Iain Bell
A Litany in Time of Plague Concert Ayre for mezzo-soprano and chamber ensemble
FULL SCORE 12th May 2015
Chester Music
CH83809 Š 2015 Chester Music Limited Published in Great Britain by Chester Music Limited Head Office: 14-15 Berners Street London W1T 3LJ England Tel +44 (0)20 7612 7400 Fax +44 (0)20 7612 7549 Sales and hire: Music Sales Distribution Centre, Newmarket Road Bury St. Edmunds Suffolk IP33 3YB England Tel +44 (0)1284 702600 Fax +44 (0)1284 768301 www.musicsalesclassical.com All Rights Reserved Printed in Great Britain No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior permission of Chester Music Limited.
Commissioned by Freunde und FĂśrderer der Musikalischen Akademie des Bayerischen Staatsorchesters. First performance 20 July 2015 at Haus der Kunst as part of the Munich Opera Festival 2015 with Tara Erraught (mezzo-soprano) and members of the Orchestra Academy of the Bayerisches Staatsorchester, conducted by Constantinos Carydis.
DURATION c. 9’
SCORING Mezzo-soprano Piccolo Flute Oboe Clarinet in Bb Bassoon Horn in F Trumpet in Bb Tenor Trombone
2 Violins Viola Violoncello
Score is notated in C, with the usual octave transposition for Piccolo.
Performance Note: Metronome markings are advisory; tempi may be changed at the discretion of singer and conductor to suit the performance space. Trills are semitonal to the note above, unless stated otherwise. At the end of hairpins dynamics should rise or fall to the one immediately above or below, unless stated otherwise. Brass mutes are all straight mutes.
A Litany in Time of Plague
(1600)
Adieu, farewell, earth’s bliss; This world uncertain is. Fond are life’s lustful joys; Death proves them all but toys. None from his darts can fly. I am sick, I must die. Lord, have mercy on us! Rich men, trust not in wealth; Gold cannot buy you health. Physic himself must fade, All things to end are made, The plague full swift goes by. I am sick, I must die. Lord, have mercy on us! Beauty is but a flower Which wrinkles will devour. Brightness falls from the air. Queens have died young and fair; Dust hath closed Helen’s eye. I am sick, I must die. Lord, have mercy on us! Strength stoops unto the grave, Worms feed on Hector brave. Swords may not fight with fate. Earth still holds ope' her gate; “Come, come!” the bells do cry. I am sick, I must die. Lord, have mercy on us! Wit, with his wantonness, Tasteth Death’s bitterness. Hell’s executioner Hath no ears for to hear What vain art can reply. I am sick, I must die. Lord, have mercy on us! Haste, therefore, each degree, To welcome destiny; Heaven is our heritage, Earth but a player’s stage. Mount we unto the sky. I am sick, I must die. Lord, have mercy on us! Thomas Nashe (1567- 1601)
A LITANY IN TIME OF PLAGUE Text by THOMAS NASHE
IAIN BELL
Delicately sinister, creeping q = 56
Piccolo
Flute
4 4
p legato
4 4
3 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
p legato
Oboe
4 4
Clarinet in Bb
4 4
Bassoon
4 4
p legato
p legato
3
p
Horn in F
4 4
3 4
Trumpet in Bb
4 4
3 4
mute
p legato Trombone
4 4
3 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
Mezzosoprano
4 4
3 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
Violin I
4 4
3 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
Violin II
4 4
3 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
Viola
4 4
3 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
Delicately sinister, creeping q = 56
Cello
pizz. p
1
10
poco accel. a tempo
2 4
Picc.
4 4
pp
2 4
Fl.
p
p
4 4 p
mp
2 4
Ob.
4 4
pp
p
2 4
Cl.
mp
4 4 mp
pp
2 4
Bsn.
4 4 3
2 4
Tbn.
p
3
mp
p
4 4
mute p
p p
2 4
M-S A
© 2015 Chester Music Limited
dieu,
fp
4 4 fare
well,
CH83809
earth’s
bliss;
p
This world un cer
tain
is.
05/2015
2 16
Picc. p
Fl. mp
p
Ob. p
Cl. pp Bsn. pp
Hn. p
mp
Tpt. pp
mp
Tbn. mp
pp mp 3
M-S Fond
are life’s
lust
ful
joys;
Death
proves
them all
but
poco rit. 20
2 4
Picc.
4 4 mf
p
2 4
Fl.
2 4 2 4 p
p
mf
p
mf
4 4 mf
Cl.
4 4 mf
p
4 4 p
mf
2 4
Tbn.
mf
p
2 4
Bsn.
mf
4 4 pp mp
2 4
M-S toys.
None
from his
p
4 4 mf
Ob.
mf
darts
can
mp fp
4 4 fly,
fly.
I
p
am
3
2 24
q = 50
accel.
Picc.
Fl. p
Ob. p
Cl. pp Bsn. p
pp
mp M-S sick,
2
I
must
die.
Lord, have
mer
cy on us!
Rich
q = 50
accel.
arco con sord., poco vibr. Vln. II pp arco con sord., poco vibr. Vla. pp con sord., poco vibr. Vlc. pp
3 29
Greater urgency q = 72
Picc. p
Fl. pp
Cl.
Bsn.
M-S men,
3
Greater urgency q = 72
Vln. II
Vla.
pizz. Vlc. p
trust
not in
wealth;
Gold
can
not,
can
not
buy
you
4 32
Picc. mp Fl. mp
p
Ob. p
mp
Cl. p
mp Bsn.
p
mp Tpt. p Tbn. p
mp
M-S health.
Phy sic him self must fade,
All things to end are made,
the
plague
full
swift
goes
poco a poco piĂš vibr. Vln. II p
mp poco a poco piĂš vibr.
Vla. p
mp
Vlc. mp
Solemn q = 56
4 36
Picc. mf
Fl. mf 3
Ob. mf
p
Cl. mf
Bsn. mf
p
Tbn. mf fp
mp
3
* M-S by.
I
am
sick,
4
molto vibr.
Solemn q = 56
Vln. II mf molto vibr.
poco vibr.
Vla. mf
p
Vlc. mf * pulse repeated notes, rather than separate as staccato.
I
must
die.
5 40
Ob.
3
3
Bsn. 3
p M-S Lord, have
mer
cy on
us!
con sord., molto vibr. Vln. I p (con sord.) molto vibr. Vln. II p
Vla. arco poco vibr. Vlc. p
5 46
Tender, fragile q = 66 mp
3
3
6
3
M-S Beau
5
ty
is
but
a
flow
er,
beau
ty
a
flow
er,
flow
er
which
Tender, fragile q = 66
Vln. I (molto vibr.) Vln. II p
molto vibr.
Vla. p
accel., surge forward
52
rall.
a tempo
Bsn. mp
Tbn. p mp
3
M-S wrin
kles
will
de
vour.
Bright
ness
falls
from
the
air.
accel., surge forward poco a poco sul pont.
Queens
rall.
s.p. poco a poco pi첫 trem. e nat.
a tempo nat., molto vibr.
Vln. I mf poco a poco sul pont.
s.p. poco a poco pi첫 trem. e nat.
poco a poco sul pont.
s.p. poco a poco pi첫 trem. e nat.
p
f nat., molto vibr.
Vln. II mf
f
p
nat. pizz.
arco nat., molto vibr.
Vla. mf s.p. poco a poco pi첫 trem. e nat.
f nat. pizz.
Vlc. mp
mf
f
p
have
6
accel., surge forward
57
rall.
a tempo
Picc. p
Fl. p
Bsn. p
mp M-S died
young and
fair,
fair;
Dust hath closed
He len’s eye.
vibr. ord. Vln. I f
mp
f
mp
p espress.
Vln. II
vibr. ord. Vla. f
p espress.
arco nat., molto vibr. Vlc. p
6
mf
p
q = 56
rall.
molto accel.
65
Picc. pp Fl.
Cl. pp
pp
pp
pp
p
p
Bsn.
(mute) Tpt. pp open, play into music stand Tbn. p
p
pp
3
M-S I
6
am
sick,
I
q = 56
rall.
must
die.
Lord,
have
mer
cy on us!
molto accel.
Vln. I p
Vln. II p pizz.
arco
p
p
Vla.
vibr. ord. senza sord. Vlc. pp
p
7
Menacing, insistent q = 80
7
(accel.) 71
Picc. p
p
Fl. mp
p
mp
p
Ob. p
p
Cl. mp
mp
mp
p
Bsn. mp
p
Tpt. p
p
p
ord. Tbn. p
mf
3
M-S Strength
7
(accel.)
stoops
un to the
grave;
Worms
feed
on Hec
tor
brave.
Menacing, insistent q = 80
Vln. I
Vln. II
Vla. mp
p
mp
al talone
3
Vlc. mp
3
p
3
8
75
accel.
Picc. mp
Fl. mp
mp
mp
Ob. mp
Cl. mp
mp
mp
Bsn. mp
mp
mp
Hn. p
Tpt.
Tbn. p
M-S Swords
may
not
fight with fate.
Earth
still
holds
ope’
her
accel. Vln. I
al talone, senza sord.
3
3
3
Vln. II mp
mp
mp
Vla. mp
3
3
3
3
3
Vlc. mp
mp
mp
9
80
Urgent q = 128
(accel.)
Picc. mf
Fl.
Ob. mf
Cl. mf
Bsn. mp
mf
mf
mf
f
Hn. mp
Tpt. mp
Tbn. mp
f M-S gate;
“Come,
come,
come!”
the bells
do
cry.
Urgent q = 128
(accel.) Vln. I
3
3
3
3
3
Vln. II mp
mf
al talone, senza sord.
mf
mf
3
3
mf
3
3
Vla. mf
3
mf
3
mf
3
mf
3
3
Vlc. mp
mf
mf
mf
mf
10
rall.
q = 60
8
85
Picc. f
p
mp
Fl. mp
p
Ob. f
p
f
p
Cl.
Bsn. p
Hn. p
f Tpt. f
p
Tbn. f
p mp
M-S I
am
sick,
8
rall.
q = 60
Vln. II ff
3
3
3
3
Vla. ff 3
3
Vlc. p
ff
90
Picc.
3 4
Fl.
3 4 p
3 4
breathe as necessary Cl. pp
3 4
Bsn. p
3 4
Hn. p
3 4
Tpt. pp
3 4
Tbn. pp
p
3
3 4
M-S I
must
die.
Lord,
Lord
have
mer
cy on us!
ord.
3 4
Vln. II ord.
p
3 4
Vla. p
pp
ord.
3 4
Vlc. ppp
11
9 97
Fl.
Agitated, fitful q = 88
3 4
2 4
mf
mp
3 4
Cl.
2 4
3 4
4 4 mp
4 4
4 4 mp
mp
3 4
2 4
4 4
(repeated quavers played as pulses, not distinct notes)
3 4
3
2 4
4 4 mp
mute with hand
4 4
mp
3 4
Tpt.
2 4
3 4
Tbn.
3 4
M-S
mf
with his wan ton ness,
9 Agitated, fitful 3 pizz. 4
q = 88
3
2 4
p
mp
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
p 3
4 4
Tast eth Death’s
bit ter ness,
bit
ter
ness.
Hell’s
ex
e
cu tion er
Hath
no,
no
4(snap) 4
3 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
3 4
4 4
mp
mp
3 4
Vln. II
3
2 4
Wit,
Vln. I
3
4 4
4 4
mp
p
mp
open
3 4
4 4
2 4
p
3 4
p
Hn.
p
3 4
3
mf
Bsn.
3
4 4
mp
3 4
Vla.
mp
3 4
Vlc.
mp
q = 56
10 102
Fl.
4 4
3 4 mf
Ob.
Cl.
p
mp
4 4
3 4
4 4 mp
p
mf
4 4
3 4 mf
Bsn.
mp
4 4
mp
mf
with Viola (breathe as necessary)
4 4
mp
4 4
p
3 4
4 4 f
Tpt.
4 4
3 4
4 4 p
M-S
4 4
3 4 ears
Vln. II
4 4
for to hear
What
3 4
fp
4 4 vain
4 4
art
can re ply.
I
am
mp
sick,
10
q = 56
f sul tasto, poco a poco sul pont. Vla.
4 4
3 4
4 4 f
Vlc.
4 4
3 4
4 4 f
p
I
must
12 108
Picc. p Fl. p
Cl.
Bsn. p
Tbn. pp 3
M-S die.
Lord,
have
mer
cy
on
us!
arco, senza sord.
Vln. I p Vln. II p s.p., poco a poco nat.
nat.
Vla. pizz. Vlc. p
112
poco accel.
11
Brisk, brimming with joy q = 72
Picc.
Fl.
Cl. p Bsn. p open Tpt. p Tbn. p mf M-S Haste,
poco accel.
11
Brisk, brimming with joy q = 72
Vln. I
Vln. II
Vla.
arco Vlc. p
13 114
Cl.
Bsn.
Hn. pp Tpt. pp Tbn.
M-S haste,
there
fore,
each
de
Vln. I
Vln. II
Vla.
Vlc.
116
Ob. mp Cl.
Bsn.
Hn.
Tpt.
Tbn.
M-S gree,
to
wel
come des
ti
ny;
Vln. I
Vln. II mf Vla. mf Vlc. mf
14 118
Ob.
Cl.
Bsn.
Hn.
Tpt.
Tbn.
3
M-S Hea
ven
is
our
Vln. I
Vln. II mf Vla. mf Vlc. mf
120
Ob.
Cl.
Bsn.
Hn.
Tpt.
Tbn.
M-S he
Vln. I
Vln. II
Vla.
Vlc.
ri
tage,
Earth
but
a
15 122
Fl. mp
mp
Ob.
Cl.
Bsn.
Hn.
Tpt.
Tbn.
M-S play er’s
stage.
Vln. I
Vln. II p Vla. p Vlc. p
12 124
Fl.
Ob. mp Cl. mp Bsn. mp
Hn. mp Tpt. mp Tbn. mp M-S Mount
we,
mount
12 Vln. I mf Vln. II mp Vla. mp Vlc. mp
we
un
to
the
16
126
accel.
Picc. mp
Fl.
Ob.
Cl.
Bsn.
Hn.
Tpt.
Tbn.
M-S sky,
mount
accel. Vln. I
Vln. II mf
mp
mf
mp
mf
mp
Vla.
Vlc.
we.
I
am
17
With wild abandon q = 88
128
Picc.
Fl.
Ob.
Cl.
Bsn.
Hn.
Tpt.
Tbn.
M-S sick,
With wild abandon q = 88 Vln. I
Vln. II mf
Vla. mf
Vlc. mf
I
must
18 130
Picc. f
Fl. f
Ob. f
Cl. f
Bsn. f
* Hn. mf
* Tpt. mf
* Tbn. mf
M-S die.
Vln. I f
Vln. II f
Vla. f
Vlc. f * brass must NOT overwhelm the climax
19 132
(q = 52)
rall.
Picc.
Fl.
Ob. p
Cl. p
Bsn. p
Hn. p
Tpt. p
Tbn. p
M-S
rall.
punta d’arco
Vln. I pp
Vln. II
Vla.
Vlc. pp
(q = 52)
20 135
13
rit.
Solemn, desolate q = 60
(solo)
Cl. p (solo) Bsn. pp
p
mp M-S I
am
sick,
13
rit.
I
must
die.
Lord,
Lord
have
mer
cy.
Lord, have
Solemn, desolate q = 60
Vln. I punta d’arco
Vln. II pp (solo) Vla. p dolce e legato
pp
Vlc.
142
(solo)
Picc. pp
Cl.
Bsn.
M-S mer
cy,
mer
cy.
Lord,
have
mer
cy
on
us!
Vln. I pp
Vln. II pp
Vla.
Vlc.
London, February 2015