Full Score
Isaac Raymond Smith
System Break for Two Guitars (2020)
Smith- System Break-Front Matter
System Break Instrumentation: Two Guitars Duration: ~10 minutes Program Notes: System Break emerged from my desire to write for the guitar, an instrument which I had never before explored, coupled with me meeting a couple of capable guitarists who were willing to collaborate with me on a project. The name has a twofold meaning. Firstly, the piece is based on the gradual "breaking down" of systems which are set up at the beginning, and a transformation from order to disorder. The long lines and linear motion seen early in the piece disappear as more pointillistic and fragmented textures take over with the progression of the piece. Harmonically, the piece moves from a clear focus on a single pitch, to a small collection of pitches, to repetition of a tone row, to completely randomly selected pitches, and finally a lack of any defined pitch seen in the last movement. Finally, throughout the piece, the second guitar tunes each string down by a quarter tone, one by one. Due to the small amount of time to perform this detuning, the player will end up out of tune with not only Guitar 1, but also themselves, as not every string will be tuned down exactly 25 cents. It is my hope that all of these effects will collectively give the feeling of a piece that breaks apart as it goes. The second meaning of the title references the bane of every composer's existence: formatting. With this piece and with most pieces, it seems that I almost spent more time going through and formatting visual things like spacing and system breaks than I did actually writing the piece itself. Such is the name of the game. It is my hope that this piece is enjoyable for performer and listener alike, system breaks and all! - Isaac Raymond Smith December 13, 2020
Smith- System Break-Front Matter
Notation Guide
Tambora
T
Natural Harmonics
XII
String Chucks
Touch Harmonics
Brush down the neck
11
RH: XV LH: III
on strings with palm
Tap/Knock on body of guitar
(Near bridge-Middle-Near edge-Sides)
Snap Pizz.
Indeterminate high note
Brush up the neck on strings with palm
Slide esh of nger along string
Play Behind the Nut
Slide nail along string
Ad lib dynamics, playing anywhere within given range on each repeat
Open time signature
for Ascher Taylor-Schroeder and John Slobodzian
System Break Isaac Raymond Smith 2 3 4 5
= 160
Guitar 1
Guitar 2 (Fingered)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
8
11
T
7
12
9
T
6
T
T
10
13
= ( = 240)
14
Copyright © 2020 Isaac R. Smith Music
2
Gtr 1
15 pizz. 16
pizz.
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
25
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
18
V
T
Gtr 2 (F)
17
22 21 T
Gtr 2 (F)
Smith- System Break- I.
26
19
RH: XIII LH: I
23
T
chucks
20
29 28
24 XII RH: XIII LH: I
27
T
30
Smith- System Break- I.
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
pizz.
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
44 43
39
41 8-20x Give cue to go on V 40
ord.
42
sub. 45
Gtr 1
34 32 33 31 36 37 38 35
3
4
Smith- System Break- I.
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
46
47
50
54
51
48
55
49
RH: XIII LH: I
52
T
53
56
T
T
60 58 59
57
(Tune E(6) string down 1/4 tone)
Smith- System Break- I.
65 66 64 63 sub. 62
61
Gtr 1
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
5
67
T
70
T
T
T
68
71
69
XII
72
6
Smith- System Break- I.
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
73
pizz.
pizz.
Gtr 2 (S)
pizz.
Gtr 2 (F)
77
76
Gtr 1
74
75
79
V
78
80
RH: XIII LH: I
attacca
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Subito = 56 81
IX
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
RH: XIII LH: I
82
RH: XV LH: III
T
T
84
83
Gtr 1
II.
with esh of nger
T
T
85
RH: XVIII RH: XVI RH: XIII LH: VI IX IX LH: IV LH: I
1 beat
Beat 2 1 beat
8
Smith- System Break- II.
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 1
86
knock on edge
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
87
Smith- System Break- II.
RH: XIII LH: I
88
Gtr 1
RH: XVI LH: IV
IX
Finger drumming near edge
Gtr 2 (S)
T
Finger drumming near edge
Gtr 2 (F)
T
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
90
Gtr 1
tap knock-tap
RH: XV LH: III
89
9
Smith- System Break- II.
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
RH: XXIV RH: XXI RH: XIX LH: XII LH: IX RH: XIII LH: VII LH: I RH: XIV RH: XIII LH: II LH: I
92 RH:XVI LH: IV
RH: XIII LH: I
RH: XIV LH: II
93
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 1
91
RH: XVI LH: IV
(s=~350)
RH: XIII LH: I
(s=~350)
10
Smith- System Break- II.
94
11
RH: XXI; XVIII LH: IX; VI
98
97
Gtr 2 (F)
96
Play
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 1
95
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 1
V
(Tune D string down 1/4 tone)
99
III.
e=~280
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
8 secs
with plectrum
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
sub.
6 secs
rapidly
sub.
e=~170
(pick up plectrum)
100
RH: Slap X LH: Bar III
rapidly
rapidly
101
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
slide tap
T
RH: Slap IX
Gtr 2 (S)
Rapid nger taps
Rapid nger taps
Gtr 2 (F)
Repeat only 1x
Repeat only 1x
LH: Bar II
8 secs
102
Gtr 1
13
6 secs
T
Gtr 2 (F)
Smith- System Break- III.
RH: XXII LH: X
rapidly
RH: XXIV LH: XII
rapidly
rapidly
14
Smith- System Break- III.
104 6-10x 103
= 120
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
V
(cresc. over course of repeats)
(cresc. over course of repeats) 105 = 70
107
gliss. 108
106
Gtr 1
109
Smith- System Break- III.
110
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
T
ord.
sul pont.
T
ord. sul pont.
6 secs
15
rapidly
rapidly
Gtr 2 (F)
112
T
T
I III II
Gtr 2 (S)
III I II
Move LH up fret-by-fret on the top 3 strings
Gtr 1
111
16
Smith- System Break- III.
114 113
T
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
IV
V
VI
115
VII
VIII
V
VI
VII
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
V
117 116
121
rapidly
rapidly
VII
118
119
T
T
RH: XVIII LH: VI
120
rapidly
VI
6 secs
T
T
(While damping strings w/ LH, swish hand along strings up the fretboard)
(Tune G string down 1/4 tone)
Smith- System Break- III.
128 Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
129
Gtr 2 (F)
sul tasto
XII
RH: XIII RH: XV LH: I LH: III
quasi ad libitum as needed
127
(pick up plectrum)
Subito = 50 126
attacca
IV.
130
RH: XXII LH: X
ord.
RH: XVIII LH: VI
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 1
124 125 123
T T T
Gtr 1
sub.
122
17
ord.
RH: XVIII LH: VI
131
port.
port.
RH: XIX LH: VII
Smith- System Break- IV.
sub.
sub.
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
(With plectrum)
Behind the nut
136
(Pick up plectrum)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
134
Gtr 2 (F)
RH: XVIII LH: VI
Finger slide
Pause 3-4 secs
135
sul pont.
Behind the nut
133
Gtr 2 (S)
132
18
Smith- System Break- IV.
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
137
19
V.
Gtr 2 (F)
141
142
139
sub. sub.
attacca
2-3 secs 140
sul tasto
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 1
behind nut with plectrum
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
behind nut with plectrum
138
Same Tempo, = 50
Smith- System Break- V.
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 2 (F)
146
150
Gtr 2 (S)
3-4 secs
149
Gtr 1
ord.
tap
147
Gtr 1
144
145
Gtr 1
143
s.t.
20
2 secs
Smith- System Break- V.
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
21
151 153 154 3x 152
155
157
156
5 secs
4-5x
22
Smith- System Break- V.
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
158 sub.
2-3 secs T T T 159
162
160
= 200 (Double Time)
165
167
2 secs
164
2 secs
166
163
161
169
168
Smith- System Break- V.
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
170
172
rapidly
rapidly
Gtr 2 (F)
23
171
5-6 secs
attacca
VI.
c.3 secs
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
172
c.5 secs
c.6 secs
(Tune B and E(1) strings down 1/4 tone)
rapidly
rapidly
c.2 secs
173
24
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
= 200
177 176
180 179
178
182
3 secs
181
175
6-12x
174
Smith- System Break- VI.
knock
knock
Smith- System Break- VI.
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
183
187
Gtr 1
184
T
c.5 secs
185
186 T
188
c.6 secs
25
26
Smith- System Break- VI.
Gtr 1
189
190
6-7 secs Repeat these 2 pitches-- ad lib duration and rests in between repetitions
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
191
198
192
(see above)
195 194
193
200 201 199
196
197
202
203
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
208
205
204
Smith- System Break- VI.
211
209
207 206
210
212
Ad lib high notes and rapid rhythms
27
28
214 213
Smith- System Break- VI.
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
222
218
215
220
221
217
rapid glisses with nger ad lib
219
rapid glisses with nger ad lib 216
224 225 (Pick up plectrum) 223
226 with plectrum
Continuous Scraping with Side of Plectrum (Pick up plectrum)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
227
231
230
Smith- System Break- VI.
228 229
232
Scrape as before
29
Ad lib high notes and rapid rhythms
Gtr 2 (F)
attacca
Same Tempo, = 200
233
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
VII. 234
235
30
Smith- System Break- VII.
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
236
237
240
241
dim. poco a poco
IV
238
242
V
=e ( = 125)
243
239
VI
VI V IV
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
244
245
VII
VII
VI
246
V
IV
IV VI
V
247
III
III
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
248
249
(put down plectrum)
256
(put down 251 plectrum)
254
255
250
= 120–140
253
Smith- System Break- VII.
31
brush with palm
brush with palm
257
252
3x
32
Smith- System Break- VII.
258
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
262
264
266
267
tap
260
263
sub. 265
259
261
268
Smith- System Break- VII.
269
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (S)
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
272
(RH stems up; LH stems down)
T
275
273
(roll with alternating nger taps)
274
sub.
6x
T
attacca
277
279
T
271
276
brush down neck
T
VIII. tap
Same Tempo, = 120–140
278
T
270
4 secs
Lay guitars on laps
33
slap VII (RH stems up; LH stems down)
34
Smith- System Break- VIII. 281 (etc.) play behind nut
280
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
282 ngernails
284 ngernails
285
brush body with hand
RH: Place near bridge, roll from nger tips to palm, vary speed ad lib LH: Using index nger, slap strings going up and down neck, vary speed and dynamics ad lib
Slowly brush ngers all the way up and down neck
Gtr 2 (F)
(etc.)
tap
283
knock
Smith- System Break- VIII.
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
Gtr 1
Gtr 2 (F)
sub. sub.
287
288
290
5x 293
T
slap VII
291
294
Slap moving down neck
ngernails
295
T
289
292
T
Gtr 2 (F)
T
Dampen with RH; strum with LH
sub.
Gtr 1
286
35
knock