SAMPLE
EDITION WILHELM HANSEN WH30693
Per Nørgård
SEADRIFT for Soprano and Ensemble
Score
Dedicated to the ensemble Sub Rosa
Per Nørgård
SEADRIFT 1977-78
for soprano and ensemble
Text by Walt Whitman
Premiered by the ensemble Sub Rosa at the NUMUS Festival, Aarhus 9 May 1978
NEW EDITION 2006, WH 30693 replacing earlier edition WH 30008, © 1990
Score
Duration: c. 16 min.
Ensemble Soprano Violin Flute db. Picc. Fl. and Bass Fl. Violoncello Piano Guitar Percussion Small Bells, 4 Congas, 4 Cymbals (susp.), Vibraphone, Flexatone (or "Saw")
SEADRIFT is also available in a version for renaissance/baroque instruments: sop vl/recorder(s) db. crumhorn/viol hpsd/theorbe (or lute)/perc
Per Nørgård SEADRIFT 1977-78 for soprano and ensemble
Preface In Walt Whitman’s great poem SEADRIFT (Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking) from 1855 the situation is recreated where the boy Walt is first called to be a poet. Walt follows the life and fate of two seabirds on the desolate coast of Paumanok in New England. He experiences their happiness at being together and suffers later on with the deserted male, hearing his forlorn screeches. This juxtaposition is depicted in the two movements of the work: BEING TOGETHER and TORN APART; in the latter the happy memories fight with the sorrow and at last – desperation. Per Nørgård
Walt Whitman SEADRIFT Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking Shine! shine! shine! Pour down your warmth, great sun! While we bask, we two together. Two together! Winds blow south, or winds blow north, Day come white, or night come black, Home, or rivers and mountains from home, Singing all time, minding no time, While we two keep together. Blow! blow! blow! Blow up sea-winds along Paumanok’s shore; I wait and I wait till you blow my mate to me. Soothe! soothe! soothe! Close on its wave soothes the wave behind, And again another behind embracing and lapping, every one close, But my love soothes not me, not me. Low hangs the moon, it rose late, It is lagging — O I think it is heavy with love, with love. Shake out carols! Solitary here, the night’s carols! Carols of lonesome love! Death’s carols! Carols under that lagging, yellow, waning moon! O under that moon where she droops almost down into the sea! O reckless despairing carols. Hither my love! Here I am! Here! With this just-sustain’d note I announce myself to you, This gentle call is for you my love, for you.
Walt Whitman, 1855
NOTES ON NOTATION AND SPECIAL FEATURES 1) Metrics This version of the score (NEW EDITION 2006, WH 30693) is a fully metric version, as opposed to the earlier version (WH 30008, 1990) which occasionally employed the socalled “golden” rhythmic notation, approximating rhythmically the proportions of the Golden Mean, as illustrated in the (approx.) proportions of 1-2-3-5-8-13 etc. An approximation of the golden proportion is indicated by the occasional comma (slight delay) or grace-note (slight anticipation).
2) Alternative instruments If a performance with renaissance/baroque instruments (all or some) is prepared, please observe the following: The present score is used also for the “old” version, as the soprano part is identical. The relevant parts include appendixes detailing the changes necessary for each “old” version part. The “old” version pitch is traditionally lower than contemporary concert pitch at A=440; “old” pitch is A=415, a half-tone lower than concert pitch. The pitched percussion has appendix with part transposed a half tone down, while the other instruments adjust by scordatura or by ear. A transposing keyboard with harpsichord sound may be used.
Per Nørgård SEADRIFT has been recorded several times: (listing in chronological order)
Bodil Gümoes, soprano with the ensemble Sub Rosa, Aarhus (ancient instruments) on the LP entitled DEN HIMMELSKE OG DEN JORDISKE KÆRLIGHED (The Heavenly and The Earthly Love) LP NO. 1001
Norma Enns, soprano with ensemble from the Hamburg Radio Symphony Orchestra on the all-Nørgård CD entitled SEADRIFT on the label Koch Schwann CD NO. 3-6765-2
Bente Vist, soprano with ensemble on the label dacapo CD NO. 8.226067 This all-Nørgård CD records also NOVA GENITURA and FONS LAETITIAE
I BEING TOGETHER page 1
II TORN APART page 19
SEADRIFT I. BEING TOGETHER ( 60) [poco string.]
Per Nørgård, 1978
a tempo ten.
Soprano Shine! Shine!
Shine!
Shine! Shine!
Shi(ne)
Violino
Flauto
Violoncello
Pianoforte
Chitarra 8
Percussione
5
ten.
Sopr. (i)
shn
ishnee
i
Pour
down
your warmth,
0
Vl. Fl. trem.
Vc.
Pno.
l.v.
l.v.
Chit. 8
Perc.
2
9
ten.
Sopr. great
sun!
While
we
0
ten.
Vl.
Fl. Vc.
Pno.
Chit. 8
Perc.
meno
14
Sopr. bask,
we two
to
ge
ther.
Two
Vl. meno
sub.
Fl. meno 0
Vc. meno
l.v.
Pno.
Chit. 8
Perc.
sub.
3
18
grand vibrato
Sopr. to
ge-
to
ge
ther
to
ge
(e)
the(r)
Vl. cresc. sempre
Fl.
Vc. quasi eco
Pno.
Chit. 8
Perc.
1/4 tone vibr.
22
(vibr. ord.)
cresc.
Sopr. -er
two
two
two
to
Vl.
Fl. quasi rco
Vc.
Pno.
Chit. 8
Perc.
cresc.
4
28
Sopr. ge
ther,
two
to
ge
ther,
two
to
to
ge
ge
ther,
two
to
ge
Vl. ten.
Fl.
Vc.
Pno.
Chit. 8
Perc.
32
Sopr. to
Vl.
Fl.
Vc.
Pno.
Chit. 8
Perc.
ge
ther,
two
to
ge
ther,
ther,
5
36
Pi첫 lento (
dim.
90)
Sopr. ther,
to
ge
ther,
to
ge
ther!
Vl.
Fl. sub.
Vc.
Pno.
Chit. 8
Small Bells
15
Perc.
40
Sopr. Winds blow
Vl.
Fl.
Vc.
Pno.
Chit. 8
15
Perc.
Small Bells
south, or
winds
blow
north,
6
44
Sopr. Day
come white,
or
night
come
black,
Home, or
ri
vers and moun tains from home,
Vl.
Fl.
Vc.
Pno.
Chit. 8
15
Small Bells
Perc.
47
Sopr. Sing
Vl.
Fl.
Vc.
Pno.
Chit. 8
15
Perc.
ing all time,
mind
ing no time, Sing
ing
all time,
mind
ing
no time,
Sing
7
49
Sopr. ing,
While we
two
keep
to
ge ther.
Vl. cresc.
Fl. Vc. cresc.
3
Pno.
Chit. 8 15
Small Bells
Perc.
52 gliss.
Sopr. Close
on
its
wave
soo
thes
the wave
be
hind,
Vl.
Fl. Vc.
Pno.
l.v.
Chit. 8
Perc.
l.v.
8
55
Sopr. And
a
no
ther
be
hind
em
bra
Vl.
Fl.
Vc.
l.v.
Pno.
l.v.
Chit. 8
Perc.
59
Sopr. cing
and
lap
ping,
close,
Vl.
Fl.
Vc.
Pno.
Chit. 8
Perc.
l.v.
close,
e
very
one
close,
close,
9
(dim. a niente)
63
(cresc. da niente)
Sopr. close
to
ge ther,
to
ge
(e)
ther,
Vl.
Fl.
Vc. (eco)
Pno.
Chit. 8
Perc.
1/4 tone vibr.
67
(vibr. ord.)
Sopr. (er)
two,
two
to
Vl. cresc.
Fl.
Vc. sim.
Pno.
Chit. 8
Perc.
10
71
ten.
Sopr. to
ge
ther,
two
to
ge
ther,
two
to
ge
ther,
two
Vl. ten.
Fl. ten.
Vc.
Pno.
Chit. 8
Perc.
76
Sopr. to
ge
ther,
two
to
ge
ther
two
Vl.
Fl. ten.
Vc.
Pno.
Chit. 8
Perc.
11
80
Sopr. to
ge
ther!
Vl.
Fl. Vc.
Pno.
Chit. 8
4 Congas) I
independente (sempre in tempo)
Perc. IV
85
grazioso
Sopr. Day,
Vl.
Fl.
Vc.
Pno.
Chit. I - IV: cresc. pochissimo
Perc.
a
come