Breakfast in New York by Lisa Bielawa

LISA BIELAWA

Breakfast in New York for SATB solo voices & violin

2011 Commissioned by Five Boroughs Music Festival, for the Five Borough Songbook

ÂŠ2011 by Lisa Bielawa

LISA BIELAWA

Breakfast in New York (2011) Commissioned by Five Boroughs Music Festival, for the Five Borough Songbook

Texts (all overheard in New York City diners & coffee shops) US We used to come and meet up here. Chilled out, yappin’, sippin’, we closed the place up. That’s exactly what we’re gonna do is have some fun. ME I think a lot of time passes there. I got up at 4 for the 5-o’clock train. I always let the kids know. HER She left a note on the bathroom door. She can snooze through the alarms. She didn’t move. I coulda killed her. She’s married! Nobody would ever guess. She begged me. She made me mad, and I can feel her face on my hand. ME I hate being late but I’m always late. I gotta get some sun – I’m too pale. I’m not supposed to hear that. HIM He had a horse-drawn truck, delivered whiskey. He started in his mid-twenties. He fell maybe six feet or something. He’s parking the car. He knows every damn street, every damn diner. US We’ve got to figure out how we’re gonna make this work here. By Wednesday we should know if we do or we don’t. We’ll get the skinny today. Let’s decide now and we can talk later. ME My grandfather grew up here. My side of the family is intense. I had questions he refused to answer. I take off for Miami on Monday. I actually wanted it for my kids. I know those girls.

Program Note This year I am celebrating 21 years of living in New York City, which is exactly half my life. During those years I have lived (or couch-surfed) in 14 different apartments in four boroughs. “Breakfast in New York” weaves together conversations I overheard in diners and coffee shops in all five boroughs this summer. Whenever possible, I revisited places that were regular breakfast joints for me at various times of my life. You will hear voices from: George’s Coffee Shop in Washington Heights; Tom’s Restaurant on 112th & Broadway; Riverdale Diner in the Bronx; Mike’s Place in New Dorp, SI; Cobble Hill Diner on Smith St. in Brooklyn; General Store in DUMBO; New Post Coffee Shop on Queens Blvd.; Alpha Donuts on Queens Blvd.; Westway Diner in Hell’s Kitchen; Hungarian Pastry Shop on Amsterdam Ave.; and Kitchenette in TriBeCa. Dedicated in loving memory of Harold Goldray, with whom I shared many many breakfasts in New York.

Breakfast in New York

Overheard

Lisa Bielawa

Bustling q = 116

Violin

+, +, + + , , 0 -( ( ! # $ $ & " '( (( '( ('( ( (( ( ( ( ( ( -( ! ( " '( (( '( ('( ( ( -( ! ( " '( (( '( ('( % ( ! /(( //((/ ( ( ) * ( ) * ( ) * ( ) . +( ! ff caffeinated

0 -( ( & ( ! /(( //((/ ( ( +( !

Vln.

'( (' ( ' ( -((' ( ( '( '( '(( ((

5 /- (( (( $ '(( (( ( /(( /( & % ('('( -(( !! ) / ( + mp

Vln.

+, +, + 2 11 ' ( ('( ! - '( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( , ( , ( (( # ' (( ( ( -( ! ( " ( ( '( ( ( ( -( ! ( %$ " () '( ( ( ( ) ) * * * ff

/- (( (( / (( / (( //(( (( //((

/ 1( /(1 1 1 1 /(/( /(/1( /( ! /( /1( 1 /( -( /( ! /(/( -( -(

0 '( '(( -( ( 11 11 & /( ( ( -( ( ( -( ! /(/( ( ( -( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (1/1( ( ! /(( //((/ ( ( /( /( p +( !

Vln.

'( ( -((' ( ( ( 1( 1 /(

-( 1( 1( -( ! /(

'( (' ( -((' ( ( '(

'( ( 0 /-(( (( -((' ( ( ( (1 1 /( ( ! /(( //(( +( !

+, +, , 5 -( ( -( ( /( '( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( '( ( ( , (-( ! ( $ '(( (( (( //((/ ( ( //((/ ( ( ( ' ( ( ! ' ( ( # ' ( ' ( ( ( ! ( / ' ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ! & " ) " ) % ('('( ( ! ) * ( ) * ( * ( + mp ff

Vln.

" & $ 40

Vln.

A 4

4 / ( //(( (( (

4 ((

5 4

5 -(( /(( /( (//(( ''66 / -( ( / (( // (( mp

Slightly Faster, Buoyant

( (

'( !

used to

come

mf jovial

3 % '(

( ( )

'( '6 '( '6

and meet

mf jovial

'( !

'( ( )

come

and meet

3 '( '( ( % used to

A Slightly Faster, Buoyant + 3 0+ 0 0 % (( %0 ( ! ( -( - ( ( ( ( (% ( ! mp warm

(((( (

here.

'( ( '(( ((

(

0 (%

'( ( )

" /( /( ! & ) $ Chilled out, 48

Chilled out,

54 f " ( & $ That's

7 ( f

That's

( (! )

yap - pin',

' ( ( '(1 1 ( -(

( ( )

ex - act

( '( )

ex - act

" &

4 4

& 6 $ 7 6

we closed the place

(

sip - pin',

(

( /( ! ( ( )

we closed the place +

( ( ( ( (%0 (

(((((

/( $% ( ( -( ( (! ) ly

what we're gon - na do

0 (%

(

-8 fun.

% % % %

'( ( '(( ((

(((( (

( ( -( # 8 ) %

is have some

fun.

%8 %

% -( ( & -( ( /( ( ! /(0 /( 6 /( ( ( /( %

'( '( '( (! '(0 /( -(

think a lot of time

3 % . (0 6 3 %

(

pass - es

'( 6 of time

(

Time pass - es

p legato, serene

(

p legato, serene

3 % ( ( ((( (

-( /(

( '(

p legato, serene

think a lot of time

Gentle q = 96

: '(( /( ( '(( ( ( ( %3 6 ! /( +6 ! 5

some

Gentle q = 96

( ( /( 6

3 % '( ( '( ( ( 6

some

poco a poco dim.

a lot

%8 %

have

( ( 1(, 1 ( )

have mp

fun.

(

mf cantabile

# ' ( '( '( ( '( '( (0 (! %

up.

+, ( ( (/( '( (( '( ( ) . +(

0 ( ( ( %# 8

poco rit. Vln.

(

is have some

( $ ( ( ( '( ! ( )%

'( (

6! up.

(! ( ( )

poco rit.

/( ( (

sip - pin',

+ + , ( ( '( (( ( $ & () '( ( ( () ( ( ( % ( '( -( * *

Vln.

yap - pin',

7 -() (! &

Vln.

-( ( ( /( (! )

p still, even

(

pass - es,

: ( +

" 6 & 66

$ 3 '( ( ((% ( ( (% (

there.

for the

I got up at

for the

/6 & $ there.

( I

7 -( ! I

got up at

" 3 & % (! 5

3 & % ((

(

( %%

HER mf lively

((

(

((

(

0 ((( (

(

for the

I got

for the

$ 3 ((% ( ( (%

there.

6 6

-( !

(

A lot of time pass - es,

6 +6

I got up at

pass - es there.

( +

$ ( (-( %

got up

3 %

( ( ( $% ( ( ( %3 )

got up at

for the

$ % 66

( 6 +6

3 %

Same Tempo, Smoothly

% '( ( '( ( ( ( %

(

left

(

( '( 6

think a lot of Time pass - es

3 % (

of time

A lot of time

train.

6 +

0 ((( 6

3 '( ( '( ( ( ( %

o' - clock

3 * '( ( ( $% '( '( ( ( %

'( 6 (

train.

% ( %

((((

train.

( 3 -( ! %

al - ways let the kids

( % -( ( ( ( ( ( %

6 +

" ( #& &

o' clock

o' - clock,

She

Vln.

o' clock

a lot

3 % ((

73 # %(

5 - o' clock train.

Vln.

for the

( '( % 6 ! % )

& %3 ( '( ( & %3 $

$ % 66

& ( 66 + 73

got up

3 6! % 5

( ( ( $% ( ( ( %3 ( )

sim.

Vln.

$ ( (-( %

( '( 3 ( ! % )

5 - o' clock train.

& * '( ( ('( $% '( ( ( %3 (!

I got

( %3 . 0 (6

((

al - ways let the kids

6! +6 !

-8

know. Same Tempo, Smoothly

((

(

((

(

mp sul tasto

(

note

((((

know.

/( (

(

((

(

((((

the

(

((

(

((((

(

((

(

((((

/( !

0 /(

(

/( (

(

((

(

((((

(

((

(

((

bath - room

(/ ( / ( (

(

door.

((((

(

((

(

((((

(

((

(

((((

(

((

(

(- (

" & 6 78

#& &

Vln.

(

mf lively

She

((

(

-( (

(

" & 6

(

can

snooze

through

((((

(

((

(

( ( ( /(

#& $ She &

Vln.

(

did - n't

((((

(

((

(

((((

(

(::( '( ( ( (

" 9 & 84

Vln.

7 -8

guess.

((

( (

-( (

((

-( (

((

larms.

/( (

((

0 /(

. (

/( ( (/(

(

((

(

( ( (/(

(

( (

((

mar

((

( ( -( ( ( (

( She

+ 0 /(

(

((

(

could - a

(

((

(

((

killed

(

((

(

her.

( ( ( ( (( (

/( (

She's

((

(

the

move.

" & 6 $ mf lively 7 -6 #

Vln.

((

(

mf lively

(

( '( ( ( (0

ried!

((

( left

No - bod - y would ev

( ( ( (( (

( a

( (

( ( ( (( (

note

((

(

( ( ( (( (

(

the

((

(

She

(

((

( ( ( (( (

(

bath - room

(

((

( ( '( ( ( (

0 /(

((

(

/( can

:::::: (( (( (( (( /( ( (( (( (( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( & ((( (((((( (( (( (( (( (( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (- ( (( (( ( ( (( /( ( ((

" & 6

& '6

(

door.

She

snooze

through

(

#& $ She &

Vln.

((

(

-( (

(

" ( &

((((

(

((

the

Vln.

(

( (/ ( ( (

(((

( /(

(((((

(((

She

(

((

(

((((

(

((

(

ried!

(((

can feel

begged

'( (

( ( /( ( (

mar

0 (

. /(0 /( /( -( and

She's

larms.

(

move.

& 9 f

(

made

8 .

mad.

(

did - n't

(

could - a

(((((

her

0 /(

(

killed

(((

(((((

( /(

face

her.

((

( (((

((

hand.

((

'( '( ( ( ! '( ( ) me.

No - bod - y would ev - er

" $ #& %

Vln.

% %

$ %

-8

$ %

guess.

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 0 -( ( '( ( (( (( '( ( '( ( ( ( (( //((/ ( ( %$ / ' ( ( ( ( ' ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (' ( ( (( ( '( ( ( (( ( (( !! (( + mf ord. 3

(

molto rit.

0 ''(( (( ( 1 1 % -( ( (/( % ( ! /(( //(( / ( ( & %$ -(( +( !

D Contemplative q = 84 ' ( '( '( ( '( '( $% (0 (! %% /8

She left a note on the

molto rit.

''(( (( ''(( (( '(( (( -((

bath - room

Contemplative q = 84

8 8 p

$ 6 % /(

door.

( ( % -( ! /(( -'(( / ( ( % / (! ) mf

" 8 & 97

Vln.

$ 6 %

E Gentle q = 96 " 3 ME * & % /6

arms. p legato, serene

. /() /( ( /( /( 6!

3 &% $

$ 66 %

p legato, serene

. 0 ( 6

I hate

( ( (

E Gentle q = 96 : 3 & % 66 !! + p still, even

hate

( $ %(

3 % -( ( ( ( ( (

be - ing late,

$ % ((

" * '( $% '6 & '( ( (

3 % '(

& 6!

$ %(

( '( 3 6 %

'( ( & $ late but

(

$ ( %

( ( (

$ %(

(

$ % ((

( +

7 # (

late

Vln.

be - ing

& 6! 6!

I'm

and I'm al

late.

be - ing

(

al - ways

ways late.

late.

3 /( %

: ( +

3 % (

got - ta

late. Got

sim.

6 +6

(

I'm

I'm too

'( 6

( -6 ) too

too pale.

pale.

(

got - ta get some sun,

(

I'm

. 0 ( 6

(

some sun.

(

I'm too

( +

( '( )

( pale.

( +

get some sun.

6 6

(

( ( ( ( 6 +6

get

late, got - ta get some sun,

3 % (

( '( 6

get some sun.

( -( )

got - ta get some sun,

late. I'm

3 % -(

( '( ( ( (!

: $ -+66 %

/6( /(

'( 6 '( ( (

( ( (

6! 6!

but I'm al - ways

3 % * '(

(

al - ways

Got - ta

$ ( ( %

I'm

through the al -

( ( 6

late.

4 mp

! 3 /( ( %

but I'm al - ways late. p legato, serene

109

'( (' ( ( ( ( -(( ' ( ( '( ( '( (

$ ( '( 3 6 %( %

'( $% '6 ( ( (

$ %

'( ( '( * $%

I could - a killed her.

be - ing

through the al -

% 9 %

p legato, serene

7 3 -6 # %

move.

0 -( ( % % ( ! /(( //(( / ( ( +( !

hate be - ing late

arms.

Vln.

$ %

& %3 '( ( ( '( '( I

She can snooze

She did - n't

$ /( /( ( % /6 % %

( (/ ( ( '(( / ( ( -( ( //(( (( &

103

& $

% %

' ( '( (! . $% ( -( (

hate

( ( '(

hate be - ing

-6

( (

pale.

and I'm

(

6 +6

% 6! % % %

pale.

% '( %

I'm

% -( %

I'm

% ( %

( '( ( ( ( not sup - posed to hear

( ( ( ( ( not sup - posed to hear

6! +6 !

" &

Same Tempo, Smoothly

114

had

horse - drawn

4 4

Same Tempo, Smoothly

((

" /6 &

((

(

((((

((

(

((((

#& &

(

((

(

((((

(

truck,

(

((

(

(( ((

(

((

(

((((

(

li - vered

(

((

(

((((

whis - key.

/( (

(

/( (

& ( #& $ &

Vln.

(

((((

(

((

(

his

(

((

(

((((

(

((

(

(- ( ( (

Vln.

((((

(

-( (

(

((((

(

((

(

(' ( ( (

mid

/( !

0 /(

(

((

(

((((

(

((

((((

(

- be

six

feet

(

((((

(

((

(

((

(

( '(

(

'( (

(

& /( $ may 7

(

(/ (

start - ed

f lively

9 '( (

(

((((

((

twen - ties.

((

(

((((

(

" 6 &

(

((((

120

((

" 8 &

(

mf lively

118

0 /(

(

that.

Vln.

(

& 8 $ that. 7 -8

116

(

F Vln.

HIM mf lively

-( or

((

(

'( (

(/(

(((

(

((

(((

(

some - thing.

((

(

((

(

fell

mf lively

He's

(/(

(((

(

((

(((

(

(((

(

((

(((

(

((

( ((

(

((

(((

(

((

( (/(

(

((

(((

(

((

(

" & 122

& 6 $ 7 (

9 (

park - ing

the

" & /(0

((

(

(((

((

(((

Vln.

(

((

(((

(

((

(

fell

(

li - vered

((

(

((((

(

((

(

( ( /( (

(

/( (

(

((((

may - be

six

feet

7 # '8

((

(

( ( -( (

(

-( (

((

(

((((

(

start

(

his

(

mid

(

((

(

park - ing

the

(' ( ( (

((((

knew

((((

(

ev' - ry

(

'( (

(

(- (

(

damn

- thing.

twen - ties.

(

& (

0 & ( $ some

(

whis - key.

(

0 -(

(

fell

car.

Vln.

" 9! &

(

He's

had

:::::: (( (( (( (( (( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (( (((( (((( (((( ((

truck,

(

126

(

((

& 9 $ #

car.

horse - drawn

(

124

(

& (/( (

Vln.

((

(

((((

(

((

(

(' ( ( (

(

((

(

((((

(

((

(

: : 3 '( -( ( '( 3

( ( '(

3 : : 3 3 3 / ( ( -( ( '( '( -( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (( ( 3

" '6 & 128

(

street,

fell

'(-( ('(

" 6 & $ 140

Vln.

- ( (!

6 6

0 '( ( 0 ( (% (

# & %

we should know

' ( ( '(1 1 '( ( ( ( (

'1('1( (

get the skin - ny

0 (%

9 9

get the skin - ny

( (((( (

to - day.

'( '( '(( ((

can

talk

can

talk

'( '( ( '( 0 '( ( (!

mf cantabile

to - day.

( ( ( ( (/( 6

/( f

(

By Wednes - day

( ( 1( 1 + ( ( )

" #6 &% $ 7# 6 # %

we should know

/( /( /( /( /( (/( -6

We'll

By Wednes - day

( /( ( ( ( - ( * -(

( ( )

how we're gon

'( ( )

( (

(

how

/( ! () -(

Let's dec - ide

(

now

(((( (

( ( (! ( ( ) we

or we

don't.

or we

don't.

0 (%

and

( '( !

and

' ( ' ( '(1 1 '( ( ! ) '( ( mp

%8 %

'( -( 8

%8 %

lat - er.

(

( '( !

/( -( 8 lat - er.

make this

$ '( ( 3 % %

( ( /( ! ( ( )

-6

make this

$ '( ( '(( 3 % (((( % (

0 ( (%0 ( !

'( ( 0 0 ((((( (% (

Let's dec - ide

0 (%

(

/( ! /(0 /(

(

3 %

( '( '() $% '( '( %3 )

fig - ure out

* /( /( -( ( /( /( (

$ %

sub mp warm

We'll

G Buoyant again q = 116 3 3 3 + 3 .+ '( ( (-( ('( '(/(-( ( ( ( ( ( 0 % 0 (! 0( ) ' ( % % 1 ( ( ( ( (( ( -( ( 1 -( (

147

'( !

3 '( '( ( %

3 '( & % (

fig - ure out

mf jovial

work here.

'( !

( (

We've got to

" 3 '( '6 &% $ work here. 7 3 '( '6 # %

Vln.

3 % '(

We've got to

133

(

din - er. mf jovial

7 &

Vln.

ev - 'ry damn

& * $

3 (6 %(

( (

Buoyant again q = 116

(((( (

'( ( '(( ((

-( ( )

'( '6

can talk

lat - er.

'( ( )

'( '6

can talk

lat - er.

( (

'( '( % -( ( '( (! '(0 -( ( /( ( ! /(0 /( 6 /( -( -( /( /( ( ( /( % poco a poco dim.

( '( '(( ((

( (

poco rit.

4 4

poco rit.

( ( /( 6

(

" &

152

Vln.

ME p legato, serene

%. 0 % ( 6

My side p legato, serene

% '( %

& $ 7

% %

%( %

H Gentle q = 96 5 ' ( % : & '(( /( ( ( ( ( ( % 8 8 /( +

" % 6! &%

% & % '(

( '( ( (

3 %

know

those

7% ( # %

(

know

those

% & % (

163

I got up at four.

3 ! #& % 6

3 6! %

girls.

3 6! %

: ( +

(

'( '( ( ( '( '6 !

'( '( ( '6 !

let them know

got - ta get some sun.

Mon - day.

re - fused

ac - tual - ly sim.

want - ed

$ % 66

6 +6

a - mi on

3 ( ( ( '( %

to an - swer.

for my

3 % 66

(

( '(

0 '( '( ( '( !

Mon - day.

%6 %

girls.

for my

( ( ( $% ( ( ( %3 ( (

( '( %% '( ( (

for Mi

3 % ( '6

$ ( (-( %

grew up here.

( 3 %( (

(

had ques - tions

want - ed

I take off for Mi - a - mi on

'( ( ( ( '( $% '( ( (

p legato, serene ( /( 3 %( (

( '(

$ 3 % ( ( (%6

(

is in - tense.

here.

'( ( (

here.

3 %

I take off

(

" 3 & % '( '( ( '( (

3 % ( '6

( '( '(

& %% $

kids.

Vln.

fam -'ly

3 % 66

p still, even

My grand - fath - er grew

( (0 ( !

My grand - fath - er

kids.

of the

( '( ( ( %3 ( '6

p legato, serene

158

3 0 ( '( ( ( % ( (!

My grand - fath - er grew

Gentle q = 96

had ques - tions.

%8 %

% %

5 6!

5 '( '( ( 6 !

( '( ( '6 ! rit.

'( '( ( '6 !

I'm al - ways late.

I'm too

pale.

I know those girls.