Franรงois Couperin Arranged by Keane Southard
The Mysterious Barricades for
a cappella TTBB Choir
(1717/2018) (Duration: c. 4 min.)
Program Notes: The Mysterious Barricades was written by François Couperin in 1717, just over 300 years ago, for harpsichord as the fifth piece of his Ordre 6ème de clavecin, and this arrangement was made in late spring of 2018 after I had created the SATB version the year before. I first heard the work performed, on harpischord, while a undergraduate at Baldwin Wallace University. I was immediately hypnotized 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 these arrangements for choir will provide people a new angle from which to enjoy this fascinating masterpiece. Keane Southard 2018
Keane Southard/Spindrift Pages Email: keane.southard@hotmail.com Website: keanesouthard.instantencore.com
The Mysterious Barricades
TENOR I
TENOR II
BASS I
h = 52
François Couperin Arr. by Keane Southard
BASS II
7
A
A
dah...
©2018
mp
Dah
Lah lah... mp
mp
h = 52
Bahm bahm...
Piano reduction (For rehearsal only)
Nah nah...
mp
mp
2
12
poco rit.
rit.
16
B
A tempo
B
rit.
A tempo
poco rit.
A tempo
A tempo
3
20
24
C
short
mf
short
mf
mf
short
rit.
A tempo
short
Couplet C 1st A tempo short
rit.
poco rit.
A tempo
poco rit.
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1st Couplet A tempo
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4 28
f
mf
f
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f
poco rit.
A tempo
f mf
poco rit.
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A tempo
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A tempo f mf f mf poco rit.
32
f
mf
poco rit.
f
mf
A tempo
f
mf
D
rit.
5
A tempo
mp short mp short
36
mp short
short
D
40
A tempo
poco rit.
A tempo
poco rit.
mp
short
mp
rit.
A tempo
E
2nd Couplet short A tempo
rit.
6
44
short
E
rit.
short
48
mp
f
p
p
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F
F A tempo
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2nd Couplet A tempo
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f
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short
short
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p
p A tempo
p
7 52
A tempo
poco rit.
56
mp
mp
G
mp
rit.
G 3rd Couplet A tempo
A tempo
rit.
poco rit.
mp 3rd Couplet A tempo
mp
8
60
rit.
mf
A tempo
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f
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64
mf rit.
A tempo
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f
f
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f
9 68
72
10 76
79
rit.
p
rit.
pp
H A tempo
H
pp
p
p
pp
pp
p
p
A tempo
pp
11 82
86
molto rit.
molto rit.