Connor Shafran
The Game of the Century
chess for two percussionists
The Game of the Century by Connor Shafran Š 2014 Tapspace Publications, LLC (ASCAP). Portland, OR. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Printed in USA. www.tapspace.com Notice of Liability: Any duplication, adaptation, or arrangement of this composition requires the written consent of the copyright owner. No part of this composition may be photocopied or reproduced in any way without permission. Unauthorized uses are an infringement of the U.S. Copyright Act and are punishable by law.
TSPCD-17
Program Notes The Game of the Century is a percussive take on the game of chess. In fact, this piece is a recounting of the famous game played in 1956 between Donald Byrne (white) and 13-year-old Bobby Fischer (black). The sequence of moves are entirely accurate to the original game, and the rhythms coincide with the flow and strategy used by the original players.
Performance Notes The board should be set up on a table that is large enough to comfortably place captured pieces on either side of the playing area. The chess clock should be placed on white’s left-hand side (black’s right-hand side) a few inches away from the edge of the board. The analog clock should be placed somewhere in plain sight for the audience. The ticking should be loud enough that both the players and the audience can hear it. If a clock this loud cannot be found, simulate the ticking by syncing up a loud metronome with the second hand of the clock. It is essential to the music that the percussive sound of a second-hand is ticking throughout the performance. The half notes above the staff represent the sound of the clock that will (hopefully) be ticking at 60 beats per minute. They are only there to assist the players in learning the music and matching up their rhythms to the clock’s metronome-like role in the piece. To assist the audience in experiencing the action on the chess board on stage, consider the option of mounting an overhead video camera and either projecting it on a screen behind, beside, or above the players. Most importantly, be sure to make this a theatrical experience for the audience. The use of facial expressions and body language can immensely enhance the experience for the viewer. If you’re playing white, try to look frustrated as your opponent outsmarts you again and again. If you’re playing black, play calmly and wisely, confident that you’ll outsmart white. The commitment to theses roles can make or break this piece.
Notation Key 1.
/ œ
2.
¿
3.
j h
œ
4.
V
5.
O
6.
j j h ‰ œ ¿
7.
8.
>>¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ R l
r
l
R l
r
l
1. Standard move (directed by the notation over each note). 2. Tap chess clock (with most convenient hand). 3. Take opponent’s piece and set your piece while making one flam-like sound. 4. Slam your hand down on the table either in frustration (if playing white) or with confidence (if playing black). 5. Play a note by hitting your opponent’s captured piece on the table as you set it aside. 6. Take opponent’s piece and set your piece while making two separate sounds. The first sound should come from clicking your piece against the opponents, and the second should come from setting your piece on the board. 7. If you’re playing white, tap your fingers on the table as if you’re in deep thought. If you’re playing black, tap the table mockingly, confident that you will outsmart your opponent. (If you’re playing white, it may be effective to look slightly annoyed when black joins your tapping.) 8. Play rhythms by tapping your rooks on the squares they’re currently on. The top line indicates your right hand and the bottom line, your left.
Players and Instrumentation The Game of the Century requires 2 players with the following items: • Chess board and pieces • Table and chairs • Chess clock • Ticking analog clock (preferably loud enough to hear over the banging of chess pieces on the table) • A loud metronome (optional) (to simulate the ticking of a clock if a loud enough clock cannot be found)
Chess Notation Primer The Game of the Century uses standard algebraic notation (AN) at key spots throughout the score to indicate which moves each player is to make. To the uninitiated, AN is a simple written language consisting of letters, numbers, and a few other symbols. A breakdown of this notation may be found on Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algebraic_notation_(chess). A brief but by no means thorough explanation of the English version of AN is as follows: Square nomenclature Squares of the chessboard are identified by letter/number coordinates that designate their respective rank (horizontal row) and file (vertical column). Ranks are numbered 1 to 8 while files are assigned letters a to h. White pieces start on ranks 1–2, black on 7–8 (see diagram). Piece nomenclature K: king Q: queen
R: rook
B: bishop
N: knight
Since pawns are confined to files (with the exception of capturing), no uppercase letters are used for pawn moves. The coordinates of the square are enough to distinguish pawn moves from those of other pieces. Moves Moves are notated in pairs—one for white, one for black—starting with a number followed by a period to identify which move in the game sequence is taking place. This is followed by the uppercase letter of the piece being moved (with the exception of pawns) plus the destination square coordinates. In cases where more than one piece may move to the destination square (e.g., black’s move #8 in bar 10), a lowercase letter will be placed between the uppercase letter and the letter of the destination square in order to remove ambiguity. Captures When a piece makes a capture, an “x” is inserted before the destination square. For example, Bxe5 means bishop captures the piece on e5. Castling Castling is indicated by the notations 0-0 (for kingside) and 0-0-0 (for queenside). Check and Checkmate A move that places the opponent’s king in check has the symbol “+” appended (e.g., Bb3+). Checkmate is represented by the “#” symbol (e.g., Rc2#). Annotation Symbols Chess moves may be further annotated with punctuation marks such as “!” or “?”. In particular, exclamation marks are used in this game to identify particularly excellent, albeit surprising, moves (e.g., Na4!).
Level: Medium Approx. playing time: 2’30”
The Game of the Century chess for two percussionists
h = 60
A
1. Nf3 Player 1 (white)
∑
œ
¿
∑
Ó
Clock
¢/ C ° ¢/
Πf
C f
/ œ
¿
œ Œ
6. Qb3
8
° P1
∑
C
¿
Πf
Πf f
¿ hœ Ó
Ó
Πf
Œ
Πf
¿
œ
Ó
¿
œ
Ó
Œ
Πf f
Œ
9. Rd1
10. Qc5
¿ œ Ó
¿ œ Ó
‰ œj ¿ Ó
Πf
Œ
Πf
Œ
> V
¿
Œ
Ó
f
Πf
f
œœ
¿
r l
Πf f
Œ
Œ
Πf
Πf f
Œ
11. Bg5
¿ Œ
˙
œ ¿
f
‰ œj ¿
Ó
∑ >11.>Na4! œ¿ Œ Ó
10. Bg4
9. Nb6
‰ œj ¿ Ó
5. d5
4. 0-0
‰ œj ¿ Ó
Ó
8. Nbd7
‰ œj ¿ Ó Œ f
Ó
Πf f
¿ œ Ó
7. c6
f
Ó 3. Bg7
¿
œ
8. e4
j j¿ Ó ¢/ Œ ‰ h ‰ œ ° ¢/
Œ
7. Qxc4
6. dxc4
P2
∑
Ó
Πf f
¿
œ
5. Bf4
4. d4
2. g6
1. Nf6 Player 2 (black)
3. Nc3
2. c4
° C ¿ / œ Ó
Connor Shafran
Œ
∑ Œ f f
Œ
Πf f
Œ
B 12. Qa3
° P1
¿
/ ˙
Œ
Ó
14. Bxe7
13. bxc3
¿
h œ
12. Nxc3 P2
C
∑
¢/ ° ¢/
Πf
h Œ
f
19
° P1 / Ó
Œ
> V
œ Œ
f
P2
C
° ¢/ f
Œ
h œ ¿
Œ
Œ
Ó
f
Πf
Ó j h
Œ
∑
Πf
¿
˙
Œ
Πf
Πf
∑
15. Nxc3
¢/ ˙
O
16. Bc5
¿
14. Qb6
¿
¿
œ
13. Nxe4
15. Bc4
œ
h
Ó
f
œ
16. Rfe8+
¿ Œ
∑
f
∑ Œ f
Œ
œ
f
Œ
Ó Œ f
Œ
¿
Œ
Ó
f
Πf
© 2014 Tapspace Publications, LLC, Portland, OR. (ASCAP) International copyright secured. All rights reserved.
Œ
The Game of the Century – Shafran
C 24
P1
°
fingers
17. Kf1
¿ Œ
/ ˙
2
∑
V Œ Ó
∑
¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ V¿ ¿ ¿
P2
C
∑
¢/ ° ¢/
Ó
Πf f
Œ œ ¿ Œ Ó
Œ
Πf f
Œ
∑
Πf f
Œ
>>> > > > > >j 31 ° P1 / ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ V ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿™ ¿ ‰ ¿
° ¢/
Πf
Πf
Œ
Πf
Πf
j> > ‰ ¿ ¿ V Œ
>> > > ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿¿V ¿ ¿
j> > ‰ ¿ ¿ V Œ
Πf
f
Œ
Πf
Πf
f
Œ
Πf
play with rooks
>- >- >- >>œœœ œ œœœ œ œœœ œ œœœ œ œ œœœ œ
R l r l R l r l
>- >- >- >>œœœ œ œœœ œ œœœ œ œœœ œ œ œœœ œ
R l r l R l r l
Πf
Πf
D
> > V¿ ¿
>>> j > >>> ¿¿¿ P2 ¢ / ¿ ¿ ¿ ‰ ¿ V C
∑
Πf f
>>> j > ¿¿¿ ‰ ¿ V ¿ ¿
>>> ¿¿¿ Œ Ó
17. Be6!!!
Πf
Πf
>>>>>. > > > ° œœœ œ œœœ œ œœœ œ œœœ œ œœœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ≈ œ œ œ œ œ P1 / œ 35
>>>>>. > > > œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ P2 ¢ / œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ≈ œ C
° ¢/
Πf
Πf
Πf
Πf
3 3 3 > > > . 37 ° œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ≈ P1 / œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
‰
3 3 3 > > > . œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ≈ P2 ¢ / œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ ‰
œ œ ‰
œ œ ‰
œ œ ‰
f
Πf
Œ
C
° ¢/ f
Πf
Œ
œ œ ‰
œ œ ‰
œ œ ‰
œ œ
TSPCD-17
3
The Game of the Century – Shafran 3
° P1
3
j œ ‰ ‰ / œ
39
œ
3
P2
C
3
œ œ ‰ ‰ œ
œ
Œ
j œ œ œ ‰ ‰ ‰ ‰ œ œ œ ¢/
œ œ ‰ œj ‰
° ¢/
f
Πf
Πf
Œ
Œ
j ‰ œj ≈ ¿ ™
C
° ¢/
Œ
3 4 f
TSPCD-17
Πf
Πf
Πf
j ‰ œj ≈ ¿ ™ C Œ Œ
Œ
Œ
C f
Πf
∑
j h
œ
œ
Œ
Πf
Œ
3
Œ
∑ f
Œ
3 4
Πf
∑
œ
¿
Œ
∑
25. Nxd1
Œ
3 h œ ¿ 4
Œ
26. h3
¿
Œ
¿
3 4
23. axb6
22. Nc3+
f
f
j ‰ œj ≈ ¿ ™ Œ
C œ™ ¿ Œ
f
Œ
23. Kg1
œ™ ¿ Œ
24. Ra4
f
3 4 f
¿ Œ j h œ ™
Œ
18. Bxc4+
Πf
22. Kf1
Œ
j ‰ œj ≈ ¿ ™
3 4 hj œ ™ ¿ Œ
∑
25. Qxb6
∑ Œ
∑
21. Ne2+
¿
Œ
3 P2 ¢ / 4
Œ
19. Kg1
3 4 Œ
20. Nxd4+
24. Qb4
° 3 P1 / 4 œ
° ¢/
Œ
œ œ œ œ
E
∑
j ‰ œj ≈ ¿ ™
Œ
Πf
F
C
Œ
¿
21. Kg1
19. Ne2+
¿ Œ P2 ¢ / œ ™
œ ‰
Œ
chuckle at opponent's poor judgment
f
20. Kf1
45
° P1 / Œ
œ
œ
œ œ œ œ ‰
f
>. j Œ hœ
œ ≈ œ ≈ œ ≈ œ P2 ¢ / ≈ œ œ œ œÓ f
œ
œ ‰
take queen forcefully 18. Bxb6!
> ° œ œ œ œ P1 / œ≈ œ≈ œ≈ œ≈ ˙
° ¢/
œ
œ
3
3
41
C
œ
f
j h
œ
Œ
Πf
26. Rxa2
¿ Œ f
∑ Œ f
j h
Œ
œ Œ f
¿ Œ
The Game of the Century – Shafran
4
G 27. Kh2
55
P1
°
¿ / œ Œ
Cœ Œ ¿ Œ
∑
Ó
27. Nxf2 P2
C
∑
¢/ ° ¢/
Πf
Πf
Πf
C
Πf
Πf
f
Πf
33. h4
Œ
Πf
f
Œ
Ó
Πf
‰ œj ¿
Ó Œ f
Πf
35. Kg1
36. Kf1
œ ¿ Ó
œ ¿ Ó
œ ¿ Ó
35. Bc5+
‰ œj ¿
Ó
Πf
Πf
34. Kg7
‰ œj ¿
¿
œ
30. Bd5
‰ œj ¿
Ó
Πf
33. h5
Ó
j h
Ó
34. Ne5
œ ¿ Ó
œ ¿
Ó
Πf
¿
29. Bf8
œ Œ ¿ Œ
j h
32. b5
‰ œj ¿
¢/ Ó ° ¢/
Œ
C f
œ ¿ Ó 31. Ne4
P2
∑
32. Qb8
°/ œ ¿ Ó
œ
30. Nxe1
28. Rxe1
œ Œ ¿ C
31. Nf3
61
P1
j h
29. Qd8+
> ΠV
28. Re1
Πf
Ó
Πf
36. Ng3+
‰ œj ¿ Œ
f
Πf
Œ œ
Ó Œ f
Πf
H 37. Ke1
° P1 / Ó
œ
¿ P2 ¢ /
Œ
° ¢/
Œ
C
f
Œ
40. Kb1
72
° 2¿ P1 / 4
Œ
CÓ
œ Œ
39. Ne2+ P2
C
œ
C¿
Œ
Œ
C f
Œ
2 4¿
Œ
2 4Œ
Ó
> V Œ
CÓ
œ
C¿
Œ
Ó
° ¢/
Œ
C f
Πf
Œ
2 4Œ
œ
C¿
Œ
2 4 f
Œ
C f
Πf
C¿
Œ
Œ
C f
Œ
f
Πf
2 4
Ó
2 4
Πf
knock over king in defeat!
> œ Œ
41. Rc2# > >¿ œ
Ó Œ
œ
41. Kc1 > >¿ œ Ó
Ó
2 4
Œ
œ
38. Bb3+
2 4 f
Πf
CÓ
Œ
40. Nc3+
2 ¢/ 4 Œ 2 4 f
Œ
œ
39. Kc1
2 4¿
37. Bb4+
2 4 f
Œ
CÓ
Œ
2 4Œ
Ó f
38. Kd1
2 4¿
Œ
Ó
f
∑ Œ
Œ
Œ
TSPCD-17
Rehearsal Letter Guide For reference, the following board diagrams illustrate the correct positioning of game pieces at the corresponding rehearsal letters in the score.
A
B
C
E
F
G
H