Scratch
for voice and eight players
Liam Robinson, 2007
Scratch
text by Liam Robinson
I. The Stylus and the Vein
a lump.
An old record plays. This is the song. These are the words, A potter’s wet clay, turning on the wheel, needle in the groove, a centrifuge of sound.
I-I-I am writing to you to express to you to express to you to you to express a mistake
Oh, but to take it slow, as water to the staggering visionary, at the edge of a desert, where the river cuts a long groove in the sand. It slips down my throat Maybe it’s liquor. Maybe I’m drunk. Maybe this is a mistake.
A thousand monkeys type sh____k s____p r____ k-t-p-n-t-ps, k-t-p-n-t-ps, Cut up into pieces. A thousand secretaries sh____k s____p r____
A Song! a tip
An old record plays, like the whirling poet, emptying himself as a divine vessel, as a clay cup is dried, (Maybe it’s liquor.) spinning poetry and emptying himself in the gutter! I hold my cup below waterfalls, flowing over. My ears cannot know all of its sound. An old record plays, This is the song.
a wə-wə-wə-wer a sentence
A thousand words picture your face a rondo your face on a record your nose beside me bridge hiss cut up into
Exposed to the light, film, shutter, click, the gut of my joy. Dark room in my head, I develop your face from what it was not. We create from scratch. Electrical spark arcing through space, I’m in love. Three thousand and some sulfur white fires, I’m in love.
(love poems) Veins of copper coil distill this taste, it’s bitter and sweet. The chemical bath inside my head is in love. We create from scratch. Epilogue
a piece, a continuous roll of paper. to express a sentence stop a feeling of
Machines cease, either with ease or a wrench (in a pinch).
II. On a Continuous Scroll a lump There’s a tip on my tongue. t-p-n-m-t-ng. Sometimes, there’s a lump in my throat. It’s a word. This is a sentence. A Song! plays. These are the words. t-p-n-m-t-ng. Letters.
Love letters.
I am writing a play A poem A text
(aahh!) (ohhh!) (oooh!)
A final click, pop, shhhhhh, return.
Interlogue Return. I sit on my bed, the sound of failed beginnings opening slowly on the floor.
The warmth of these living things. (Return)
III. Inadvertent Double-Exposure of a SelfPortrait From all angles at one, a single reflex, like a twitch.
The warmth of living things (return) Warmth of living
Percussion: The percussionist should be equipped with several types of paper: newsprint (for crumpling and tearing), drawing paper (for drawing on), and sandpaper (for rubbing). The notation: , indicates a circular motion on the drum head using the indicated tool.
Scratch is scored for: -flute/piccolo/bass flute -B clarinet/bass clarinet -percussion 3 toms, 2 snares, bass drum, various paper sounds -treble voice -pedal harp -violin -viola -violincello -contrabass
Voice: voiced half-voiced (airy) unvoiced These notations to not refer to the timbral quality of the tone, only do the activity or inactivity of the vocal chords. All lower-case consonants that stand alone simply indicate the utterance of the consonant sound, followed by a short aspiration on a neutral vowel, either voiced or unvoiced, depending on the consonant. "X" noteheads indicate spoken text.The vocalist is asked to have five distinct speakingregisters, represented by each of the lines on the staff. The middle line represents a normal speaking register, with natural and dramatic variation, in other words, not a monotone. A single-line staff indicates the same.
TRANSPOSED SCORE
The following techiniques are used: General:
C indicates a conductor cue
indicates a cue from an ensemble member
A dashed barline indicates either entering (right) or leaving (left) unmeasured time. All ensemble members have small speaking parts and many are expected to make specific noised with the manipulation of paper.
Woodwinds: full tone half-tone (half air) all air 2
muted with one hand while the other plays
Strings:
p
key noise
Harp: The harpist is asked to used three non-standard techniques: muting with clothe and paper, bowing with fishing line, sliding (glissando) with metal bar. This bar should be made soft metal (copper) and should be long enough to span an octave. There are no pedal glissandi in this piece, thus all notated glissandi are made with the bar.
flute popped "p"
T
arco on bridge (toneless)
arco on tailpiece
Prologue
Bass Flute
Bass Clarinet
Percussion
Bs Fl
Bs Cl
Perc
Somewhat mechanical
Voice
Sh
p
Violin
Viola
Violincello
Contrabass
1.
Vln
k
L.S. rim
Bs Fl
k
yarn Perc
s
ch
p
sh
p
Hp
col legno
norm.
3
pizz. Vla
Vc
Cb
L.T.
3. C
Bs Cl
yarn L.T.
p
Hp
p
w/ cloth mute
2. C
Harp
sticks H.S.
ch
3
p t k
Cb
w/ extreme bow pressure
4. 2 w/ perc
Bs Fl
Bs Cl
stroke finger L.S. across snares
Perc
Vx
r
w/ bs fl
sticks L.S. edge
breathe as needed
H.S. brushes
center rim
w/ vc
Vx
t t tpk
Hp
sempre a la table
legato, without feeling of syncopation sord. Vln
legato, without feeling of syncopation sord. Vla
sord. Vc
Cb
legato, without feeling of syncopation s.p.
s.p.
s.p.
norm.
norm.
s.p.
norm.
s.p.
s.p.
senza sord.
w/ bs cl
Cb
sord.
5.
Bs Fl
Bs Cl
Perc
Vc
Bs Cl
Vx
Hp
Bs Fl
speak:
pop
click
Vc
senza sord.
Hp
Cb
Vx
6. 3
Sh
Vln
Vla
Cb
7.
Mvt. I- The Stylus and the Vein
4
Bs Fl
Bs Cl
Perc
Vln
Vla
Vc
Cb
3
re - cord
senza sord.
plays.
Hp
pizz.
3
Vx
3
3
3
H.S.
An
Perc
3
Bs Cl
3
3
An old
Hp
B.D.
Nostalgically
Vx
Bs Fl
8.
old...
An
Vc
Cb
3
re -cord
Vla
sticks L.S.
old
Vln
pizz.
arco
senza sord.
arco
Bs Fl
Bs Cl
Perc
Vx
Hp
Vln
Vla
Vc
Cb
H.S.
plays.
9.
3
molto rit.
molto rit.
Perc
3
This is
10. C
the
song.
3
These
are
the
felt
3
words,
B.D.
Conductor shows quarter note pulse.
5
accel.
accel.
L.S.
a
Allign w/ conductor's pulse
pott er's
wet
cresc.
clay
turn ing
on
the wheel,
Remove cloth mute.
col legno
accel. and raise pitch to where it is percussive noise
rit. and lower pitch to written notes
Reallign w/ conductor's pulse
rit. and lower pitch to written notes
Reallign w/ conductor's pulse
3
col legno
accel. and raise pitch to where it is percussive noise
6
Bs Fl
Bs Cl
Perc
Vx
Hp
Vln
Vla
Vc
Cb
brushes L.S.
5
11.
need-le in the
groove,
a
cen - tri - fuge
col legno
pizz.
to B Cl
of
felt B.D.
sound.
norm.
norm.
arco
Breathy
unmuted
12.
norm.
s.p.
s.p.
norm.
13.
Bs Fl
to C fl
Slightly drunk.
Vx
Oh,
Hp
s.p.
Vln
norm.
Vla
Vc
s.p.
norm.
norm.
but
to
take
it
slow,
as
14.
wa - ter
to
the
stagg'
7
-
ring
8
Fl
Perc
Vx
15.
vi - sion - ar -
Hp
Vc
Cb
sim. (Two note, stepwise slurs are portamenti.)
pizz.
ies
at
the
edge
of
a
de
-
sert,
3
where the
ri
-
ver
3
cuts
a
long
groove
sticks H.S.
3
in
the
3
sand.
It
slips
3
down
16.
Bs Fl
Bs Cl
Perc
Vx
Vln
Vla
Vc
Cb
9
throat.
free sliding melody
Maybe
it's
Maybe I'm
drunk.
Maybe
this
is
a
mistake.
An old
sord. pizz.
pizz.
cresc. poco a poco
cresc. poco a poco
plays,
pizz.
arco
L.S.
re - cord
Nostalgia again.
liquor.
L.T.
sord.
cresc. poco a poco
my
Hp
17.
senza sord.
senza sord.
18. 10
Fl
B Cl
Perc
H.S.
5
Becoming slightly dizzy.
Vx
like
Hp
Vln
Vla
Vc
Cb
5
5
the whirl
ling
po
-
et,
L.T.
L.S.
distantly (s.v.)
5
M.T.
3
3
as a divine
ves
-
3
sell,
as
cresc.
a
H.S.
5
cup
is
dried
L.S.
(may - be
3
3
5
5
li
quor.)
cresc.
cresc.
-
it's
(An aside)
M.T.
arco
3 B.D.
5
clay
B.D.
L.T.
L.S.
H.T.
cresc. poco a poco
emp - ty - ing him - self
-
B.D.
19.
Fl
B Cl
Perc
H.S.
3
3
Free fall.
Vx
Hp
Vln
Vla
Vc
Cb
poetry
and emptying himself
in
the
gutt
5
6
sim.
sim.
6
er
-
With distaste.
spinning
11
20. 12 sim.
Fl
B Cl
Perc
sim.
rit. indepentent of other parts
accel. independent of other parts
proceed a tempo independent of other parts
sim.
Vx
Chant-like, with free rhythm. I
Hp
cup
be - low
wa
-
ter
falls,
Vla
Cb
my
rit. indepentent of other parts
Vln
Vc
hold
continue portamenti
arco
arco
accel. independent of other parts
proceed a tempo independent of other parts
sim.
rit. indepentent of other parts
accel. independent of other parts
flow
-
ing
like an acho
ov
-
er.
22.
21.
23.
24. 13
Fl
B Cl
to Bs Fl
Bs Fl
Bs Cl
n
Perc
Vx
My
ears
s-paper
can - not
know
L.S. Perc
all
of
it's
sound.
An
with heavy and increasing pressure
old
re - cord
plays
z______ s___
This
is
the
song.
w/ vla
Hp
Repeat, accel, and raise pitch to the sounding board
to highest pitch sul G Vln
Vla
pizz. Vla
w/ hp
Repeat, accel, and raise pitch to highest.
Vc
sul E
Cb
25.
Interlude
14
Each sound lasts 5-7 sec's and is cued by the Bs Cl
Bs Cl
sticks H.T. Perc
Vln
n
Vln
n
n
Vln
arco
Vla
n
n
n
Vc
n
n
sim.
Vc
sim.
Cb
n
n
26.
Fl
Bs Cl
n
27.
Fl
n
Perc
n
15
sim.
Perc
Mvt. II- On a Continuous Scroll There's a tip on my tongue.
Vln
Vla
sim.
Vc
Cb
sim.
sim.
n
Vx
Hp
to B Cl
Hp
Vln
Vla
There's a t - p- n- m- t- ng,
n- m- t- ng, t
p pr_________k
n- m- t- ng,
p-t-k-t-k
29.
16
Pic
B Cl
"tick"
Perc
Vx
s
ome
-
ti
-
M - E
Hp
-
S,
Vln
Vla
Vc
Cb
M.T.
L.T.
3
T
lump
in
pizz.
pizz.
3
3
H.T.
th
there's a
th
er
my throat
It's
a
30.
word.
This
is
a
sen - tence
crumple
song
A
Garish, full voice.
arco
32.
31.
speak: "These are the words."
B Cl
slightly faster than normal speach
speak: "These are the words."
"tick"
at normal speaking tempo
Perc
speak: "These are the words."
Vx
plays.
Hp
These are
the
words,
t - p - n - m - t - ng,
slightly slower than normal speach
speak: "These are the words."
Vln
Vla
Vc
Cb
slightly faster than normal speach
speak: "These are the words."
at normal speaking tempo
speak: "These are the words."
slightly slower than normal speach
speak: "These are the words."
slightly faster than normal speach
speak: "These are the words."
letters,
love
le
-
T - T - E - R
-
Pretentious, w/ a slight Brittish accent.
S.
I
am writ- ing
high gliss
a
tear
sung gliss, no specific pitch
play,
Gliss on notated string
a
sul A
gliss.
gliss.
speak: Ah
middle register
crumple
Oh
a
speak:
sul G
sul D
po-em,
sul E
Ah
speak: Ah
33.
slightly slower than normal speach
Pic
tearing paper
gliss.
Norm, non-espres.
Ooh
Oo
Oh
a
Oh
low
text,
17
speak: Oo
sul G
sul A
arco gliss.
34. 18
Pic
B Cl
yarn L.T.
Perc
Vx
lump.
Hp
Stutterring.
I - I - I
am
wri - T - I
"tick" Perc
you,
3
-
ng
to
to
you
3
3
to ex - press
3
to
you,
3
to
3
you
3
3
to ex
-
press
(rapid, random consonants)
3
Garish again.
3
a mis take,
a
Vln
Vla
Vc
Cb
song,
Hp
pizz.
pizz.
3
3
3
35.
3
3
to ex - press
3
w/ erratic rhythm
a
37.
36.
Pic
B Cl
Perc
Vx
w
w
Hp
Vc
Cb
B Cl
weh
wer
a tip
a
sen
-
T
-
E
-
N - C-E
a
thousand monkeys
s-paper H.S.
finger
type
Sh
k
Vln
Vla
Vc
Cb
Perc
s
p
arco
T
arco
T
Quickly
k-t-p-n-t-ps
r
norm.
norm.
19
Hp
col legno, w/ erratic rhythm and pitches
Vla
Pic
col legno, w/ erratic rhythm and pitches
Vln
k-t-p-n-t-ps
38. 20
Pic
B Cl
Vx
k-t-p-n-t-ps
cut up into pieces
accel.
Hp
Vln
Vla
a thousand sec-re-
Vc
Cb
Sh
k
H.S.
finger
crumple
tar - ies,
Perc
Slower
sticks L.T.
s
p
T
T
thou - sand words
love
crumple
"tick"
random, fast, stacatto
a
r
tearing paper
39.
po - ems
pic - ture
your
face
a
ron - do
your
Pic
B Cl
Perc
Vx
Vln
Vla
Vc
Cb
21
brushes L.S.
"tick"
3
on
3
a
re - cord
your
be - side me
bridge,
3
3
3
3
w/ extreme pressure
cut
up
in - to
A piece,
a continuous roll of paper,
tearing paper
Col legno, erratic rhythms
tearing paper
continue with random, fast, rhythm
cutting paper
hiss,
Mix air sounds, stacatto, and key noise.
cutting paper
nose
3
face
Hp
41.
40.
cutting paper
continue with random fast rhythm
and
continue two elements with any rhythm
to
ex - press
43.
42. C
22
resume activity, minus speaking
Pic speak: "s"_________________________________
B Cl speak: "s"_________________________________
resume activity, minus speaking
resume activity, minus speaking
Perc speak: "s"_________________________________
Vx
a sentence.
S__________________________________
top!
a
feel - ing
resume activity, minus speaking
Hp speak: "s"_________________________________
resume activity, minus speaking
Vln speak: "s"_________________________________
Vla speak: "s"_________________________________
Vc speak: "s"_________________________________
Cb speak: "s"_________________________________
resume activity, minus speaking
resume activity, minus speaking
resume activity, minus speaking
of
a lump
Weave paper strip in lowest octave.
t - k -p - t - t
44.
45. 23
Interlogue The singer and the conductor sit at the same time. The conductor is done conducting.
Draw this shape (approx.) on paper on L.S., where the outer circumferance is almost to the rim, at 33 bpm accelerating to the center.
Perc
crumple straighten
smooth
crumple Repeat 3x
straighten
Repeat 5x. Replicate movements exactly.
47.
46.
48.
24
Pic
B Cl
Perc
B Cl
to C Fl
B Cl
to Bs Cl
cover all drums with cloth
Contemplative, lonely. Vx (seated)
I
sit
W/ head slightly to right
3
on my bed,
(pop,
click)
the sound
3
of
failed
3
be-ginn - ings
W/ head slightly to left
3
op - en - ing
slow - ly
on
the
floor.
t-t-t-t
p- p- p- p
arco, w/ woven paper Hp
Vc
Cb
T
T
Vln
Vla
49.
Fl
Perc
Vx
Hp
Vln
Vla
Vc
Cb
all
sticks L.S.
ang - les
at
once
51. 25
Perc
a
3
sing - le
re - flex
like
sticks
3
Vx
twitch
Hp
Vln
Vc
Cb
Like singing to yourself. Notes do not have to have full value and may be slid into and out of, with good taste, like a folk singer. Very gentle, with a slighly lilting eight.
Ex
H.T.
L.T. M.T.
Flat, mechanical.
a
norm.
50.
Fl
w/ covers:
From
Mvt. III- Inadvertent Double-Exposure of a Self-Portrait
-
posed
3
to
the
light
52.
53.
26
Fl
Perc
Vx
film
3
shut ter
3
click,
the
of
Hp
Vln
Vc
Cb
felt
B.D.
3
gut
my
joy.
Dark
room
3 in
my
head,
I de - vel - ope
your
face
from what it
was
not.
54.
55.
56. 27
Perc
Vx
We
cre - ate
smooth
from
scratch.
Vx
Vla
Vc
s.p.
br.
br.
E
br.
Vln
s.p.
br.
br.
s.p.
br.
s.p.
s.p.
s.p.
br.
br.
s.p.
br.
norm.
s.t.
-
lec - tric - al
spark
28
Vx
arc - ing through
space,
I'm
in
love.
Three
thous - and
and
some
3
sul - fur
white
fires,
I'm
in
love.
Veins
of
cop per
coil
58. 29
Fl
B Cl
see part
see part
see part
Perc
Vx
dis - till
3
this
taste,
it's
bit - ter
and
sweet.
The
3
chem - i - cal
bath
in - side
my
head
is
in
love.
Choose from six chords, any order, including rep's.
Hp
see part
Vln
see part
Vla
Vc
Cb
see part
see part
30
Vx
cresc. poco a poco
We cre - ate
Hp
from
scratch.
We
cre - ate
from
scratch.
3
That we
cre - ate
from
scratch.
We
Gradually disintegrate, using the given note-lyric combinations with varying rhythm, becoming more sparse and fragmented.
cre - ate from
End when ensemble reaches high intesity.
scratch.
Begin to leave rests as voice disintegrates.
Fade out when ensemble reaches high intesity.
59.
Epilogue (A) 31
Fl
B Cl
see Epilogue (B)
see Epilogue (B)
Enter after a short while. Hopeful. Vx
Ma - chines
Hp
Vln
Vla
Vc
Cb
see Epilogue (B)
see Epilogue (B)
see Epilogue (B)
see Epilogue (B)
arco
cease,
3
ei - ther with
ease
3
or
a
wrench
3
(in a
pinch).
32
With paper in hand on H.S. and bare hand on L.S. Tenuto for H.S. indicates paper slide. Staccato indicates a tap.
Perc
Vx
A fin al pop
Hp
click
sh
3
re - turn.
Re - turn.
The
warmth of
these liv - ing things.
Re - turn.
The
warmth
of
liv - ing
things.
Re - turn
Warmth of
liv - ing.
59.
Epilogue (B) Allow approx. 1 sec for each entry.
Fl
B Cl
Perc
Vx
see Epilogue (A)
see Epilogue (A)
Each sound lasts 3-5 sec's.
Hp
Vln
Vla
Vc
Cb
see Epilogue (A)
33