ScoresOnDemand
Adams, John Luther Canticles of the Sky (string quartet version)
Score for sale (North America): https://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.action?itemid=233156 Score for sale (UK, Europe and other territories): http://www.musicroom.com/se/id_no/01127319/details.html Information about the work and materials for hire: http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/composer/work/57022
Chester Music Limited Part of the Music Sales Group
Canticles of the Sky for string quartet
In the Arctic sky, the low angle of the sun and heavy ice crystals in the air often produce vivid halos, arcs and sundogs (parhelia). Sometimes these phenomena create the illusion of multiple suns. "Sky With Four Suns" is a musical evocation of such an apparition, from sunrise to sunset. Similar visions also occur at night, which is the image behind "Sky With Four Moons." "Sky With Nameless Colors" and "Sky With Endless Stars" evoke the extraordinary depth and clarity of Sonoran Desert skies. This music is drawn from Canticles of the Holy Wind – a concert-length work for four choirs and vocal soloists. In this version, sixteen separate choral parts have been condensed into the string quartet. String designations should be carefully observed. Frequent string crossings are employed to create as lush and continuous textures as possible. All sounds should be legato. Bowing is free and full throughout. Total performance duration is about 18:00 – John Luther Adams
Canticles of the Sky for String Quartet Commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association Gustavo Dudamel, Music Director
I. Sky With Four Suns Floating q = 63
Violin 1
& ∑
∑
∑
∑
Violin 2
& ∑
∑
∑
Ó Œ
∑
∑
˙ π
w
9
Viola
B
Cello
?
œ ˙˙ ..
w π
& Ó Œœ w p & B ?
w
w w
Ó
˙˙ . .
ww
B
∑
w
˙
w
w
œ ˙. p
w
ww
w w
III
œ w
w p
˙ Ó
˙. P
w w
œ œ ˙.
˙ ˙˙ P
ww
ww
˙˙ ˙˙
˙. ˙. P
w w
w
w w
w
ww
ww
∑
∑
w
w
w w
John Luther Adams
œ w π
w
œ ˙˙ .. P
∑
A
œ w œ w
© Taiga Press 2015
œœ ww
˙ p
ww
w
œœ ˙˙ ..
ww
˙˙
ww
˙˙ .. œœ œœ ˙˙ ..
ww
w w
w w
˙˙
II. Sky With Four Moons Suspended q = 63
Violin 1
&
Violin 2
&
w
œ # ˙˙ ..
∑
∑
B
∑
∑
Cello
?
∑
∑
&
ww
A
œ w
∑ Ó
∑
∑
#˙
ww
∑
˙ . # œœ ww
w
# ww
p
w π
œ ˙˙ ..
ww
ww
œœ ˙ .
˙ #˙ p
π ∑
II I
w
∑
œœ ˙ .
B
∑
II I
˙II .
∑
∑
∑
# œœ ww
ww
˙˙ ..
w
w
wIII P
œ n ˙˙ ..
˙˙ ..
P
& #w p B ˙ . # œœ ?
˙˙ ..
π
Viola
9
ww
∑
# ww
w
œ ˙˙ ..
ww
ww
œœ ˙ .
∑
∑
˙˙ w #w
∑
P 5
˙
˙
#˙
P ˙. #œ w
w
I II
œœ
œ
III. Sky With Nameless Colors Murmuring
q = 63
Violin 1
& ∑
∑
∑
∑
∑
∑
Violin 2
& ∑
∑
∑
∑
∑
∑
Viola
B
∑
∑
Ó Œ
Cello
?
9
&
∑
&Ó
Œ
B ?
w w w bw
∑
œ w π
b˙ w bw ˙ ˙˙ ˙˙˙
w π
∑
∑
œ w p w w w bw
Œ
w
A
∑
∑
∑
∑
œ ˙. ˙. ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ p
III
w bw w bw w w p
w
w
B
˙. p
w
˙.
œ w œ w
ww P
w
w
˙ ˙ P
w
w
w
w w
w w
w w P
w
w
œ œ ˙. ˙. w w
III
w bw
w w
w
III
n˙ w ˙. ˙. œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ P 9
w
w w
˙. ˙. œ
IV. Sky With Endless Stars Shimmering q = 63
Violin 1
&
Violin 2
&
bw
œ ˙˙ ..
∑
∑
Viola
∑
∑
Cello
?
∑
∑
&
ww
˙˙ ..
ww
œ w
∑
π
B
9
A
w
∑
∑ ˙
Ó
˙ . b œœ ww
∑
∑
B
# ˙ . # œœ P III IV
ww
b ww
b ww
B ˙ . b œœ
ww
ww
œœ ˙ .
˙ #˙ P
˙ . # œœ
∑
∑
∑
∑
∑
œ b ˙˙ ..
ww
ww
œœ ˙ .
˙ ˙ p
ww
n˙ b˙ ˙ P
13
∑
#w
b ww
∑
p
bw p
∑
& w
?
ww
π
œ # ˙˙ ..
#w
∑
bw
œ # ˙˙ .. œ
∑
# ww
œœ œ ˙ # œ- ˙
# ˙ . # œœ
˙˙
ww
ww
∑
∑
˙
#w
∑
∑