Thomas PRAIRIE SKETCHES I: DIAMONDS ON ORCHID VELVET...

Augusta Read Thomas

PRAIRIE SKETCHES I ...diamonds on orchid velvet‌

Full score

from the G. Schirmer Rental Library Date of Printing_________

G. Schirmer, Inc. New York, NY

Augusta Read Thomas

PRAIRIE SKETCHES I ...diamonds on orchid velvet‌

Commissioned by Suzann Zimmerman for the Chicago Kinder Voices

G. Schirmer, Inc. New York, NY

Instrumentation Flute Oboe Clarinet in B= Percussion (1 player) High pitched metallophones: Bar 139-147, 2 octaves of Crotales and Bar 148186, 2 octaves of Temple Gongs (Japanese Rin). The Rin are available from the composer, or can be substituted with bowed vibraphone, pedal sempre, motor on slow.

N.B.: in bars 148 through 186 the “x” noteheads represent the full range of the Temple Gongs. Strike these instruments freely, resulting in an elegant and graceful resonance. Never dampen, “sempre l.v. molto.” This should be rubato, floating, and not motoric. Use many grace notes. Play Major Sevenths, Minor Seconds and Major Sixths and Minor Thirds more than other intervals. The desired sound is a reverberant glow. The player can simply count 39 bars and basically improvise for that duration.

Harp Solo Soprano (light lyric, slightly coloratura) Small Chorus (women with or without children; 3 to 5 women’s voices with 6 to 18 children’s voices is suggested) Violin Violoncello duration ca. 12 minutes Transposed Score Grace notes come before the beat Chorus may stagger breathing when necessary.

Whenever possible this work should be played in a very resonant concert hall, a church, or a cathedral. A dry acoustic is not desirable.

Seating arrangement for performance with women’s voices only.

Seating arrangement for performance with women and children.

Chorus

Percussion

Percussion

Clarinet Harp

Clarinet

Flute

Oboe

Harp Flute

Oboe

Violin

Violoncello Soprano

Violin

Violoncello

Conductor

Soprano Conductor

Audience

Audience Chorus

If the chorus consists solely of women’s voices they should be seated on stage with the other performers.

When the chorus involves children (and depending on the acoustics of the hall) the chorus should be seated at the very back of the hall behind the audience. It should be a surprise when they enter. For some performances it may be necessary to employ two conductors, one for the Chorus and one for the Players.

PRAIRIE SKETCHES On a Kansas prairie plain, green blades stand tall and silent Refrain: My Soul, breathe deep awash in silken sunlight gazing toward morning skies in quiet splendor.

The stillness of dawn’s glow spreads one timeless gaze.

Refrain: My Soul, breathe deep At a moment’s wisp of wind, the whisper silence is broken as a gentle sway moves across the great expanse, grasses once still are as a sea foam of waves dashing against the shoreline of a cornflower blue sky.

in the waning daylight hours.

Refrain: My Soul, breathe deep and drink the near-silent fragrance.

As evening turns to dusk splendid grasses arrayed with wild flower patches will rest, as night-watch stars take up canvassed formations. And for a time all aglow, they pierce the black night sky like diamonds on orchid velvet.

Bathed in misty morning air, they fade in sunlight brilliance of morn once again revealing slender green blades washed in daylight’s dawning mist.

Awaiting the Willow-wisp’s song, the sea green field, dotted with patch quilt colors takes up a ballet of graceful movement, as wind sweeps across land that time has graced.

The dance begins.

Sounds of rustling prairie current hold sway

—Suzann Zimmerman used by permission

to Suzann Zimmerman with admiration and gratitude

PRAIRIE SKETCHES I …diamonds on orchid velvet…

Suzann Zimmerman

Rubato, sempre colla voce

Augusta Read Thomas (2004)

= 76–84

Flute

Oboe

Clarinet in B echo Percussion

Harp

DCB E FGA

D

Solo Soprano

On

a Kan

sas

prai

rie

plain,

green

Chorus

Violin echo Violoncello sub.

echo

7

espr.

3

Fl. cantabile echo harp Ob. echo Cl. in B echo Perc.

3

Hp.

E G

solo

D

C B F

ossia Solo Sop.

blades

stand

tall

and

si

lent

Ch.

Vn.

espr.

echo solo

Vc.

echo harp

Corrected 3/05 Corrected 10/06

Copyright © 2005 by G. Schirmer, Inc. (ASCAP) New York, NY International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved.

Warning: Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited by Federal law and subject to criminal prosecution.

espr.

Property of: G. Schirmer Rental Library Bellvale Road Chester, NY 10918 SUPPLIED ON LOAN ONLY

2 13 Fl.

Ob. echo Cl. in B

Perc.

Hp.

chant-like bell-like Solo Sop.

My Soul,

breathe

deep

Oh chant-like: very slight vibrato

Ch.

My Soul, solo Vn. 3

espr.

3

sul D

Vc.

19 Fl. solo Ob. brassy

echo

Cl. in B echo Perc.

solo

B G

Hp.

solo

solo

B F G

3

silky Solo Sop.

a

wash

in

silk

en

sun light

Ch.

breathe

deep sul A

Vn. echo Vc. echo

3 25 Fl. 3

3

dramatic

Ob. dramatic Cl. in B echo Perc.

solo

3

F G

Hp.

Solo Sop.

gaz ing toward

morn

3

ing

skies

div.

Ch.

ah sul A and E

sul A

Vn. pizz.

Vc.

30 Fl. smooth

3

3

Ob. 3

espr. espr.

Cl. in B smooth

3

3

Perc.

F

Hp.

C

prayerful calm Solo Sop.

in

qui

et

splen ah

sempre

dor. ah

The still ness

div. a3

Ch.

ah

ah

ah

sul D

Vn. arco Vc.

of

dawn’s glow,

4 35 Fl. sub.

Ob. 3

sub.

Cl. in B sub.

Perc.

E

Hp.

Solo Sop. 3

glow

oh,

spreads one

time

less

gaze.

div.

unis.

Ch.

glow

oh,

My Soul,

breathe

Vn. sub.

echo

Vc. 3

sub.

echo

40 Fl.

Ob.

Cl. in B

Perc.

Hp.

espr.

Solo Sop.

My Soul, breathe 3

deep

div.

Ch. 3

breathe

My Soul, breathe deep,

deep

Vn.

3

Vc. espr.

deep

5 45

a tempo

= 76–84

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. in B 3

Perc.

G

Hp.

3

B

D

3

elegant Solo Sop. 3

as

a

gen

tle

sway

Ch.

non vib.

Vn. echo

non vib.

Vc. 3

sub.

echo

49 Fl. sub.

Ob. sub. solo Cl. in B smooth

3

Perc. solo

slow roll

3

Hp.

D C B E G

D

Solo Sop. 3

moves

a

cross

the

Ch.

vib. norm.

Vn. sub. vib. norm.

Vc. sub., espr.

great

ex

panse,

6 55 Fl.

Ob.

Cl. in B

Perc.

(D C B EFGA)

G

Hp.

Solo Sop. div.

unis.

div.

lence

is

ken,

unis.

div.

Ch.

whis per

si

bro

moves

a

cross

the great

Vn. sul A Vc.

60 Fl. solo Ob. espr.

3

3

sub.

7:4

Cl. in B

Perc. solo 5

D C E G 5

Hp.

Solo Sop.

grass es Ch.

panse, poco vib.

Vn.

Vc.

once

still

are

ex

elegant (not machine-like) trill

7

gradually slow trill

65 Fl.

Ob. poss.

Cl. in B echo echo Vn. Perc.

8va

slow, dreamy gliss. l.v.

(D CB E FG A)

Hp.

B F G

3

Solo Sop.

as

a sea foamof

waves

Ch. vib. norm.

solo

Vn. rubato

3

5:4

espr.

Vc.

70 Fl. echo Ob.

Cl. in B

Perc.

D C

Hp.

Solo Sop. 3

dash ing Ch.

Vn.

Vc.

a

gainst

the shore

line

of

a

corn flow er blue

sky.

3

8

= 96–104

accel.

75

Fl.

3

sub.

6

dramatic

3

sempre

Ob. 3

bold frenetic, uneven, sporadic trill Cl. in B

Perc.

.

gliss

DC B E F G A

E

Hp.

Solo Sop.

Ch. sul E 8va

frenetic, uneven, sporadic trill Vn.

3

5

Vc.

= 116–126

79

3

Fl.

Ob.

3

Cl. in B

Perc.

6

Hp.

dramatic

C B E

Solo Sop. Ch. (non trem.)

Vn. arco Vc. 3

9 83 Fl.

3

3 3

Ob. 3

3

3

3

3

3

Cl. in B

3

3

Perc.

Hp.

Solo Sop.

ah Ch.

Vn. 3

3 3

Vc.

87 Fl. sub.

sub.

sub.

sub.

sub.

sub.

Ob.

Cl. in B

Perc.

Hp.

sub.

Solo Sop.

ah Ch.

Vn. sub.

Vc.

sub.

10 rit.

90 Fl. 6

5

sub.

5

sub.

Ob. sub.6

5 5

sub.

solo Cl. in B 6

sub.

5

5

6

sub.

Perc.

Hp.

3

F G

3

3

sub.

sub.

5

Solo Sop.

ah

6

5

unis.

sempre

Ch.

Oo

Vn.

5

6

sub.5

sub.

con sord.

3

3

Vc. 3

94

Smooth

= 76–84

Fl. echo Ob. echo Cl. in B espr.

Perc. solo

Hp.

C E

E

intimate 5:4

Solo Sop.

Sounds

of rus

tling

prai

rie

cur

rent sempre

Ch.

(Oo) Vn.

Vc. sempre

Oo

hold

sway

in the

wan

ing

11 100 Fl. sub., cantabile Ob.

Cl. in B

Perc.

Hp.

Solo Sop.

day

light

hours.

Ch.

My Soul,

breathe

deep

and

drink

con sord.

Vn. sub., cantabile Vc.

rit.

106 Fl. poss.

Ob.

Cl. in B Crotales, brass mallets

l.v. molto, sempre

3

Perc.

solo

Hp.

3

Solo Sop.

As Ch.

the near

si

lent

fra

grance.

Vn.

Vc. espr.

12 = 60–66

111 Fl.

espr.

Ob.

Cl. in B Crot.

Perc.

3

B A

Hp.

D

Solo Sop. 3

eve

ning

turns

to

dusk

splen did grass es

ar rayed with wild

flow er

Ch.

Vn.

Vc.

116 Fl. echo Ob.

Cl. in B echo 2 octaves of Temple Gongs (Japanese Rin) (Crot.)

3

3

sim.

3

Perc.

7:4

D E F

Hp.

floating Solo Sop.

patch es

will

rest,

ah echo

Ch.

ah sul A Vn.

Vc.

13 121 Fl.

Ob. 3

echo Cl. in B echo

(Gongs) Perc.

Hp.

sub.

Solo Sop. 3

as

night

watch

stars

take up

can vassed for

Ch.

Vn.

Vc.

126 Fl.

Ob.

Cl. in B

(Gongs) Perc.

slow

l.v. molto

gliss

.

Hp.

3

5:3

D C B EF GA

D B G

Solo Sop. 3

And

for a

time

all

a glow,

echo

Ch. sul A Vn.

Vc.

ah

ma

tions.

14 131 Fl. echo

solo Ob. 3

echo Cl. in B echo

(Gongs) Perc.

8va

slow, drea

my gliss.

(DC B EF G A )

Hp.

D B G A

Solo Sop.

they

div.

pierce

the black night

sky

Ch.

ah

Vn.

Vc.

136 Fl. echo Ob. echo Cl. in B echo (Gongs) Perc.

3

solo

Hp.

3

B E A 3

Solo Sop.

like Ch.

Vn.

Vc.

dia

monds

on

or

15

accel.

solo

140 Fl. solo Ob.

Cl. in B

(Gongs) Perc.

gliss.

8va

l.v.

(D C B E F GA )

Hp.

B

delicate

Solo Sop.

chid

vel

vet.

unis.

div. espr.

unis.

ah

Oo

sempre

Ch.

ah

via sord.

Vn. via sord.

Vc.

144

= 76–84

Fl. echo Ob.

Cl. in B (Gongs) Perc.

B E

Hp.

A

Solo Sop. 3

Bathed

in

mist y

div.

Ch.

(Oo)

Oo

Vn. senza sord.

Vc.

morn

ing

air,

they

fade

in

16 149 Fl.

Ob.

Cl. in B (Gongs) Perc.

Hp.

Solo Sop.

sun

light

bril

liance

of

3

morn

Ch.

Bathed

senza sord. solo Vn. 3

espr.

solo

5:4

Vc.

espr.

153 Fl.

Ob.

Cl. in B

l.v. molto

(Gongs)

gl

iss

.

Perc.

D C

Hp.

l.v.

l.v. s.

glis

D CB E F GA

E

Solo Sop. div. a3 sempre Ch.

in morn

Vn.

Vc.

ing,

they

fade

in sun

light

17 157

solo

Fl. (echo) Ob. (sempre ) Cl. in B

Perc. solo

G

Hp.

D C B

3

Solo Sop. 3

once

a

gain

re

veal

ing

slen der green blades

echo unis.

Ch.

ah

Vn.

Vc.

162 Fl.

Ob. solo Cl. in B

Perc.

Hp.

D E F G

Solo Sop. 5:4

washed

in

day

light’s

dawn

ing

mist.

Ch.

day Vn. espr.

Vc.

espr.

18 167 Fl. poss.

poss.

Ob.

Cl. in B

Perc. solo

3

F

Hp.

Solo Sop.

Ch.

light’s

ah

ah

A

wait

ing

Vn.

Vc.

171 Fl. 3

Ob.

Cl. in B

Perc.

B F Hp.

graceful Solo Sop.

Oh

takes up

a

bal

let,

Ch.

the

Wil

low

wisp’s

song,

oh

3

Vn.

Vc.

19 gradually slow trill

solo

175 Fl.

6

gradually slow trill

Ob.

Cl. in B

Perc.

Hp.

3

smooth Solo Sop. 3

bal

let

of

grace

ful

Ch.

Oo gradually slow trill Vn. solo Vc. espr.

rit.

180 Fl. 3

Ob. 3

Cl. in B

Perc.

Hp.

3

3

Solo Sop.

move

ment,

Ch.

3

Vn.

3

solo Vc.

3 3

20 184

Elegant

= 60–66

Fl. sub.

Ob.

Cl. in B

Perc.

D

Hp.

sempre Solo Sop. 3

as

wind

sweeps

a

cross

Ch.

Vn.

3

sub.

Vc. sub.

189 Fl. 3

poss.

poss.

Ob.

Cl. in B

Perc.

l.v. molto solo espr.

Hp.

espr.

Solo Sop.

land

that time

has

graced.

Ch.

ah solo

8va

sul E Vn. espr.

Vc.