Oh Me! Oh Life!
For a Capella Men's Choir
Matthew Bardin 2015
A note from the composer This piece is a setting of Walt Whitman's poem, "Oh Me! Oh Life!" written in 1892. The text, taken from the Public Domain, reads as follows Oh me! Oh life! of the questions of these recurring, Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish, Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?) Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d, Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me, Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined, The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life? Answer. That you are here—that life exists and identity, That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.
This poem talks about Man's struggle to find meaning in life. The music serves to accent this struggle with a constant moving back-and-forth between various pairs of chords. As the text talks about how Man's journey for meaning, the music moves into long drawn out chords coupled with several relatively quick chord changes that do not resolve back to a tonic in the conventional sense. The soloist then enters and his text comes from the main question of the poem, '... for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?' as an aside to the rest of the ensemble. The music then begins to move into a major key and undergoes increases in tempo in order to illustrate that while life if full of uncertainties and dark or sad moments, these do not out way the good aspects of human life. Rhythmically, this becomes the most complex section of the piece. This rhythmic complexity serves two purposes: the first is to represent the underlying conflict and uncertainties that is still present in the text. The second is to set up the next section which contains independant repitition of material within each voice. The final section begins with a chant-like repetition of 'the question' that is passed between all of the voices. This is to bring attention back to the question about life that has not been answered yet: What is my purpose for being here? Then, layered over a modified repetition of the chords from the beginning coupled with modified themes from other parts of the music, the soloist returns with a spoken solo to the lines, "That you are here - that life exists and identity, That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse." This solo is spoken rather than sung in order to help accent the meaning of the words. I have come to interpret the meaning of this text as life does not need to be overly complicated. To properly enjoy life one must find the way to live that is the simplest, yet still effective in contributing to society; that is the theme I hope to have imparted to this music. Composed between 4/1 and 6/30/14 Reivised in 2015 M.B.
Notes for Performance Tempo alterations marked as rit. and acel. are to happen gradually over the course of the music marked with the dashed line. Changes in dynamics over time are identified with cres. or dim. The arrow following these indicators show where the dynamic is moving to, and how long the change in dynamic lasts. As is common practice, accidentals carry through the measure, but not through the octave There should be no break after fermatas. If there s a breath mark after the fermata, a short pause is allowed for the performers to catch their breath. Breath marks are inclueded in the line as places for a very brief, in-time pause that does not affect the tempo and flow of the music. When a vocal line is divided within the part, half of the section should sing the top line, and the other half should sing the bottom line. When the first Tenors sing a divided line during rehearsal mark J, the majority of the Tenors should sing the lower part, with only a few on the upper notes to allow the pitches to lay on top of the texture of the chord. It is prefered that the solo Baritone be miked, at least during the spoken-word solo. When he is soloing, the other Baritones can temparirarily switch to either the Bass or second Tenor parts until the "Tutti." The director can also have them drop out entirely to allow for the solo line to project more. It is also at the discretion of the director to have the first solo be performed as a Baritone soli as indicated on the score. The piano staff at the bottom of each system is for rehearsal purposes only. This piece is to be performed a capella only.
1
Oh Me! Oh Life!
Matthew Bardin
For a capella men's choir αα α α 3 ϖο Υ α 3
q=72 molto expressivo
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Oh Me! Oh Life!
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30
αααα
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Oh Me! Oh Life!
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41
Ten 1
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> αα α ϖ αα 41
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Oh Me! Oh Life!
ε αα α Œ œ œ œ Υ αα
46
Ten 1
my
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self
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self
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46
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eyes
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the
vainly crave
that
eyes
52
vianly crave
my
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Oh Me! Oh Life!
6
α œ ˙ Υ α αα œ œ ˙
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of
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the strug
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64
Ten 1
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64
> αα αα
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crowds
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see
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crowds
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Oh Me! Oh Life!
εœcresc.œ Τ˙ − αα Υαα
ƒ αα (2+3) αα 4 œ Œ − α 7
Ten 1
ε αα Τ ϖ Υ α α µϖ
a - round me,
Ten 2
me
Bar.
Bass
me
α α α α α 47 œ Œ −
me
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ε > αα α Τ α ϖ α Υ α αα
68
> αα αα
Τ ˙−
Τ œœ œ
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Of the emp - ty
and
ε ι œœ œœ œœ œœ Ι
α α α α α 47 œœ Œ −
ε > αα α Τ ϖ α
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Suddenly Faster. q.=66 (e=198)
G
68
ααααα
(2+3)
ααααα
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me!
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and
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me!
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Oh
œ
ι œœ œ œ œ Ι
use - less
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years
Oh
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of
the
of
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life!
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use - less years
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ε
7
rest
the
Oh
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me!
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me!
œ
life!
life!
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œ
Oh
life!
œ œ
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»
α œ Υ α ααα œ
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dim.
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re -
st
74
Ten 1
» dim.
re -
Ten 2
Bar.
Bass
st
ο ο
∑ œ ≅œ œ− cresc.
cresc. ο œ− œ− œ ≅œ
Oh
me!
> αα α αα œ
dim.
œ−
Oh
me!
α Υ α ααα
74
> αα ααα
œœœ œœ
œœ −− œ− œœ −−
Oh
ο
Oh
life!
life!
∑
Ε œ
re -
œ
ο
œ
œ
œ−
st
re -
st
œ
œ−
œ−
dim.
st
œ−
Εœ
re -
œ
Oh
œœ −− œ−
Oh
life!
œœœ œœ
œ−
me!
œœ −−
œ œ œ
re -
œ−
Ε œ
œ
π œ
re
life!
Oh
œ
st
Oh me! cresc.
Oh
∑ œ œ−
œœ −−
dim.
re -
dim.
> αα α œ αα
Ε œœ
œ− œ− œ− œœ − −
dim.
dim.
œ
Oh
œœ œœ
œ−
π
∑
st
Œ− œ− me!
œ− œ−
me!
œœ − −
∑ œ Oh
œ
Oh
Œ
œ œ
οœ − ο œ−
life!
Ε Ε
œœ
œœ −−
dim.
re - st
œ
dim.
œ−
re - st
œ
cresc.
Oh
œ
cresc.
œ− me!
œ− œœ −− œ−
life!
Oh
me!
œ−
œœ
œœ −−
œ−
œœœ
ο ο
Oh Me! Oh Life!
8
Ε α α œ œ− Υααα
Ten 1
Ε αα α Υ α α œ œ− re - st
Ten 2
with the rest
∑
cresc.
œ œε −
Oh life!
Oh me!
Ε > α α œ œ− ααα re - st
Bar.
Bass
ε œ œ−
cresc. > αΕ α ααα œ œ −
αα Υ ααα
81
> αα ααα
Oh life!
œ œ œ
ƒ ι œ œ œ œ
ε cresc. œ œ œ−
∑
81
Oh me!
œ− œ−
œ œ
œ− œ−
ιƒ œ œ œ œ
œο
with the rest
Oh subito
œ
me in - ter - twined.
œ−
ο
Oh
life!
Oh
œ−
œ
life!
Oh
œ −− œ
œ− œ−
œ
Τ +
The
ques - tion
Τ +
œ−
œ œ−
Oh
œœ œ œ
rit.
life!
Τ
The
ques - tion
∑
∑
∑
œ Τ− + Ο œ œ− œ Oh
me!
œ œ œι œ œ œι œ œ œ −
œ œ−
me!
œœ œ œι œ ƒ œœ œ œ œ Ι
œœ œœ œ −
∑
œ−
œ
Τ + Ο
œ œ−
me in - ter - twined.
εœ cresc. œ œ−
subito
H
rit.
œ Œ−
rest
rest
∑ œ
Τ
œ
œ
œœ −−
œ
rest
∑
life!
œœ −−
œ−
œ
‰
œ
œ
œ Ι
Œ−
œ
∑ ι œ
Œ−
œ ‰
œ œ
œœ −−
»
»
α ι Υ α ααα œ œ œ œ
89
Ten 1
The
Ten 2
Bar.
Bass
ques - tion
œ œ œι œ œ The
ques - tion
α Υ α ααα
∑
∑
> αα α Œ αα
œ−
œ Œ−
> αα α αα
∑
α Υ α ααα
89
> αα ααα
The
œ œ Œ Ι rest
rest
œ œ−
µœ
Who
œ œ œœ Ι
œ
œœ
œ
ques - tion
œ Ι
œ œ œ
œ œ œ
œ œ œι œ The
∑ œ
Ο
∑ ∑
œ œ œ−
∑
rest
∑
ι œ
ι œ ‰
Œ−
The
more
œ œ
œ− œ−
œ
fool
ques - tion
The
∑
∑
∑
œ−
Œ œ−
œ Œ−
rest
œ−
œ µœ ‰
œ
ques - tion
ι œ œ œι œ œ œ
rest
œ−
-
œ œ œι œ œ œ ‰ ι Œ œ œ
œ œ− ish?
œ œ
œœ œ
œ œ− Who
ι œ œœ ‰
œ
œ œ
ι œ ‰
Oh Me! Oh Life!
αα Υ α α α œ œ œ−
œ œ œι œ
96
Ten 1
ques - tion
Ten 2
ι œ œ œ
œ
> αα α œ αα
œŒ Ι
Œ−
> αα α œ αα
œ−
ques - tion
rest
Bass
ques - tion
αα Υααα œ
The
Bar.
The
α Υ α ααα
96
> αα ααα
more
œœ œ
œœ
œœ ‰
œœ
The
œ
∑
ques - tion
rest
ι œ
œ−
faith
œœ œ œœ
œœ œœ Ι
ques
œ œ œι œ
œ
Œ
œ Œ−
rest
œŒ Ι
œ
œ−
The ques - tion
The
œ−
ques - tion
œ
œ−
-
less?
œ œ
œ œ œ ‰
œ
Who
œ−
µœ œ− more
œ œ œœι œ ι œ ‰ œ Œ
Œ− œœ −−
œ œ
µœ
œ œ
fool
ion
The
ques - tion
œ
-
»
αα Υααα œ αα Υααα œ
œ
ι œ œ
œ
> αα α œ αα
œ−
Œ
œ−
The
Bar.
er
re
ques - tion
> αα ααα œ α Υ α ααα
103
> αα α αα
cur
œ
œ ι œ
‰
ring
Oh
œ
œ œ œ− ques - tion
œ
Œ−
œ
œ−
œ Ι
œ
The
œ
œ life!
œ−
œ œ
œœ −−
ish?
œœ ‰
œ−
œ−
œ
œ œ œ
œ
more
œ Ι œ Ι
œ œœ
œ− œ
œœœ ι œ
faith
œ Œ
œ
œ œ œ
œ œ
œ− œ− œ−
-
œ
less?
œœ œ
œ ‰
µ µ µ α α 33
ι œ œ
µ µ µ α α 33
∑
3 µµµα α 3
œ−
3 µµµα α 3
ques - tion
rest
Who
œ œ
œ
The
rest
Bass
œ Ι
œ Ι
-
œ
œ
œ
ev
Ten 2
œ
»
103
Ten 1
Œ−
rest
œ œ œœ œ œ ι œœ œ Œ œ œ
œ Ι œ Ι
œ ‰
œ
ι œ œ œ œ−
œ œ œι œ
rest
œ
œ ‰ ι Œ œ œ
‰
œ−
The
rest
œ
Ο œ œ œ Ι
∑
ι œ œ œ œ− œ
9
ι œœ ι œ
œ œ
µ µ µ αα µµµα
α
33 33
Oh Me! Oh Life!
10 I Ten 1
ο αα 3 Μ ϖ Υ 3 q=72
ϖœ
ο αα 3 Υ 3 ϖ
Oh
Ten 2
the
ο > α 3 Μϖ α 3
me!
Oh
life!
ϖ
ϖ
Oh
life!
ο > α 3 α 3 ϖ
me!
Oh
ϖ
Μϖ
α Υ α 33 Μ ϖϖ ο > α 3 Μϖ α 3 ϖ
ϖ
ϖ ϖ
Oh
me!
107
ϖ
Μϖ
ϖ
Oh
Bass
ques - tion
ϖ
Oh
Bar.
Μϖ
œ Μœ Ι
Μœ−
µ œœœ œ
œ Ι
œ−
œ
ϖ life!
ϖ
Oh
life!
ϖϖ
ϖϖ
ϖ ϖ
»
Υα
111
Ten 1
Ten 2
»
α ∀ϖ
Μϖ
∀ϖ
Oh
me!
Oh
α Υ α µœ
The
Bar.
Bass
œ−
> α ϖ α
œ œ Ι
∑
ques - tion
life!
µϖ µœ œ œ
˙
> α α µϖ
≅ϖ
µϖ
≅ϖ
∀ϖ
Μϖ
∀ϖ
ϖ
α Υ α > αα
µœ µ œœ
me!
œ−
œ Ι
œ
≅ ϖϖ
ques - tion
Oh
µœ œ œ µœ
ϖ Oh
life!
˙
Oh
∑
me!
Oh
µϖ
life!
Oh
111
The
Oh
≅ϖ
Oh
ϖ
∀ϖ
ϖ
≅ϖ ϖ
µœ œ œ
˙
µœ µ œœ œ œ
˙
The
∀ϖ
ques - tion
Oh Me! Oh Life!
Υ
ο αα Μ ϖ
ϖ
Oh
me!
Υ
αα
J Ten 1
Ten 2
Bar.
Bass
> α α > α α α Υ α
ε Μœ
œ
ο ϖ so
sad
œ
œ
˙
œ
œ œ œ
˙
œ œ
œœ œ
-
Oh
œ
Oh
ϖ
116
> αα
œœ œ
œ
cur
-
Me!
Ο œ œ œ œœ
œœ
ι œ œ
œ−
re
ϖ ≅œ œ œ
ϖ ϖ
œ
œ
œ
11
œ
life!
œ
Oh
life!
Oh
Ο ϖ
ring
Oh
me!
ϖ
Oh
ϖ
Oh
ϖ
Οϖ ϖϖ
ι œœ œ
œœ − −
∑ ϖ life!
ϖ
life!
ϖ œœ œ
œ
œ
œ
α ϖ Υα œ œ Oh
Oh
Ten 2
Bar.
Bass
Υ
αα
œ
œ
» rit.
Ten 1
me!
∑
» 120
œ œ
˙
what
> α ϖ α
œ
œ
ϖ œ
me!
a
œ
˙
good
a
ϖ
-
œ
˙
mid
these
œ ≅˙ -
mid
these
∀ϖ
ΜΤ ϖ
Oh
me!
µϖ Oh
œ a
Τ
∀ϖ
Μϖ
me!
Oh
me!
Oh
> αα ϖ
≅ϖ
µϖ
≅ϖ
α ϖ Υ α
ϖ
∀ϖ µϖ
Μϖ œ
µ ∀ ϖϖ
≅ Μ ϖϖ
Oh
me!
120
> αα ˙˙
œ
œ
œœœœ
Oh
œ
˙˙
œ -
mid
Τ
˙˙
these
Τ
13 1 3 1 3 13
me!
œ
˙˙
31 31
Oh Me! Oh Life!
12
α 1 Υα 3
∑
α Υ α 13
∑
> α 1 α 3
∑
> α 1 α 3
∑
α Υ α 31
∑
K Ten 1
Ten 2
Bar.
Bass
L
3 ο 3 ϖ q=80
ϖ
3 3
me!
Oh
life!
Oh
me!
ϖ
Oh
ϖ
life!
∑
Ó
> α 1 α 3
3ο 3 ϖ 33 ϖ 3 οϖ 3 ϖ
∑
Œ
Oh
+
ϖ
Ó
˙
∑
you are here
ϖ
Oh
life!
Oh
ϖ
ϖ
ϖ
œ
˙˙
ϖϖ
ex - ists
˙
me!
œ
œ
˙˙
α Υα œ œ œ
œ
α Υα ˙
˙
Oh
me!
Oh
Bar.
œ œ Oh
Œ
> α α ˙
˙
> αα ˙ ˙
me!
œ
Oh
œ œ life!
œ
Oh
˙
life!
me!
Oh
∑
‰
œ
œ
œ
˙˙
œ
œ
œ
˙˙
me!
œ
œ
˙˙
œ
me!
œ
œ
˙˙
œ
œ
goes
on
œ
œ
Oh
˙
that the po - 3er - ful
play
‰
˙
Oh
œ
œ
life!
˙
˙
Oh
œ
˙
˙
i - den - ti - ty
Oh
α Υ α œ
Oh
œ
Oh
> αα
130
œ
˙
life!
and
Bass
œ œ
»
130
Ten 2
life!
˙
»
Ten 1
œœ
me!
˙
me!
ϖϖ
Oh
that life
+
ϖ
œ
Œ ‰
ϖ ϖϖ
me!
Oh
Spoken Baritone Solo
That
Oh
124
ϖ
ϖ
Oh
33 ο ϖ
+ Ο œ œ
life!
œ
œ
œ
˙˙
Oh Me! Oh Life!
α Υα œ
133
Ten 1
Oh
Ten 2
œ
œ
me!
Oh
α Υα ˙
Bass
Œ
˙
Oh
and
you
> α ˙ α ˙
œ
me!
may
˙˙
œ
œ
˙˙
Oh
œ
Œ
œ
œ
Oh
me!
me!
‰
Œ
˙˙
œ
œ
˙˙
Ten 1
Υ Υ
αα
Ten 2
Bar.
Bass
rit.
œ
Oh
> α α
Œ
˙
me!
œ
œ
˙˙
œ
œ
» M
αα
life!
verse
» 136
œ œ
˙
Oh
œ
Oh
˙
˙
œ
œ
Oh
a
life!
œ
œ
con - tri - bute
˙
Oh
œ
œ
˙
˙
œ
œ
œ
life
Œ
me!
α Υ α œ
Oh
œ
Oh
˙
133
œ
˙
me!
> αα Œ > αα
life!
˙
Oh
Bar.
œ œ
13
œ
œ
œ
me!
˙
œ
Oh
Ε œ ϖ
Oh
Ε ϖ
˙
Oh
Ε Tutti ϖ
life!
Oh
∑
Oh
> α α ˙
˙
Oh
α Υ α œ
136
> αα ˙ ˙
Ε ϖ
life
œ
œ
œ ˙˙
Oh
œ
œ
ϖ
Ε ϖ ϖ
Í
Í cresc. ϖ
ε ϖ
Τ
cresc.
ε Τ
Ílife! cresc. ϖ
Τ
life!
ϖ
Í ϖ
life!
life!
ϖϖ ϖϖ
cresc.
ϖ
ε ϖ
ε Τ ϖ
Τ ϖ
ϖ
Τ
ϖϖ
dim.
∏
dim.
∏
dim.
dim.
∏ ∏