flute quartet
Sean McFarland
2017
Program Note
“My name means the shape I am” is a declarative statement spoken by Humpty Dumpty in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass. Though humorous in its context, it evokes a strong naturalist view of semiotics, and is a direct refutation of the popular ideas that Saussure theorized before it. Carroll is arguing that names, even words themselves, are not objectively communicable symbols. But individually, they encapsulate shapes, feelings, preferences, experiences, essentially an infinitude of meaning. My Name Means the Shape That I Am attempts to explore three subjects: this notion of nameencapsulation, the formulation of contrarian thoughts, and the sound world that exists between the voice and the flute.
"I don't know what you mean by 'glory,' " Alice said. Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. "Of course you don't—till I tell you. I meant 'there's a nice knock-down argument for you!' " "But 'glory' doesn't mean 'a nice knock-down argument'," Alice objected. "When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less." "The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things." "The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master—that's all."
Alice was too much puzzled to say anything, so after a minute Humpty Dumpty began again. "They've a temper, some of them—particularly verbs, they're the proudest—adjectives you can do anything with, but not verbs—however, I can manage the whole lot! Impenetrability! That's what I say!
Legend NOTEHEADS
indicate notes to be sung by the voice at pitch. If it is not possible to sing this high, please sing an octave below. indicate notes to be sung by the voice and played at the same pitch on the flute. If it is not possible to sing this high, please sing an octave below. are voiced speech sounds at unspecified pitch. Use your nor mal speaking voice, if possible. noteheads are to be fingered, but not played, such that a tiny resonance occurs.
CLARIFICATION Consonant sounds (sh, p, t, s) are unvoiced. Consonant sounds with appended vowels (pa, zh, na, ma…) are voiced Words notated as whispers are unvoiced. For the most part, communicability of the text is not a priority in this piece. The pitches will primarily be made up of vowel sounds, while creating consonants before or after, much like standard singing technique. Faking consonants (“b” and “m” for example) is quite helpful. Section F, with sung words and x noteheads is to be clearly sung over the flute, such that a tiny resonance of the slashed notehead adds to the sound. Realistically, this pitch is more felt than heard.
It should be stated that the difficulty of some of these techniques is beyond the standard practice of flute playing. Serious attempts at the extended techniques is assumed. Because of the nature of these sounds, muddy, messy, and confusing results are guaranteed and encouraged.
Sean McFarland (2016)
My Name Means The Shape That I Am A
pensively, q = ca. 60
˙
° 4 &4
Flute 1
∑
Ó
Œ
Ó
#w
#œ
w
ppp
˙ & 44
Flute 2
∑
∑
∑
∑
Ó ppp
& 44
∑
∑
∑
∑
∑
Flute 3
4
¢& 4
∑
∑
∑
∑
∑
Flute 4
poco sfz
2 6
Fl. 1
° &
˙™
˙™
‰ #œJ w Ó
Œ
poco sfz
>¿ J‰Œ
B U œ
#˙ ™
#w >¿ ‰J‰‰Ó
w ∑
∑
∑
p
p
ppp
t poco sfz
˙™ Fl. 2
w >¿ Œ™ J Ó
Œ
&
poco sfz
œ ˙™
w >¿ ‰‰J‰Ó
U œ
˙™
∑
&
∑
Ó
Œ
∑
¢&
∑
∑
#w
˙
œ
sub. ppp
‰ œJ w
U Œ
Ó™
∑
Ó
ppp
Fl. 4
Π#w
p
s sh
Fl. 3
#˙ ™ ˙™
#w
w
ppp
U œ
#˙ ™
∑
∑
∑
∑
p
#w ppp
15
Fl. 1
° w &
w
µ˙™
#w
œ ‰
≈ nœj™ ˙™
œ ‰
≈ #œJ ™ ˙™
3
p
<#>œ Fl. 2
mp
œ
#œ
#˙ ™
#w
Œ
&
w
3
p
mp 5
Fl. 3
& w
w
˙™
˙
œ™ ‰ ˙
p
#˙ ™ Fl. 4
˙
˙
˙
˙
mp
œ œ
w
#w
¢& p
Ϫ
‰
˙ mp
Sean McFarland © 2016
2
20
nœ ™
accel. and cresc. to m. 26 Fl. 1
° Œ &
n˙
‰ #œj ˙
œ ˙
rœ #œ
œ ™™
œ
Œ
œ
œ
5 3
accel. and crsesc to m. 26 Fl. 2
Ϫ
#œ
Œ
& ˙™
nœ œ #œ œ ‰ J J
œ ˙ œ
#œ
nœ
Œ
j #œ
‰
accel. and cresc. to m. 26 Fl. 3
‰ ‰ œ™
& Ϫ
œ bœ
˙
bœ œ œ b >œ
œ
b˙
˙
œ 3
œ ‰ bœ œ œ J 3
3
accel. and cresc. to m. 26 Fl. 4
œ™ ¢&
‰ ‰ œ™
œ #œ
#œ œ ˙
b˙
˙
œ
œ #œ #œ
œ nœ œ ™ nœ œ 5
molto rit. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ϫ
24
Fl. 1
° œ œ œ &
#w
bœ œ J
#w
3
(ff) molto rit. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
nw Fl. 2
˙
˙
˙
œ œ œ#œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ¿
& 3
6
5
zi
(ff) 3
5
bœ Fl. 3
molto rit. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
œ œ ‰ nœ bœ œ œ œ œ bœ œ bœ ¿ #œ œ œ™ ¿ #œ œ œ œ œ œ œ #œ J
&
(ff)
œ
˙™
3
pa
zh
molto rit. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5
Fl. 4
¢& # œ ™
œ
Šj Ϫ
‰ œ
j #œ
‰ œ™
æ œæ
æ wæ
(ff)
C w 27
a tempo Fl. 1
5
° & #w
Ó
nw
#˙
mf
ff
a tempo Fl. 2
∑
& nw
˙™
Œ
#w
mf ff
#œ œ œ6 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ 5œ œ œ œ œ œ ¿ ¿ ¿
a tempo Fl. 3
BœJ
& nw
∑ nw
mf sha
puh
zi
ff a tempo Fl. 4
¢&
∑ w
µœJ
nw
æ œ™æ
mf ff
,j , æ æ #œæ nœæ™™
, ær œæ
3
#w
nw
#w
31
Fl. 1
° & œ
Fl. 2
&
œ œœ œ œ œ œ œ
bœ
bœ 6
˙ ææ
œ bœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ™ > >œ™ 6 ¿ ¿ ¿™ ‰ nœ #œ œ œ œJ ‰ ≈ œ™ J ≈ J
ah 5
#œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Fl. 3
≈
&
pa
tha
3
œ ¿
œ ¿
œ œ œ > œ
¿
3
na
Fl. 4
34
Fl. 1
Fl. 2
nœ
œ
Ó
#˙
n˙
œ
zi
nœ J
Ϊ
æ #˙æ
¢&
ma
˙
#œ #œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
n˙ ™
˙™
° &
#œ
& #˙
œ
#œ
˙
˙
b˙
Œ
œ bœ >œ œ œ b>œ ˙
#œ
3
œ œ J
3
3 3
Fl. 3
& bœ
œ
œ
œ
˙™
œ
œ
œ
œ bœ œ œ
˙
5 3
Fl. 4
¢& bœ œ œ >œ œ >œ œ œ >œ œ œ
Œ œ
˙™
bœ
˙
j bœ œ
37
Fl. 1
° w &
3
˙
œ
j œ œ
˙
j œ œ
˙
Œ œ
mf 3
Fl. 2
& <b>˙
n˙ ˙
œ
˙
mf
Fl. 3
& ˙™
‰
j œ
œ #œ
œ
œ œ œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
˙
Œ
pp
Fl. 4
¢& <b>˙ ™
Œ
˙
œ J
œ 3
mp
œ
˙
Ó
4
D 40
Fl. 1
° & ˙
‰
j œ
U bw
Œ œ
˙™
#w
nw
fp
Fl. 2
& ˙
Fl. 3
& ‰
˙™
œ J
U #w
w
Ó
U nw
b˙ ™
œ
∑
w
∑ nw fp
Fl. 4
¢& ‰
‰
‰
j œ
˙
˙
U w
˙
nw
#w
fp
rit. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - q = 52
E
3 45
Fl. 1
° & #˙ Ó
b
∑
Œ œ œœ œ6 ˙) œ mp
Fl. 2
™™ œ Œ ‰ œj œ œ œ œ œ œ™ œj œ œ œ œ ™ ‰ œ R œ™ œJ ˙ 3
b
& #w
∑
Ó
3
sha ma thee they p rit. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
oo
Œ #˙ ™
Ó Œ- - - - -
Œ
w
˙™
˙
Ó
Œ #˙ ™
Πw
˙™
Ó
˙
ppp rit. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 3
Fl. 3
b Œ ˙™
& nw
Œ
˙™
mp
Fl. 4
¢& Ó Œ œ b ˙ ppp
Ó
r Óœ6 ™™ œ6 )œ ™ œ )˙ J ah
∑
Ó Ó
œ œ™
Œ œ ˙™ Œ
˙
∑
p
∑
∑
∑
∑
bbbbb n˙
Ó
∑
∑
∑
p
55
Fl. 1
˙
œ œ œj œ ˙
p
° b j & - ‰ œ ˙
j j œ ‰ ‰ œ ˙
œ
Œ
Œ
œ
Ó ˙
my
Fl. 2
& b #˙ ™
Œ
Œ #˙
‰ œj ˙
œ >œ ™ œ œ œ œ bbbbb ‰ œJ œ œ œ
Ó
Œ
œ
mf
Fl. 3
& b Ó™
œ
‰ ‰ œj œ
Ϫ
˙™
Œ
3 bbbbb nœ œ œ œ
3
œ œ
‰ œj œ
Ó
mf 5
Fl. 4
I b Œ #˙ ™ ¢&
Œ
Œ #˙
‰ #œj ˙™
bbbbb Ó
nœ œ œ œ œ
œ
œ œ œ
mf 5
œ
5
60
Fl. 1
˙™
° bb b & bb w
_ Œ
∑
aim
Fl. 2
nape
-™
_
b & b bbb ˙ ™
Œ
-
Œ
-
_
Œ
sheen
Fl. 3
-
b & b bbb ˙
-
Œ
-
mi
-
-
-
Ó
-
- J -
-
-
-
as
-
si
- -
˙
_
Ó
ma
œ
Œ
3 3
am
name
I
shape my mp
that
shy
whisper Fl. 4
_
bb _ ¢& b b b
_
Œ
-
Œ
-. -.
Œ
-. -. -. -. -. - ™ -
Ó
6
maim
the
my name means the shape that
I
am
mp
F #
64
Fl. 1
° bb b œ Œ Ó & bb
Ó - -
-
I
the
am
-™ ‰ ≈ -™ - 6 ™ 6j 6 œ ™ œJ œ J
- - -™ - name I
shape
b _ & b bbb ˙
_™ Œ
shape
means
the
- Œ - - - - - -™ - -
_
Œ ‰ œj ˙
∑
I name
Fl. 2
Ó Ó
6œ#6œ #)˙
my
am name I
shape
- # <b>_ J
≈ -J ™ - - -™
my
that
means
Œœ œ˙
Œ
the
whisper
Fl. 3
Ó - - - - --_
b & b bbb œ Œ Ó
™ - - - - -™ ‰ - - - - - J
Œ ˙™
# --- -Œ Ó
Ó
3 3
my
name I
shape
means that
I
man aim shy ape thy tie
Fl. 4
_ _
bb ¢& b b b Ó Œ
_
_ Π-
maim
the
I
-Œ
° # j ‰ ‰ & œ
j œ ˙
œ
Œ
U Œ
6g
≈ 6gj ™™ J
Œ
)G
shape
# & œ
Œ œ
‰ œj
U Œ œ
Œ
œ
‰™
Œ
)G
shape
p
as if singing to yourself
)G™
Œ
‰
j 6g )G J
Œ
name that
p
# Fl. 3
∑
&
Ó
U Œ
Œ
Œ
as if singing to yourself
Œ
G)™™
‰
means
# ¢&
∑
Ó
U Œ
Œ
Ó
j 6g )G J I
p Fl. 4
Ó
slower, q = ca. 46, rubato as if singing to yourself p
my
Fl. 2
# b_
_™
name
72
Fl. 1
-
_
≈ 6gj™ 6g J™ the
as if singing to yourself
6g
Œ
‰™
r 6 g 6 g R am
r œ
6
76
Fl. 1
,
° #U & ˙™
6¿
≈ 6gj ™™ J
Œ
)G
my
Fl. 2
#U & ˙™
2 4
Ó
)G
U Œ
shape
)G ™™
Œ
≈ 6gj ™™ J
Œ
)G
my
j ‰ 6g ) ™ J G™
Œ
4 4
6g
2 4
shape
U 6g Œ
)G™
4 4
Œ
name that
name
# Fl. 3
∑
&
Œ
Œ
G)™™
j g6 G) J
‰
2 4
U g6 Œ
4 4
Œ
G)™™
means
means I
Fl. 4
# ¢& )G
Ó
≈ 6gj™ 6g J™
Ó
r g 6 6g R
‰™
Œ
6g
2 4
U 6g
4 4
g 6
≈ 6gj™ 6g J™
G )
the
the am
81
Fl. 1
° # & )G
Uj œ ‰
‰ ™ œr ˙
Œ
6g
≈ 6gj ™™ J
Œ
)G
my
Fl. 2
# j & ‰ 6g )G J
Uj œ ‰
Œ ˙
Œ
Ó
)G
shape
)G™
Œ
j ‰ 6g ) ™ J G™
name that
Fl. 3
# & Œ
that
j ‰ 6g ) J G
Ϊ
>j Uj œ œ ‰
)G
U ‰
Œ
Œ
I
Œ
G)™™
‰ g6j G) J
means I
Fl. 4
# ¢& 6g
r 6g 6g R
‰™
Œ
‰
Œ
≈ 6gj™ 6g J™
Ó
6g
r g 6 6g R
‰™
Œ
am the am
G rit. poco a poco. to end > > 4 ≈ œ œ ˙™ 4
85
Fl. 1
° #2 U & 4Œ
Œ
∑
∑
Œ
)˙™™ oo
Fl. 2
# U & 24 6g
4 4
œ
Œ
˙™
∑
‰ ‰ ‰ œj ˙
)w oo
Fl. 3
&
#2 U g 4 6
ŠϪj
4 4
Œ ˙
‰ œj
Ó œ
˙
˙™
Œ ˙
œ
pp pp Fl. 4
#2 U & ¢ 4 6g
g 6
4 4
G )
Ó
∑
∑
Ó
‰ 6œ™™ oo
7
90
Fl. 1
° # & 6œ
Œ
‰
j œ œ
œ
Œ
Ó
∑
∑
ppp whistle tone
O Fl. 2
# & ‰
j œ ˙™
Ó 6
6
)˙
Œ
Œ
‰
O J
O
‰
j œ œ
O J
O ‰
Œ
Œ
oo
Fl. 3
# & ˙™
j œ œ
Ϊ
‰
Ϫ
Œ
˙™ stagger as necessary
Fl. 4
#) & ˙ ¢
Ó
Œ
‰
˙™
j œ ˙
Πw ppp
94
pp Fl. 1
° #Ó &
_
_™
oo
-
Œ
_
oo
_™
_
∑
∑
oo
stagger as necessary
~
~
~
~
~
~
# ∑
Fl. 2
&
Fl. 3
# ppp & _
Fl. 4
Π_
oo
oo
# ¢& w
w
-
_
_
_
w
w
∑
∑
oo
w
w
w