An Old Frisian Poem

Jonathan Posthuma

About the text: "An Old Frisian Poem" uses an excerpt from one of the oldest texts in the Frisian language, The First Emsiger Codex, which is a book of laws and miscellaneous documents dating from around 1400 AD. Although this text has been used widely by philologists to compare the development of language (primarily the "sister" languages of German, Dutch, Frisian, and English), its narrative and poetic qualities seem less important to scholars. But, in an article called "An Old Frisian Poem" (published in Modern Philology, Feb. 1915), Francis A. Wood proposes that sections of this text are actually poems. He attempts to reconstruct one particular section into its "true" poetic form and belieives that it originated several centuries earlier. He draws attention to its use of alliteration and with some editing, he believes that it is a "ﬁnished product of no mean merit, worthy to live in the light of the world." The text is striking, whether it is intended to be poetry or legal prose. It describes the struggle of a family that must endure the coming winter without the father of their household, both mournful and desparate. There is no record of this text or others from this era being sung or set to music, and while this setting relies on historical traditions for its musical style, it is simply a musical reponse to the text, not a proposition of the sound of Old Frisian music. It uses both the Old Frisian text and the English translation provided by Francis A. Wood. In addition to this choral setting, one could sing the texts as a solo or accompanied by period instruments. thenna thiu neílthiùstera nácht and thi nédkàlda wínter ur tha túnar hléth, sa farther alra mónna hwélic inna sin hóf and inna sin hús, alder hi sin líf on bihálde, and thet wílde diar secht thene hóla bam and thera bérga hlí: sa wéniath thet nérighe bárn and wépth tha sine nákeda líthi and sin húslase and sinne féder, ther hine hrédde with thene winter kálder and with thene héta húngher, thet hi sa diápe bislághen and sa dímme bisléten is únder éke and under érthe bithácht. When murky night and mist-cold winter On the ﬁelds down fall, and fare all men To the sheltering roof to shield them from death, And the wild-beast hies to the hollow tree Or lays him down in a den in the rocks: Then weeps the child of want when winter chillds his limbs, And homeless bewails the father, who should ward from him hunger and cold, And mourns that so deep he is lying, so darkly shut from the light, Under the oaken board and burdened by the earth. - Francis A. Wood, translator Pronounciation Key: Forthcoming

An Old Frisian Poem anonymous, Old Frisian Francis A. Wood, editor and translator (1912)

° 12 &8 ‹

Jonathan Posthuma (b. 1989)

Like Watching a Distant Storm at Sea; e = 80

Solo (Tenor or Baritone)

∑

12 & 8 œ™ œ™

œœ ™™

pp

SOPRANO ALTO

[n]*

œ ™™ œ

œœ ™™

pp TENOR BASS

? 12 ¢ 8

˙˙™™ w™

° & œ œ™ ‹ then - na

mf freely, with great longing

ppp

& ˙™ ˙™

p

œœ ™™

p

œ™

œ™ œ™

œœ ™™

œ˙™™ w™

[n]* * a nasal "hum," tongue behind upper teeth and rich in harmonics

A tempo

3

œ™

œ™ œ™

∑

poco rit.

œ™

œ œ™ thiu

f

œ

œ œ ™ ùœ™

neíl

-

œ

œ œ™

thiù - ste - ra

œœ ™™

™™ ? w w ¢ w™

ppp

≈ œ™ mp

,

18 8

nácht

≈ œœ ™™ p

18 8 18 8

For Perusal Only - Do Not Copy

3

à ≈ ° 18 ‰ ™ œ œ &8 œ œ œ œ ™ œ œ œ œ - œ œ œ™ œ œ œ ™ œ œj œ™ ù ‹ mf

4

f

and thi ppp

18 & 8 œ™ œ™

? 18 ˙˙™™ ¢ 8 w™

ppp

nê

kàl - da

-

p

mp

wín - ter

ur

œœ ™™

p

hléth pp

œœ ™™

œ™

œ™ œ™

≈ œœ ™™

tha tú - nar

œœ ™™

,

15 8 15 8

≈ œ™ œ™ Δ pp

œ™ œ™

15 8

, ° 15 ‰ 12 j œ & 8 œ œ™œ™ œ œ œ ™œ™ œ œ œ ™œ œ œ œ ™œ ™ 8 œ œ ™ œ œ ™œ œ œ™ œ œ™œ™ ‹ sa far - ther al - ra món - na hwé - lic in-na sin hóf and in-na sin hús, mf

5

f

15 & 8 œ™ œ™

˙˙™™ w™

? 15 ¢ 8

œ ™™ œ

œœ ™™

mp

˙œ™™

pp

p

pp

p

œ™

œ™ œ™

,

f moving forward

œ™ œ™

p

12 8 œœ ™ œ™ ™

œ˙™™ œ™ 12 œ™ œ ™ 8 w™ p

œ™

mp

œ™ ˙™

œ™

mp

œ™

mf ≈ à ≈ ° ‰ ™œ j & œ œ œ œ ™œ œ œ ™ œ œ œ ™œ ‰ œ œ™œ œ œœ œ œ œœœ œ œ œ œ œ œœ ™œ œ œ™ ‹ mf

7

mp

al-der hi

sin líf on bi hál - de,

p

& œ™ œ™ p

? ˙˙ ™™ ¢ ˙™

≈ œœ ™™

f

and thet wíl - de diar

pp

œœ ™™

œœ ™™ œ™ œ™

≈ œ™ œ™ pp

≈ œœ ™™

secht the-ne hó - la bam

p

œœ ™™

˙˙™™ w™

œœ ™™

≈ œ™ œ™ p

œœ ™™ œœ ™™

For Perusal Only - Do Not Copy poco rit.

U , = ° j & œj ‰ œj œ œ™ œ œ ™ œ œ ˙ ‹ and the-ra bér - ga hlí: ff

A tempo (but with a little more motion)

9

Œ

f

& ˙™ œ™

œ™

? œ™ ˙™ ¢ ˙™

∑ mp When

U ˙˙ u

œ™

4

mf mist - cold win-ter

j ‰ j ™ œ™ œ œ œ œ œ œ™ œ œ ‰ œœ œœ œJ œ œ œJ œ œJ œœ œœ J J mur - ky

When mur p

f

U ˙˙ E u

œœ ™™ œ™

Œ

-

night and

ky night

œœ ™™ œ™

and

mist - cold win-ter mp

œœ ™™ œ™

œœ ™™™ œ

Ah

mf men to the shel - ter - ing roof to

° ‰ j œ œ™ œ œ œ ™ & ‰ œœ œœ œ ™ œ œœ œ ™ œœ™ œ Œ œj œœ œ œ œœ œ™ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ™ œ J œ œ œ œ™ œ œ œ J J J J on the mp

11

ﬁelds

on the ﬁelds

? œœœ™™™ ¢

down

mf

13

œœ

shield them

¢

œœ ™™ ? œ™

and

fall

œœ ™™™ œ

p

° œ & œ

down fall,

and fare

œœ ™™ œ™

all

all men

œœ ™™ œ™

œœ ™™™ œ

to the shel - ter - ing roof to

œœ ™™™ œ

œœ œ™ œ™ œ™

shield them from

p death,

from

death,

œœ

œ

death,

œœ J

œœ ™™™ œ

œ

œœ J

to

œœ ™

œ™ œ™

p

f shield them from death,

œœ œ

œœ ™™ œ™

mp

Ah

f death,

from

fare

œ

shield them

œ from

œ ‰œ ™ death, p

mp bring out and the

‰

œ œ

5

For Perusal Only - Do Not Copy

° & œw™™ 14

œ™

pp

œ™

Ooh

wild

-

beast hies to the hol - low tree Or

œœ™

j œ œœ ™™

˙œ™™

lays

him down in a den in the rocks:

œ

™ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ™ œ œ œ ™ œ œ œ œ œj œ™ œ œ œ œ™ œ œ œ™ œ œ œ œ ? œ œ ˙™ œ™ œ ¢ pp w ™ 3

Ooh

With More Motion (e = 110) e=e ff sub. Then weeps the child

° 4 f‰ &4 ˙

j œ

16

œ™

weep,

? 4 ‰˙ ¢ 4E

child

ff sub. Then weep,

œj

f

œ

weep,

° ‰ & œ 18

home

‰ ? œ ¢ e

home

œ ùœœ ™

child

œ œœ ™

œ œ™ œ œ™ -

of want when win - ter

œ

when

œ œœ

when

child

when

chills

œœ œ™ œ œ™

win - ter

chills

œœ œœ ™™ œ œ™ -

win - ter

œœ œ

his

chills

œ œœ

win - ter

œ

‰ œ 44 J

Then sfz

˙œ™

œJ

limbs,

And sfz

œ ˙œ ™ œ™

limbs,

poco rit.

ff And home less be-wails the fa ther,

Then sfz

f limbs,

f his limbs,

chills

4 œJ 4

œ eJ

And sfz

pp and cold,

who should ward from him hun ger j - ™ - ™ œ -œ œ 5 œ ™ U 12 œ œœ œœ œ œœ œ œ œœ œ œ œœ œ ™ œ œ œ 8 œ 4œ œ œ

wails - less be ff And home less bewails

œj œœ œœ ™ œ œœ œ e œ -

less

be -

wails

hun

œœ œ

5 œœœ 4

-

œœ™™

œœ hun

ger

-

ger

and

cold,

pp

œœ U œœ 12 8 J and cold,

For Perusal Only - Do Not Copy Tempo I (e = 80) p

mf

° 12 Œ ™ œ ‰œ ™ œ &8 ‰ œ

And

20

mourns

And mourns

? 12 Ó™ ¢ 8

so

dark

that so deep

he is ly ing,

-

œ

dark

-

ly

so p

? Ó™ ¢

deep

shut

ly

-

œ œ ‰ œ

shut from the light, mf

Un - der

p

4 4 p

4 4

∑ the

-

en board

mp

œ œ œ œ œ œœ ™ œ œœ œœ ™ œ œœ œœ™ œ œœ

oak - en

? 4 Œœ œ œ œœ œœ™ œ œ œ™ œ ¢ 4J J the oak

ing

shut from the light,

∑

Un - der

he is

U j 6 œ œ™ œ œ™ œœ 8 œ œ ™ œ œ™ u

ly

-

Slower, Mournfully

pp

ly ing,

from the light,

dark - ly

24

œœ ™™ pp

f he is

mf shut from the light,

ly

-

dark

‰ œ Œ™

° 4 &4

œ œ œj œ œ œœ œ J

U 6 œ œœ ™ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ 8 œ œ™ œ œ ™ œ™ œ œ™ œ œ™ u

so

22

pp

j œ œ œ™ œ œ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ™ œ™ ‰ œ œ œ œJ œ that so

° Œ™ & ‰ œ œ ‰œ™ œ

he is ly ing,

mourns,

‰ œ Œ™

p

f that so deep

œœ œ œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ ™ œ

œ œ™ œ œ œœ p And

p

6

board

and

bur

and

bur

-

dened by

dened

the

7

For Perusal Only - Do Not Copy pp

° Œ & œ J

Un

26

œ

Un

der

-

der

-

œœ ™

œ œJ

the

pp by

the

? œ™ ¢ w

œœ ™

the

oak

œ œ

oak

en

-

en

œ

board

earth,

œ

˙™

earth.

° œ & œ 27

board

° & ‹

and

bur

-

j œ

and

bur

-

œ ‰

œœ ™

œJ

and

∑

dened by

œ œœ ™™

dened

-

bur

poco accel.

29

-

pp dened by

-

& œ œ

[n] pp

œœ œœ œœ

? œw œ œ œ ¢ w

the earth.

U w w u

by

the earth.

dened by

the earth.

œœ

With More Motion (e = 110)

= ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ ™ œ œ ™ œ œ œ™ œ œ™ œ œ™ œj ˙ J f

∑

sa wé - ni ath

pp

U œ ˙™

the earth.

œw™ u

œ œ œ œ™ œ œœ œ™ œ œ œœ œœ ™ œ œœ

and

? ‰ ¢ Œ

poco rit.

mp

p

pp

œœ œœ ˙œ œ

w w

p

œw œ ˙ w

[n]** ** Low bass may sing open vowel if necessary to balance parts.

[m]

thet

[m]

6 4

né - ri - ghe bárn

w w

pp

w w

mf

w w

6 4 6 4

For Perusal Only - Do Not Copy

8

(e = 100) = Slower mp ≈ ° 6 ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ ≈ œ œ œ™ œ™ œ œ œ œ œ œ™ œj œ 44 ‰ œj œ œ œ œ ™ œ ‰ œj &4 J ù ‹ and wépth that si-ne ná - ke-da lí - thi and sin hús - la - se and pp ≈ 6 4 & 4 w™ 4˙ ˙˙ w™ ˙ mf

ff

33

?6 ≈ w™ ¢ 4 w™

pp

4 ˙w ˙ 4 w 35 , mf f ° j ™ 3 œ & œ œ ™ œ œj œ œ ™œ ‰ œj œ œ œ ™™ œ œ œ œ ™ ‰ œ œ œ ù œ œ œ ™œ œ œ œ œ œ 4 ‹ sin ne

fé - der, ther hi-ne

& ˙˙

˙˙

? ˙˙ ¢ ˙

˙˙ ˙

° 3 &4 38

poco rit.

∑

hré - de p

˙˙

œœ ™™

˙˙ ˙

œ ˙˙

p

12 8

Œ™

∑

3 12 & 4 œ™ œ œ œ ™œ œ 8 œ™ Œ ™ Ó™ ‹ hé - ta hún gher,

? 3 œœ ¢ 4œ

p

pp

˙œ ˙˙ ˙

j œœ ˙˙

˙˙

3 4

˙˙ ˙

3 4

mp

œ

Solo (Alto or Soprano) mf Tempo I (e = 80)

mf

3 & 4 œœ

with the-ne win-ter kál - da and with the-ne mp

thet hi sa

dia-pe bis

-

lag - hen f

sa dia - pe bis pp

-

lag - hen p

‰ œ œ œ ™ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ 68 œ œœœ œ 12 J 8 p

thet hi

12 œw ™ œ ™ œ™ œ ™ œ™ ˙˙™™ 8 w™ p

œœ ™™ œ™

œœ ™™

j 6 12 œœ œ œœ 8 œœ ™™ œœ ™™ 8

pp

[n]**

** Low bass may sing open vowel if necessary to balance parts.

œ œ œ œ œ œ 68 œ œœœj œ 12 8 J

mf

12 8 œ ™ œ ™ œœ ™™ œœ ™™ œœ ™™ œ œ™ œ™ [n]

‰œ œœ

f

˙™ œ™

p

œ™

6 œ ™ œ™ 12 8 œ™ œ ™ 8

9

For Perusal Only - Do Not Copy

° 12 Œ ™ &8 42

‰

mp

œ

and

mp

12 & 8 ‰ œ œ œ™ ‹ and

sa

dim - me

-

lé

6 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ 8œ dim

œ™ œ

œ™

? 12 œ™ ¢ 8 ˙™

bis

mf

œ™

pp

mf

œ œ

pp

12 & 8 ˙™ œ™

6 j œ œ œ œ 8œ

-

me

bis

-

œœ ™ œJ ™

˙™ œ™

lé

p

œ œ œj œ p

œ œ œj œ

6 œ™ 8 œ™

œœ ™™

12 8

6 œ™ 8 œ™

œ™ œ™

12 8

p

mp

12 & 8 w™

∑

? 12 œw ™ ¢ 8 w™

œ™

pp

œ™

ppp

w™ u

œ™

U ™™ w w w™ u

12 8

ten

-

° 12 ‰ &8 œ œ œ œ œ ‰ ‰ ≈ œ œ œ œ œ ™ œ œ™ œ œ œ ™ ˙™ ‹ is ún-der é - ke and un-der ér - the bi - thácht poco rit.

44

ten

-

p

œ™

12 8

U™ Œ

U ∑

ppp

-- Saint Paul, MN September 6, 2017

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