Matt Wasson
LONG STORY SHORT for chamber ensemble
Transposed score
COMPOSER’S NOTE The title of this piece is a tongue-in-cheek reference to my own inability to make a long story short. Inevitably, stories that should be rendered as respectfully brief anecdotes are fleshed out by increasing levels of detail and backstory that – while ultimately superfluous to the crux of the story – feel essential at the time. The intentional irony of this piece is that despite its relatively short duration, the musical material is actually organized as a “short story long.” This consists of a six-note pattern (which itself is a three-note pattern repeated again at a lower pitch level) serving as a kind of cantus firmus for the different sections of the piece. Thus, each section is part of a larger expression of this pattern while also containing variations of that pattern. Additionally, this piece was indirectly influenced by a job I took working in print media, which got me thinking about stories. Humans have been telling stories for as long as we’ve existed, and although the means and styles of communication (oral tradition, carrier pigeons, books, newspapers, telegrams, telephones, emails, Tweets, and even music) have changed dramatically, it seems to me that in some ways the stories themselves are fundamentally the same. Our natural impulse to keep telling them is what makes them essential. This piece was written for Latitude 49.
INSTRUMENTATION Soprano Saxophone in B flat (doubling Tenor Saxophone in B flat) Clarinet in B flat (doubling Bass Clarinet) Percussion (1 player): Suspended Cymbal Claves Kick Drum Glockenspiel Vibraphone (with bow) Marimba
Piano Violin Violoncello
Duration: c. 6 minutes
LONG STORY SHORT Transposed score
Matt Wasson
for chamber ensemble = 112
Bass Clarinet
3
4 4
3
3
3
harshly
Soprano Saxophone
3
3 3 4 4
3
harshly
pedal with slurring
Vibraphone
4 4
placidly, without much phrasing
3 44
Piano
3
harshly 3
3
44
Violin
3
3
3 4 4
3
3
sim.
3
3
3
3
harshly
Violoncello
4 4
3
harshly
2016
3
sim. 3
6
B. Cl.
3
3
S. Sax.
Vib.
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Pno. 3
3
Vln.
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Vc.
3
2016
3
10 B. Cl.
S. Sax.
42
43
42
43
2 4
3 4
placidly, without much phrasing until mm. 19
2 4
3 4
placidly, without much phrasing until mm. 19
Vib.
42
43
42
43
3
3
3
42
42
42
43
3
42
42
2 4
43
43
43
43
Pno. 3
3
Vln.
3
43
43
3
Vc.
42
34
42
2016
3
3
15
B. Cl.
S. Sax.
Vib.
42
42
43
2 4
42
44
4 4
44
3
43
43
3
2 3 4
42
3
2 4
42
43
42
44
42
44
42
44
42
44
Pno. 3
3
Vln.
4
42
Vc.
42
2016
43
43
43
21 6
20
B. Cl.
4 4
S. Sax.
4 4
4 4
3 8
4 4
3 4
3
5
Vib.
83
3
43
4 4
83
3 4
44
3
3
4 4
34
83
44
44
44
Pno. 3
44
pizz.
Vln.
4 4
43
3
arco
pizz.
43
83
arco
pizz.
83
Vc.
44
pizz.
arco
pizz. 3 4
arco
pizz.
83
44
2016
5
24
B. Cl.
4 4
4 4
42
44
3
S. Sax.
43
3 4
still in the background
2 4
4 4
3
still in the background
Vib.
4 4
43
42
24
44
3
3
4 4
43
44
Pno. 3
44
4 4
Vc.
6
44
43
pizz. 3
44
pizz. 42
44
arco
24
arco
arco
43
pizz. 3
arco
Vln.
43
2016
pizz.
42
44
27
B. Cl.
4 4
43
3
42
44
42
4 4
3
S. Sax.
4 4
3 4
3
Vib.
4 4
4 4
43
43
to Glock.
42
44
42
44
24
44
Pno.
44
Vln.
4 arco 4
43
pizz.
3 4
arco
2 4
44
arco
Vc.
44
pizz.
3 4
arco
2 4
44
2016
7
30 B. Cl.
4 4
3 4
42
44
S. Sax.
3 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
42
44
42
44
42
to Vibes
5
Glk.
4 4
3 4
Vib.
44
43
to Claves
4 4
3 4
Pno.
4 4
3 4
44
Vln.
4 4
43
Vc.
4 4
43
42
42
44
8
2016
44
33
B. Cl.
4 4
43
3 4
4 4
()
S. Sax.
4 4 3
3
Clv.
3
3
44
43
4 4
44
3
4 4
43
5
3
Pno.
44
44
Vc.
44
43
34
44
5
2016
44
9
36
B. Cl.
4 4
S. Sax.
4 4
43
3 4
2 4
44
42
44
5
to Glockenspiel
Clv.
44
3 4
4 4 3
3
44
42
6
3 44 4 3
43
Pno.
42
44
42
44
3
Vln.
4 4
43
42
44 on the string
Vc.
10
44
43
2016
42
44
39
B. Cl.
4 4
43
42
2 4
44
S. Sax.
43
4 4
Glk.
43
to Vibes
42
44
5
4 4
4 4
4 4
43
42
44
44
Pno.
44
43
2 4
(still on the string)
Vln.
4 3 4 4
42
44
on the string
Vc.
4 4
43
42
44
2016
11
40 A little faster = 124 42
B. Cl.
to B Clarinet
5
4 4
44
S. Sax.
4 4
4 4
Vib.
4 4
44
4 4
44
Pno.
Vln.
44
44 44
4 4
Vc.
44
44
2016
12
45
S. Sax.
Vib.
pedal lightly, ad lib.
Pno.
pizz.
Vln.
pizz.
Vc.
48
S. Sax.
Vib.
42
42
42
Pno.
42
arco
Vc.
42
2016
13
49 51
S. Sax.
2 4
44
Vib.
42
4 4
marcato
2 4
44
3
44
4 4 3
pizz.
Vln.
5
5
arco
2 4
3
2 4
5
Pno.
5
arco, sul tasto
arco, sul tasto pizz.
Vc.
2 4
44
3
14
2016
54
S. Sax.
Vib.
5
5
5
Pno.
5
Vln.
Vc.
5
5
2016
15
57
S. Sax.
43
to Sus. Cym.
Vib.
3 4
5
5
43
43
5
Pno.
5
Vln.
Vc.
16
5
5
43
43
2016
58 60
B♭ Cl.
5
3 4
44 5
S. Sax.
3 4
4 4
Vib.
3 4
4 4
Sus. Cym.
Drs.
43
to Vibes
44
3 4
44
Pno.
3 4
on the string
Vln.
3 4
44
44
Vc.
3 4
on the string 4 4
2016
17
62
S. Sax.
Vib.
Pno.
Vln.
Vc.
(no diminuendo)
18
2016
64
B♭ Cl.
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
boisterously
S. Sax.
sim.
Vib.
Pno.
pizz.
Vln.
3
66
B♭ Cl.
3
3
3
S. Sax.
Vib.
Vln.
3
2016
3
3
3
19
3
68
B♭ Cl.
66
3
3
3
3 3
3
3
S. Sax.
to Marimba (same mallets)
Vib.
Mrm.
3
Pno.
3
Vln.
cantabile
Vc.
20
2016
3
70
B♭ Cl.
3
Mrm.
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Pno.
Vc.
3
3
3
2016
21
72
B♭ Cl.
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Mrm.
3
3
3
3
3
Pno.
3
3
3
Vc.
22
2016
3
74
B♭ Cl.
3
3
3
3
43
S. Sax.
3
3
3 4
Mrm.
43
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
43
43
Pno.
3
Vc.
43
2016
23
78 77
B♭ Cl.
3 4
44
3 4
42
plainly, almost in the distance
S. Sax.
34
4 4
3 4
2 4
arco, always let vibrate pedal each new note
Vib.
3 4
4 4
43 42
to Vibes (arco)
Mrm.
3 44 4
3 4
44
Pno.
43
44
43
42
43
42
34
42
43
42
34
42
arco
Vln.
3 4
44
Vc.
43
4 4
24
2016
82
B♭ Cl.
42
4 4
Vib.
2 4
4 4
2 4
44
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
43
44
43
44
43
44
43
44
Pno.
Vln.
42
44
2 4
44
Vc.
2 4
44
2016
25
87
B♭ Cl.
4 4
S. Sax.
4 4
Vib.
4 4
4 4
Pno.
44
sul tasto
Vln.
4 4
ord.
Vc.
ord.
26
sul tasto
4 4
2016
90 B♭ Cl.
*N.B. Pulse on every accent within cresc./decresc. Pulse should alter volume but not pitch.
5
3
*N.B. Pulse on every accent within cresc./decresc. Pulse should alter volume but not pitch.
S. Sax.
5
3
3
3
also to Kick drum
Vib.
Kick drum
Drs.
Pno.
Vln.
Vc.
2016
27
94
B♭ Cl.
5
3
3
3
3
S. Sax.
3
3
5
3
Vib.
3
3
3 3
Pno.
Vln.
3
sul pont. 5
3
Drs.
5
5
5
3 3
Vc.
sul pont.
5
28
5
2016
100 99
B♭ Cl.
More relaxed = 112
3
44
S. Sax.
4 4
pedal with slurring take mallets
Vib.
44 3
3
3
5
pedal with slurring
44
5
3
3
Pno.
Vln.
44
3
ord., always on the string when not staccato 5
44
3
3
3
5
ord., sul D 5
Vc.
44
2016
29
102
Vib.
3
3
3
3
3
Vln.
3
3
5 4
5
3
45
3
4 4
Vc.
4 4
5 4
44
5
Pno.
5
45
44
105
3
Vib.
3
3
5
43
5
Pno.
3
3
Vln.
Vc.
30
44
44
44
44
3 4
5
3
3
3
43
3
43
2016
109 Delicate at first, but gathering energy always very legato when not staccato 3
B♭ Cl.
4 4 3
5
S. Sax.
Vib.
always very legato when not staccato 3
3
5
3
44
3
4 4
3
3
5 3 3
3
Pno.
44
5
3
Vln.
4 4
3
ord.
Vc.
4 4
2016
31
very gradually getting faster until mm. 130 112
B♭ Cl.
3
S. Sax.
3
5
3
3
3
3
Vib.
3
5
3
5
3
3
Pno.
3
3
Vln.
5
3
3
3
3
Vc.
32
2016
118
= 114 gradually getting faster 115
B♭ Cl.
5
3
= 116
3
3
S. Sax.
5
3
3
Vib.
3
Pno.
5 3 3 3 3
Vln.
5
3
3
3
3
3
Vc.
2016
33
= 118
gradually getting faster 119
B♭ Cl.
5
3
3
S. Sax.
3
5
Vib.
3
3
5
3
3
3
3
3 5 3 3
3
34
3
3
Vc.
3
5
Vln.
3
Pno.
5
2016
= 120
gradually getting faster 123
B♭ Cl.
3
3 3 5
3
S. Sax.
Vib.
3
3
Pno.
3
5
3
5
5
3
gli ss.
Vc.
Vln.
3
3 3
3
3
3
5
5
3
3
3
3
3
gl iss.
2016
35
= 122 gradually getting faster 127
B♭ Cl.
3
3
5
Vib.
5
3
3
3
43
3
5
36
43
3
5
Vc.
3 3 3
5
Vln.
3
3 3 3 4
3 4
3
3
3
3
Pno.
3
43
3
S. Sax.
3
5 5 5 3 4 5
2016
130 = 124 B♭ Cl.
3 4
3
44
S. Sax.
3
3 4
3
3
3
4 4
Vib.
3 3 44
Pno.
44
Vln.
44
44
3
3
5
3
5
3 4
Vc.
3
3 4
3
3
3
5
3 4
5
3 4
5
5
2016
37
133
B♭ Cl.
Grinding to a halt step by step = 114
= 104
5
5
5 4
44
S. Sax.
5 4
4 4
2 4
42
42
42
42
3
42
3
Vib.
3
45
44
3
Pno.
45
3 3 44
Vln.
3 3 5 4
sul G and D
3
5
3
3
44
5
Vc.
45
5 5 44
38
2016
= 94
= 90
137
B♭ Cl.
2 3 4 4
44
2 4
44
4 4
5
S. Sax.
42
43
4 4
2 4
3
3
Vib.
42
43
44
Pno.
Vln.
3 3 44
5 2 3 4 4
42
44
42
44
42
44
3 3 24 3 4
take four mallets
3
3
5 3 44
sul tasto
Vc.
5 3 42 4
5
44
5
42
44
2016
39
142 Blissfully = 84 B♭ Cl.
3
3
to Tenor sax
S. Sax.
5
Vib.
3
dolce
Pno.
sul tasto 3
Vln.
Vc.
40
2016
146
B♭ Cl.
Vib.
43
3 4
43
43
Pno.
Vln.
Vc.
3 4
2016
43
41
151
150
B♭ Cl.
3 4
6 3
44
6
3
T. Sax.
4 4
Vib.
ord.
Vln.
44
3 4
44
42
ord.
Vc.
3 4
44
3 4
6
3 4
6
2016
153
B♭ Cl.
9
9
T. Sax.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
2016
43
155
B♭ Cl.
T. Sax.
dramatically slow down tremolo speed
Vib.
Pno.
Vln.
Vc.
44
2016
A quiet, steadily murmuring texture = 76
161
rall. 159
B♭ Cl.
43
44
T. Sax.
3 4
4 4
4 4
43
5
43
play run as fast as comfortably possible, but not accented
Vib.
5
keep pedal down until the end
44
arco don't let sound "flare" until last note
molto dolce Pno.
43
44
extremely even bow strokes, very little phrasing
Vln.
43
44
extremely even bow strokes, very little phrasing
Vc.
43
44 5
5
2016
45
163
B♭ Cl.
Vib.
T. Sax.
Pno.
(sul D)
Vln.
Vc.
5
5
46
2016
5
166
B♭ Cl.
T. Sax.
Vib.
Pno.
(sul D)
Vln.
Vc.
5
5
2016
5
47
169
B♭ Cl.
poco
T. Sax.
poco
let ring
Vib.
poco
Pno.
Vln.
5
Vc.
poco
48
2016
poco