Franรงois Couperin Arranged by Keane Southard
The Mysterious Barricades for
a cappella SATB Choir
(1717/2017) (Duration: c. 4 min.)
Program Notes: The Mysterious Barricades was writen by François Couperin in 1717, 300 years ago, for harpsichord as the fifth piece of his Ordre 6ème de clavecin, and this arrangement was made in late July and early August of 2017. I first heard the work performed, on harpischord, while a undergraduate at Baldwin Wallace University. I was immediately hypnotised by its kaleidoscopic and weaving melodies, harmonies, and textures, its many suspensions, as well as its almost “walking” bass line that sounds like it could be right out of a Johnny Cash song! However, I feel that performing the work on a harpsichord or piano, where each note decays in volume quickly after playing, means that some of the effect of those suspensions is missing, and I wanted to create my own version with voices that can better sustain where I can hear those suspensions fully realized. My hope is this arrangement for choir will provide people a new angle from which to enjoy this fascinating masterpiece. Keane Southard 2017
Keane Southard/Spindrift Pages Email: keane.southard@hotmail.com Website: keanesouthard.instantencore.com
The Mysterious Barricades
SOPRANO
h = 52
ALTO
TENOR
François Couperin Arr. by Keane Southard
Nah nah...
mp
BASS
mp
Bahm bahm...
Piano reduction (For rehearsal only)
7
h = 52
mp
A
mp
Lah lah...
mp
Dah
A
dah...
©2017
2 12
poco rit.
poco rit.
16
rit.
A tempo
B
rit.
B
A tempo
A tempo
A tempo
3 20
poco rit.
poco rit.
rit.
A tempo
mf
C
mf
mf
short
rit.
short
mf
short
Couplet C 1st A tempo short
24
A tempo
1st Couplet A tempo
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short
4 28
poco rit.
32
f
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f
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A tempo
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poco rit.
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A tempo
f
f mf
f
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mf
f
f poco rit.
A tempo
f mf
poco rit.
f
mf
A tempo
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mf
D
rit. 36
5
A tempo
short
mp
short
mp
mp
40
A tempo
poco rit.
poco rit.
A tempo
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short
mp
D
short
rit.
short
A tempo
6
E
2nd Couplet short A tempo
rit.
44
short
E
rit.
48
mf
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p
p
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F
rit.
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p
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mp
F A tempo
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f
f
rit.
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mf
f
2nd Couplet
f
mf
short A tempo
short
mf
short
A tempo
p
7 52
56
poco rit.
rit.
rit.
mp
mp
mp
mp
G
G 3rd Couplet A tempo
A tempo
A tempo
poco rit.
3rd Couplet
A tempo mp
8 60
64
f
mf
f
mf
f
rit.
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A tempo
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rit.
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A tempo
f
f
9 68
72
10
76
pp
p
pp
pp
p
H
pp
p
p
p
rit.
H A tempo
rit.
79
A tempo
pp
11 82
86
molto rit.
molto rit.