Crystalline Vapor For String Quartet By Christopher Poovey
Durration: 5’30" Bloomington 2015
Performance Note Crystalline Vapor explores the idea of focus by crossfading between two textures: a chaotic texture made up of polyrhythmic figures and fragmented lines and a frozen chordal texture rich with dramatic swells. When composing this piece I imagined myself surrounded by flurries ofice large enough so that they refracted sunlight to form a chaotic spectrum. Occasionally there would be a sight so beautiful that time would seem to stop allowing me to truly appreciate its beauty.
Explanation of Non-standard Notation
[]
Feathered tremolo: Play the given sonority for the bracketed duration increasing the speed gradually over the duration. For instance in this example the chord will be played for the duration of a half note while increasing speed from and eight note to a tremolo.
ord.
sul pont
Bow placement change: Gradually change the bow from one placement to another.
æ
pizz.
Bartok/snap pizz: Pluck the note so that is snaps on the fingerboard.
Crystalline Vapor Christopher Poovey
Rapid = 120-126
5 4 .
Violin 1
5 4
Violin 2
3
3
4
5
Cello
5
pizz.
4
5
arco
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vlc.
arco
>
pizz.
>
3
3
3
pizz.
3
arco
4 4 .
. arco
pizz.
3
- - - - 3 5
pizz.
. 5
5
3
5
5
5
arco
5
arco
3 Vln. 1
3
3
5
Viola
3
pizz.
.
.
.
pizz.
6
5
4 4 6
3
5
3 . . . 4 . . . 4
3
3
6
4 4
5
5
2
Crystalline Vapor
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
>
Vlc.
5
5
7
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vlc.
arco
6
. pizz.
3
arco
pizz.
5
5
3 4
3 4
6
5
6
3 4
5
arco
3
pizz.
4
5
.
. .
5
arco
3 5
3
.
.
arco
pizz.
3
3
3
3
.
.
pizz.
6
3
- - - - - 3 3
5
Vln. 1
pizz.
3
Vla.
arco
5
Crystalline Vapor
Vln. 1
pizz.
9
6
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vlc.
5
5
Vln. 2
Vla.
3
6
5
pizz.
2 4
4
5
5
pizz.
4 - - - - - 4
4
2
arco
4
4 4
5
3 4
6
3
pizz.
5
arco
3
4 4
2 . . . . 4 3 4 4 4 pizz.
4
5
3
3
3
2
3
4 3 2 4 4 - - - - - - 4
3
arco . . . 2
arco
5
pizz.
2 4
. . . .
2 4
5
5
5
Vlc.
6
6
12 Vln. 1
3
arco 5
arco
3
6
4 4
arco
4 4
4 5
5
5
4
4
Crystalline Vapor
A
5 4>
5 4 >
15 Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vlc.
4 4
4 4
4
4
5 4
4 4
5 4
3
. . . . . .
5
Vlc.
4
. . . . . . . . . .
6
arco sul pont.
4 4
4 4
4
ord.
3
3
4
3
. . . . . 3
6
6
arco
pizz. 3
arco
5
pizz.
5
4
5
6
3
4 4
ord.
3
3
.
5
5 . . . . . 4 4 5 5
Vla.
>
pizz.
pizz.
Vln. 2
arco sul pont.
5
>
5
pizz.
5
4
4
4 4
17 Vln. 1
Crystalline Vapor
pizz.
19
5
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
. . . . . . . . . .
5
arco sul pont.
Vlc.
3
21
6
5
5
3
6
3 4
3 4 3
4
arco
3
3
5
arco
sul pont.
arco
3
3 4
3
3 4
6
5
pizz.
Vlc.
3 4
6
pizz.
Vla.
3 . . . . . . . . . 4 6
Vln. 2
3 4
6
Vln. 1
5
5
6
5
ord.
3
Vla.
5
5
5
arco
3
pizz.
3
3
6
Crystalline Vapor
23 Vln. 1
6
3
sul pont.
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vlc.
5
arco
3
3 . . . . .
2 4
pizz.
2 4
2
4 3
3
pizz.
sul pont.
3
5
2 4 . . . .
2 4 6
5
5
. . . .
5
3 4
3 4
. . . . .
3 4
arco ord.
2 4
6
3
arco
2 4
5
6
25 Vln. 1
5
arco
Vlc.
pizz.
ord.
3
3
3
2 4
5
3 4
Crystalline Vapor
5
3 4 4 . . . 4 5
28 Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vlc.
Vln. 1
3 4
6
6
4
Vla.
Vlc.
4
B
sul pont.
31
3
[]
3
5
6
sul pont.
5
5
6
6
sul pont. 3
ord.
3
> . . . .
5
. . . . 5 3 >
>
[]
[]
ord.
>
4 4
4 4
5
Vln. 2
3
[]
4 . . . 4
3
3
5
7
pizz.
3
6
6
arco 5
5
pizz.
3
. .
arco
8
33 Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Crystalline Vapor
arco 3
pizz.
3
Vla.
Vlc.
Vln. 2
35 Vln. 1
6
6
pizz.
6
6
5
5
5
pizz.
5
3
>
>
5 4
. . . . . 5 6
6
ord.
5
5
Vlc.
6
3
5
6
6
5
3 4
. . . . . . 3 4
arco sul pont.
arco
3 4
6
Vla.
sul pont.
. . . .
4
3
pizz.
3
4
6
5
. . . .
5 4
5 4
Crystalline Vapor
Vln. 1
5 4
sul pont.
Vln. 2
5 4
5
Vla.
Vlc.
Vln. 2
Vla.
5
4
[]
>
4 4
pizz.
sul pont.
3
@J
[ + ]
4 4
@J @ @
5
5
@ @ ord.
@J
5
ord.
3
ord.
arco
[]
[ + ]
4
4
J
4
arco
4
5
Vlc.
5 4
39 Vln. 1
5
>
pizz.
37
9
sul pont.
@J
sul pont.
ord.
sul pont.
@ @ @ @
ord.
@ @ @ @
sul pont.
6
ord.
6
6
ord.
ord.
ord.
10
C 43 Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Crystalline Vapor
>
>
Vln. 2
Vla.
sul pont.
5
3
5
pizz.
5
5
6
[] ord.
pizz.
. . . .
3 4
3
ord.
3 4 >
pizz.
sul pont.
6
Vlc.
> 5 5
>
3 4
45 Vln. 1
arco
>
Vlc.
pizz.
3 4
sul pont.
>
3
pizz.
arco
6
5
5
pizz.
5
3
3
arco
5 4
5
sul pont.
. .
arco ord.
arco ord.
5
3
5 4
6 . . 5 4 6 6
sul pont.
ord.
5 4
Crystalline Vapor
4
5 4
4
Vla.
Vlc.
5 4
5
4
Vln. 2
Vlc.
sul pont.
5
ord.
3 4
4 4
, >
4
4 4
3
,
4 4 >
4
, >
4 arco
5
5
4
( )
[] (ord.)
( )
>
pizz.
>
3 4
3 4
[] (ord.)
5
>
6
ord.
5
5
, > 4
5
ord.
6
3 4 sul pont.
sul pont.
5
4
6
3 4
4
6
3 4
3
5
3
Vla.
sul pont.
4 . . . . . 4
arco
49
pizz. 3
5
Vln. 1
ord.
sul pont.
6
ord.
5 . . . .
4
[]
ord.
Vln. 2
[] ord.
arco
47 Vln. 1
11
3 4
12
Crystalline Vapor
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
sul pont.
Vla.
sul pont.
Vlc.
54
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vlc.
[]
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
[]
[]
[]
ord.
>
[]
> J J
>
ord.
>
ord.
[] sul pont.
[]
ord.
[] (ord.)
>
[] sul pont.
[] (ord.)
>
51
>
>
sul pont.
3 4
sul pont.
3 4
(ord.)
(ord.)
>
(ord.)
sul pont.
>
sul pont.
(ord.)
ord.
ord.
ord.
3 4
3 4
ord.
Crystalline Vapor
D
> 3 4 . . . .
. . . .
58 Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vlc.
>
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vlc.
5
5 4
5
5
arco sul pont.
pizz.
3
3
>
>
[] (ord.)
>
sul pont.
>
5 4
5
5
4 . . . .
5
4
sul pont.
ord. 3
5 4
> 3 sul pont.
ord.
5
4 4
3
3
>pizz. 5 5 5 > > > 5 5 4 5 . . . . 4 3 4 5 5 5
5 4
5
5
> 3
5 4
6
3 4>
60 Vln. 1
6 6 . . . . . . . . . 6 6 3
3 4
4
13
4
4
3 4
6
4
3 4
6
6
4 4
[] (ord.)
sul pont.
3 4
14
Crystalline Vapor
3 4
62 Vln. 1
Vln. 2
[] (ord.)
3 4
5
5
Vla.
3
Vlc.
3 4
4
ord.
65 Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vlc.
4 4
>
pizz.
(ord.)
6
4 >
(ord.)
4 4
sul pont.
sul pont.
sul pont.
4
6
sul pont.
4 4 >
3
>
(ord.)
ord.
4
sul pont.
arco
(ord.)
4 4
4 4
ord.
[] (ord.)
5
4 4
4
sul pont.
J
R
6
6
6
[ ]
[ + ]
ord.
ord.
[ + ]
[ ]
Crystalline Vapor
69 Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vlc.
Vln. 1
ord.
72
[]
Vla.
[]
Vlc.
*
j
*
[ + ] sul pont.
@J
>
[ + ] sul pont.
>
[ + ] sul pont. *
J
>
>
* Play notes detached at increasing speed until it becomes a double stop tremolo
[]
[]
Vln. 2
J
ord.
Vla.
*
[] sul pont.
15
ord.
3 4
3 4
ord.
ord.
3 4 3 4
ord.
2 4
>
pizz.
3
> 2 4
5 4
2 4>
>
2 4
.
5 4
5 4
sul pont.
5 4
16
Crystalline Vapor
E 75 Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vlc.
5 4
4
5
Vln. 2
Vlc.
arco sul pont.
pizz.
4 >
3
3
3 4
>
4
3
4
3
2 4
5
sul pont.
5
pizz.
2 4
4
4
sul pont.
4 4
ord.
ord.
4 4
5
pizz.
3
sul pont.
3 4
3 4
sul pont.
>
pizz.
. . . . 6
arco ord.
3
4
6
3 arco
3
3
4
5
5
(ord.)
pizz.
pizz.
>
2
. . . . 3
. . . . 4
arco ord.
arco ord.
> 2 3 4 4 5
4 4
3
arco
5
pizz.
3
6
. . . . . sul pont.
pizz.
6
sul pont.
arco sul pont.
Vla.
>
77 Vln. 1
5 4
5
arco
6
Crystalline Vapor
80 Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vlc.
>
sul pont.
Vln. 2
Vla.
ord.
4 4 >
sul pont.
[]
J J
[ + ]
Vlc.
4 4
4 4
>
ord.
sul pont.
>
ord.
Vln. 1
>
arco ord.
>
84
4 4
sul pont.
[] sul pont.
>
[]
ord.
>
>
>
>
ord.
-
>
sul pont.
sul pont.
ord.
ord.
ord.
sul pont.
17
-
- -
- -
18
Crystalline Vapor
88 Vln. 1
Vln. 2
-
J
J
Vlc.
92
Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vlc.
J
ord.
√
J
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
5
6
5
>
3
F
ord.
-
>
sul pont. [ + ]
sul pont. [ ]
Vla.
5
6
>
Crystalline Vapor
95 Vln. 1
Vln. 2
(√)
Vla.
Vlc.
99 Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
(√)
n
senza vib.
n
senza vib.
n
>
>
>
G
Frozen = 54-60
senza vib.
n
senza vib.
Vlc.
19
20
104 Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vlc.
108 Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vlc.
Crystalline Vapor
6 4
6 4
6 4
6 4
poco vib.
poco vib.
5 4
5 4
5 4
molto vib.
5 4
4 4
4 4
4 4
senza vib.
molto vib.
senza vib.
senza vib.
molto vib.
molto vib.
J
senza vib.
3 4
3 4
3 4
poco vib.
molto vib.
molto vib.
3 4
molto vib.
molto vib.
senza vib.
poco vib.
molto vib.
senza vib.
4 4
molto vib.
senza vib.
poco vib.
senza vib.
senza vib.
senza vib.
poco vib.
Crystalline Vapor
112 Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vlc.
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vlc.
J
poco vib.
molto vib.
5 4
5 4
senza vib.
5 4
J
poco vib.
H
poco vib.
116 Vln. 1
poco vib.
21
3 4
senza vib.
J
senza vib.
3 4
5 4
molto vib.
4 4
molto vib.
4 4
4 4
molto vib.
3 4
4 4
3 4
senza vib.
22
Crystalline Vapor
120 Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vlc.
Vlc.
5 4
molto vib.
5 4
5 4
5
poco vib.
4
j
molto vib.
molto vib.
molto vib.
Ÿ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [ ] ord.
senza vib.
( )
[ + ]
4 4
ord.
molto rit.
ord. ord. sul pont. Ÿ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
( )
4 4
4 4
ord. sul pont. ord. senza vib. Ÿ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
( )
sul pont.
senza vib.
poco vib.
[]
[]
Vla.
poco vib.
124
Vln. 2
I Vln. 1
poco vib.
[]
sul pont. ord. senza vib. ord. Ÿ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
( )
4 4
Crystalline Vapor
128 Vln. 1
Vln. 2
Vla.
Vlc.
Exhausted
3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3
<= 40
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
n
3
23
3
3
n
n
3
U n