Matthew Peterson 2016
January
for string trio
instructions
note by the composer
repeats
I am enamored by winter. Not least, viewing the clarity and contrasts of its frozen world. As the famous conservationist Aldo Leopold wrote in his Sand County Almanac, "The months of the year, from January up to June, are a geometric progression in the abundance of distractions... January observation can be almost as simple and peaceful as snow and almost as continuous as snow."
Notes and double-stops within repeat signs are to be maintained for the duration of the arrow, with hairpin swells repeating independently and uncoordinated, at approximately a quarter note's duration. dynamics Dynamic indications are purposefully minimal. Musicians are encouraged to be expressive within the context of the indicated dynamic, especially on solos.
Where I live on Lovรถ, the long January nights see the forest in stark relief, the pines and birches silhouetted black against a white canvas of moonlit snow. Thick ice covers the nearby lake. At dawn and dusk, mist blurs the horizon between the frozen lake and the sky. January is winter music for string trio. Each instrument plays an independent lyric solo, a clear line suspended over a blurred accompaniment of uncoordinated swells.
bowings
- Matthew Peterson, 2/2/2016
Long ties (repeated notes/double-stops) and slurs (solos) are to be bowed freely, with bow changes legato possible.
acknowledgements
dashed vertical lines Indicate entrances and changes that are to be coordinated with another instrument.
With thanks to David Vayo for his advocacy of new music. January was commissioned by Illinois Wesleyan University for premiere March 10 2016, Bloomington, Illinois.
contact Matthew Peterson, composer matthewkennethpeterson@gmail.com http://www.matthew-peterson.com
commissioned by Illinois Wesleyan University
duration circa 4:30
Matthew Peterson (2016)
January
q = ca 60, dreamlike, ad lib.
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for Sara
í ™™ #œœ
con sord., non vib. pulse ad lib. and change bow freely
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B
Viola
Violoncello
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p
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p espressivo sempre
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pp
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via sord.
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b˙ ™
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solo ad lib., free bowing senza sord.
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p espressivo sempre
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pp
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pp
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pp mp
mp
bw ™™î
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Copyright © 2016 Matthew Peterson (STIM, ASCAP), all rights reserved
?O œ
pulse ad libitum change bow freely
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mp
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pp
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mf espressivo sempre
senza sord., non vib. p
U œ U ˙
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solo ad lib., free bowing senza sord.
pp non vib.
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p
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3
Vln.
° & B
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∑
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gradually align in rhythm unison with cello
p
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7
piu f espressivo
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b œ œ™ J
Ó
gradually align in rhythmic unison with viola
Vc.
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a piacere
9
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crescendo poco a poco
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° Vln. & 14
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3
Ϫ
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B <#>œœ œœ œœ œœ
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O œOœ (fp) ## œœ-
fp
3
molto
molto
3
3
3
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O œOœ -
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O œOœ -
O œOœ -
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m
m
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simile
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3
O œOœ - o œœ -
o
U ∑ U ∑ U ∑