never been worn This song full of pain captures the Lark She mimics the woman in order to learn the song As she spends more time learning the sad song, her singing is now fueled by great compassion and deep soul As her musical voice matures, her song miraculously heals the crippled woman and we see life installed in the renewed body
Upon the Lark’s return to the palace, she reports the devastation to the Rat The Rat and his fellows are morose about how the business has suffered but generally indifferent to the devastation in the human world. Instead, he persuades her to sing and entertain
The Lark is at first singing her old routine. Little does she know, her singing is now gravitated towards the human song This catches the Rat’s attention: the Lark is not singing the music he likes to hear “Too few notes”, complains the Rat
The Rat and the Rooster now both noticed that she has been contaminated by the human world which is literally and figuratively beneath them The Rat fires the Lark The dark horror that was left from the plague has dissolved since the Lark’s descend Miracles of healing has taken place and humans begin new life
This is how we are left with only twelve Zodiacs animals
To order this edition & rent parts :
Please email your order to: wangjie@wangjiemusic com or
Call in your order to: 212 380 1483
Wang Jie Music, ASCAP PO Box 299
New York, NY 10025
Date of printing: July 2010
Contact Wang Jie: 212 380 1483 www wangjiemusic com
II – Human World
Clarinet in Bb
Horn in F
in C
Percussion I
Percussion II
Percussion III
The Rooster (Male Voice)
The Lark (Soprano)
The Cripple/The Rat (Mezzo-soprano)
Harpsichord/ Piano/Celesta
Bassoon
Trumpet
Trombone
Tuba
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Violoncello
Percussion I
Percussion II
Percussion III The Rooster (Male Voice) The Lark (Soprano) The Cripple/The Rat (Mezzo-soprano)
III – Zodiac
Clarinet in Bb
Bassoon
Horn in F
Trumpet in C
Trombone
Tuba
Piano
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Violoncello
Trumpet in C
Percussion I
Percussion II
Percussion III The Rooster (Male Voice) The Lark (Soprano) The Cripple/The Rat (Mezzo-soprano)
POSTLUDE – Human World
Trombone Tuba
Violin
Violin
• Serenade in Isolation 12’ Violin Solo
• Dance for Two 15’ Percussion Solo
• Game for Two 13’ Two Pianos
• Faded Colors 10’ Piano Trio
• Waiting for the Beginning 15’ Fl, Cl, Vln, Vc, Pno&Toy Pno
• The Animal Carnival 15’ Soprano and String Quartet
• In Wind They Cleave 15’ Soprano, Baritone, Piano, Percussion, Violin, Cello
• Music for the Joy of Sextet 5’ Fl, Cl, Vln, Vla, Vc, Perc
• Concerto for Harpsichord and String Instruments 12’ Harpsichord, 2 Vla, Vc
• The Stranger 2 12’ Fl, Cl, Vln, Vc, Pno
• Five Phases of Spring 15' Fl, Cl, Tpt, Perc, & String Quartet
• I Died for Beauty 11’ Baritone, Vibraphone and Piano
• Three Miniature Etudes for the Joy of Organ Playing 5’ Organ Solo
• Symphony No 1 15’ 3333, 4331, timp, 3perc, pno&cel, hp, str
• Swamp’s Shore 7’ Sopr, 2222,4231, timp, 3perc, pno, hp, sopr, str
• Five Faces of Joy 7’ String Orchestra & Celesta
• Death of Socrates 8’ 3333, 4331, timp, 3perc, pno&cel, hp, str.
To Order Music for Purchase & Rent Orchestral Music:
• Email your order to: wangjie@wangjiemusic com or
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Wang Jie Music PO Box 299
New York, NY 10025 www wangjiemusic com 212 380 1483