2
3
“Wherever we go, there seems to be only one business at hand—that of finding workable compromises between the sublimity of our ideas and the absurdity of the fact of us.”
-Annie Dillard, An Expedition to the Pole
4
An Expedition to the Pole is based on an essay of the same name by Annie Dillard that draws parallels between the perilous expeditions of the early polar explorers, and Dillard's own spiritual journey. Both Dillard and the explorers begin with a romanticized vision of what is required of them to reach the absolute whether it be the earth's extreme at the pole, or the spiritual extreme of experiencing God. As Dillard has to give up her personal vanity in order to worship with the congregation at her church, so do the explorers have to give up their dignified Victorian sensibilities. Musically, I wove together the two narratives just as Dillard did with words. Juxtaposed are wandering melodies, and musical depictions of frigid landscapes and intense arctic beauty In a dream sequence at the end of the essay, Dillard imagines herself one of the explorers, and ventures out from her ship to experience the pole on the terrain's terms, not hers. She is uninhibited, and full of abandon. This piece explores themes of self, spirituality, and ultimately, what life with God requires.
5
Instrumentation Clarinet Trombone Percussion Piano Violin String Bass
Percussion: Suspended Cymbal Bass Drum Vibraphone Tom-toms (4) Glockenspiel Tam-tam
6
An Expedition to the Pole
Clarinet in Bb
q=80 4 4
3
3
2
3 5
mp Trombone
Robin McLaughlin
solo freely
5
4
5 5
f
5
4 4 mf
f
6
3
6
4 4 p
Piano
6
6
f
6
44 Suspended Cymbal (hard wool mallets) Percussion
Violin
4 4
p
f
4 4 mp
String Bass
f
pizz.
4 4 mp
6
7
f
8
9
2 4
Cl. 5
mp 5
5
Pno.
6
2 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
f 6
f 6
6
6
Cym. p
f
Vln. f
mp
pizz.
2 4
S. Bass mp
4 4 5
p
mp arco
11
f
Tbn. mp
10
f
4 4
12
13
14
15
16
17
Cl. 5
mp 5
5
f
5
5
5
Tbn. mf
f 6
3
p
Pno.
6
6
6
f
6
Cym. p
f
Vln. f S. Bass mp
f
18
19
20
21
22 5
2 4
Cl. mp 5
mp
4 4 5
f
Tbn.
5
5
2 4
6 4
4 4
2 4
6 4
4 4
2 4
6 4
4 4
2 4
6 4
4 4
2 4
6 4
4 4
2 4
6 4
4 4
f 6
Pno.
6 4
6
p
f 6
6
6
Cym. p
f
Vln. mp
f
arco pizz. S. Bass mp
f
7
8
23
24
25
Cl. 5
26
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
p
5
Tbn.
f
mp
3 4
f
6
6
4 4 6
p
Pno.
6
3 4
6
43 3 4
p
f
4 4 p arco pizz.
3 4
S. Bass
27
To Bass Drum
44 arco
Vln.
6
4 4 l.v.
Cym.
f
f
4 4 p
A little slower (qq=60) 28
f
29
5
30
31
2 4
Cl. 5
mf
f
p
mf
f
2 4
Tbn. mp
f
p
f
mf
2 4 mp
Pno.
6
3 6
f
6
2 4 Bass Drum (hard wool mallets)
Sus. Cymbal l.v.
Bass Drum To Vib.
2 4
B. D. mp
p
f
mp
f
p
2 4
Vln. mp
f
p
f
arco
2 4
S. Bass mp
f
f
p
A 32
9
q=120
33
34
35
2 4
Cl. 3
3
mp
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Tbn.
p
Pno.
4 4
mf
3
3
2 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
p
Vibraphone B. D. p
f
Vln.
2 4
4 4
S. Bass
2 4
4 4 p
36
Cl.
37
4 4 3
Tbn.
3
3
3
38
39
3 4 3
3
3
3
4 4
3
3 4
3
3
4 4 p
4 4 mf p
4 4 p
Pno.
Vib.
3 4 mf
f
4 4 3
p
mp
4 4
3 4
4 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
p
f
f
Vln.
4 4
3 4
4 4
S. Bass
4 4
3 4
4 4
pizz.
mp
3
3
3
mp
10 40
41
42
43
44
Cl. fp
f
fp
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
l.v.
l.v.
3
2 4
4 4
2 4
4 4 3
3
3
2 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
l.v.
Vib. mp
4 4
f
Tbn.
Pno.
2 4
f
mp
solo
f
Vln. mf S. Bass f
45
46
47
Cl.
4 4
3 4
Tbn.
4 4
3 4
4 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
mp
3
Pno.
4 4
3
3
3
3
48
4 4
3
3 4
f p
3
f
3
mp
3
4 4 take mallets l.v.
Vib.
4 4
3 4
4 4 mp
f
Vln.
4 4
3 4
4 4
S. Bass
4 4
3 4
4 4
3
3
3
3
fp
3
3
49
50
51
11
52
3 4
Cl. f
mp
mf
f
sfzp
3 4
Tbn. sfzp
3
Pno.
3
3
3
3
3
3 4
3
3
f
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3 4 with mallets
To B. D.
3 4
Vib. mf 3
3 4
Vln. 3
3 4
S. Bass
53
54
Cl.
3 4
Tbn.
3 4
sfzp
f
3
3 4
4 4
3 4 3
3
3
3
3
3
4 4 p
3
3
5 4 3
3
3
3
3 4
4 4
5 4
3 4
4 4
5 4
f
gliss.
3 4
4 4
To Tom-t. (take sticks)
Bass Drum
Vln.
5 4 fp
4 4
3 4
3 4
5 4 fp
4 4 3
4 4
f
3 4 Pno.
56
3 4 fp
4 4 sfzp
B. D.
55
4 4
4 4 f
end solo
. gliss
3 4
4 4
5 4
3 4
4 4
5 4
p gliss
arco S. Bass
3 4
4 4 mf`
fp
f
mf`
p
B
12 57
58
5
5 4
Cl.
3
5
mf
5 4
Tbn.
3
4 4
3
59
3
3
3
3
3
mp
4 4 mf
5 4 3
Pno.
3
4 4
3
3
3
f
5 4
4 4
Tom-toms
5 4
Tom-t.
4 4 mp
mf
5 4
Vln.
4 4 mf
5 4
S. Bass
4 4 mf
60
3
3
3
3
61
3
fp 62
3
3
Cl. 3
mf
3
Tbn. f 6
Pno.
mp
Sus. Cymbal (drum sticks)
f
l.v.
Tom-t. mp
f
Vln. mf S. Bass mf
fp
mf
Tom-toms
3
3
63
64
13
65
Cl. 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
5
Tbn.
Pno.
Tom-t.
Vln. 3
S. Bass fp
mf
66
fp
mf`
67
68
simile
69
Cl. 3
mp
3
3
3
p
mf
p
p
mf
p
Tbn. mf pesante
Pno.
p
mf
p
p
mf
p 3
mf
3
mp
To Vib. (take mallets) Tom-t.
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Vln. p
p
S. Bass p
14 70
71
72
73
Cl.
Tbn.
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Pno.
pesante Tom-t. simile Vln. mf
p
p
mf
p
S. Bass pesante
74
75
76
77
Cl. 3
mf Tbn.
3
Pno.
Tom-t.
Vln. mf S. Bass mp
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
rit.
78
79
q=60
81
80
2 4
Cl.
15
5 4
p
mf
2 4
5 4
2 4
5 4
2 4
5 4
Tom-t.
2 4
5 4
Vln.
42
45
S. Bass
2 4
5 4
Tbn. 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Pno.
C 82
Cl.
83
end solo
mf Tbn.
84
5 4 5
5
5
mf 5
f
4 4 f
5 4
4 4 mf
f 3
6
5 4
3
4 4 f
6
6
f
6
p
Pno.
mf
6
6
p
6
6
6
f 6
5 4
4 4
Suspended Cymbal Cym.
Glockenspiel solo
To Glock.
5 4
4 4 p
Vln.
p
f
p
f
5 4
mf
4 4 mp
f pizz.
S. Bass
arco
5 4
4 4 mp
f
mp
f
16 85
86
87
88
89
90
91
Cl.
3 4
4 4
Tbn.
43
44
3 4
4 4 ordinary
Pno.
3 4
4 4
Glock.
3 4
4 4
Vln.
3 4
4 4
S. Bass
3 4
4 4
end solo
92
D Poco Rubato 93
94
95
96
Cl.
4 4
2 4
Tbn.
4 4
2 4 solo
4 4
2 4 mf
Pno.
f
mf
f
4 4
2 4 5
Glock.
Vln.
4 4
mf
4 4
2 4 mp
S. Bass
2 4
4 4
pp
2 4
17 97
98
Cl.
2 4
4 4
Tbn.
2 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
99
mf
Pno.
2 4
f
42
101
mf
f
102
mf
f
mf
4 4 5
Glock.
100
5
To Tom-t. (take drum sticks)
44 mf
Vln.
2 4
4 4
S. Bass
2 4
4 4
mp
103
Poco ritardando 104
Cl.
pp
105
106
2 4
4 4
f
107
p
2 4
Tbn.
A tempo
mf end solo
4 4 p
2 4 Pno.
4 4 p
2 4
4 4
Glock.
2 4
4 4
Vln.
2 4
4 4
S. Bass
2 4
4 4
solo . gliss
mf
f
mf
E
18 108
109
q=148 (3+2+2) with quiet intensity
110
111
112
7 8
Cl.
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
p
7 8
Tbn.
sfzp
7 8
4 4
3 4
7 8
4 4
3 4
7 8
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
Pno.
Glock. end solo
with quiet intensity
7 8
Vln. f
mf
f
mf
p pizz.
7 8
S. Bass
113
Cl.
3 4
114
115
116
117
4 4
3 4
4 4
7 8
3 4
4 4
7 8
3 4
4 4
7 8
3 4
4 4
7 8
f Tbn.
3 4
mp
4 4 f
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
Pno.
f
Tom-toms 3 Tom-t.
3 4
3
4 4 mf
Vln.
3 4
3
3
3
3
3
3 4
4 4
7 8
3 4
4 4
7 8
f`
4 4 f snap pizz.
S. Bass
3 4
4 4
mp
3 4 f
4 4
7 8
118
122
123
124
19
119
120
121
Cl.
4 4
3 4
4 4
7 8
Tbn.
4 4
3 4
4 4
7 8
4 4
3 4
4 4
7 8
4 4
3 4
4 4
7 8
f
Pno.
f 3
3
3
3
To Vib. (take mallets)
Tom-t.
4 4
3 4
4 4
7 8
Vln.
4 4
3 4
4 4
7 8
3 4
4 4
7 8
f
4 4
S. Bass
F 125
Cl.
126
127
mf
7 8 7 8
Pno.
7 8 Vibraphone Vib.
solo
7 8 p
Tbn.
128
hard mallets
7 8 p pedal freely
Vln.
7 8
S. Bass
7 8
p
20
129
130
131
Cl. 3
Tbn.
Pno.
mf Vib.
Vln. arco S. Bass mf
fp
mf end solo
132
Cl.
fp
mf
133
134
135
136
4 4
3 4
4 4
7 8
3
mf
f
4 4
Tbn.
solo
3 4
4 4
7 8
3 4
4 4
7 8
4 4
3 4
4 4
7 8
4 4
3 4
4 4
7 8
f
4 4 Pno.
f
Vib.
p
f
solo
4 4
Vln.
3 4
4 4
7 8 mp arco
f pizz.
4 4
S. Bass mf
fp
mf
3 4 f
4 4
7 8 p
mf
21 137
138
139
Cl.
Tbn. p
Pno.
Vib.
Vln.
S. Bass
140
141
Cl. f Tbn. mf
Pno.
Vib. mf Vln. f
S. Bass mf
142
22
143
144
145
3
Cl. 3
3
Tbn.
mf
Pno.
Vib.
Vln.
S. Bass
146
147
148
Cl. 3
Tbn.
Pno.
To Tam-tam Vib.
Vln.
S. Bass
G
rit. 149
150
151 end solo
Cl.
q=60 4 4
152
ff
4 4
Tbn.
ff
4 4 ff
Pno.
4 4 Tam-tam
4 l.v. 4
Vib. p
f end solo
Vln.
4 4
S. Bass
4 4 f 153
154
155
Cl.
Tbn.
Pno.
l.v. T.-t. p
f
p gliss.
Vln.
gliss. S. Bass
23
24
156
157
158
Cl.
Tbn.
Pno.
To Tom-t. l.v.
Tom-toms3
3
3
To Tam-tam
3
T.-t. f
fff
3
3
Vln. ff S. Bass ff 159
160
161
Cl.
3 4
4 4
Tbn.
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
Pno.
To Tom-t. l.v.
Tam-tam
Tom-toms 3
Tom-t. p
f
3
fff
3 6
Vln. 6
S. Bass
6
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
162
163
164
165
25
4 4
Cl.
5 4 fff
4 4
Tbn.
5 4 fff
4 4
5 4 fff
Pno.
4 4
5 4 3
To Tam-tam
3
Tam-tam
l.v.
4 4
Tom-t.
5 4 mp
4 4
Vln.
f
5 4
3
fff
4 4
S. Bass
5 4 fff
166
Cl.
167
mf Tbn.
5
5
f
solo
4 4 f 3
6
5 4
mf
f 6
6
f 3
6
mp
Pno.
6
mf
6
mp
4 4 f
6
6
6
6
5 4
4 4
5Cymbals 4
4 4
l.v. p
Vln.
5
mf 5
f
4 4
5 4 mf
Cym.
168
5 4
f
p
f
5 4
4 4 pizz.
S. Bass
arco
5 4
p
4 4 mp
f
mp
f
p
26 169
170
171
172
Cl.
3 4
4 4
Tbn.
43
44
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
Cym.
3 4
4 4
Vln.
3 4
4 4
S. Bass
3 4
4 4
173
174
Pno.
H 175
176
177
178
3
Cl. mp
6
6
f
3
5
5
Tbn.
Pno.
To Glock. l.v. Cym. p
mf
Vln. p S. Bass
mf
p
179
180
27
181
Cl. 5
5
6
6
6
Tbn.
Pno.
Glockenspiel
To B. D.
Cym. mf Vln. f
mp S. Bass
182
183 6
3 4
Cl. 6
6
6
3
Tbn. 5
5
f
5
3 4 3 4
Pno.
3 4
Glock.
3 4
Vln.
3 4
5
S. Bass
mf
6
5
6
6
3 4
184
28
185
3 4
Cl.
186
4 4
6
3
6
6
3 4
Tbn.
f
p
4 4 mp ordinary
3 4
4 4 mp
Pno.
B. D.
3 4
4 4
3Bass Drum 4
4 4 mp
3 4
Vln.
mf
6
4 4
6
f
3 4
S. Bass
p
4 4
187
188
189
5
Cl. mf
6
6
Tbn.
Pno.
B. D.
mp
f
mp
f
mp
Vln. mf S. Bass
6
190
191
29
192
Cl. 6
3
6
6
3
Tbn.
f
Pno.
To Sus. Cym.
Sus. Cym
B. D. mp
f
mp
Vln. f S. Bass
193
194
q=120
195
Cl. 3
ff
Tbn. ff
Pno.
ff
Cym.
Vln. ff S. Bass ff
f
30
196
197
198
Cl. fff
Tbn. fff
fff
Pno.
Vibraphone l.v.
bowed
To Vib. (take bow)
Cym. f
fff
Vln. fff pizz. S. Bass fff