ploughshares redactions and
Pinte r pauses for violin, violoncello, and piano
isaac barzso (
)
performance notes strings
lateral bowing rapidly move the bow parallel to the fingerboard with light pressure, obscuring discernable pitch.
triangle notehead play an extremely high and indistinct pitch.
harmonic gliss.
s.p.
ss. gli
thrown bow a rhythmically uncontrolled thrown bow.
harmonic glissando solid diamond noteheads indicate light-touch ("harmonic") fingering, and will sometimes result in resonant harmonics during glissandi.
fast glissando glissando very quickly from an on-the-beat grace note of the highest possible pitch on the string (upward triangle notehead) to a note about an octave below.
sul pont./ s.p. = sul ponticello m.s.p. = molto sul ponticello s.t. = sul tasto
piano
piano preparation the piano should be prepared with museum-quality putty so that the specified strings (C to F# if middle C is C ) sound as the specified harmonics.
(resulting pitches are non ba)
(example of piano preparation)
pedaling pedal should only be used where marked, and the absence of a pedal marking should be taken to mean senza pedale.
full ensemble
grace notes two types of grace notes are used, one type before the beat and one on the beat. grace notes played on the beat are only used in the strings for the fast glissando gesture.
"redacted" sections certain sections of the piece are to be pantomimed (redacted) silently finger notes and mime playing
ord.
sul pont.
pantomimed (redacted) silently finger notes and mime playing
sul tasto
pantomimed (redacted) silently mime playing without touching keys
spoken calmly
They are all there for a reason.
additional notes
gliss.
sul tasto
treated as if they have been redacted from the score. strings should finger notes and mime bowings without playing, while the piano should mime playing without touching the keys. the string players should, at their discretion, touch the bow to the string silently for shorter separate notes, and keep the bow airborne for longer notes; thrown bows should be performed lightly on muted strings. these sections will be marked with the direction pantomimed (redacted) and with the use of x noteheads. note that in some sections only one or two players will be pantomiming. this optimally will result in some sound, namely the "silent fingering" of the strings and the light touching of the keyboard; it should be an audible effect in addition to being a significant visual one. these slight sounds should be intentional, and great care should be taken that the "silent fingering" does not become left hand pizzicato and that keys on the piano are not actually depressed.
spoken text speak the given text in a free, natural speech rhythm, starting at the arrow with the designated character and dynamic. register can change according to your natural speaking voice. the performers should treat the speech as if they are in conversation amongst themselves. in live performance, certain spoken phrases will not carry as clearly to the audience as others - this is intentional, and care should be taken so as to not overemphasize these phrases. the speech should assert itself more and more as the piece progresses, and especially becomes important in the stretch from mm. - and at mm. .
duration ~7 text the text is adapted from and inspired by Olivia Cole's interviews with playwright Harold Pinter, writer Per Wästberg, and director Peter Hall from the documentary Working With Pinter (
).
for Longleash
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
Violin
Violoncello
Piano
Vc.
Pno
sem.
s.p. arco
sul pont.
4
Vln
=
pizz.
ord.
arco
ord.
pizz.
pizz.
sul pont.
s.p.
ord. arco
sub.
. gliss
pizz.
pizz.
gl iss .
isaac barzso ( )
arco s.p.
ord. arco
gliss.
s.p. arco
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses pantomimed (redacted) silently finger notes and mime playing
Vln
Vc.
Pno
Vln
Vc.
Pno
7
ord.
gliss.
sul tasto
ord.
play normally
sem.
play normally
ord.
sul pont. arco
ord.
sul pont.
pizz.
sul pont.
sul tasto
play normally
pantomimed (redacted) silently mime playing without touching keys
pantomimed (redacted) silently finger notes and mime playing
10
s.p.
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
Vln
Vc.
Pno
Vln
Vc.
Pno
13
16
ord.
sul pont.
ord.
play normally
play normally
play normally
sem.
pantomimed (redacted)
pantomimed (redacted)
sul pont.
sul tasto
pantomimed (redacted)
ord.
ord.
(harmonic gliss.)
sul pont.
sub.
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
Vln
Vc.
Pno
Vln
Vc.
Pno
19
IV.
(redacted)
pizz.
arco
ss. gli
(harmonic gliss.)
pizz.
pantomimed (redacted)
ord.
play normally
play normally
sul pont.
sul pont.
play normally
sul tasto
ord.
play normally
sul pont. arco
col legno battuto
play normally
pantomimed (redacted)
sul tasto
IV.
sul pont. arco
pantomimed (redacted)
pizz.
pantomimed
pantomimed (redacted)
ord.
22
(harmonic gliss.)
pantomimed (redacted)
play normally
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
Vln
Vc.
Pno
28
ord.
sul pont.
play normally
ord.
ss. gli
sul pont.
pantomimed (redacted)
sub.
sul pont.
ord.
ord.
sul tasto
sul pont.
pantomimed (redacted)
sul pont.
sul tasto
30
pantomimed (redacted)
sul pont.
ord.
gliss .
ord.
sul pont.
play normally
ord.
sul pont.
. gliss
ss. gli
play normally
gli ss.
ss. gli
Pno
ss. gli
Vc.
glis s.
ss. gli
Vln
25
ord.
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
34
sul pont.
sub.
sul tasto
sub.
sul tasto
sul tasto
sub.
ord.
sul pont.
sul pont.
sul pont.
ord.
sub.
sul tasto
sul pont.
sub.
gli ss.
sub.
ord.
sul tasto
sul tasto
gli ss.
ss. gli
sub.
ss. gli
Pno
ss. gli
Vc.
sul tasto
ss. gli
Vln
ss. gli
Pno
sub.
sul pont.
ss. gli
Vc.
sul tasto
ss. gli
Vln
ss. gli
31
ord.
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
Vln
Vc.
Pno
sub.
gli ss.
sub.
sub.
gliss.
harmonic gliss; bow freely
sub.
sub.
gliss.
gli ss.
sub.
gliss.
gliss.
sub.
gliss .
III.
ss. gli
ss. gli
gliss.
gli ss.
IV.
abruptly different character
harmonic gliss; bow freely
ss. gli
ss. gli
40
ss. gli
Pno
ss. gli
Vc.
ss. gli
Vln
37
II.
gliss.
glis s.
gliss.
gliss.
gli ss.
gliss.
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
46
sub.
I.
(harmonic gliss.; bow freely) ord.
sub.
gliss.
sub.
abruptly different character
gliss.
m.s.p.
gliss.
= 47
ss. gli
ord.
gli ss.
sub.
gliss.
m.s.p.
sub. gli ss.
m.s.p.
ss. gli
sub.
(harmonic gliss.; bow freely)
ss. gli
I.
ss. gli
Pno
gli ss.
ss. gli
Vc.
ss. gli
Vln
sub.
ss. gli
Pno
gli ss.
ss. gli
Vc.
m.s.p.
ss. gli
Vln
ss. gli
43
m.s.p.
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
Vln
49
spoken calmly
Vc.
Pno
Vln
Pno
sim.
spoken calmly
They are all there for a reason.
52
A silence happens when it says "silence", or a pause happens when it says "pause."
m.s.p.
Vc.
sim.
spoken urgently
They are all there for a reason.
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
=
Vln
Vc.
55
Pno
Vc.
Vln
58
Pno
ord.
spoken urgently
A pause is a fairly mundane crisis.
ord.
spoken calmly
A dangerous story has been censored.
note: A is not prepared.
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
Vln
Pno
Vln
Vc.
Pno
spoken calmly Three dots is a hesitation.
s.p.
note: A is not prepared.
spoken urgently
There is an unwillingness to communicate other than superficially.
Communication is too alarming.
There is an unwillingness to communicate other than superficially.
spoken urgently
spoken urgently
A silence is some sort of crisis.
s.p.
spoken calmly
66
=
ss. gli
Vc.
ss. gli
61
note: Bb is not prepared.
s.p.
ord.
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
accel.
Vln
Vc.
Pno
Vln
Vc.
Pno
69
harmonic gliss.
72
pizz.
gliss.
ord. arco
ord.
sub.
pizz.
=
sub.
sub.
mute open strings non pitched sounds
gliss .
s.p.
note: senza pedale.
s.p. arco
s.p.
sub.
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
Vln
Vc.
Pno
Vln
75
Pno
ord.
ord.
A silence is a torrent of language being employed.
sub.
sul tasto
sub.
spoken calmly
Speech is a constant stratagem to cover nakedness.
Communication is far too alarming.
spoken calmly
pizz.
spoken calmly
spoken calmly
=
78
s.t.
Vc.
sul tasto
s.p.
s.t.
Speech is a constant stratagem to cover nakedness.
s.p.
pantomimed (redacted)
pantomimed (redacted)
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
Vln
Vc.
Pno
Vln
Vc.
Pno
81
s.t.
play normally
ord.
play normally
s.p.
play normally
ord.
s.t.
spoken calmly
84
(continue speaking)
We have an unwillingness to communicate, other than superficially.
spoken calmly
To disclose the poverty within us is too fearsome a possibility.
pantomimed (redacted)
pantomimed (redacted)
pizz.
Speech is a constant stratagem -
Communication is far too alarming.
spoken calmly
spoken urgently
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
play normally
Vln
Vc.
Pno
87
Vc.
Pno
pizz.
s.t. arco
s.p.
s.t.
/ pedal
ord.
spoken calmly
Communication is far too alarming.
sub.
pantomimed (redacted)
/ pedal
ord.
s.p.
begin to raise the pedal slowly
/ pedal
ord.
play normally
play normally
s.p.
pantomimed (redacted)
play normally
90
Vln
s.t. arco
s.p.
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
93
Vln
Vc.
Pno
Vln
Vc.
Pno
96 96
s.t.
s.t.
sub.
sub.
sub.
s.p.
Si - lence
is
Si - lence
is
spoken urgently
s.p.
s.t.
s.t.
sub.
sub.
Si - lence
a
a
of
of
a
tor - rent
lan - guage
of
lan - guage
tor - rent
is
tor - rent
spoken urgently
spoken urgently
lan - guage
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
Vln
Vc.
99
Pno
Vln
Vc.
Pno
ord.
sub.
ord.
If they don't make any sense, then I always say cut them.
spoken calmly; begin together but continue independently If they don't make any sense, then I always say cut them.
spoken calmly; begin together but continue independently
If they don't make any sense, then I always say cut them.
spoken calmly; begin together but continue independently
sub.
s.p.
ord.
102
s.p.
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
105
Vln
Vc.
Pno
Vln
Vc.
Pno
108
sub.
s.p.
s.p.
sub.
sub.
remain in playing position, as if frozen, yet about to play; hold tension
remain in playing position, as if frozen, yet about to play; hold tension
remain in playing position, as if frozen, yet about to play; hold tension
ord.
ord.
sub.
sub.
sub.
gliss.
ord.
sub.
ord.
sub.
cut
cut
them
them
cut
them
s.p.
spoken urgently
spoken urgently
spoken urgently
s.p.
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
111
111
Vln
Vc.
Pno
Vln
Vc.
Pno
=
To enter into someone else's life is too frightening.
III.
ord.
harmonic gliss; bow freely
spoken calmly, with enough presence to be heard in the texture
Callous is something that hardening leaves behind what will be soft.
114
spoken calmly, with enough presence to be heard in the texture
m.s.p.
sim.
IV.
s.p.
gradually lift pedal
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
117
Vln
sim.
spoken quickly
Speech is constant -
Vc.
Pno
Vln
Vc.
Pno
120
continue speaking
sim.
spoken quickly
Speech is constant -
sub.
spoken calmly
Communication is far too alarming.
s.p.
spoken quickly
To disclose the poverty within us is too fearsome a possibility.
spoken calmly
To enter into someone else's life is too frightening.
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses spoken with urgency but not rushed
Vln
Vc.
Pno
Vln
Vc.
Pno
123
sub.
sub.
sub.
It must have also happened to you.
126
ord.
How can you say that when I'm looking at you now?
spoken calmly
spoken with urgency but not rushed
To disclose the poverty within us is too fearsome a possibility.
ord.
sub.
sub.
sub.
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
129
Vln
Vc.
Pno
Vln
Vc.
Pno
130
relax tension
spoken calmly
relax tension
To enter into someone else's life is too frightening.
spoken calmly
pantomimed (redacted)
To disclose the poverty within us is too fearsome a possibility.
relax tension
132
=
s.p.
pantomimed (redacted)
play normally
s.p.
play normally
ord.
pizz.
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
Vln
Vc.
Pno
Vln
Vc.
Pno
135
pantomimed (redacted)
pantomimed (redacted)
pantomimed (redacted)
138
like
arco
of
me?
rea - son,
wel - comes.
What do you think?
they
are all
there
for
arco s.p.
a
rea - son
play normally
At
spoken calmly, in rhythm but in a normal conversational manner
my
house
s.p.
s.t.
in
the
coun - try
you would
re - ceive
the
spoken calmly, in rhythm but in a normal conversational manner
Would they
spoken calmly, in rhythm but in a normal conversational manner
Really?
play normally
play normally
war - mest
All
si - lenc - es
s.p.
are
ord.
for
there
a
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
141
Vln
Vc.
Pno
Vc.
Pno
Rea - lly?
Some
ord.
s.p.
Has been
a
Al
spoken calmly
Communication is too alarming.
spoken calmly Communication is too alarming.
rea - son.
as before
spoken calmly, in rhythm but in a normal conversational manner
sort.
s.t.
play normally
pantomimed (redacted)
spoken calmly, in rhythm but in a normal conversational manner pantomimed (redacted)
pantomimed (redacted)
143
Vln
spoken calmly, in rhythm but in a normal conversational manner
-
ways.
ord.
sub.
play normally
q
s.p.
s.p.
play normally
ord.
spoken calmly
Communication is far too alarming.
spoken calmly
I have known this before - the voice unheard.
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses spoken calmly
147
Vln
Vc.
Pno
Vln
Vc.
Pno
If they don't make sense, then I always say cut them.
150
ta
-
ken
to
much
in
ex - press
too
far;
a
To
what
is
is
in
in
in
ex - press
what
what is
-
ex - press
-
-
-
-
ex - press
-
i
-
ex -
-
i
ble;
-
-
ble;
in
-
i
si
ar
-
-
ble;
-
lence;
- press
a
In
way;
a
way;
To ex - press
they’ve been
ti -
- fi
in
-
-
and
ex - press
-
-
in - ex - press - i - ble;
cial
what is
mea
i
-
ble
spoken calmly, in rhythm but in a normal conversational manner
in - ex - press - i - ble;
spoken calmly, in rhythm but in a normal conversational manner
way;
ord.
pantomimed (redacted)
pantomimed (redacted)
spoken calmly, in rhythm but in a normal conversational manner
ning
vi
-
-
less;
brat - ing
si - lence
and
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
153
Vln
pause.
Pno
Vln
Vc.
Pno
pause.
pause.
ord.
pizz.
play normally
s.p.
play normally
ord.
hold tension through end of m. 154 and suddenly release into m. 155
156
play normally
hold tension through end of m. 154 and suddenly release into m. 155
Vc.
155
hold tension through end of m. 154 and suddenly release into m. 155
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
159
Vln
Vc.
Pno
Vln
arco
162
spoken urgently
Pno
Pause.
spoken urgently
Pause.
spoken urgently
Pause.
Vc.
s.p.
sub.
s.t.
pantomimed (redacted)
s.p.
s.p.
sub.
sub.
pantomimed (redacted)
sul pont.
pizz.
arco ord.
sub.
pantomimed (redacted)
s.t.
ploughshares, redactions, and Pinter pauses
Vln
Vc.
Pno
Vln
Vc.
Pno
165
167
sul pont.
pizz.
remain in playing position, as if frozen, yet about to play
remain in playing position, as if frozen, yet about to play
remain in playing position, as if frozen, yet about to play
arco s.p.
pizz.
arco ord.
gliss.
pizz.
arco s.p.
ord.