Matre ORPHIC SONGS by ScoresOnDemand

Orphic Songs

(2016)

Ørjan Matre Orphic Songs

Ōidai Orfikai

for 16-part choir (SSSSAAAATTTTBBBB)

for 16-part Choir (SSSSAAAATTTTBBBB) (2016)

Ørjan Matre (b. 1979)

Vocal Score

Commissioned by The Norwegian Soloists' Choir with support from Det Norske Komponistfond

INSTRUMENTATION

Orphic Songs are scored for 16 individual singers, divided into two equal choirs. It can also be performed by 32 singers, two on each part. In the last movement, Hymn to Death (Thanatos), four singers in each choir should play harmonicas (see list below).

Left choir

Soprano 1

Soprano 2 (also playing Harmonica in C major)

Alto 1

Alto 2 (also playing Harmonica in E b major)

Tenor 1

Tenor 2 (also playing Harmonica in A major)

Bass 1

Bass 2 (also playing Harmonica in F # major

Right choir

Soprano 3

Soprano 4 (also playing Harmonica in E major)

Alto 3

Alto 4 (also playing Harmonica in D b major)

Tenor 3

Tenor 4 (also playing Harmonica in G major)

Bass 3

Bass 4 (also playing Harmonica in B b major)

Harmonicas

NOTATION

Speaking voice. Although almost all speaking parts are notated on one line, the singers should vary intonation.

Whispering. Will naturally sound much softer than speaking voice. Dynamic markings indicate the intensity of the performance.

Whistling, high pitch. Avoid unisons.

PRONUNCIATION

Like a in father

Like English b

Like g in English go

Similar to English d, but without aspiration

Like e in English pet (short vowel)

Like zd in English wisdom

Like ê in French tête (long vowel)

Like th in English thin

Like i in English ski

Like English k

Like English l

Like English m

Like English n in net

Like x in English fox

Like o in German Gott (short vowel)

Like p in English skip

A rolled r as in Italian or Scottish

Like s in English mouse

Like French t

Like German ü

Like f in English foot

Like ch in Scottish loch

Like ps in English lapse

Like aw in English saw

Like the vowel in English high

Like the vowel in English how

Like the vowel in English fate

Like ev English ever

Like English oo in pool

Like the vowel in English boy

ORPHISM

Orphism (Ancient Greek: Ὀρφικά) is the name given to a set of religious beliefs and practices originating in the Ancient Greek and the Hellenistic world, as well as by the Thracians, associated with literature ascribed to the mythical poet Orpheus, who descended into Hades and returned.

Orphics also revered Persephone (who annually descended into Hades for a season and then returned) and Dionysus or Bacchus (who also descended into Hades and returned). Orpheus was said to have invented the Mysteries of Dionysus. Poetry containing distinctly Orphic beliefs has been traced back to the 6th century BC or at least 5th century BC, and graffiti of the 5th century BC apparently refers to «Orphics». (Source: Wikipedia)

Orphic Songs use texts from two different sources. Prologue and Rite include fragments from the Orphic Rhapsodies, Hymn to Sleep and Hymn to Death are set to two of the Orphic Hymns. The English translations of the Rhapsodies are taken from Orpheus and Greek Religion by W. K. C. Guthrie (Princeton University Press, 1952), the Orphic Hymns are translated by Apostolos N. Athanassakis (The Orphic Hymns, The John Hopkins University Press, 2013). Thanks to Professor Pär Sandin at Bergen University for great help tracing the original ancient Greek texts and transcribing them into the Latin alphabet.

TEXTS

1.Prologue | page 5 | durata 1:50

aeisō ksynetoisi, thyras d' epithesthe bebēloi

tō lamprō blepomen, tois d' ommasin ouden horōmen

2.Hymn: To Sleep (Hypnos) | page 17 | durata 6:30

Hypne, anax makarōn pantōn thnētōn t' anthrōpōn kai pantōn tsōjōn, hoposa trefei eureia chthōn: pantōn gar krateeis mounos kai pasi proserchēj somata desmeuōn en achalkeutoisi pedējsi, lysimerimne, kopōn hēdeian echōn anapausin kai pasēs lypēs hieron paramythion erdōn: kai thanatou meletēn epageis psychas diasōtsōn: autokasignētos gar efys Lēthēs Thanatou te. Alla, makar, litomai se kekramenon hēdyn hikanein sōtsont' eumeneōs mystas theioisin ep' ergois.

I will sing to those who understand, close the doors ye profane.

Because of the light we see, with our eyes we see nothing

Sleep, you are lord of all, lord of blessed gods and of mortal men, of every living thing the broad earth nurtures, for you alone are master of all, you visit all, binding their bodies with fetters unforged. You free us of cares, you offer sweet respite from toil, you grant holy solace to our every sorrow, you save souls by easing them into the thought of death, since to Death and Oblivion you are a true brother. But, O blessed one, I beseech you to come, sweet-tempered, to be a kindly savior of the initiates, that they may serve the gods.

3. Rite | page 37| durata 5:00

kai temnōn kai temnomenos Kronos ankylomētēs.

Hous kaleousi gigantas epōnymon en makaressin houneka gēs egenonto, kai haimatos ouranioio.

hepta de panta melē kourou diemoirēsanto ampeirantes hypeirechon Hēfaistoio

Mounēn gar kradiēn noerēn leipon Dionysou oinou panta melē kosmōj labe kai moi eneike

4. Hymn: To Death (Thanatos) | page 63| durata 6:30

Klythi meu, hos pantōn thnētōn oiēka kratyneis pasi didous chronon hagnon, hosōn porrōthen hyparcheis: sos gar hypnos psychēs thrauei kai sōmatos holkon, hēnik' an eklyēs fyseōs kekratēmena desma ton makron tsōoisi ferōn aiōnion hypnon, koinos men pantōn, adikos d' enioisin hyparchōn, en tachytēti biou pauōn neoēlikas akmas: en soi gar mounō pantōn to krithen teleoutai: oute gar euchaisin peithē monos oute litaisin. alla, makar, makroisi chronois tsōēs se pelatsein aitoumai, thysiaisi kai euchōlais litaneuōn, hōs an eoi geras esthlon en anthrōpoisi to gēras

The cunning Kronos, the castrate who castrates.

These they call Giants by name among the blessed gods, for that they were born from Earth (Ge) and from the blood of Heaven (Ouranos).

Seven parts of the child in all did they divide between them They put it on skewers, and cooked it over open fire.

Only the heart, the seat of thought, did they leave Take up all the limbs of Wine in order, and bring them to me.

Hear me, you who steer the path of all mortals and give sacred time to all from whom you are distant. Your sleep tears the soul free from the body's hold, whenever you undo nature's powerful bonds, bringing the long slumber, the endless one, to the living. Common to all, you are unjust to some, when you bring swift end to youthful life at its peak.

In you alone is the verdict common to all executed, for to entreaties and to prayers you alone are deaf. O blessed one, with pious vows, with sacrifices, I beg you, I pray to you, grant me long life, that old age might be a noble prize among men.

Total durata 19:50

gl.

Whistling:

2.Hymn to Sleep (Hypnos)

(non cresc.)

(non cresc.) (non cresc.) (non cresc.) (non cresc.)

(non cresc.) (non cresc.) (non cresc.) (non cresc.) (non cresc.)

(non cresc.) (non cresc.) (non cresc.) (non cresc.)

gigan tas

¿¿¿ gigan tas

! ou si gi ¿¿ ‰Œ ou si ¿¿ ‰Œ ou si ¿¿ ‰Œ ou si

–––Œ gigan tas

Œ gigan tas

œœœœœ gan tas

œœœœœ gigan ! œœœœœ gigan

œœœ gigan

‰‰ ! ¿ gi

Œ gigan tas f f f f f f f f f p f f f f " " " ¿ ! ‰‰ tas ¿¿ ‰‰ gan tas ¿¿¿ ! ‰ gi gan tas ! ¿¿¿ ‰ gigan tas ‰ ¿¿¿ ! gigan tas

¿¿ gigan ‰ ! ¿¿¿ gigan tas f f f

œœœœœœbœœ re res sin in in in in in

ma ma ma ka ka ka

! œœœœœ ma ma ma ka ka

> ¿ ! ‰ 5 en ma ka res sin

> – ! Œ 5 ma ka res sin ppp p

pp pp pp p p

œœœœœœœbœ re re res sin in in in in œœœœœœœœ b ka re re res sin in in in

ka ka re re res sin in in

nœœœœ

. ! œ !

bœ œœœœœ de pan

œ œ œœ#œœ œœ ta de pan

Œ ¿ > ¿¿¿ > hep ta de pan

Œ ! ¿ > ¿¿ hep ta de P # P # P P ! œœœœœœœ i o i o i o i ‰ ! œœœœœ o i o i o " ¿ ! ‰Œ ta œœ‰ ! œœœ ta i o i

œœœœ‰ ! œ ta o ¿¿ ‰Œ ta j ¿ > ¿ ! Œ pan ta p # p p p # #

Œ ! œœœ i o i œœ‰‰ ! œ i o o Œœ ! œ ! hep ta

Œœ ! œ ! hep ta œœœœŒ o i o i

œœœœœœ‰ i o i o i o Œ‰ ! œ . hep Œ‰ ! œ hep # # # p p G G p p p p œœœœŒ o i o i

! œ ! #œ > j œœ ! de pan ta ! œœœœœœœ i o i o i o i ‰ ! œœœœœ o i o i o ! œ . ‰®œ . ! jbœ > ta de pan ! œ‰®œ ! J œ > ta de pan # # p p

œœœœœœ‰ i o i o i o ! œ ! œ > j œœ ! de pan ta

! œœœœœ bœœ hep ta de pan ta

‰ ! œœœœœ hep ta de pan

‰œœŒ me lē

‰œ#œŒ me lē

Œ ! œœœ hep ta de

œœ‰‰ ! œ i o hep œ œ . ‰ ! bœœ ! ta me lē

œ œ‰ ! œ œ ! ta me lē # # # p # #

bœbœœœ ta de pan ta

cresc.

poco a poco cresc.

# #œœœœ> œ hep ta de pan

bœœœ#œœœœ ta me lē kou

bœbœœ œœ#œ pan ta me l

bœœbœœœœœœ # de pan ta me

bœœœœœœ hep ta de ‰ #œœœœ#œœ hep ta bœJœœ 3 san to #œjnœœ 3 san to ! ! ! ! ! ! bœœœ#œœœœœ me lē kou rou

œœ # > œœ > œœœœ me lē kou rou di e

#œ . #œ . # #œœœœ > œ san to hep ta de pan

#‰œ # œ # to hep ta

#œ . # œ . ‰œ . # hep ta de

> œœ # œœ > œ de pan ta me lē

#œœœ#œœ #. # e mo i re san to bœ # # œ # œ‰ ta de pan

bœ > œ # # œ i re san to hep P ! P

#œ # œ‰œ # de pan ta #œ . # # œ . ‰ œ > œ . pan ta me lē œ > #œœœœœœbœ kou rou di e mo i re #œ . œœœ > œœ # œ hep ta de pan ta me

# # œ > œ # j œ > ta me lē kou

œ‰œ # œ # ta de pan F !

#œœœœ > œœ # hep ta de pan ta

#œœœœœœ#œ . #œ . di e mo i re san to

# œ > #œ # J nœ > œœ # me lē kou rou

# œ > J œœ #. # œœ . kou rou di e

bœœ . bœ # ‰ #œœ san to hep ta

#œ > œœ > œœœœœ lē kou rou di e mo

œ bœ . # œœœœœ rou di e mo i re

divisi

# œ‰œ b > œ # bœ > ta me lē kou > p F

œœ # > œœ > œœœœ me lē kou rou di e

‰ # #œ . œœœœ hep ta de pan ta

# #œœœœœJ œ > di e mo i re san

#œ . œ . œ . œ > J œœ . # mo i re san to

#œœ > œœ # œœœ de pan ta me lē kou

œœœ#œœ #. # ‰ i re san to

J œ > œœbŒ san to

j œœ # Œ rou J œ œœ#œ di e p F F

œ bœœœbœbœ nœ mo i re san œœœ#œ œ œ œ œ bœ di e mo i re san œ #œ # œ nœœ#œœ

> œœ ! œ nōn kai tem no me nos kai

œœœ . œœ kai tem nōn kai tem

œœ ! œ j œ nos kai tem

œ . œ . œ . œ . œ . kai tem nōn kai tem

œœ ! œ j œ nos kai tem

. œœ > œ . œ . nōn kai tem no me nos j œ > j œ > j œ > nōn tem no

œœœœ#>œœ nōn kai tem no me nos j œ > j œ > j#œ> nōn tem no

œ œœ œ an ky lo mē

œœ > œœœœ œ an ky lo mē œœ > œœ#œœœ # an ky lo mē

œœ > œœ#œœœ # an ky lo mē

œ nœ > œœbœœœ b an ky lo mē

#œ œ œ > œ œœ

nos an ky lo mē #œ œ œ. > œ œœ nos an ky lo mē

œ œ œ. > bœ œœ nos an ky lo mē

œ œ œ > bœ œœ nos an ky lo mē

œ bœœb>œœœ n

nos an ky lo mē œ bœ. bœ> œ œœ n

nos an ky lo mē œœœ > #œœœ

nos an ky lo mē œ œ œ. > #œœœ

nos an ky lo mē

nœ‰

nœ

bœ J œ tēs

j bœjbœjœj œ o i o i

j œ i o i o i o i œœœœœœ j œ i o i o i o i œœœœœ o œj œ j œœ b 3 3 o i o œœœ o j œœ#j œ o i p p p p p p " J œœ ny J œœ

œœ b o j bœjbœœ o i

dolcissimo

J œœbJ œ i nou

dolcissimo

J œœbJ œ i nou

dolcissimo

J œœbJ œ i nou J œœbJ œ i nou

dolcissimo

J œœbJ œ i nou

dolcissimo

J œœbJ œ i nou

dolcissimo

J œœbJ œ i nou j œœbj œ i nou

dolcissimo

J œœbJ œ i nou

dolcissimo

J œœbJ œ i nou

dolcissimo

j œœbJ bœ i nou

dolcissimo

j œœbj œ i nou

dolcissimo

J œœbJ œ i nou

dolcissimo

J œœbJ œ i nou

dolcissimo

j œœbj œ i nou

dolcissimo

j œœbj œ i nou

œœbJœj œ pan

œ.œbJœj

œ pan

œ.œbJœj bœ pan

œœbJœj bœ pan

œ.œbœ pan

œœbJ œ J œ pan

œ.œbœ pan

œ.œbJœj œ pan

œœbJœj œ pan

œœbœ pan

j œ j œ ta me

bj œ jnœ ta me

gliss.

gliss. gliss.

gliss.

#œ Di

" ‰‰j #œ Di

‰‰ #œœ Di œ j#œ o œ j#œ o œ. #œœœœœ 3 3 o i o i o œ j#œ o œ j#œ o ! ! P !

gliss.

gliss. gliss. gliss.

gliss.

4. Hymn: To Death (Thanatos)

b˙œœ˙ Kly thi meu hos

b˙œœ˙

œ.nœJnœœnœœ chro non hag œœœ˙œ # us chro non hag

ho sōn por ! ! p ! ! p divisi divisi bœ.bœjnœ. œ j œœ rō then hy par che œœJœœJœœ bœj

œœbœœœœ then hy par che is Jœœœœœ

œœœ j œœ˙ hy par che is œœJœœ˙

bœœjœœ j œœ rō then hy par che œœ J #œœJœœ P P P P ˙ œœ j œœ is ho sōn por ˙J

b˙œbœjœœ is ho sōn por #˙J ! ! ! ! l r l r l r l r

œ œœœœœœ b ho sōn por rō œ bœœjœœœœ ho sōn por rō then J

U ˙.Œ U ˙.Œ U ÓŒŒ U

U a˙œ U (m) a˙.œ U (m) a˙œ U (m) a˙œ U (m) a˙œ U (m)

ÓŒŒ U ? 2 ÓŒŒ U œ œ˙Œ U (a) œ œ œ œ˙ Œ U ma

ÓŒŒ U a˙.Œ U (m)

a˙.Œ U (m)

ÓŒŒ U ? " " p -

b˙.œ˙ koi nos men

˙œ˙ n men

˙.œ˙ n men

˙ Œ b˙œ b koi nos

˙ Œ b˙œ b koi nos ˙Œ˙bœ koi nos b˙ bœ. ˙ koi nos

b˙.œ˙ koi nos men

b˙œ˙ koi nos men

b˙˙ b koi nos

b˙ b˙. koi nos

b˙ bœ˙ koi nos " " p q = 96 q = 96 D D p p " " p p p p " p " p p p p p p Voice

b˙˙ koi nos

& & V ? & & V ?

œ˙˙ Œ pan tōn

b˙œ œœ˙ b a di kos d' en

œ nœœ˙n˙ Œ pan tōn A˙.˙ bœ a A˙˙œ b a A˙˙

(grace notes on the beat) (grace notes on the beat) unis unis divisi

˙ œœ˙ pan tōn a œ nœœ˙n˙ Œ pan tōn

b˙œœ˙œ a di kos d' en

A˙˙ bœ a A˙.˙œ b a A˙.˙ p ! p p p (softer than the rest of the choir)

œ j bœœbœœœ di kos d' en ni

œ j bœœœjœœ di kos d' en ni JœbœJ

œœn˙œ

œœ˙œ˙ di kos d' en ni

b˙œœ˙œ a di kos d' en

œ.jbœœ. œ j œœ di kos d' en ni .Jœb.œJ " p " p " p divisi

œ. j bœœbœœœ di kos d' en ni J œ

œœœœ bœœœ b ˙ ni oi sin hy par

œ nœœœnœ˙ ni oi sin

œœbœ. ˙

œœœ. ˙ oi sin

œœbœ˙ oi sin bœœ˙

œ˙œœ˙ oi sin hy par œœb˙

œ nœœœnœ. ˙ ni oi sin

b˙.˙Œ b˙˙ chōn ˙œ Œ bœ en ˙.Œ bœœ en ta ˙.

bœj œ en ta chy ˙ ŒJ ˙.˙Œ chōn

œœœ˙ oi sin

œœbœ˙ œœbœ. ˙ oi sin bœœ. ˙

˙.œ Œ bœ en ˙Œ bœœ en ta ˙Œœb. œ j œ en ta chy ˙ .J p p p p p p

œ ˙ œ to kri then te

œ œ b˙œ to kri then te

œ œœ˙œ b to kri then te

œœ œ b˙ nœ to kri then te ˙˙ m b˙˙

b˙˙œ n m ˙.b

œ˙˙ m œ˙ b

˙˙ ..

bœ. œ j œ. œ j œœ o ē li kas ak mas

n kas ak mas œ bœ˙

ak mas

nœ ak mas

kas ak mas a œ bœœœ b

nœœJœœ bœœœœœ˙ ne o ē li kas

ne o ē li kas

bœ Œ nœ ak mas a ˙œbœŒ

Soprano 2:

Harmonica in C

˙.. ˙ le ou

œ b˙. n˙ le ou tai

bœ˙. #˙ le ou tai

œ˙˙ le ou tai ˙. n˙.

˙ .n˙.

˙˙ #

˙.. ˙ ˙.

˙.œŒŒ tai

Œ œœœ j œœ j œ ou te gar eu chai

Ó.

œœœœ ou te gar eu

Ó. œ..œ.œ. œ ou te gar eu

˙œ ŒŒ . ŒŒ‰

œ j œœ j œœ ou te gar

Ó œ..œ.œ. œ ou te gar eu

Ó œœœœ

œœœœœœœ sin pei thē mo nos

œJœœ Ó. chai sin

Soprano 4:

Harmonica in E

#œJœœ Ó. chai sin . . ˙ ˙ ˙ #˙ . . ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙

ou te gar eu p p p p p p q = 96 q = 96 unis unis . . ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ . . ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙

œœœ j œœœ j œ eu chai sin pei thē mo

œJœœÓ chai sin

P P P P

nœ.jœœ Ó chai sin ! p ! p l r l r l r l r l r l r l