Donald Man-Ching Yu
Convergence for violin and cello (2017)
Version 11/04/2019
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Program notes Convergence generally means inclining towards each other for meeting at the same point, and thus the music intends to inform the convergent concept by inclining and emphasizing particular pitches towards each other near the end of each section. The piece comprises two crucial contrasting sections. The first section is characterized by demisemiquaver materials which undergo constant transformation in terms of rhythm and pitch while being accompanied by numerous harmonics materials at the cello. The first convergence takes place towards the end of the first section in which pitches at extreme registers are emphasized. The central section is sparse in texture and each part tends to superimpose with each other, generating substantial moving dissonant sounds in a suspended manner, while one can imagine that time is moving slower in a given space. The third section reiterates the materials of the first section, however, transformations between intervals in association with interval vectors become prominent. The piece ends with another convergence in which pitches are fades out at the highest register.
Duration: 4’30 minutes
Š Man-Ching Yu Donald - BabelScores 2019
Notes on performance: Throughout the piece, the sense of pulse and strong beat are not important but rather, it could be played a bit freely. The demisemiquaver of the violin should be played smoothly while the entrance of the cello needs not to be counted on the exact beat of the violin part, giving that the fast rhythmic value of the violin part which poses difficulties for the accuracy of entrances. Throughout the piece, the demisemiquaver is played without any rhythmic pulse, but rather in a flowing manner while the effects of the demisemiquaver rests in between are nearly negligble and that the duration is as minimum as possible so that the listener can barely notice the rests, and therefore the sense of continum and flowing are rather important. All harmonics should be entered imperceptibly and without any vibrato effect, in other words, it is conceived as plain as possible. All sfz should be intensely exaggerated as acute as possible; all sfzp should be intensely exaggerated as acute as possible and then followed by immediate piano. All sharps and flats of the same pitches within the same bar are in effect unless being cancelled by natural accidental sign. All detailed differentiations of dynamics should be played as precise as possible. All glissando should be slided microtonally and smoothly within the relevant duration between two notes. Glissandos between parts need not to be synchronously coordinated and could be more free All quarter tones need not to be executed 100% accurately, but at least need to have some sense of deviation from the usual semitone. For example, see below:
1/4 flat
© Man-Ching Yu Donald - BabelScores 2019
4/3 flat
© Man-Ching Yu Donald - BabelScores 2019
Convergence :
Man-Ching Donald Yu
q = 60 With motion, dramatically bowing ad lib.
Violin sempre
Cello
3
Vln.
Vlc.
5
Vln.
Vlc.
Š Man-Ching Yu Donald - BabelScores 2019
bowing ad lib. senza vibrato
7
N
Vln.
b
b
Vlc.
9
Vln.
b
b
Vlc.
11
Vln.
Vlc.
© Man-Ching Yu Donald - BabelScores 2019
2
13
Vln.
b
b
Vlc.
15
glissando microtonally and smoothly b
b
b
n
b
n
n
n
Vln.
Vlc.
agitato 17
Vln.
Vlc. 3
Š Man-Ching Yu Donald - BabelScores 2019
5
3
6
b
b
b
19
b
n
n
n
#
Vln.
Vlc.
With some noise Very quiet, mysteriously dolce 21
Vln. 9
10 3
sul pont
Vlc.
J
3
J
b
26 b
b
Vln.
b
3
3
3 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
dolcissimo ord.
Vlc. b
#
#
Here in this section, all harmmonics should be executed without vibration and extremely smooth
Š Man-Ching Yu Donald - BabelScores 2019
b
4
3
33
Vln.
jj
dolcissimo
jj
b
b
3
jj 3
3
ll
Vlc.
3
#
#
3
3
40
L
Vln.
ll
3
3
#
#
3
LL
#
#
j
b
Vlc. 3
46
Vln.
Vlc.
J
© Man-Ching Yu Donald - BabelScores 2019
#
3 b
#
l 3
kk
3
3
5
ll
kk
3
3
49
Vln.
Vlc.
51
Vln.
Vlc.
N
N 53
Vln.
Vlc.
© Man-Ching Yu Donald - BabelScores 2019
6
N
55 #
Vln.
#
N
Vlc.
57
Vln.
B
N
Vlc.
59 b
Vln.
b
&
Vlc.
© Man-Ching Yu Donald - BabelScores 2019
7
61 b
Vln.
b
Vlc.
63 b
Vln.
b
b
Vlc.
The highest possible note until nothing can be heard
65
Vln.
Vlc. 9
Š Man-Ching Yu Donald - BabelScores 2019
10
11
8
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