William Bolcom
SERENATA NOTTURNA (Serenade No. 3) for oboe and string quartet (or for oboe and string orchestra)
(2005)
E D W A R D B. M A R K S M U S I C C O M P A N Y a n d B O L C O M M U S I C
2
for Tony Checchia, Richard Woodhams, and the Guarneri Quartet Commissioned by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society in celebration of its 20th anniversary, with support from the Argosy and Presser Foundations
I. Gently; Allegro II. Grazioso III. Scherzo di medianotte IV. Andante; Allegro
PROGRAM NOTE This is my third Serenade, each one spaced from the others compositionally by about twenty years. My first, Concerto-Serenade* from 1964, was written at Aspen for a brilliant unstable Brazilian violinist (who totaled my car that summer) and string orchestra; it was my first collaboration with the conductor Leonard Slatkin. The second, Orphée-Sérénade*, written in 1984 for the Orpheus Chamber Players, involved several friends (including a former student) in performance. Serenata Notturna, for oboe and string quartet, is especially dedicated to Tony Checchia, for whom my wife Joan Morris and I have regularly performed at Philadelphia Chamber Music Society concerts. Each Serenade involves a string group that can be expanded in numbers if desired; for example OrphéeSérénade was originally intended for woodwind quintet, piano, and string quintet but has been performed and recorded with increased string numbers, and Serenata Notturna, while conceived for the illustrious combination of the Guarneri String Quartet with oboist Richard Woodhams, can also be performed with a not-too-large string orchestra, adding a contrabass part. Although there are more “avant-garde” elements in the 1984 work (albeit used humorously) than in the others, all three Serenades share a grazioso mood, less exploratory than lyrical. Of the three, the last one is perhaps most unabashedly out-and-out in songfulness. Maybe in twenty years if life permits I'll compose a fourth, and of course I have no idea what I'll do that time. WILLIAM BOLCOM
*Concerto-Serenade is found on Albany Records, and Orphée-Sérénade on DGG.
ACCIDENTALS N.B. Accidentals obtain throughout a beamed group. Unbeamed notes within a measure continue the same accidental until interrupted by another note or rest. (Additional courtesy accidentals are given to ensure clarity.) In music with key signatures, traditional rules apply.
3
Commissioned by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society Premiered October 23, 2005 in the Perelman Theater of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA
SERENATA NOTTURNA (Serenade No. 3) for oboe and string quartet* (or for oboe and string orchestra)
Gently;andante (q = c. 100)
Oboe
mp
Violin I
Violin II
p
p
Viola
Violoncello
Contrabass* (optional)
6
p p
mp
mp
mp
mp
5
mp
mp
mf
WILLIAM BOLCOM
p
I.
f
f
f
f
f
f
mf
mp
mp
mp
mp
mp
* optional contrabass part included for string orchestra version; also, when performed by string orchestra, multi-stops in all parts should be played divisi unless otherwise indicated. Copyright ©2005 by Edward B. Marks Music Company and Bolcom Music International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved
4
13
pp leggero sim. pp mp leggero
fz
sim.
p
p
fz into the string
fz
ord.
the string into mp heavier
mp
fzp
mf
17
(terraced dynamics) (mf)
mf
gl.
fzp mf
fzp mf
fzp mf
gl.
fz
(pp)
pp
pp
pp
mf
into the string
tratt.
fzp mf
21
mp
fzp mf
a tempo
sul tasto p
sul tasto
p sul tasto
p sul tasto
p
sul tasto
p
fzp
fzp
p f f f f mf
fzp mf
mp
fzp mf
p mp p mp
fz
p
mp
(p)
into the string gl. fz fz
mf
(mp)
ord.
gl.
fz
mf heavier
p
gliss.
p
p
dim.
p gliss. p p gliss. gliss.
a tempo
11
a piacere
10
norm.
norm.
norm.
norm.
Faster (q = 116)
f
f marcato
f marcato
f marcato
f marcato
ff 3 accel. al
f
29 29
Allegro (q = 126); poco scherzando (e = e throughout)
forte ma leggero f forte ma leggero f forte ma leggero f
cresc. poco a poco
cresc. poco a poco
26
norm.
cresc. poco a poco
cresc. poco a poco
cresc. poco a poco
cresc. poco a poco
22
f
f
forte ma leggero
5
Serenata Notturna accel.
3
3
3
sim.
6
Serenata Notturna
35
gl.
gl.
p
mf
mf
pizz.
p
p
f
fz pizz.
mf
fz
fz fz
p arco
fz
f f mf f mf
mf
fz
fz
38
41
f fz fz mf 37
mf
f
pizz.
fz
mp
p
p p arco p
f
arco
f
p
44
pp
pizz. 0
pp
pizz.
pp
pizz.
pp
f
pp
pp
pp
p
pp
pp
f
arco
mf
fp
mp
p gl.
49
cresc.
pizz.
fp mf f arco fp f arco fp f
51
7
f
47
arco
pp
Serenata Notturna
mp
p p
cresc.
cresc.
cresc. mp p gl. p mp cresc. cresc. p
mp
p
mp
cresc.
8
55
f
f
mf
f
f
63
poco allarg.
pp sub.
gl.
mf
mf
60
mf
pp sub.
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
mf
p
mp
p
pp sub.
p
p
a tempo
pp sub.
pp sub.
gl.
f
59
gl.
f
gl.
mf
p
mf
pp
mf
Serenata Notturna
mp
3
mf
poco cresc.
poco cresc.
poco cresc. poco cresc.
poco cresc.
Serenata Notturna
67
9
mp mp cresc. fp p fp fp mp cresc. p cresc. pizz. p fp fp p p p fp cresc. pizz. fp 3 p fp cresc. p fp
p
71
f f
f
f
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
gliss.
fp
p
fp
p
fp
arco gliss.
75
a tempo
fp
f
3
72 poco tratt.
fp
fp
fp
arco
f
mf
f
f
p
f (2 fingers) II IV
f
p
mf mf mf arco mf mf
f
pizz.
p p p p p (3+2)
p
inbackground pp pp pp
pp
84
pp
p
Serenata Notturna
p
cresc. mp bring out
p (in ensemble)
p cresc. p cresc. p
93
p mp
mf
mf
mf
mf
mf
ff ffz ffz ffz ffz
3
p p
p
ffz
p
mf cresc.
f f
pp
cresc.
90
cresc.
mp p p p
pp
79
79
10
Serenata Notturna
95
5
98
101 101
pp
pp
gl.
pp
cantabile
p in background
mf bring out
p
0
gl.
3
mf
gl.
poco a poco rit.
mp p p gl. p gl. p
0
11
p
gl.
12
Serenata Notturna
(poco a poco rit.)
Slower
mf f mp mp f gl.
ten.
ten.
f
mp
mp
f
ten.
ten.
ten.
mp
gl.
f
gl.
a piacere
ten.
106
f mp f p p cresc. p mp cresc. p f f cresc. mp f p p f p mp cresc. p f f pizz. [non div.] [nondiv.] 111
111 a tempo
p
pizz.
p
ff
arco
ffz
ffz
f
ffz ff ff ff arco ffz ff
mp
f
f
116
f
mp
cresc.
mp
mp cresc.
cresc.
cresc. mp gl. gl. gl. f mp cresc. gl. gl. gl. gl. mp
cresc.
f
f
gl.
Serenata Notturna
120
gl.
f
p
f
124
mp
p
mp
3
p p
p
p
pp
pp
pp
pp
pp
p
p
125 3 p
p
a tempo, molto leggero
127
p
p
dim.
molto rit.
p
dim.
dim.
p
p
dim.
dim.
p con tenerezza
gl.
p f
13
rit.
cresc. poco a poco cresc. poco a poco cresc. poco a poco cresc. poco a poco cresc. poco a poco
p cresc. poco a poco
14
Serenata Notturna
130
ff ffz ff ffz ff ffz ff ffz
ff
ff
ffz
ffz
ffz
ffz
ffz
ffz
ffz
ffz
p
p p p p
p
II.
Grazioso (q = 66); stately
con sord. con sord. p con sord. p 6
con sord.
con sord.
7
p pizz. pizz.
p
mp
arco
sim.
sim.
gl. gl. gl. gl. gl. gl.
arco
gl.
gl.
arco
arco
11
sim. sim.
p (ord.) p (ord.) p
21
p
p
mf
mf cantabile
18
16
15
Serenata Notturna
11
poco cresc.
poco cresc.
poco cresc.
f f
poco cresc.
poco cresc. poco cresc.
f f
f
f
16
Serenata Notturna
24
poco cresc. mp più cresc. p mp p
mf
p
27 27
p
mf
cresc.
a tempo; sotto voce, very gentle
f
cresc.
cresc.
cresc.
f
f
f
tratt.
f
cresc.
p
24
f
small notes: sounding pitches sim. pp p sub. pp pizz. sul tasto p [non div.] pizz. sul tasto
p
p sub.
p sub.
31
p pizz. sul tasto
pizz. sul tasto
p
p
32
p molto semplice
più p
17
Serenata Notturna
35
39 tratt.
42
arco, norm.
sub. f
arco, norm. sub. f
ffz sub.
ffz
ffz
p
f
f sub. ffz arco, norm.
f
(normale)
ffz
ppp
espr.
arco, norm. ffz
a tempo, intenso
39
p
ff
poco tratt. 44 a tempo, delicato
dim. (IV) sul tasto 0 p pp dim. sul tasto dim. p pp
dim.
dim.
18
Serenata Notturna
45
p
gl.
gl.
(normale)
p
gl.
pp
sul tasto
pp
49
52
mp
gl.
sul tasto
55 55
Pochissimo meno mosso (q = 60)
19
Serenata Notturna
mf
mf
normale
mp
normale
mp
mp
normale
normale mp
p
p
p
59
p
f
pp
p
p
pp
pp
pp
p
p
p
p
pp
dim.
f
dim.
p
f
f
f
f
dim.
dim.
dim.
dim.
p
p
p
20
Serenata Notturna
(q. = 72)
III. Scherzo di medianotte
mf f ma leggero [1 Solo]* senza sord. mf f senza sord. senza sord. mf mf senza sord. f
senza sord.
f
mf
mf
7
f [Tutti] mf 8
12
15
[Tutti] f f f f
f
f
p p p p p 18
*N.B. Solo and Tutti markings apply to string orchestra only.
p
[1 Solo]
f
cresc. cresc. cresc.
cresc.
cresc.
cresc.
21
Serenata Notturna
24 p mp p mp [1Solo] [Tutti] [1 Solo] mp p mp p 22
[1 Solo] p mp mp p [1 Solo] [Tutti] p p mp mp pizz. mp mp [Tutti]
30
35
mp arco
f
mp
f
mp
arco
[1 Solo]
f
f
fzp mf
p
mf mf mf
[Tutti]
[Tutti]
fzp mf
p
fp
p
f
36
mp
fz
p p
mp
fz
pizz.
p
f
fp
mp
mp
f
mp
29
mp
p
22
Serenata Notturna
42
48
48
p
54
p
gl.
3
cresc.
cresc.
cresc.
f
mf
3
53
ff
ff ff
ff
ff
ff
fp
59
mf
f mf f mf f mf f mf f
mp
mp
fz [1 Solo]
cresc.
fp mp
fp (p)
fp
fp (p)
p [Tutti] p cresc. [Tutti] cresc. p
p
[1 Solo]
mp
43
fp (p)
p
23
Serenata Notturna
60
63
fp
66
fp (p)
pp fp mp pp fp p pp
fp (p)
fp (p)
73
pp
p
p
[non div.]
[non div.]
p
pp
69
p
fp (p)
p
fp (p)
rit.
pp espr.
3
81
fp
fp mp
a tempo; a little more relaxed
mp
pp
pp pp pp pp
73
pp
fp (p)
pp
fp (p) fp p
p
pp
fp mp
p
p
24
Serenata Notturna
84
88
pp
93
pp
p
p
103
3
p
misterioso
p
p
102
pp sul pont.
pp sul pont. pp sul pont.
pp sul pont.
pp
in time 112 1
normale
3
3
mp
96
mp
pp
(III)
pp
pp
25
Serenata Notturna
pp normale pp normale pp normale pp 113
ppp
pp
pp
pp
ppp
poco
ppp
ppp
ppp
poco
[Tutti]
132
[1 Solo]
127
pp
128
pp
122 Tempo I, leggerissimo
ppp
122
pp
[1 Solo]
26
Serenata Notturna
135
[Tutti]
138
pp
sempre pp sempre pp
sempre pp
sempre pp
sempre pp
144 pp p poco [1Solo] [Tutti] [1 Solo] p 142
[1 Solo] [Tutti] poco
p
p
[Tutti] [1 Solo] poco
150
149
mf
poco
p
mf
p
mf
arco
arco
p
p
mf
mf
[1 Solo]
mf
pizz.
p
pizz.
p
poco
fz
pp
fp
fz
mf
fp
pp
poco
mp mp mp
[Tutti]
[Tutti]
fzp mp
fzp mp
27
Serenata Notturna
p
162
163
p
gl.
cresc.
mp
3
p
cresc.
3
cresc.
cresc.
fz
[1 Solo]
mp
173
ff
ff
p ff [Tutti] p ff cresc. [Tutti] ff p cresc.
168
p
168
[1 Solo]
mp
p
mp p p p
156
155
ff
28
174
Serenata Notturna
f
f
179
mf
180
184
fp
186
fp (p)
fp mp
fp
p
fp (p)
fp (p)
fp
p
fp (p)
fp (p)
pp pp pp
pp
pp
189
fp
fp (p)
p
fp (p)
molto rit.
fp (p)
p
fp mp
fp (p)
p
fp
p
pp pp pp
pp
pp
pp
fp mp
fp (p)
pp
fp mp
mf
fp
f mf f mf f mf f mf
pp
3
pp espr.
193
193
a tempo; a little more relaxed
p
p
29
Serenata Notturna
mp
[non div.]
[non div.]
p
p
201
213
pp
pp
216
mp
3
p
3
p
p
pp mp
(III)
208
p p
204
p
p
3
30
Serenata Notturna
223
subito rit.
222
3
gl.
gl.
f
f
f
f
f f
a tempo, misterioso
pp sul pont.
pp sul pont. pp sul pont.
pp sul pont.
pp
normale
pp normale
pp
normale
pp
non cresc.
non cresc.
non cresc.
short
pp sul pont.
ppp
poco
poco
poco
p
poco
short
(exactly counted) 247
poco
short
238
non cresc.
short
short
non cresc.
non cresc. pp normale
pp
239
pp
232 Tempo I 232
short
sul pont. ppp sul pont.
pp sul pont. pp
248
Serenata Notturna
p
move bow toward
all strings: normal position
3
pos. normale
p sub. molto battuto p sub. molto battuto 3 p sub. molto battuto battuto
sfz
sfz
sfz sfz sfz
sfz
p
sfz
ffz
sfz
sfz
sfz
[non div.]
sfz
sfz
sfz
sfz
sfz ord.
sfz sfz sfz ord.
ff
ff
sfz
sfz
ff sfz sfz sfz sfz ff sfz
sfz ord. sfz sfz sfz
cresc. poco a poco
cresc. poco a poco cresc. poco a poco cresc. poco a poco
260
battuto
ord.
cresc. poco a poco
cresc. poco a poco
258 sfz
p sub.
molto
254
31
253
p p
mp
p
p
ord.
p
short pause; then segue
32
Serenata Notturna
ffzp f ffzp
ffzp
ff
ffzp
ffzp
pizz. ffzp
mp
mp
p
mp
p
unaccented
pp misterioso unaccented
p
pp misterioso
p
a tempo
pp misterioso
sfz pp misterioso
pp misterioso
p warmer tone
p
warmer tone
mf
0 mp
0 mp p warmer tone p mp warmer tone mp p warmer tone
13 Poco meno mosso
unaccented
mp
arco
poco rit.
arco
ffz
arco
ffz
mp
ffzp
ffz
ffz
arco
ffz
mp gl. mf espr. p p mp mp
ffz
15
ffz
ff
pizz.
ffz
8
ffz pizz.
ffzp
ffzp ffzp pizz. with ff ffzp 2 fingers ffz
8
ffzp
ffzp
espr. cresc.
ffzp mf mp ffzp mp ffzp
ffzp
ffzp ff ffzp ff
IV.
Adagio; tragico (q = c. 46)
mp
22 22
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
27
sim. sim.
p p
p
p
32
ffz ff
[non div.] ff [non div.] ff [non div.] ffz ff
31
sim.
mp
Allegro; gioioso (q = 114)
33
Serenata Notturna
ffz
p f p f p f
ff
f
mf
mf
34
Serenata Notturna
35
ff f ff f ff f p ff f p
39
mp
p
p p p
p
p
43
ff
mp
pp pp pp
pp
p p pizz. p
pp p
40
p p p
p in background
p
p
p
pizz.
p
arco
pizz.
57
fz f subito arco, at frog
mp
dim.
dim.
[div.]
dim.
dim.
fz f
dim.
cresc.
fz f subito
fz f subito
fz f
cresc.
cresc.
cresc.
cresc.
cresc.
arco, at frog
fz f
ffz f
at frog
fz f subito at frog fz f subito pizz. arco, at frog [non div.]
fz f arco [non div.]
rich!
arco
pizz.
mp mp
pp
p
mf bring out
mp
pizz.
mp
55
[non div.] IV fz f mp
sim.
fz
51
35
Serenata Notturna
48
47
36
Serenata Notturna
rough!
(non legato)
58
ffz ff
ffz
ffz ffz
ffz
ffz
ffz ff
ffz ff
ffz ffz
ffz
dim.
ffz
dim.
ffz
as at first
ffz ff
dim.
ffz dim. ffz
65 p ff ffz p pp ff ffz [non div.] p pp ffz ff p pp ffz ff pp p 64
ffz ff
dim.
ffz
ffz
[non div.]
ffz
ffz ff
loco ffz
ff
ff
ffz ff
ff
61
ffz ff f cresc.
ffz
ffz
mp mp mp mp
ff
ff
68
pizz.
fz
pizz.
72
p
p
arco
p
arco
p
fz
fz
A shade slower (q = 104)
fz
72
f ffz [non div.] ff ffz ff [non div.] ffz gl. ff ffz
77 77
ffzp
ffzp
(p)
pizz.
ffzp
ffz
ffz
(p)
ffzp
ffzp ffzp ffz
ffz
ff
(p)
ffzp
ffzp
ffz
ffzp
ffz
ffzp (p)
non rit.
ffzp
ffzp
pizz.
Subito adagio (q = c. 46), tragico
p
5
p p
ff
gl.
ffz
p mp
tratt.
p
37
Serenata Notturna
[1 Solo]
arco
mp
38
81
pp
gl.
pp
pp
5
espr.
pp
gl.
Serenata Notturna
rit. molto dim. ma espr. mf espr. fp
fp
gl.
mf
fp
fp [Tutti, arco] gl.
fp
f
mf mf
mp
gl.
gl.
mf
mp
gl.
p
mf
mp
mp
84
84 Molto allegro (q = 144)
p
p
p
gl.
p
p molto leggero no accentuation, all equal
pp molto leggero no accentuation, all equal
pp molto leggero
87
pp
p
mp
pp
begin slowly to emphasize quarter-note beats sempre pp begin slowly to emphasize quarter-note beats sempre pp
p molto leggero
39
Serenata Notturna
90
sempre pp
slight to strong accents
sempre pp slight to strong accents
ff
cresc. subito
ffz ff
[non div.] cresc. subito sempre pp slight to strong accents ffz ff sempre pp cresc. subito slight to strong accents ffz ff fz cresc. subito ffz ff
cresc. subito
f f ffz ffz ffz f ffz ff ffz ff fz fz ffz f fz fz ffz ff ffz ff ffz f 93
96
fz
fz
ffz ff
ffz ff
fz
ffz ff
fz
ffz ff
ffz ff
mp accentuation as marked
f
p
ff
pp
mp accentuation as marked
f
p
ff
pp
mp
f
p
ff
pp
96
mp cantabile, calmo accentuation as marked
p pp mp f ff
40
99
Serenata Notturna
f
pp
pp
f
f pp
102
f
pp
pp ppp più leggero [1 Solo] ppp più leggero [1 Solo] [1 Solo]
ppp più leggero [1 Solo]
104
p
ppp più leggero
p
ppp
ff [Tutti] ffz ffz [Tutti] ffz ffz [Tutti] ffz ffz [Tutti] ffz ffz (in tempo)
ffz
ffz