Whitman's America (Piano/vocal Score) - Robert Paterson

Instrumentation

Piccolo (doubling Flute)

2 Flutes

2 Oboes

2 Bb Clarinets

Bb Bass Clarinet (doubling Bb Clarinet)

2 Bassoons

4 F Horns

3 Bb Trumpets

2 Trombones Bass Trombone Tuba

Timpani (4: 23”, 26”, 29” 32”)

3 Percussion (See below for instrumentation) Harp Soprano Solo Baritone Solo Chorus Strings

Percussion Instrumentation

Percussion I Tubular Chimes Xylophone Vibraphone

Crotales (High and Low) Crash Cymbals

5 Temple Blocks

Castanets Medium Triangle Small Triangle Percussion II Orchestra Bells Snare Drum Crash Cymbals

Tambourine

Medium Suspended Cymbal Medium Wood Block Small Triangle

Percussion III Concert Bass Drum Large Tam Tam Medium Triangle Mark Tree

Percussionists should use mallets, sticks and beaters that achieve the optimal sound on each instrument.

Whitman’s America (2016)

for Soprano, Baritone, Chorus and Orchestra

I. Introduction

II. Gliding o’er all

III. I Dream’d in a Dream

IV. Interlude I: Mechanical

V. I Hear America Singing

VI. America

VII. Interlude II: “Pure Luminous Color” VIII. A Prairie Sunset

IX. Interlude III: Clangorous

X. After the Dazzle of Day

Program Notes

I have always been very fond of Walt Whitman and his poetry, not only for the inherent beauty and sense of optimism he illustrates in many of his works, but also for his intimacy, directness, colorful descriptions, and the way in which he sings the praises of nature and our role in it as individuals.

Whitman’s America is a setting of six poems from Whitman’s final version of Leaves of Grass, often called the Death Bed Edition, since he compiled this version the year he died. My work is constructed in an arch form as a sort of quasi-fantasia. I view each connected movement or section as a scene or vision, perhaps from an imagined Whitman as he lay on his deathbed. My goal was to capture and highlight a variety of themes that permeate Whitman’s poems, and in particular, themes that have to do with his love of America and American citizens.

The work begins with “Gliding O’er all,” a poem in which Whitman portrays a positive attitude toward death; he is prepared for it and ready to embrace it. He presents a tone of acceptance through the irony of singing of many deaths, for the positive act of singing, in the way he imagines, does not typically correlate with death. Next is “I Dream’d in a Dream,” sung by a solo baritone, a poem that describes a utopic vision of peace and harmony. Following that is “I Hear America Singing,” about American pride and having pride in one’s work. Next is “America,” describing the destiny of America as a nation, his love of the masses, his devotion to Democracy and America fulfilling the spiritual needs of its people. Second to last is “A Prairie Sunset,” sung by a solo soprano, a poem that captures the beauty of the American prairie, an aspect of the American landscape that Whitman was very passionate about. Finally, I end with “After the Dazzle of Day,” a beautiful poem describing the starry night sky, an evening filled with music and his own internal symphony during the silence that follows. The choral movements are interspersed with orchestral interludes that highlight various sentiments presented in Whitman’s poems.

Whitman’s America was commissioned by the Gulf Coast Symphony (Fort Myers, FL) as part of their 2020 Commissioning Project, Andrew M. Kurtz, Music Director and Conductor.

Duration: ca. 24’00”

World Premiere Gulf Coast Symphony

Andrew M. Kurtz, Music Director and Conductor

Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers; Jeffrey Faux, Artistic Director

Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, Fort Myers, FL, March 6th, 2016

General Explanation of Notation

, – breath mark

^ – hard accent

n – niente

P – dampen

/ – subito (when placed before a dynamic, i.e. / f )

( ) – all markings in parenthesis are courtesy/cautionary markings.

I let note ring indefinitely until the sound dies out naturally—do not muffle.

• All grace notes (including beamed grace notes) are to be played immediately before the beat they precede. They are to be played very close to the beat, as fast as possible.

• All accidentals last for the entire measure, unless they are canceled out by another accidental (such as a natural sign). Accidentals are only good for the line or space they are on.

Notation specific to each instrument is explained throughout the music.

Choir Performance Note

It is strongly recommended that the choir consist of at least 48 members, optimally ca. 80, in order to balance the volume of the orchestra.

Whitman’s America for Soprano, Baritone, Chorus and Orchestra

CHOIR

Gliding o’er all

Gliding o’er all, through all, Through Nature, Time, and Space, As a ship on the waters advancing, The voyage of the soul—not life alone, Death, many deaths I’ll sing.

BARITONE SOLO

I Dream’d in a Dream

I dream’d in a dream I saw a city invincible to the attacks of the whole of the rest of the earth, I dream’d that was the new city of Friends, Nothing was greater there than the quality of robust love, it led the rest, It was seen every hour in the actions of the men of that city, And in all their looks and words.

CHOIR

I Hear America Singing

I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear, Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,

The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam, The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,

The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck, The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands,

The wood-cutter’s song, the ploughboy’s on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown, The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing,

Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else, The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly, Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.

CHOIR

America

Centre of equal daughters, equal sons, All, all alike endear’d, grown, ungrown, young or old, Strong, ample, fair, enduring, capable, rich, Perennial with the Earth, with Freedom, Law and Love, A grand, sane, towering, seated Mother, Chair’d in the adamant of Time.

SOPRANO SOLO

A Prairie Sunset

Shot gold, maroon and violet, dazzling silver, emerald, fawn, The earth’s whole amplitude and nature’s multiform power consigned for once to colors;

The light, the genial air possessed by them—colors till now unknown, No limit, confine—not the Western sky alone—the high meridian— North, South, all, Pure luminous color fighting the silent shadows to the last.

CHOIR

After the Dazzle of Day

After the dazzle of day is gone

Only the dark night shows to my eyes the stars; After the clangor of organ majestic or chorus or perfect band Silent athwart my soul moves the symphony true.

Text from Leaves of Grass: Deathbed Edition by Walt Whitman. In the Public Domain.

Music by Robert Paterson

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