Dark Bells

LESHNOFF

Jonathan Leshnoff

Dark Bells

for solo Viola SATB Chorus, Orchestra

Dark Bells

commissioned by Mr. Peter Minkler and the Fort Wayne (IN) Philharmonic Orchestra and supported by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive

Jonathan Leshnoff

© 2013

Dark Bells

commissioned by Mr. Peter Minkler and the Fort Wayne (IN) Philharmonic Orchestra and supported by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive

2 flutes

2 oboes

2 clarinets in Bb

2nd clarinet doubles on bass clarinet

2 bassoons

2nd bassoon doubles on contrabassoon

4 horns

3 trumpets in C

2 trombones

1 bass trombone

timpani

percussion

chimes, sleigh bells, bass drum, low A bell plate, glockenspiel

harp

full choir

solo viola

strings

All texts by Edgar Allen Poe (public domain).

Mvt 1: Viola intro

Mvt 2. “The Bells”: part I

Hear the sledges with the bellsSilver bells!

What a world of merriment their melody foretells!

How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, In the icy air of night!

While the stars that oversprinkle

All the heavens, seem to twinkle

With a crystalline delight; Keeping time, time, time, In a sort of Runic rhyme,

To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells

From the bells, bells, bells, bells, Bells, bells, bells-

From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells. *

Mvt 3. Alone

From childhood's hour I have not been

As others were---I have not seen

As others saw---I could not bring

My passions from a common spring-

From the same source I have not taken My sorrow- I could not awaken

My heart to joy at the same tone-

And all I lov'd, I loved alone.

Then- in my childhood, in the dawn

Of a most stormy life- was drawn

From ev’ry depth of good and ill

The mystery which binds me still-

From the torrent, or the fountain,

From the red cliff of the mountain, From the sun that round me roll’d

From the lightning in the sky

As it passed me flying by-

From the thunder and the stormAnd the cloud that took the form (When the rest of Heaven was blue) Of a demon in my view.

* The composer has taken liberty with these words, making them three syllables.

Mvt 4. “The Bells”: part II

Hear the loud alarum bellsBrazen bells!

What a tale of terror, now, their turbulency tells!

How they scream out their affright!

Too much horrified to speak, They can only shriek, shriek, Out of tune,

In a clamorous appealing to the mercy of the fire, In a mad expostulation with the deaf and frantic fire, Leaping higher, higher, higher, With a desperate desire, And a resolute endeavor,

The bells, bells, bells!

What a tale their terror tells Of Despair!

How they clang, and clash, and roar!

How the danger sinks and swells, By the sinking or the swelling in the anger of the bellsOf the bells-

Of the bells, bells, bells,bells, Bells, bells, bellsIn the clamor and the clangor of the bells!

Mvt. 5. Viola Preldue

Then: “Eldorado”

Gaily bedight, A gallant knight, In sunshine and in shadow, Had journeyed long, Singing a song, In search of Eldorado.

But he grew oldThis knight so boldAnd o'er his heart a shadow Fell as he found No spot of ground That looked like Eldorado.

And, as his strength Failed him at length, He met a pilgrim shadow"Shadow," said he, "Where can it beThis land of Eldorado?"

"Over the Mountains Of the Moon, Down the Valley of the Shadow, Ride, boldly ride," The shade replied"If you seek for Eldorado!"

Dark Bells Jonathan

commissioned by Mr. Peter Minkler and the Fort Wayne (IN) Philharmonic Orchestra and supported by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive

© 2013 by Leshnoff Publishing www.jonathanleshnoff.com

Score and Parts by Hamilton Engraving www.hamiltonengraving.com

Mvt. 2, "Silver Bells" q = 164

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22

4, "Alarum Bells," Fast, q = 166

Mvt. 4, "Alarum Bells," Fast, q = 166

Mvt. 4, "Alarum Bells," Fast, q = 166