IAC010
by Ian A. Cook 2011
O Cool is the Valley Now for mezzo-soprano, flute, clarinet, trumpet, and piano
written for Maren Beckman, mezzo-soprano
text by James Joyce 1907
ianacook.com
IAC010
O Cool is the Valley Now by Ian A. Cook
O Cool is the Valley Now
Duration: 4'45''
by James Joyce O cool is the valley now And there, love, will we go For many a choir is singing now Where Love did sometime go. And hear you not the thrushes calling, Calling us away? O cool and pleasant is the valley And there, love, will we stay.
Program Note O Cool is the Valley Now was written in a style similar to the Impressionism of the early 20th century. The harmonies are entirely derived from a method inspired by the chromatic planing of Claude Debussy. This yields highly chromatic music that is still very accessible, which helps to evoke some of the images of idyllic locations and feelings of as-of-yet unfulfilled yearning expressed in the text. O Cool is the Valley Now tied for second place in the 2011 Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) Collegiate Composition Contest in the Chamber Group division.
O Cool is the Valley Now is copyrighted Š 2011 by Ian A. Cook All rights are reserved. Ian A. Cook is a member of ASCAP and receives royalties for all performances of his compositions. Please report all performances at ianacook.com/performance-notification
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3
Transposed Score
O Cool is the Valley Now James Joyce (1882-1941)
Ian A. Cook (b. 1990) 2011
q=72 molto rubato
Mezzo-soprano
r Pe Flute
Clarinet in Bb
harmon mute, no stem
3
us
Trumpet in Bb
p
q=72 molto rubato
Piano
A tempo
A
mf
e or Sc
M-S.
5
al
5
Ah
Fl.
Cl.
Tpt.
Pno.
3
6
p
p
A tempo
p
A
Copyright © 2011 by Ian A. Cook All Rights Reserved www.ianacook.com
4 10
M-S.
Fl.
r Pe
p
mp
us
p
mp
p
p
p
mp
p
mf
p
p
mp
mf
Pno.
p
mf
Tpt.
Oh
mf
Cl.
Oh
mp
al 15
O
Fl.
cool
mp
3
Cl.
mp
mp
3
Pno.
is the val
-
ley
now,
mp
B
mp
mp
mp
Tpt.
e or Sc
M-S.
B
mp
5 19
M-S.
q=q sempre
and
Fl.
there, love, will
Tpt.
we
go
3
Fl.
mp
Cl.
Tpt.
Pno.
mp
mf
mf
mf
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C
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e or Sc
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al 22
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3
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6 26
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For
ma - ny_a choir is
Tpt.
ing
now
pp
pp
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pp
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p
us
Pno.
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mp
sing
r Pe
Cl.
p
al 32
mp
where
Fl.
Cl.
Tpt.
Pno.
love did some-time
mf
e or Sc
M-S.
go.
p
p
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mp
mp
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D 36
M-S.
Fl.
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And
hear you not
7
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Cl.
Tpt.
mf
Pno.
ing,
f
f
mp
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mf
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the thrush es call
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mp
al 41
call
Cl.
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a - way?
mp
Pno.
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5
3
Tempo primo, molto rubato
Fl.
Tempo primo, molto rubato
rit.
e or Sc
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mp
8 45
M-S.
A tempo
E
Più lento
3
Fl.
Cl.
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Tpt.
Fl.
Cl.
Tpt.
p
p
mf
mf
E
mf
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Tempo primo
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mf
p
p
Pno.
Più lento
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51
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p
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Pno.
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3
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M-S.
Fl.
and
cool
F
mp
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mf
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Pno.
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Cl.
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mf
56
al 60
plea
Fl.
Cl.
Tpt.
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Pno.
the
val
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ley
mp
there, love, will we
mp
and
mp
mp
e or Sc
M-S.
mp
3
3
10 64
M-S.
mf
stay.
Fl.
mf
3
Oh
us
Pno.
Tpt.
mf
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Cl.
mp
mp
3
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Oo
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Cl. 3
3
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Tpt.
rit.
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p
pp
pp
pp
3
3 pp rit.
mf
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M-S.
mp
68