Approaching Ali full score

APPROACHING ALI A Chamber Opera in One Act Music: D.J. Sparr Libretto: Mark Campbell and Davis Miller Based on the novel The Tao of Muhammad Ali by Davis Miller Commissioned by Washington National Opera Full Score Printed 12/16/2014

www.billholabmusic.com

D. J. Sparr APPROACHING ALI Duration: c. 60:00 Cast Davis Baritone. Caucasian. A man on the brink of middle age, in every way, Davis is a writer who finds inspiration in an impromptu visit with his boyhood hero. Muhammad Ali Bass-Baritone, African-American, late 40s, but seems older. The Champ is in semi-retirement, suffering from the early stages of Parkinsons’ Disease, but still exhibits the fire that made him The Greatest. Odessa Clay Soprano. African-American. Mother of Muhammad Ali, a vibrant woman in her early 70s, but seems decades younger. Young Davis Boy Soprano. Caucasian. The twelve-year old version of Davis, tormented at an early age by bullying because of his physical stature and confused about his mother’s premature death. Roy Miller Tenor. Caucasian. Davis’s father, late-20s. A kind father doing the best he can to help Young Davis through being bullied and his wife’s death. Sara Miller Mezzo-Soprano. Caucasian. Davis’s mother, late-20s. Time

The story jumps around in time between 1964 and 1989. Set

Two playing areas: the larger one—just a table and chairs—represents the Clay living room (and a kitchen beyond); the other playing area is marked by a single chair. This second playing area is transitory, representing scenes in the present and the past. The first playing area is in the present and fixed. A few set pieces may be added and projections employed to heighten the drama—but those should be abstracted to contrast with the relative straightforwardness of the story.

INSTRUMENTATION Flute/Pic Clarinet/Bass Clarinet 2 Percussion Synthesizer Violin I Violin II Viola Cello Double Bass

Score is transposed

based on the novel "The Tao of Muhammad Ali" by Davis Miller

APPROACHING ALI

Mark Campbell and Davis Miller

   

D. J. Sparr

q=58

Bass Clarinet in Bb



































     

   

   





 





p

     Vibraphone    

bowed



mf

     

bowed

Crotales

  Percussion   

Synthesizer

   



    



 

pppp

Violoncello

Contrabass

 ppp



ppp



   







 

   

poco ponticello





        

poco ponticello



ppp



ppp



 





 mf



  p



mf bowed

 

mf

 

      ord.





 





 

    

©2014 D. J Sparr www.djsparr.com Printed 12/16/2014

  p

ord.



ord.



p

 p



mf



 





 

   



p

ord.



poco ponticello

   

 



   pppp    

poco ponticello

ppp

Viola





Sound: Reed Organ

  Violin I     Violin II



mf

   



bowed

 

 p













p







p







2

  







10

Fl.

B. Cl.

Vib.



 





      pp



     





mp







f

        





f

    





 



  

 

 

 



 





  

p





pp

  





          

   





 



 



    





  





     p

  





mf









  

p





        f

p



        f

 

p

        

f

f





        

very hard mallets

mf



p

         

very hard mallets

mf

     p

Cb.



q= c.152          



p

  

p

Vc.



    

 

     Vln. I  

Vla.

p



mf

Vln. II



p

 Metal   

Synth.



   

 

        f f



       





3

16                                               Fl.   

                                         B. Cl.                                                 Vib.                      

Metal

Synth.

                                                                                                                      

                                         

                 

                                             Vln. I   

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

                                                                                                                                              

4

                   Fl.    21

          ff

 



              

                                 B. Cl.         ff

Vib.

Metal

                                                       



                                                               



                                      

Synth.

                                                ff

    

     3



3

                                    Vln. I             ff 3                                              Vln. II           ff 3

Vla.

                                                         ff

Vc.

Cb.

                                                 



 



 



    



  

5                    26

Fl.

B. Cl.



 

3

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

3

                           

   

 



         Vln. I      

Vln. II

3

3

        Synth.

         



    



  

 

3

3

           

          

         

          

  

  

  

3

       

6







   



   

           



     

 





arco

p

   

Sound: 2600 Sine

 

3



6

             

mf

 



                 

3



  

p

 







6

[Lights up on Davis sitting in the second area in a car. He has a pile of magazines in his lap. He is slightly agitated.]

      Fl. 



30

fff

    B. Cl.    fff

Vib.



hardmallets 







   

  



mp

    mp

    



p



3

f

3

          

p

let ring

Crotales - unless bowed, always use triangle beaters... let ring

Crot.



    

f





















Synth.

Davis

mp

                

   

  

mp





 

 



f





        Vln. I    fff

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

                

mp



f

   Cb.      fff

Drove

  

a - round

               

       

mf

               

mf



fff

   

3

 

mf



   

Long

3

  

e - nough





   



 

 

 



p



 





fp

 



fp

    

 fp



    pizz   

f



[He starts to rise; stops.]

Here goes

                    3               3               

mp

mp

(synthesizer should be in the background of texture, just a taste...)

  



35           Fl.  





p

B. Cl.



       

p





  f  Davis   



a - round

       3

f

3

      

f

                     

 

Drove





p

            

  



p

   

Synth.

   

7

3

 

Long

  

e - nough

mp





Can't back

 

 down





Stalled too



f

long

3

                                   Vln. I                        mf 3

Vln. II

3                                 





mf

Vla.

3                                  







mf

Vc.

 

Cb.

  



   



   

mf

   

    

mf

   

     

   

mf



pizz.



mp















8

   3                 Fl.   39



 Perc.  



3

p

B. Cl.



3

3

                      p 



            3

6



 



   

 

p

6







 

  



  



 

 

 

 

two sus. cymbals

pp mf

 

Synth.

  

 

     Davis   Here goes 3         Vln. I          

 

sp

3

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

                 3                       p

Cb.

  



 

[He mimes turning off the ignition and setting a parking brake.]



3



3

     



3

     



     



   



          



    

 





 

   

 





 



3

3

mf



arco

p



     

        

 

 44    Fl.   

  

      B. Cl.     fff      Vib.      fff













mf

 Metal     



  

Suspended metal bell plate

 Crot.     splash   Perc.   

  Congas   



  Crotales   

Synth.

        

   Davis  

 









 





 



  











  

pp

  

        Vln. I      fff         Vln. II     





What

could

f





 3



Vla.

Vc.

      Cb.        fff

fff

 

 3   -















fff

          fff           

p



hap

 







6 6





   

    

 









with mallets

3 3

p



     

  

mf

         



 





 



pp p

3











 



   

pp

 pp



   

mf





  



     



     

  

             

  

   





   





pp







pen?

pp

 

   



  

 

  



pp

  

pp

9





10

 51       Fl. 



 

    



 

 



fff

B. Cl.

fff

Metal

   

 Perc.    Congas  

 

 



 

mf



with mallets

  Synth.





 

   Davis  

 







       Vln. I   

  He

 











 







 

 







 



 







 



   

        

slams the door in my face



 

Vla.



 

Vc.



fff

fff



mf



(with Davis)



p

 

    







    3





What

could

f

 3   hap

-



















     







     







     

 

      fff



fff

    Cb.      

    

fff

fff

       

 

fff

fff

       

fff

 

fff

Vln. II

    



 

p

  



   

fff

arco

fff

pen?

           Fl.    57

B. Cl.



3

    

 Perc.    



 



 



    Davis  

Vln. II

Vla.

  3

   

pp

 pp



     pp

   

mf





 

 

   

 

  

 



mf

  

 

     

                

 

 

fff

 



   

pp



     

     Cb.  

pp



  



 

fff



   

Vc.





      

  

      

pp

   

pp

  



 

      

  Vln. I  

  

 



6 6



     Synth.

 

p

 Metal   

Congas

3

p



 

11





 

 

p



     

   

He slams the door in my face After knocking me on my can.

 

fff

     

 

fff

 

fff

 

            fff

      fff

 

12    62

Fl.

B. Cl.

Metal

    

 Perc.   Congas

   

Synth.

Davis

 

  

            

fff

       

  

Vla.

 

Vc.

 

 Cb.  





























 















 









   



fff







    





p

fff





 

    

    

fff

 



fff



 



    







fff



 



    





 

     



 

 

mf

   

    

fff



fff

Vln. II

 

fff

   

  Vln. I  

fff

 

  

    

 

    

 

      

    

 

    

 

   

fff

         

         







   



3





What

could

f

     



3

    hap

-



p

pen?



















































13     

  

 

 

68

Synth.

 

    Davis  





 

 

 

 

71                             Fl.   

p

B. Cl.

3

p

           



p

   

Crot.



      



   

Synth.

 



   f Davis  







   

I

im

  

 

                     Vln. I             p  not

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.



who

-

ag

-

ine him

                               p                               p

    

fp





fp

   

  

 



Or,

He's

 



pp

f

    



    





 

 





 





pp

ill. Very ill -- sick. No longer himself. Sad.Pitiful Like you read in all the rags.

to

 



        

 

     

     f



    f        

mf



    

 

                                     

be



 



 

 

 

He's

  Vc.  

 

 

3



                3                    3              

 

14

76                  Fl.  3

p

B. Cl.



p

                 3

p

Vib.

Metal

Synth.





   







   

   

   Davis  

[Like a fan:]

  Vln. I       Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

 

   

               

pizz

Cb.

 

f

p



 

             

      



 



 









 



 

hard mallets

mf

        

mf



3

               

 









mf

mp





Ah

       

                 3

3

                       

 







-

-

-

3

      

3

                         

 

 A

   

3

 

3

3

p

 

   

          3

 

3

               

 

     

 

  

 

3

3





 



arco

p

80     Fl.  

B. Cl.

Metal

       



  



       

Synth.

Davis

     

Vla.

Vc.

     



 



 

 





 



 



fff





 

mf

 



  

mf

  

    fff





     

 

 







-

-

-

-

   

-



      



      



      

              3

   



  



    

fff

   

fff

    

fff

         

fff

   

  







  



  



fff



  

 

   

   



  

  



    

      

 li!

fff

fff



 

p



 

  

fff

fff



   Cb.  

     

fff

6



 

    

 

6



3



  



    

   Vln. I  

Vln. II





  Perc.    Congas



  

          

15

fff

fff

fff

     fff

    

fff

         

 



16   Fl. 







85

B. Cl.

 Metal   



 Congas  

Synth.





 Perc.  

     



 



     

 



     

 



   



      

    

 



    

 

 mf   mf

 

 

fff

 

 

fff

 

 

     fff

 



   Davis  



A

-



-







li!

     

 

     

Vln. II





     

 

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

      

  

  

 

 

     

     

 

   

     

 

     

 

      fff

     

fff





A - li

    

fff



   

fff

     



mf

fff

 



   

[Like an experienced adult:]

Jes - us,



 

mf

 

fff



 mf    

  





   

 

 

mf

       

   

 

fff

         

mp

  Vln. I  

 

     

     

  

   



















The Great - est. The Great - est!

     fff

     



fff



fff



            fff

     fff



  Fl.   91

B. Cl.



 Metal     Perc.  

 Congas     Synth.

 

  Davis  

  Vln. I   Vln. II

 

  

  fff

 

  

 

Vla.

Vc.

 

 Cb.  



 



mf

 

 



 

mf

mf

   

  

 

  



fff

  



   fff   

 

fff

  

fff



  

  









    







    

 









 

 











 









fff    

   

 



3



  

 



       

   

p

fff



mf

mf

mf

  



If it weren't for you I'd like - ly be dead

fff

 



 

fff

  



 

17











p



 3

 



[This can be addressed directly to the audience.]

     

p





Not

the

f

 3    first



time

I













fff

    

fff

     

 

p

fff

     





fff

     

fff









 p

18

  Fl.   97

B. Cl.

Vib.





   

 

p

3

         

     Synth.

 

    

3

mp

     

 

  

  



  





  

 



 

  

 

  

   

  



     3





the

                     





                                        







   







  





  





past



 

his

     p

3

moth

mf

3

p

er's



house

3

3

f

3

   

3

  

   

 

  

   

p

     f



   



f

 3   first

time



p

p

         

  

-

p

mp

mp

Cb.



Not

  Vln. I  

Vc.

  



  

drove

Vla.



  

   Davis  

Vln. II

 





3

f

          

 



  



                     

p

  Fl.   104

B. Cl.





  

  Vln. I  

Vla.



f

Cb.

3

mp

     

  





 

 



 

 





I

knew



3             

  





he

was



    



 

  

 

  

  

mp



there

3

    

p

 

mf

3





 



                

 

                              p mp

p

  



  







3

f

                        3 3



 

                    



p

Vc.

3

p

   Davis  

Vln. II

p

               

     Synth.

 



    

19







p

       



   

20

109                      Fl.    3

B. Cl.

Vib.



3

            

   



          Synth.

Davis

    

Vla.

                     

Vc.

  

Cb.

  

3            



 



 





 



 



    

 

  

  

But,

  Vln. I        

Vln. II

3



 

    

 

        



to - day





is dif - ferent

3

3                                 3

3                                     3

3                                   



 



 



  

 



     Fl.    113

B. Cl.

Vib.

    

Davis



Vln. II







   

 





  

  

To - day

is not

the same



Cb.

  

       p

 

[More resolved.] p

   



 

Drove





 





  



 

  



    

 

  

 

                        







                     p

      

p

  

fp

3

   

 



p



 

 



p

Vc.





                   

        

 

  

3

fp

3

Vla.

 

  floating     

p





pp

                  3 

  

floating     

pp







          

 

    

  Vln. I 

p



   

  Synth.



               3

21



fp

  

floating p



22

            

118

Vib.



 

3                      3

mp

p

3                                 

Synth.

   

    Davis   

  

  

Vln. II

Vc.

Cb.

   

   

   

mf

   



mp



  Long

    floating

p



  

 

   



e - nough



mf



Can't back







down

3                                        3

                               

p





   

con sord floating



  



mf

mp

a - round

con sord      Vln. I 

   



mp



   





 

mp

   mp

floating

 

 

mf





mf





 

 

126    Fl. 

B. Cl.

    

















23 

    



    



3                Vib.  











 





















mf

3          

f

Synth.

      



f    Davis   

   

Stalled

too



Vla.

  3                

 



long

            Vln. I       Vln. II

   









Parked

















               mf                mf                

senza sord



senza sord

mf

  



 







  Cb.  



 







Vc.



f

3

  

the car

 Got

  

the pen

                    3                     3                 

f

   



   

24

  132

Fl.

                 3





p

                   B. Cl.   p

3

Synth.









 Davis   Vln. I 

   

Mag - a zines



   

pp



 

pp



 

Got

mf

Vln. II

Vla.









 

              

3

p

  



the cour

 

                  

3

p

              

  

               





 

                  

-

3

 





     



3



age

3

            



 fp

3

             mf 3                             

  mf









fp

fp

mf

Vc.



Cb.







 



















 



  138

Fl.

B. Cl.



  

Crot.





 Synth.



 Davis  Vln. I

to Clarinet

 













 



 

 

  

p Clarinet in Bb

is



 

 

3

f

p



now





3

              143

          pp

Gong

Synth.





ppp







     f

Here goes







 

 

 

 

 

 

                  

 Davis 

3

 

q=92 Rubato

Crot.

 



 



 



 

3

p

[Davis leaves “the car,” strides across the stage, raises his hand to knock on a door, turns in fear. Ali opens it and stands there. Davis turns back around and sees him.]

Fl.

    

                pp 3                             

                    The time

3

mp



  

p

 rit.            

25

 



 



  

ppp

 

 

 

   

  

f

mp

Here goes

pp



  Here...

Sound: Bowed Glass

 





 





 



26 q=54 



  Perc.  

Crot.

 

 Vln. I 

misterioso

 

p

f

5

            



 



5

f

5

p

 



 

misterioso



 

misterioso

6

pp

misterioso



pp





mf





  

mf



    

 

  

 

p



misterioso

        

p

p



misterioso



Vln. II



Vla.



Vc.

      

p misterioso





 

       

 

 

 



        



 



 

p

Cb.

p



 

        

p misterioso



misterioso

p



p

       

p

Synth.

5



Metal



  p

  Cl.   Vib.

             

misterioso



 Fl.  146

p

p





 



 

 

       

     f

 



3



p





3

     f

p

 3         f

p

 





 

  148

Fl.

Cl.

Vib.





 

                



 

               



p

  









5

f

5

p

f

5

p

5

p

      6

pp

mf







 Perc.  





  











  

Synth.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.







mf







  

 

 



      





      



 



         



 







p

p

pp

p

p

p



    

 

 



  



 



 



p



 

       p



 

 

 Vln. I  Vln. II

pp





Crot.



Metal

27

  



     3      f

 





 3     



p

f

p

        f

 

3

p





 

 Fl.  150

Vib.

Metal

 

           



       

 





 

  

 

p

   

p

5

 











 Perc.  









  

Synth.

 Vln. I  

Vln. II



Vla.



Vc.



6





5

p

5

p

mf



mf



  

 

 



p

p



 

 

    

 

 

 







      f





p



3



 





 





 

3



p



  

        

p

 

  



p

 

        

p



pp

       

p

f

pp

         

p

f

5



Crot.

Cb.

 



Cl.



           



28



      f

p

       3

f



p



 Fl.  152

Cl.

Vib.





 Davis   Vln. I   

Vla.



Vc.

   

ff



pp



Vln. II

pp

  



Synth.



ff





ppp

      



    



softest mallets



p









Cb.











       

in disbelief

           

    



mf









Champ

            p



      



      



p

p





  ff





 

ff

ff

         

 ff

p



29

      





   

  





pp

pp



    p



  

pp



pp

     

pizz

p



p



 

            p



155



 Cl.     Vib.

Gong

 



 Perc.  

 Synth.



Ali

Vln. I





 

Vla.

Vc.



Cb.







 

center of gong

 

     



5

f

5

5

f

5

       pp

6





 





    



mf



 



p







 

   

  

  



 

 p

 

   

    

[Astonished] 3



p

        p

       

 

 



  

p



p

      

p

           

        

p

 

 p

 Come

p



   



p



 

p



  

Vln. II

p

  

 Davis 

 



 Fl. 



30

  



on

in

 



 

 3 

Come—?



 



 





 



  

 





ppp



ppp

ppp

(measured)



  



 

 3  



31





 





 

Crot.

Gong





 

Synth.





    Davis

Vln. I









on

Vc.





 

pp

 

  

  

 

5

p

mf

    mf





f

5

         5

f

5

          6

pp



pp

 

  



f

 



mf

      mf

       

 



 

 

       

 

      

 

 

  p

   



   p



  

  

(measured)

p



5

p

       



  











6

pp





f

  

in



pp

5

      

f





Vla.

5

p

[Finishing the sentence.]

 

Vln. II

Cb.



 

  f

f

     

 



Ali

 



5

p





Vib.



 

 



Cl.

 



           



 Fl.  158

[Ali makes a gesture for Davis to follow him; he does. He places the stack of magazines on the table and sits. He looks up, smiles, and gestures for Davis to sit; he does. Davis hands him a pen and Ali starts to sign when Odessa enters in an apron, humming.]

p

p

 

p

p

       

                  p

p



p

     

 

p

Cl.

Vib.

Metal

Crot.

Perc.



   

  

p

       

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

5

5

p

f

5

p

        6

pp

mf

    



 



 



 pp

 

      

 

                



 

         

 

f

5

f

6

pp

5

p

5

p

mf









mf

mf

 

 



pp

 

  



          

    

    

  

p

    p

         p

 

p

p

    p

      

p



       mf



p

 

   

5

p

          

 



  



 



   

  Cb.  

f

mf

      

 

5

p

   

      

Synth.

 



 

   

 

             



       Fl.   160



32





 

mf

 



                

  

mf

 



   

  

 

  

 

   

 

 





 

  Fl.    163

Metal

Crot.

Perc.

Synth.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

 

p

   

5

5

f

5

6

              



 

f

f

5

p

5

         

mf

6

pp



   

pp









mf

pp

          p   p



        

 

       

   Cb.  

 



 

         

p



 



 



  

   

p

mf



  

 

 

5

p

  

   



       

pp



5

p

          

p

Vc.

f





Vib.



    

5

p



Cl.

 

      

33

               



 

mf

  



mf

 



  

           



   mf

  

 

      

  

 

       

  

 

       

  

 

   



p

p

p

            p



 

 



 

   Fl.   165

Cl.

Vib.

Crot.

Synth.



q=66

    

 

pp

 

                    5

   5

pp

        p

5



   

    

     





 







 

ppp

   

      



      

pp

           pp dolce

Vln. II

5

    

  Odessa.     Vln. I

p





 

 

mf

          





p

      



 



 

     

     



Ahh...

Ahh...

 

 





Ooo...





 

 

 

 





 

           

 





 







 

pp dolce

Cb.

     

          pp dolce

Vc.

ppp

  

pp dolce

Vla.

     

      



34

    

35

      

      

          

 

     

     

    

     

 







     

 



 

    

    3         Odessa.   

    

    

      Vib.           168

3

Crot.

Synth.

    



 Ali   



Vc.

Cb.

 

Ahh...



3             

mmm...



[Gesturing with a smile to Odessa.]







        

   

  

mot - her



 

      





 

   

      

   

      

   

   

     

  

con sord

Vla.

Ahh..





My

   Vln. I   

Vln. II

pp

3

n

con sord

bell tone accents

   

pp

con sord

bell tone accents

n

pp

pp

 

 

ppp

bell tone accents

pp





  

3

3

   



 









           

   



 











pp

p

  

Fl.

Cl.

   

 Vib.       Metal

    

pp



   

Odessa.

Davis

   

    

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

  









   



 



pp



     Ali  

    

  





  

  Vln. I    





     Synth.





O - des

     

      

I know

 



 

 



Hon - ored

  

   





 

   

              

        

 you



    



pp









      Miller

-





are?

     p



 

ler...



p

    





         

     



Dav - is

pp

         p

           



               with light mallet      p                     pp   







pp



And

pp

       





sa

           

 





-

    

    



    173







pp

    pp

 

pizz.



36



pizz.

  Fl.    177

Cl.   



 





   Synth.

Davis

    







     Vln. I        Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

             

   Cb.  







  

 

mp arco

 

mp



mind

 

            





  

  





 

  



  



  



me.

    



Just

get - ting sup - per read - y



 

           

 



 

        3





3

arco



              





  

   



 

3

Don't



            



        3      

[To Davis.]

Più mosso (q=c. 96)



3

    



 

  Odessa.   



       p          



      



p 3



   Vib.              Metal   

    

37

    

 



    

   

   







  







  



 

38

   Fl.    181

Cl.







    

Synth.

    

Cb.



     



 



     



 

 

3

3

  

  Vln. I    

Vc.



       

 Davis  

Vla.





p 3

      

  Odessa.    

Vln. II



p

  Vib.        Metal







You





 



         

   



  

   

3



 

want

a





     



    









  

 

3

      3

     

 



 A

    

  

root beer?

[As if it’s a surprise.]



   

  root?





  

yes maam, please I would



     

  



    





  



  

   

 

   

    

  













    

  

















     

Synth.

  

            3



 



 



 





  Odessa.    

   



 



 

    

3              

Ali

     

   Vln. I  

Vla.

Vc.





 





    

 

pp

 







Dav - is Mil- ler?

Mil - ler

Vln. II

 



      

          

Dav - is,

  

or

 

Dav - is

  

  

     3

        3

ppp

ppp





Mil - ler?

          

(almost spoken)

 



Two last names?



 

senza sord.







 

senza sord.







    

senza sord.







 

              

    Cb.   

 

 

 

 

pizz

pizz



Davis

 





    



  

mmm...

  







Metal

   



 Vib.    

[Odessa exits.]

185

39



 

    



arco



arco

ppp

   ppp



40

  

 

189

Fl.

Cl.

p

 

 

p

 

           5

        





   





5

Synth.

 

pp

f

6

5

p



mf

   p

  

       

p



Vln. II

      p

     

Vla.

p

p

     

Vc.

p

Cb.

p

6

p



 

  

          

  

     





p

 [Ali smiles slyly and starts to autograph. He doesn’t look up.]  Ali   Vln. I 



mf



 

p



let ring

Crot.





pp

 

5



           

let ring

Vib.

f

q=66

p

  

 pgentle   3    



You



 



 

        

have



 



    

 





   







3

     f

p

3





f

p

3

f

p

(solo)                  ppp

     arco

ppp



Cl.

Vib.

Metal



 



 



 Perc.  

 

 

 

Vla.

Cb.



            

            

face

Kind



 

 



 

 



good



 

pp

p

(play 16ths in tempo, then fermatta)

  

Bass Clarinet in Bb

p

mf















 



 

    

 

         

      

p

    6



 p

p

       p

6

p

    

p

5

    f

 

(almost spoken)



p

 

5



5



p

                 p p         

Vc.

 

f



              



  

 

a

Vln. II

  

  

    Ali   Vln. I 

5

p

let ring



   

Synth.

 

  

p

 

              



 Fl.  192

41

 

    

     

  

3

 



f

p

3

f

p



   







3

f

p

 

 Fl.  

Vib.

Crot.

W.Ch.

5

p

 

 

pp

pp

  



        6

Vc.

Cb.



      



mf

pp

 

mf

   

 





p

 

6

mf

  

 

 

  



 

                 

   

His

left

      



6

     

 

 

 





f

 

  

Wind Chimes & Strings of Bells mp

    

   

 

mf under viola

       

5



      

p

f

with cello + bass

       p

Vla.

5

p



p

Vln. II

6

  

  Davis   



5

        

 

 

          q.=60     To Picc.         



 

Synth.

Vln. I

f

 



B. Cl.

     

 

195



42

        

hand shakes

 

His

   

p

f

    

p



  



      

   

     

   

     

f

mf

mf

197



 Vib.    

      



 



               

      

 



 Metal     W.Ch.



 

      



             

 

    

  

 





  Odessa.   

 





   

  

   

 

  



 



 

 

2

ppp

   Vln. I   Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

   

put on weight He's



 





 



2

2

ppp

2

pp



 

  



p [offstage, entering] 2       2

Ahh...

slow - er now

  



       

  

pp

2

                    Davis         eyes are worn He's

mp

   

   

pp

     

                         

pp

   

pp

         

p



   

but e - ven so

        2

p

             pp

        

2





   

Ahh...

2                            p pp

    

    

     

Synth.

  

       with Davis



  B. Cl.   

43

q=60

Ooo....

    



e - ven so

    



      

  

  

  

   



   









44

 B. Cl.   202

Vib.





 



           





 



3

B. D.

 

With rute or hot rods



mf

                 ppp

3           Synth.     



   3        Odessa. 

Davis

Vln. I

Vln. II



  

mf











    Vla.      



mf

pp

 

 



 



 



 

3

3

pp

 





     

     

mf





   

pp

 

45 [Odessa has entered with two bottles of root beer. Davis suddenly blurts out his feelings.]

q=80 subito

   Piccolo  Picc.      204

B. Cl.

     

Synth.

  

mp



p

    

          



p





f

      

mp





    Davis    



   Vln. I     



f

Champ

you

        

 





changed





my

life

when I was just





       

Cb.

      

mf



   

 



   

 



        

           

mf



 





     

      



               





           

mf

Vc.

 

 

ff

mf

Vla.

 

mf

Vln. II

f



Sound: Reed Organ

     

            

  

   



           



       



ff

     ff

 

a



 

   



 

   

ff

ff

arco

mf arco

mf

46

208            Picc.   

mf

B. Cl.

  

 p

    

 Perc.  

mf

f





f







   

 



      

   

be-lieve

 

 

that I could do an-y

 ff

thing



                             



        

    

mf

    Cb.      

   

   



 

  ff

 

ff

thing

   

   

     

mf

          

ff



An - y

mf

                              ff

 

     



mf

Vc.

          

 

     Vln. I   

Vla.



 

you made me

mf



 

     Davis   kid

    

p

f arco









mf



                          

    

Vln. II

      

 



    Synth.

 

mf arco

mf

    



 



 

arco

mf

  Picc.      212

B. Cl.



   mf

      

Synth.

   

 

  



  Vln. I    

  

Vla.

Vc.

  Cb.  

  



 







ff

     



f



an - y

 



 









one



 

 

mf

    







  one



   

mf

         



ff

mf

   

 

 





   

    





arco

ff

ff



    

An - y





         



    

      



 





that I could be









 

ff

      



at all.

    





        

   Davis  

 



  

Vln. II

f

 

p

     



  

mf

Perc.

    

47

mf arco

mf

 



48     Picc.    215



 B. Cl.    

  

 Perc.  

 

    Synth.

  Vln. I     Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.



  



mp

 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 



 

 



           



 





  



 

 

[Backing off a bit:]

at all

 





   

    

 

 

This is a story,

    It is a stor - y a

I wrote it in college.

 

 



         

 

 



        

 

 



 

 

 

ff

 

 

 

ff





ff



 

q=40 accel.

 

f

  

    

   

mf

      

pp

    

   Davis  

  

[Davis opens one of the magazines to the story.]

 

ff

 



ff



ff



arco

     mf

 

 

 



arco

    mf

49 q=80 A tempo

 B. Cl.     Vib.

Crot.

    



mf



    

   





f

     

bout

  



  Ali  



changed





  

mf

           mf

           mf

     

  Cb.    



  









      

Life?

     Vln. I   

Vc.

f



    

my



f

p subito

p subito

       

p subito

 

f

p subito

  f

p subito

5

f



5



To Bb Cl.



        6

pp



pp



      p

mf



To H-bells.

  

mf

  

   

 

        p

ff

p

con sord





6

        p

p

                    f

   

p

           f

p

 



 

pp



Sound: Bowed Glass

   

how you



    

 



(Ali cuts off davis before he can complete "Life")

Vla.



p

       Davis 

Vln. II





 

 





f

           Synth.

q=66



  Picc.      220



p

p con sord

            p

   

  

 n

50 223

Vib.

Metal



q=84

softest mallets possible









Ali





Vln. II

 

Vla.

Vc.





 









pp

  pp

  



Cb.







     

   

    

  

      

      

   

  

 

 

       





 

 





your stor - y





n

p

con sord





       

 

  

   

        

 

  

  

       

 

  





 

  

  

 

 

fp

 n

con sord



p

fp

fp

fp

fp

fp

 con sord







p



  

I first became a serious Muhammad Ali watcher in late 1963.

      

 

 

    









 

read me

 Vln. I 



    

 Davis 



mounted: softest mallets possible

       

Synth.

[Davis reads (spoken);]



 











229

Vib.

Metal

 

 Davis   Vln. I 

(10) (11)                                        

     

  

(8) (9)  (10) (11)  (4)                                

      

  

   

       

 

 





I'm still watching him and now I hear he's going to try to make a comeback.

        

   

 

 

 





That year I was a small and sickly ten-year-old and he was golden and twenty-one and was preparing....

  

    

  

 



  

 



Vc.



 

    

 

Cb.



 





 

  

... and was preparing to meet Sonny Liston for the first time. I recall . . .”

 

  

  

 

 





 

   

 

 

   

 

 



   

        

  

    



        

 

 





All of this makes me remember the first time I saw him and all the things that followed.

    

Vla.

 



  

   

(9)

   

 

 

Vln. II



(8)

(4)

               

Synth.

51

  

   

 

  

   

 

     





    

  

52

q=72

Vib.

     

Metal

     

239

[Davis notices that Ali has nodded off. Odessa sees Davis’s dismay. She sets the root beers on the table.]



 



 

    Synth.      

  

  

  

  

 

f pp 3 3 3    p  whisper-like                      Odessa.                      Don't

wor - ry

He does that a lot now Just falls as- leep Then all of a sud - den He wakes up, Like noth - ing hap - pened

     











 

Vln. II

     











 

Vla.

    











 

      











 

Vln. I

Vc.

53

   

240

Vib.

Metal





  

  



   

warm pp





ppp

Sound: Gt. Feedback





   











senza sord



    





    



was a

warm   p

 

     

      





 

 

 

  

     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 



pp

child

p

pizz

 

    

senza sord warm

senza sord warm

 



    

p

     





when he

  

    

normal voice p



 



pp

     

Vc.

    





   

  Vln. I   

Cb.

medium mallets

       

Synth.

Odessa.

q=110 (h=55)

bef- ore

 

 

 

 

    

 p

he could walk





    

54    Fl.  





    





    

 Cl.   





    







247

Vib.

        

   Vln. I       

Vln. II

 

pp

 





 





   

     

 

 



 

   



     

 

     



pp

Vla.

Cb.



   

Vc.



   

bef- ore



  



p

 







      





    

 

pp

Odessa.

p

 

           

                 

       

Synth.

   

(solo-like, warm)

he could crawl

I

knew.

 



senza sord pizz warm



      





p

         

senza sord

when he

pizz warm

 

 

 



     p

was a

 

child

 

     





 













pizz





     





   

p

      

  

   



 

   

  Fl.   254



55  





Clarinet in Bb (solo-like, warm)

    Cl.    

Vib.

Synth.

p

                

                              

   Vln. I  

      

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

 

          

    

Odessa.

    

as - leep

      



        

on his

                    











    





    



                     

                    



 

         



 

       

back

    

 



bef- ore

    



         

      

   

 

 

 

he could crawl

I

 

 

          

          



           

    



      

    

 





56

262

Vib.

      

Synth.

  









   



 







  



mp



 Odessa.   



Vln. I









  







Vla.

 





Vc.

 















Cb.









  

   

   

such an un - us

  

Vln. II

     

knew.

Sara.   

    



-



   















  



   

tried to talk

   

   



   



   

 





 so







hard







   

  

    

    

     











   



   

u - al child



    



    



57 268

Vib.







  

     





  

Synth.



Vln. I



-



fp



Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

  

 

Vln. II



  



  







us

-

  

   

    used to jab



 

-

ber

  



 

     

   









  

p

  

ne - ver could

     

 





so

  

p

 

  

 



   

 



  



    



      

        

      

p

u - al child



     



    -



      

  

   



such an un



 

   

fp     Odessa.   

Sara.

     





 

 

 



         

  



    

58

                 274

Vib.

[Lights dim and come up on the second playing area. Sara Miller sits in the chair propped up with a pillow. She is deathly ill. Young Davis fidgets at her feet.]

                       

Synth.

  f Odessa. 

 

sit

Sara.

 

 



 



[Patiently.] f

 



Sit

still,

 

Vla.

  



  

Cb.

 

  

       

         

     

 

 



 





      

   

             

       

 



 





           

arco

p

            

 

why don't you read

       

   

    

    





p

 



 



    





to me

       while we wait for the

       

 

 

p espress.

Vc.



Dav - is

            arco



still

   Vln. I  

Vln. II

      

    







   

   



         



  p



   

59 281

Vib.

Synth.

Y. Davis

                          



 





 



  

 







 Sara.     

 





    



  



  



       all I got is



 

     

 

Vc.

Cb.

  

  

Sup - er - man





      



         

  

 



     

  



Su - per - man is fine

  Vln. I   

Vla.





car

Vln. II



  



 

         





pizz

 



 

pp

 





pizz



   



p espress.

  







 



 







 



    



     

 

 



 





 



arco



     

60 286     Fl.  

     3

p

Cl.

Vib.

Synth.



   

          

3

pp

 



  

 

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

   

Vc.

  

Cb.

   

3

       

3

3

   

3

     3

3

   

  

 

  

 





    

         



 

  

  



months

old.

I

bent ov - er

him in his

crib



arco

  

 

 

 

 



 















          

3

  



   mf Odessa.     Sara.   

    

       



Six

      

3

    



  

     



  

  

   

  

 

  





  





 

 





 





p



 

     



61 290          Fl.  3

Cl.



 

   

3

3









    









    

pp

3

       

ppp



    



 

    

       

 

  

  

 





    





 

 

   Odessa.  





Vib.

 

Synth.







 

Bent

  Vln. I  

Vln. II

  

Vc.





down

  



 

Vla.

Cb.



 

  

 

   

arco









low

  

    

And he rose up right then

 



    

and he stretched his

lit - tle

 

 





 

 

 





   





pizz



    





pizz

 

 





     





 



    

 



    

 



    

mp

mp

mp

62      296

Fl.

Cl.

Vib.

Synth.







   





       

 

   



   

   Vln. I  

Vc.

Cb.

  

up





 

 





  





 

      





 



 

      



  



mp

   





mp







  arco

 



 



 



do

 

 

 

 

Gon - na





6



high

     

3

mp



   

mp

3

 

p



mp

                       p  3

 

arms

Vla.





       

   Odessa.      

Vln. II





 with cello pizz.

    



some - thing



 

 mp







arco











p





mp

 f









 





 

63  

     Fl.   300

  Cl.   

Vib.

Synth.



 

f 3

  

    

 

   

    





 

     







     Odessa.     f



Vln. II





 





 f

     





   





f

Vc.

Cb.

          





mp

be











  



 

3



     



  



mf

           3

   

Gon - na

f

Vla.



 

good

     Vln. I  

some



 -

thing



 

3

 



f

  

big



mp

f

 mp







 









 

mp



 f

3





mp

           3



 

f

f





 



  







64   Fl.    304

Cl.



   

 6

     

Vln. II

Vla.



Vc.



 





Got - ta

 

3

            





mp







 

 

 

 

 

    







 



 

 



some



 



 





 

 







  

p



be

mp



3

   



   



3

   

p







   

  

   Cb.   

6

mp

   

    



   

  Odessa.           Vln. I  



 

     

 

p

    

 Vib.      

Synth.

 

      

    

 

 

  bo

-

dy,



 

 



p

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

p



-

 

 

 

 

 

65   Fl.   

 

  

 Cl.   

 



 Vib.    

 

   

309

Synth.

             

         Odessa.  

    

 

p espress.





 

 



 

 

  

 

     

 

 

  

  

 

  

 

  

 

 









p espress.

pp

 

p









 



   

 



 

3         

  



 

 



Some body -

 Sara.    

 

[To herself while Young Davis mimes reading.] p

 





  



Don't know what's wrong with me

doc - tors don't know

no one knows

  Vln. II    











 



 

   











 



 

    

  

Vla.

 Cb.   

 





pizz

p



 







66   Fl.     315

Cl.





 

  

Odessa.

   



         

        

poco accel.

p

   Vib.       

Synth.



p

     

 B. D.  



   

p



    

          

 

 





 

  





 











 

 



 let ring      

 

 







 

with Rute or Hot Rods



     

ppp









He rose up high

p   Sara.            

    

Just can't seem to get well





 can't



get



 

   

   

    



    







 

 





   



he rose up

fast



and









well



















   



















Vla.

  



















Vc.

  



















 









Vln. I

Vln. II

 Cb.   

 p















67    Fl.   

  







 



  

  







 



 

  

 

 

 

 

324

Cl.

 B. D.  Congas

Synth.



  

  Vln. I     

(forte articulatin after "in the mouth)

fppp

 

 



    

      

  Odessa.     

Vln. II



  

 



     he

    

punched me in



 

 



     

   

 

       



     

the mouth In the mouth! His own mother! Knocked both my front teeth



 

 



 

 



 

con sord

 

con sord

p

 

arco con sord

 

 

  



 

 

 

  Cb.  



 

 

 

Vc.

 



p

 

Vla.



out Knocked both my



 

f

p

arco



con sord

p



68    327

Vib.

B. D.

Congas

Synth.

  

 

  



front

 Sara.       Vln. I      

teeth



pp

f

      



 

ff

OUT!



 

 

       



       



f



   Vc.   f

ff

      

  

  

    

      f



        

ff

ff

  





 



 





 





 



 

ff

 





p

 

-

li

my lit - tle

p

 



bab - y

 

   

boy



       

 

       

 

  boy!

    

A



arco



-

my

beaut - i - ful lit - tle



  



   

 

 



  



   

 

 



  



  

 

 



  

     

p



-

 

       

 

p



 



 

p

   

 

 

   

A

    



p







Look at my lit - tle

f

Vla.



q=110

 



   Odessa.  

Vln. II

  

      



arco

p

p

  

69 334    Fl.  





 

    





 

Cl.



  Vib.      p

  Synth.   



-



boy



 

li

my

beaut - i - ful bab - y

 

      



 

       



 

mp







  p











boy!



That's



 







 











 





    

when

I

knew that he'd be some





 

mp





hope he'll be al - right







    

 I

  

     Vc.   

       

    



      



p subito



Vla.





p

    Vln. I  

Vln. II







mp

pp subito



  

 

p

     



   mp Odessa.       Sara.   



 







 

p



 

p



 

p





 

arco

p



70   Fl.  341













   



 



 





  Odessa. 

    







Cl.

Vib.

Synth.

 

 

bod - y



 





God,

I

  Vln. I 





 



Sara.

Vln. II

   

Vla.

Vc.













p

hope he'll be al - right











 

    

 

mp









 





 





 





when I

    



           



That's









knew



Meno mosso   



  



p

p

       pp





    

 

  





Some - one

please

Some -one has been watch - ing





 

 

 

 





 



 





 

 

 













 

watch

 

71       349

Fl.

Cl.

Vib.





  





   



   Odessa.    ov

 Sara.     

ov

   Vln. I    Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

  

             

Synth.

  

-

-

q=120 (h=60)

 



 

 

    



       

er

him



  

er

him



3

 



    o

-



please

-





    

     mp



  

 

    







mp

     

    



   







 



er

         3

 



-







f

 

f





ver

ov

mp

senza sord



3



-

watch

senza sord

f



  

 





   

mf

 



3

 



f

 



 



      

   





senza sord







3

 



him

o

 

him

O

 -

ver

 -

ver

 











 











 



 

 f

  

f

f





pizz (loud, vibrate, sustain as possible)













 

ff





 







f

with cello pizz.

f

 



 



  





arco



f









72   Fl.    355

Cl.

Vib.

Synth.





  



   





   

3

  



    



 

    f  Odessa.  

 

6

      

  



  

 

 

   

Vc.

Cb.

an



 

      





    





    



 













pizz (loud, vibrate, sustain as possible)

ff





 

an







seems like

       

   

 









mp





   

mp

3

 

     

f

Vla.