Seven heavens (of different heights (and depths)) by Bára Gísladóttir

Bára Gísladóttir

Seven heavens (of different heights (and depths)) i. vetrarsólstöður ii. second and third heaven iii. seven heavens of different heights and depths iv. isola/alghero v. sixth and (slightly) brighter (but dark af) vi. seventh heaven

2017-18

Commissioned by Riot Ensemble

Instrumentation Oboe Percussion: Suspended cymbal and Crotales (Db6, D6, Eb6, E6, F6, Gb6, G6, Ab6, Bb6, Eb7, Bb7, B7) • Bow • 4 thimbles (2 on each hand) Harpsichord • A handful of thimbles • Preparation: o Remove the damper from the jack of B1, C2, E2. o Tie a piece of fishing line (length: ca. 1.5 m) close to the jack of each of the before mentioned strings. Rub the fishing lines well with rosin. o Place a contact microphone to the sound board, close to the bridge. Double bass

Duration: 6’42’’

Explanations Oboe Exhale through instrument, creating an Aeolian windy sound

Inhale through instrument, creating an Aeolian whistling sound

Hum through instrument

Hum through instrument whilst playing

Percussion Place the four thimbles where they feel the most comfortable, but make sure you have two on each hand. Both hands should be used for the finger drumming part of the piece (apart from when the finger drumming is to be dampened, or somehow occupied with one hand). Harpsichord Place the four thimbles where they feel the most comfortable, but make sure you have two on each hand. Both hands should be used for the finger drumming part of the piece (apart from when the finger drumming is to be dampened, or somehow occupied with one hand). Other props: a handful of thimbles When it comes to the finger drumming on the sound board, feel free to experiment different places of the soundboard. There’s no need to perform the drumming in any specific place of the sound board, as long as you stay true to the dynamics written. A part of the bowing technique is in the form of tremolo. In these cases, drag the fish line back and forth in a rapid manner. This notehead shows an approximate area for the technique indicated to take place

Double bass gradually change from one technique to the other harmonic artificial harmonic s.p. – sul ponticello s.t. – sul tasto m.s.p. – molto sul ponticello m.s.t. – molto sul tasto a.f.a.p. – as fast as possible o.p. – overpressure The levels of o.p. are divided into different levels, where 1/4 would be a slight o.p. and 4/4 a full o.p. with as little pitch-audibility as possible. In this piece the o.p. exists only in the form of 2/4 (more than slight) and 3/4 (less than full).

for Riot in the occasion of Dark Music Days 2018 Birki

Seven heavens (of different heights (and depths)) i. vetrarsólstöður q = 44

5 &4

Oboe

4 4

∑

2 4˙

b˙ o

3 4 bn˙) ™™

3 w 2 b6˙n6 b6 4 bw 4 4 w

∑

3 4

finger drum let vib.

æ Suspended ° 5 ˙æ™ Cymbal / 4 pp

æ ˙æ

4 ˙ææ 4

2 3 4 ∑ 4

∑

2 4

∑

4 4

∑

3 4

‰bœ œ 42 ∑ 43 o pp

∑

2 4

∑

4 4

∑

3 4

Ó ∑ arco let vib.

Crotales

5 ¢& 4

4 4

∑

∑ ˙ pp

pizz. let vib.

Strings throw thimbles rapidly at strings

5 Harpsichord { & 4

ææ ææ U™ U pp

4 4

ææ U

2 4Œ

ææ U

arco

3 4

let vib.

2 4 ææ ˙

∑ ææ ˙™

4 4

3 4 w

o mp q = 44 III m.s.p. Double Bass

m.s.p. 7

? 5 bO ™ 4

s.p. 3

4 bœ‚œ‚œ‚œ œ O ™ 4

2 4O

bœ‚œ‚œ‚œ œ O

3 2 4 4 bœ‚œ‚œ‚œ œbn˙O bn˙O bœbnœ‚ 4 b˙ bn˙O 4 bnw~

3 4

pp ppp

reed off

3 & 4 b˙)™™

Ob.

4w 4)

3 4 o

∑

hold your breath

2 4 4 ∑ 4!

° 3 Cym. / 4

2 3 4 ∑ 4 _™

4 4

∑

3 4

∑

hold your breath

5 4 !™ o

2 4

2 4 4 ∑ 4

let vib. ææ æ 2 ˙ 3 ˙æ™ 5 4 pp 4 4

∑

6 4 _™

∑

3 4 o

let vib.

2 4

∑

6 4

∑

ææ ˙™

Ó™

3 4

∑

3 4

pp finger drum dampen Crot.

3 æ ¢& 4 b˙æ™

arco let vib.

4 ææ 4 bw

3 æ 4 b˙æ™

2 4 4 ∑ 4 Œ bœ Ó

2 3 5 4 ∑ 4 ∑ 4

2 4

∑

6 4

∑

6 4

pp finger drum

ææ ˙

Soundboard

3 4

Hpsd. {

4Ó 4

∑

3 4

ææ ˙™

2 4

ææ æ ˙ 44 wæ

2 4

ææ æ ˙ 43 ˙æ™

ppp

5 4

ææ ˙™

Ó o

2 4

ææ w™

3 4 o

m.s.p. ord. Db.

? 3 nO ™ 4

4 œ‚ œ‚ œ‚ œ‚ O O 3 O ™ O ™ 2 O 4 4 4 p

4 b~ 4

2 4 bO

3 4 bO ™

ppp

5 4 b˙ ™ O ™ O

5 2 bœ‚œ‚œ 6 3 œ 4 bO ™ ˙ ™ ˙O ‚ 4 4

ppp

3 4_™

4! 4 o pp

reed on Ob.

3 & 4 !™ p

4 4

reed off

3 4

∑

2 4 4 bœ œ œ œ 4 w

4 4

∑

2 4

∑

arco let vib.

4 ° 3 Cym. / 4 ∑ 4˙ o

3 4 ˙) ™™

3 4

∑

2 4

ppp

∑

> 4 ‰ œŒ Ó 4

3 4

∑

4 4

∑

2 4

∑

3 4

4 4

∑

3 4

∑

4 4

∑

2 4

∑

3 4 ˙™

4 4

∑

3 4 4 œœ ‰ Œ Œ 4

∑

let vib. Crot.

3 ∑ 4 Œ Ó 4 bœ ¢& 4

3 4

∑

2 4

∑

4 ‰Œ Ó 4œ > p

pp pizz. let vib.

Strings throw thimbles rapidly at strings

?3 ∑ 4 æ Hpsd. { 4 &4 æ U pp

3 4

ææ U™

2 4

ææ U

4 4

ææ U™

Œ 43 ‰ Œ Œ bn œœ o p

4 4

∑

2 4

∑

ms.p. s.p.

m.s.p. 3

s.p. Db.

? 3 O™ 4

4~ 4

3 2 4 4 ˙™ O™ 4 ˙ O 4 ~ o pp ppp

3 4O

‚ b‚ 44 b~

2 3 4 bœ‚œ‚œ‚œ œ Œ 4 bO ™

4 b~ 4 o

air flutter + key clicks 2 29

reed on ææææææææææææææææ ææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææ ææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææ Ó & bw) æ Ob. æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æææææææææææææææææ æ ææ ææ ææ ææææ ææ ææææ ææææææææææææææææ oo mp p finger drum ææ ° Œ Œ ˙™ Ó Ó Cym. / ∑

5 4 finger drum

ææ ˙™

5 4

arco let vib.

∑ Crot.

∑

¢&

∑

5 4

∑

5 4

bw o mp

pizz. let vib. Strings

∑

œœ R ≈‰

∑

mf Hpsd. throw thimbles rapidly at strings Strings

{

U ææ

∑

U ææ

5 4

o pp II m.s.p. alternate between the given pitches a.f.a.p.

? Ó

5 4

œµ‚#‚˜‚‚ o

Db.

o mp

reed off Ob.

5 b) ™ & 4 ˙™

hold your breath

4! 4

2 4

∑

mf let vib.

ææ 5 ° ™ Cym. ¢ / 4 ˙ pp

Hpsd.

4Ó 4

5 æU ™ Ó 4 { æ

ææ letæævib. Œ œ 2˙ 4 pp

4 4

U ææ

ææææææææææææææææææææææææ 6 ææææææææææææææææææææææææ 2 4 4 ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ o ff ææ 6 2 ˙™ 4 Ó™ 4 mp

2 4 ææU

?5 4

4 4

ææ ˙

4 4

™ ææU

6 4 Ó™

4 ∑ 4

2 4 4 ææU 4

2 4 bœB‚n‚µ‚ o o

6 4

2 4

4 4

o ff

ii. second and third heaven 38

Ob.

ææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææ 4 5 4 ææææææææææææææææ 4

o ææ ° 4 Cym. ¢ / 4 w

reed on

Ó ææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææææ o pp ææ 5 Ó 4 ˙™

5 4 ææU

? 2 bœ

4 ∑ 5 4 4

∑

4 4

æ 4 wæ 4

∑

4 4

6œ6œ 6œ6œ mp

æ 2 ˙æ 4

5 4

pp Keyboard

4 Hpsd. { & 4

U æ æ

Œ o

œœœ

Strings

4w 4

5 4 Ó™

arco

ææ ˙o

4 4

mp IV m.s.p

?4 4

5 4

2 4 oo

o pp

4 4

5 4 4 #˙ ™ O™ ˙ O 4 p

˙ ˙˙

4 &4 Ó

Ob.

˙™ 3 ˙˙ ™™ 4

w w w

4! 4

3 4 o

˙ ˙ 2 ˙˙ b˙˙ 4

∑

w w bw 4w 4w w

3 4! ™

4 4

∑

5 4

4 4

∑

5 4

arco let vib. Cym.

Crot.

°/ 4 4

∑

4 ¢& 4

3 4 ˙™ o 3 4 ∑

∑

4 4

3 4

∑

2 4

∑

4 4

∑

3 4

∑

f arco let vib.

4 4

3 4

∑

2 4

∑

4 4

∑

3 4

∑

4 4w o

5 4 mp

let vib.

?4 æ Hpsd. { 4 æ w

3 4

ææ w

4 4

3 4 Œ ææ ˙ o

∑

˙™

2 4 ææ ˙

4 æ 4 æ w

3 4

∑

4 4

5 4

∑

s.p.

m.s.p.

3 4 4 #˙ ™ O™ 4 œ O

s.p.

? 4 #w 4

Db.

œ œ ‚ 43 ˙ ™ O ™ 42 ‚ œ ‚ œ‚ œ‚ œ‚ 44 w

3 4 O™

4w 4

5 4

5 & 4 Ó™

Ob.

˙ b˙˙

˙™ 3 ˙™ 4 ˙™

iii. seven heavens of different heights and depths reed off

4 4

∑

6œ 6œ#6œ6œÓ

3 4Ó

‰ 5 ‰ ‰ œ6 4 #œ6œ6œ6 œ6œ6 œ6# œ6 œ6 ‰

4 4

2 3 4 ∑ 4! ™ o

∑

2 4 p

mp p

finger drum dampen

Cym.

°/ 5 4

æ 3 ˙æ™ 4

∑

arco let vib.

æ 4 wæ 4

ææ w

æ 3 ˙æ™ 4

æ 5 ˙æ™ 4

4 4

Œ œ o

Crot.

5 ¢& 4

3 4

∑

2 3 4 ∑ 4

∑

2 4

4 ‰Œ Œ Œ 2 ∑ 3 4œ 4 4 >

∑

2 4

∑

2 4

∑

4 4

∑

3 4

5 4

∑

mf let vib.

?5 4

Hpsd.

3 4

∑

{ ˙™ o

4 æ 4 æ w o

ææ w

3 4 ææ ˙™

5 4

4 4

∑

2 3 4 ∑ 4

∑

o pp

m.s.p.

? 5 ˙™ O™ ˙ O 3 ˙™ O™ 4 w ~ 4 4 4

Db.

~ 43 ˙™ O™

5 4 ˙™

Cym.

Crot.

∑

4 Œ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ 4 ææææææææ o f ææ 4 Ó Œ œ 4

°/ 2 ˙ 4 o mp arco let vib. 2 4 ∑ 4 œ‰ Œ ¢& 4 >

3 2 4 O œ‚ 4

3 4

! o ææ w

ææ ˙™

4 4 !)

∑ arco let vib.

3 4

inhale with an up-glissing screeching voice reed on

hold your breath

growl with voice

hold your breath

2 &4

2 4O

Ob.

O™

4 4w

3 4

˙ o

4 4

∑

b>œ ‰ Œ Œ 4 4

∑

3 4

2 6 4 #œ œ œ œ 4

arco let vib.

∑

iv. isola/alghero

3 4˙ Œ o pp 3 4 ∑

2 4

∑

6 4

2 4

∑

6 4

f Keyboard

?2 4

Hpsd.

∑

{

Strings

4 bww 4 bn w ww

throw thimbles rapidly at strings

arco let vib.

˙˙˙ ™™™ Œ 43 ˙˙ ™™ ˙™

∑

4 4

∑

3 4

∑

2 4

ææ U mp

6 &4

Db.

II s.p.

m.s.p.

‚ ‚ O™

?2 œ ‚ Œ 4 4 4 mp

f p

ff IV s.p. o.p. 3/4

m.s.p. m.s.t.

m.s.p. o.p. 0

3 4 3 4 µ ˙ ™ O ™ µ œ ≈ ‰ Œ Œ 4 Ó µO 4 O ™ > ff ppp

2 4 µ˙ O mp

6 4

growl with voice bend tone while glissing voice down as far as possible reed on

4 69

ææææææææ 3 æ æ æ æ æ æ æ ææ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ 4 ææææææææææææææææ

reed off

6 &4 Ó

Ob.

° 6 Cym. / 4

6 Ó

æ 5 Œ wæ 4

∑

reed on

4! 4 o ææ 4w 4

4 4

∑

reed off

5 4 )˙ ™

3 4

∑

ææ ˙

4 &4

3 4

2 4

∑

3 4

ææ ˙

Œ 2 4

pp arco let vib. Crot.

6 ¢& 4

3 4

∑

4 Œ b˙ ™ 4 o

∑

5 4

4 4

∑

3 4

∑

2 4

∑

p Soundboard finger drum arco

6 Hpsd. { & 4 æ æ U

ppp s.p.

4 4

ææ w

4 m.s.p. 4~

3 4 ˙™ O™

2 4

4 ! 4

3 4! ™

2 4

3 4

ææ ˙™

2 4

4 #˙ O Ó 4

#O ™

5 4 O™ pp

v. sixth and (slightly) brighter (but dark af)

2 3 & 4 #˙6 6 6 4

Ob.

4 4

III ord.

o.p. 2/4

ff ppp

ææ ˙

3 4 O™

~™

æ 5 ˙æ™ 4 pp

Ó ˙

mp m.s.p.

?6 4n w ™

Db.

let vib.

3 4 ææ ˙™

off 2 #œ6 œ6#œ6 œ6 3 reed Œ 4 4 ææææææææææææ æ ææ ææ ææ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ arco o

∑

p 3

ææææææææ 2 4 ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ ææ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ æ

o mp

let vib. Cym.

° 2 /4

3 4

∑

2 4

∑

3 4˙ o 3 4

∑

arco let vib. 3

Crot.

2 3 & œ 4 4 # œ œ ¢

2 4

∑

2 4˙ o 2 4

Œ pp

∑

4 4

∑

3 4

∑

2 4

4 4

∑

3 4

∑

2 4

3 4

∑

2 4

∑

pp Soundboard

æ 2 ˙æ 4

Hpsd.

æ 3 ˙æ 4

Strings pizz.

?Œ

Keyboard

ææ 2 3 b œ œ Œ œ œ ˙ &4 4

bbbnœœœœœœœ

4Œ

w w 4w w w w 4 w

{ p m.s.p.

s.p.

?2 4˙ O

Db.

pp s.p.

3 2b O 4 ˙ ™ ˙O ™™ 4 ˙

3 ™ 4˙

b˙O ™™

4 b~ 4

b˙O

2 4˙ p

3 O™ 4

ppp

vi. seventh heaven

2 &4

Ob.

∑

4 b! 4

3 4! ™

2 4Ó

4 b! 4 o

2 4Œ

∑

3 4! ™

arco let vib

b >œ Crot.

° 2 ¢& 4

∑

4 4

∑

3 4Œ

‰

nœ

2 4Ó

‰ ‰

4 4

∑

2 4

∑

3 4

∑

2 4

∑

3 4

∑

3 4

∑

pp arco let vib.

Strings

?2 4

Hpsd.

∑

4 4

∑

3 4

∑

2 4

∑

4 4

∑

{ m.s.p.

˙™

‚ O™ Db.

? 2 b˙ 4 pp

4 b~ 4

3 4

O˙ ™™

‚œ

‚

2 4

‚œ

ææ ˙ o O

pp s.p.

‚ ‚ I‚ ‚

4 4

2 4 p

2 4