Nico Muhly
HOW SOON? for SSAA choir and ensemble
Full score
St Rose Music Publishing Co. / Chester Music Ltd.
How Soon? was commissioned by eighth blackbird, the Kennesaw State University School of Music, and the Anima-Young Singers of Greater Chicago. This commission was made possible by the Dale Warland Singers Commission Award presented by Chorus America and funded by the American Composers Forum. First performed 2 April 2011 by eighth blackbird in Kennesaw, Georgia, U.S.A.
INSTRUMENTATION Flute (doubling Alto Flute) Clarinet in Bď ˘ (doubling Bass Clarinet) Percussion (1 player): Triangle Brake Drum Tam-tam Vibraphone (with bow)
Violin Violoncello Piano
Duration: c. 10 minutes
for eighth blackbird
HOW SOON? George Herbert q = 138
S
Nico Muhly (2010) rit.
mp
4 4
mf
How
A
mp
4 4
mf
How
Flute
Clarinet in Bb
Triangle Brake Drum Tam-tam
Vibraphone
Violin
4 4 f
mp
f
mp
4 4
4 4 p
mf
4 4
4 4
poco sul pont. 5
5
mf Cello
5
4 4 p
q = 138
4 4 Piano
sf
4 4
sf
rit.
f
mp
Copyright Š 2010 by St. Rose Music Publishing Co. and Chester Music Limited. International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved. Warning: Unauthorized Reproduction of this publication is prohibited by Federal law and subject to criminal prosecution.
2 5
3 4
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p
4 4
How
3 4
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Fl.
4 4
f
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3 4
Cl. in Bb
4 4
f
mp
3 4
Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t.
mf
4 4
3 4
Vn. p
f
10
3 4
S
p
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p
4 4 mp
3 4 mf
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4 4
3 4 Pno.
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pizz.
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Fl. mp
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Cl. in Bb mp
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3 4
Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t.
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4 4
3 4
mp
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3 4
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4 4
3 4 Pno.
f
p
Vn. mf
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4 4
f
3 15
f
5 4
S
How f
5 4
A
How Fl. mp
f
f
Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t.
mf
How
soon
mp
mf
How
soon
4 4 4 4
5 4
4 4
5 4
4 4
5 4
4 4
p
Cl. in Bb mp
mp
p
mf
n
p arco
0
Vn. mf
p
n
f
Vc.
5 4
4 4
5 4
4 4
5 4
4 4
5 4
4 4
p
mp
Pno.
20
f
p
S
4 4
3 4
A
4 4
3 4
Fl.
4 4
3 4 f
Cl. in Bb
4 4
Vc.
Pno.
4 4
mp
f
mp
f
3
how
soon?
mp
3
mp
3 4 mf
p
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
f
soon?
3 4 f
Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t.
mp
how
f
3 4
mp
4 25
Subito q = 138
rit.
mp
mf
How mp
mf
S
How
A
How
How
Fl. f
mp
f
f
mp
f
Cl. in Bb
Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t.
mf
p
to the fore, molto vib., slightly outrageous
Vc. mf espress.
Subito q = 138
rit.
Pno.
mp
30 S
A
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
f
p
mf
How p
mf
How Fl.
3 4
4 4 mp
Cl. in Bb
3 4
Vn.
Vc.
mp
f
mp
4 4 mp
Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t.
f
3 4
4 4 p
mf
3 4
4 4
3 4
mf espress.
5
4 4
f
3 4 Pno.
3 4
4 4 mp
4 4
f
mp
5 35
3 4
S
A
3 4
Fl.
3 4 f
f
4 4
How
mp
4 4 4 4
p
3 4
4 4
Vc.
3 4
4 4
5
mp
How f How
f
mp
f
f
mp
f
p
mf
p
5
3
5
n
mf
3 4 f
3 4
40
4 4 mp
4 4
f
mp
5 4
S
5 4
A
5 4
Fl. p Cl. in Bb p Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t.
5 4
mp
mf
How mp
soon mf
How
soon
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
5 4
4 4
5 4 f
5 4
Vc.
poco vib.
f
p
3 4
f
mf
3 4 3 4
4 4
3 4
5 4
4 4
5 4
4 4
mp
mp
p
4 4
mf
p
f
4 4
n
Vn.
Pno.
f
mf
Vn.
Pno.
mp
4 4 mp
3 4
mf
4 4
How p
3 4
Cl. in Bb
Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t.
p
p
3 4 f
3 4
mp
6 45
4 4
S
how
q = 120, steady p
soon?
How soon
how
soon?
How soon
how
soon
how
soon
how
soon
4 4
Fl. f
soon
p
4 4
A
how
3
mp
4 4
Cl. in Bb f
3
mp
4 4
Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t.
mf
p ord. vib.
4 4
Vn.
p
4 4
Vc. mf
p
p
q = 120, steady
4 4 Pno.
f
mp
4 4
mf
51
mf
3 4
S
how soon
how soon
how
soon how soon
how soon
how
soon
A
how soon
how soon
how
soon how soon
how soon
how
how mf
3 4 soon
4 4
how
3 4
Vn.
4 4
4 4 mf
3 4
Vc.
4 4 mf
3 4 Pno.
p
mf
3 4
4 4 p
4 4
7 56 S
4 4
3 4
soon
doth man
de
cay!
When
clothes are
ta ken
from
a
chest
4 4
A
of sweets
3 4
soon
doth man
de
cay!
When
clothes are
ta ken
from
a
chest
4 4
Vn.
4 4 4 4
of sweets
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
mp - stay behind voices
4 4
Vc.
mp - stay behind voices
4 4 Pno.
4 4 61
S
4 4
A
4 4
Vn. Vc.
Pno.
mf
p
3 4
4 4
2 4 to swad dle
in fants, whose young
breath
scarce
knows
the
way;
Those
to swad dle
in fants, whose young
breath
scarce
knows
the
way;
Those
3 4
clouts
are
clouts
are
2 4
3 4
4 4 4 4
2 4 2 4
3 4 3 4
4 4
2 4
3 4
2 4
3 4
4 4 67
p
mf
S
3 4
A
3 4
mf
p
4 4 lit tle
wind ing
sheets
wind ing
pp
3 4
4 4 lit tle
mf
4 4 which do con signe
and send them
un to
death.
3 4 sheets
4 4 which do con signe
and send them
un to
death.
Vn.
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
Vc.
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
Pno.
mf
3 4
p
mf
p
4 4
8 73 S
p
4 4 4 4
A
Fl.
4 4
Cl. in Bb
4 4
How p
soon
how
soon
how
soon
How
soon
how
soon
how
soon
mf
mf
4 arco 4
Vib.
mp ord. pizz.
4 4
Vc.
sf
4 4 mf
Pno.
4 4
76 S
how
soon
how
soon
how
soon
how
soon
how
soon
how
soon
how
soon
how
soon
A
Fl.
Cl. in Bb
Vib. ord.
Vc.
Pno.
p
mf
9 79
mf
3 4
S
how
soon
how
soon
how mf
3 4
A
how
soon
how
4 4
soon
soon
how
soon
3 4
4 4
Cl. in Bb
3 4
4 4
Vib.
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
Vc.
p
Pno.
de
cay!
When
doth man
de
cay!
When
4 4
Fl.
ord.
doth man
ord.
mf
3 4
4 4
83
3 4
S
clothes
are
tak en
from
a
chest
of
4 4 sweets
3 4
A
clothes
are
tak en
from
a
chest
of
sweets
3 4
4 4
Cl. in Bb
3 4
4 4
Vib.
3 4
4 4
Vc.
3 4
ord.
4 4
3 4 p
mf
4 4 p
3 4
swad dle
to
swad dle
4 4
Fl.
Pno.
to
mf
4 4
10 87
2 4
S
in fants,
whose young breath
scarce
knows
the
way;
Those
2 4
A
in fants,
whose young breath
scarce
knows
the
way;
Those
Fl.
2 4
Cl. in Bb
2 4 2 4 p
Pno.
mf
pp
2 4
91 S
2 4 clouts
A
3 4 are
2 4 clouts
lit
tle
wind
ing
3 4 are
3 4
Cl. in Bb
2 4
Vib.
Vn.
3 4 sheets
4 4 lit
2 4
Fl.
4 4
tle
wind
ing
3 4 sheets
4 4
3 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
2 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
2 4
3 4
4 4
5
poco portato
3 4
pp
2 4 Pno.
3 4
4 4
3 4 mf
2 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
11 94 S
3 4 which do con
signe
and
send them
un to
death.
which do con
signe
and
send them
un to
death.
3 4
A
Fl.
3 4
Cl. in Bb
3 4
Vib.
3 4 3 4
Pno.
p
3 4
98
mf
p
Slightly relaxed q = 112 p
S
When boyes p
go
first
to
bed,
When boyes
go
first
to
When boyes
go
first
to
bed,
When boyes
go
first
to
A
Cl. in Bb p
p
Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t.
pp
Vn. ppp
108 S
bed,
They
step
in
to their vo
lun ta ry graves;
bed,
They
step
in
to their vo
lun ta ry graves;
A
Cl. in Bb Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t.
Vn. pp
12 117
mf
mp
S
Sleep
binds
them
mf
fast;
on
ly their breath
makes them not
dead.
on
ly their breath
makes them not
dead.
mp
A
Sleep
binds
them
fast;
Fl. mp Cl. in Bb mf
mp
Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t. Vn. pp Vc.
126 More relaxed q = 108
2 4
S
f
3 4
Suc ces sive nights,
2 4
A
f
2 4 f
Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t.
mp Vc.
3 4 mp
mf
2 4
3 4
2 4
3 4
sempre pp
Vn. f
mp
2 4
rol
like
rol
3 4
Suc ces sive nights,
Cl. in Bb
like
mf
3 4
13 134 S
ling
waves
Con
vey
them
ling
waves
Con
vey
them
A
wide, dusky vibrato
Fl. mp
6
6
sub. f
Cl. in Bb Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t. Vn. n
sf
n
sf
Vc. n
sf
n
6
6
139 sf
n
6
7
f
Pno.
sf
mf
S
quick sf
ly,
who
are
bound mf
quick
ly,
who
are
bound
A
Fl. 6
5
5
5
6
Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t. Vn. n
sf
n
mf
Vc. sf
Pno.
n
sf
n
sf
5
14 142
4 4
S
for
death.
4 4
A
for
death.
Fl.
4 4
3
5
4 4
Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t.
4 4
Vn. n
sf
n
sf
4 4
Vc. n
4 4
6
4 4
sf
4 4
4 4
7
frank and free,
3 4
4 4
3 4
Vib.
4 4
3 4 3 4 sf
and calls for
mu
sick,
and calls for
mu
sick,
and calls for
mu
sick,
and calls for
mu
sick,
4 4 4 4
ppp poss.
ppp poss.
very soft sticks
4 4
pp l.v.
4 4
4 4
4 4
frank and free,
Cl. in Bb
n
4 4
3 4 When youth is
Vc.
n
6
3 4 When youth is
Fl.
sf
6
146
A
n
7
Pno.
S
sf
ppp poss.
4 4
15 154 S
and calls for
mu
sick,
while his
veins
mu
sick,
while his
veins
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
do swell,
A
and calls for
3 4
do swell,
Fl. p Cl. in Bb p Vn. ppp poss.
p
ppp poss.
Pno.
160 S
A
Fl.
4 4 All day
ex chang ing mirth and breath in com pa nie;
that mu
sick,
that
All day
ex chang ing mirth and breath in com pa nie;
that mu
sick,
that
4 4
4 4 mp
Cl. in Bb
4 4 mp
Vib.
4 4 mp - pedal as slurred
Vn.
4 4 mp
4 4 Pno.
4 4
pp
16
166
3 4
S
mu
sick,
that
mu
sick
4 4 sum mons
to the
knell,
3 4
A
mu
sick,
that
mu
sick
4 4 sum mons
to the
knell,
Fl.
3 4
4 4
Cl. in Bb
3 4
4 4
Vib.
3 4
4 4
Vn.
3 4
4 4
171 S
4 4
A
4 4
Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t.
unis.
4 4 177
which shall be
friend
him
at
the
hou
re
of
death.
which shall be
friend
him
at
the
hou
re
of
death.
pp
3 4
S
When man pp
grows staid
and
wise,
get ting
a house
grows staid
and
wise,
get ting
a house
articulate but not accented
3 4
Fl. mf
mf
mf
articulate but not accented
3 4
Cl. in Bb precise durations; pedal each note medium yarn
mf
mf
mf
3 4
Vib. (damp) pizz.
3 4
Vn. p pizz.
3 4
Vc. p always very short notes
Pno.
may
Where he
may
3 4
A
When man
Where he
3 4 3 4
17
182 mf S
4 4
move
mf A
pp
3 4
When man
4 4
move
grows staid
and wise,
grows staid
and wise,
mf
mf
get ting
a house
Where he may
3 4 mf
mf
3 4
4 4
Cl. in Bb
Where he may
3 4
When man
mf
a house
pp
4 4
Fl.
get ting
mf
mf
mf
Vib.
4 4
3 4
Vn.
4 4
3 4
Vc.
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
Pno.
18
188
mf
4 4
S
move
pp
With
4 4
S
in the pp
With
mf
4 4
A
cir
cle
of
his
breath,
in p
the
cir
cle
of mp
3
move
School ing his eyes;
Fl.
4 4
Cl. in Bb
4 4
With
his
3
School ing
breath,
his eyes;
in
p
School
the
cir cle
With
in the
3
ing his eyes;
mf
mf
4 4
Vib.
arco
p Vn.
4 4
Vc.
4 4 4 4
Pno.
4 4
193 S
of
his
breath,
cir
cle
of
With
in
the
cir
cle
of his
breath,
With in
the
cir cle
of
With in
the
cir
cle
With in
the
S
mp
his
breath, p
mp
his
breath, mp
p
A 3
School ing his eyes;
3
3
School ing his eyes;
School ing his eyes;
3
School ing his eyes;
3
School ing his eyes;
mf - espress. 3
A
School ing his eyes; Vib.
Pno.
that dumbe
in clo sure
mak eth love
un to the
19 198
3 2
S
of
his
breath
When age
S
cir
cle
of his
p A 3
grows
low
and
3
School ing his
3 2
2 4
3 2
2 4
eyes;
When age
grows
low
and
3 2
A
cof
fin
weak,
breath mp
School ing his eyes;
2 4
that at tends
weak,
2 4
his death.
3 2
Fl.
dusky, wide vibrato 5
3
2 4
mp
3 2
Vib.
203 S
2 4
3
2 4
3
Fl.
grave
and
thaw ing ev ’ry yeare,
grave
and
thaw ing ev ’ry yeare,
4 4
Mark ing his
2 4
2 4
4 4
Mark ing his
A
soft mallets
3
4 4 p
Cl. in Bb
2 4
4 4
3
p Vib.
2 4
6
5
4 4 pp
Vn.
2 4
4 4
arco
p arco
Vc.
2 4
4 4 p
20
207
unis.
S
Till all do
melt,
and drown his breath,
when he would speak;
A chair
Till all do
melt,
and drown his breath,
when he would speak;
A chair
A
Fl. mp
5
mp
5
Cl. in Bb pp stay behind voices
p
pp
p
pp
Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t.
pp
Vib. 5
Vn. pp
p
pp
p
mp
Vc. mp very short notes
pp
Pno.
214 S
or lit ter shows the biere,
Which
shall
con
vey
him
to
the
house of death.
or lit ter shows the biere,
Which
shall
con
vey
him
to
the
house of death.
A
Cl. in Bb Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t. 5
Vn. 3
Vc.
Pno.
3
3
219
21
3
Fl. 5
7
6
3
Cl. in Bb 5
7
6
Vn.
Vc. n
sf
n
sf
6
7
mf
Pno.
n
6
6
221 Fl.
Cl. in Bb
5
3
5
3
5
5
3
Vib. p
mf steady, metronomic
Vn.
Vc. sf
n
sf
n
Pno.
223
3
3
3
Vib.
Vn.
Vc. sf
n
sf
n
sf
n
sf
n
6
Pno.
5
7
6
6
7
f
sf
22
227
Slower q = 96 p
2 2
S
Man, p
ere he is
Man,
ere he is Alto Flute
a
3 2
ware,
Hath
2 2
A
A. Fl. in G
a
mp
to geth er
a som em
Hath
put
to geth er
4 4
3 4
4 4
ni tie,
3 2
ware,
Vib.
put
3 4
a som em
ni tie,
2 2
3 2
3 4
4 4
2 2
3 2
3 4
4 4
p
234 S
4 4
A
4 4
A. Fl. in G
4 4
Bs. Cl. in Bb
4 4
3 2 Man,
ere he is a
ware,
Man,
ere he is a
ware,
Hath
put
to geth er
a som em
ni tie,
Hath
put
to geth er
a som em
ni tie,
3 2
3 2
3 4
3 2
3 4
3 2
3 4
3 2
3 2
3 4
3 2
3 2
3 4
3 2
3 2
And drest his
And drest his
3 2 n
3 4
mp
p
4 4 Pno.
4 4
mp p
241
3 4
S
hearse, while he has breath
as yet to spare.
Yet
Lord,
hearse, while he has breath
as yet to spare.
Yet
Lord,
3 4
A
5
A. Fl. in G
5
5
3
mp
5
3 4 5
5
Bs. Cl. in Bb
3 4
mp poco sul pont.
5
5
5
3 4
Vn. mp
mf poco sul pont. 3
3
3
3
Vc. mp
Pno.
mf
3
3
3 4 3 4 3 4
23
246 S
3 4
A
3 4
4 4 in
in
A. Fl. in G Bs. Cl. in Bb
3 4
struct us
so
to die
struct us
so
to die
4 4
5
4 4
3 4
5
5
3
mp
4 4
5 5
5
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
mp
Vn.
5
3 4
5
5
ord.
4 4
mp Vc.
3 4
4 4
ord.
3
Pno.
mf
3
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
4 4
3 2 all these
dy
ings
4 4 4 4
may
be
life
in
death.
may
be
life
in
death.
3 2 all these
dy
ings
3 2 mp
Vn.
4 4
3 2 pp
Vc.
Pno.
3
4 4
That
Bs. Cl. in Bb
mf
3 4
That A
3
mp
251 S
3
3
3
5
4 4
3 2
4 4
3 2
4 4
3 2
pp 3
mp
24
259
mp
S
Lu mp A
Lu
A. Fl. in G mf - espress. Bs. Cl. in Bb mp
Vn. mp
Subito q = 138 266 mp
rit. poco a poco al fine mf
S
How mp
How mf
A
How
How
A. Fl. in G f
mp
f articulate, almost electronic decay
Bs. Cl. in Bb
Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t.
mf
p
mf
p
Vc. f
Subito q = 138
Pno.
f
rit. poco a poco al fine
mp
f
25
271
3 4
S
p
4 4
mf
How
3 4
A
p
4 4
mf
How A. Fl. in G
3 4
Bs. Cl. in Bb
3 4
4 4 mp
4 4
3 4
Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t.
3 4
4 4
Vc.
3 4
4 4 mp
3 4
S
mf
p
mf
p
mf espress.
f
mp
f
mp
4 4 mp
3 4 276
mp
4 4
Vn.
Pno.
f
4 4
3 4
p
3 4
p
4 4
mp
4 4
mp
How A
How
3 4
A. Fl. in G f
3 4
Bs. Cl. in Bb mf Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t.
4 4 mp
p
3 4 mf
4 4
Vn.
3 4
4 4
Vc.
3 4
4 4 mp
3 4 Pno.
f
3 4
mp
mf
p
mf
p
4 4
p
f
f
f
mp
f
mp
4 4 mp
4 4
26
280
f
5 4
S
How
f
5 4
A
How
5 4
A. Fl. in G f
Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t.
How
soon
mp
mf
How
soon
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4 f
5 4
4 4
p
n
5 4 mf
mf
p
Bs. Cl. in Bb mf
mp
3 4 mf
p
4 4
p
n
3 4 mf
p
Vib.
5 4
4 4
3 4
Vn.
5 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
n
f
mp
5 4
Vc. f
Pno.
f
p
p
f
5 4
4 4
5 4
4 4
3 4 f
3 4
27
285 S
A
A. Fl. in G
3 4
Trg. Bk. Dr. Tam-t.
Vib.
soon?
how
soon?
3 4
3 4 mp
Bs. Cl. in Bb
how
f
3
n
3 4 mf
p
mf
p
3 4 3 4 pp
Vn.
3 4 n
Vc.
3 4 mp
f
mp
f
3
n
3 4 Pno.
3 4
mp