book of the lake
DESCRIPTION
ÂTRANSCRIPT
BOOK OF THE LAKE Commissioned by the Walters Art Museum, with support from the Maryland Historical Commission
Texts Sung texts freely adapted, by the composer, from the “Book of the Faiyum” (ca. 100 BCE) – a Greco-Egyptian papyrus from the Faiyum Oasis. I. Sunrise on Crocodilopolis ---no text--- II. Naos of Neith, by Her Sacred Tree ---no text--- III. Island of Fire This place, it is the South and the North. This place is the Great Sea of the White Wall. This place is named the House of Flame. And this place will be called from now henceforth the Island of Fire.
IV. Menmehdet: The Fighting Place This place is called Shedet. This place is named Anety and belongs to Sema-Behehdet. Call this place Hawi, and this Pehret, place of Sopdu, Lord of the East. This land is Menmehnet: fighting place of man. V. Dwelling Place This is where we live, where we stay, where we dwell, where we love. And where we will die. This place is our dwelling place. We brought ourselves there, and we settled here in this lake, here in this place. There our child live, and those after them, The children of our bodies, and those after them. There they live, and those after them, The children of our bodies, and those after them. We entrust them, we commend them to your care. Look after our children, and those after them.
Composer’s Note: Throughout my engagement with the ancient Egyptian Book of the Faiyum, I was struck by the ways in which a text so old, strange and seemingly unfamiliar might nonetheless ignite the imagination of a twenty-first-century viewer and listener. My musical response is one in which contemporary sounds resonate alongside intimations of other, older worlds – and, I hope, one in which ancient voices might somehow speak to life in the present. Or to put it more concretely, I’ve envisioned a musical landscape in which glimpses of Coptic or Byzantine chant might occasionally give way to flashes of American popular music. Drawing on both texts from these ancient scrolls and my imagination of ancient music more generally, my new piece features an unusual ensemble of modern and not-so-modern instruments, loosely inspired by ancient musical groups. Scored for flutes, singer, strings, handheld percussion and harpsichord, the piece is divided into five movements – each one a kind of musical map of an imaginary and shifting landscape.
2
Instrumentation
3 Flutes (Flute 3 = Piccolo)alternate fingerings and tuning required
(see Movement 2 and 3 instructions)
ViolinContrabass
Low Female Voice (also plays small cymbal)
Percussion4 Crotales (mounted together) Small Tambourine (with head)
Castanets (machine-style) Sizzle Cymbal
Large Rototom or Tom-TomVibraslap
Sistrum (or other metallic rattle) China Cymbal (shared by vocalist & percussionist)
Electric HarpsichordAmplified or Digital Harpischord preferred
DURATION: ca. 18 minutes
Copyright © 2013, DanielThomasDavis (BMI)
Flute 1
Flute 2
Flute 3
Violin
Contrabass
Crotales
Harpsichord
p
q = ca. 68Gradually unfolding
p
p
p sempre
ppp p
q = ca. 68
Gradually unfolding
pppp
Daniel Thomas Davis (2013)
commissioned by the Walters Art Museum of Baltimore
Book of the LakeI. Sunrise at Crocodilopolis
retake as needed
Hard mallets:with a little muffling
5 5 5 5 5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
3
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Cym.
Crot.
Hpcd.
5
pp p
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
4
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Cym.
Crot.
Hpcd.
mp
A9
mp
mp
ppp ppp
A
3 3 3
3
3 3 3 3
3 3 3
II.
CHINA CYMBALplayed by vocalist
5
3
5
3
5
3
5
3
5
3
5
3
5
3
5
3
5
3
5
3
5
3
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
5
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Cym.
Crot.
Hpcd.
mf
13
mf
mf
36 3 3
3
3 3 3
33 3 3
5
3
5
3
5 5 5 5 5 5 5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
6
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Cym.
Crot.
Hpcd.
mp
B17
mp
mp
B
5
3 3 3 3
5
3 3
flutter
5
III.
5
3
5
3
5 5 5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
7
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Cym.
Crot.
Hpcd.
23
f
f
f
mp
3 3
3
3 33
3
3
3 3
pizz.
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
8
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Cym.
Crot.
Hpcd.
mf
C28
mf
mf
C
3
3
3 3
3
IV.
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
9
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Cym.
Crot.
Hpcd.
33
3 3 3 3
3
3 3 3
3
3
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
10
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Cym.
Crot.
Hpcd.
f f
D37
f f
f
f
fp fp
D
(mp)
f
3 55
3 5 5
Change to PICCOLO
3
5
II. solo
III.
simile
5 5
5 5 5 5 5
arco
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5 5 5 5 5
5 5 5 5 5
11
Picc.
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Cym.
Tamb.
Crot.
Hpcd.
mf
E42
fp simileE
mp
3 3 3
slide, as possible
35
3 3 3 3 3
slide, as possible
35
3 3 3 3 3
simile
5 5 5 5 5 5 55 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
TAMBOURINE5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
5
12
Picc.
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Vln.
Cb.
Cym.
Tamb.
Crot.
Hpcd.
46
3
3 3
5
3
3 3 5
3
3 3 5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
5 5
13
Picc.
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Vln.
Cb.
Cym.
Tamb.
Crot.
Hpcd.
50
mf
mf
3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
CHINA CYMBALplayed by vocalist
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
5
14
Picc.
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Vln.
Cb.
Cym.
Tamb.
Crot.
Hpcd.
ff slurred
F54
ff slurred
ff slurred
F
5 5 5 55 5 5 5
3 3
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
15
Picc.
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Vln.
Cb.
Cym.
Tamb.
Crot.
Hpcd.
56
ff
Change to FLUTE
solo
5 5 5 5 5 5
3
5 5
5 5
5 5
16
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Perc.
Hpcd.
f
q = ca. 82Spirited
59
mp
mp
mp play as many of these harmonics as possible, but omit any that prove especially problematic
f mf
q = ca. 82Spirited
Fl. 1: Should dominate the texture, f as written.
solo
3
3
3 3 3
II. Naos of Neith, By Her Sacred Tree
Fl. 2: Pull out headjoint to lower pitch by 1/4 tone. Sounds 1/4 tone lower than written.Shades Flute 1.
soundingpitches
3 33 3 3
PLAY:
3
3
3 3 3
Fl. 3: Pull out headjoint to lower pitch by 1/4 tone. Sounds 1/4 tone lower than written, one semitone higher, than Fl. 2. Shades Flute 1.
soundingpitches
3 33 3 3
PLAY:
3
3 3 3
3
arco
All bass harmonics sound anoctave lower than written.
HAND PERCUSSION1: Tambourine (mounted/on table)2: Sizzle Cymbal (with hands)3: Castanets (mounted)
3. 1.
17
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Cym.
Perc.
Hpcd.
64
pp f
3 33 3
3
3 3 33
3 33 3
3
3 33 3
3
3
3
3 3
3
solo
18
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Cym.
Perc.
Hpcd.
(f)
70
pp
pp
simile
mp mp
mp
(solo)
5 3 3
5 3 3
5 3 3
5 3 3
5
3 3
3 3
jeté
3 3 3 3 3
(non-trem)
China CYMBALplayed by vocalist
2. Sizzle CYMBAL
19
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Cym.
Perc.
Hpcd.
77
p mp
p mp
3
3
3 3
3
3
3 3
3
3
3 3
3
3
3 3
3 3 3
3
3
3
3 3 3 3
(non-trem)
20
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Cym.
Perc.
Hpcd.
ff
rit. 88
f
rit.
f
mf
3
3 3 3
3
3 3 3
3
3 3 3
3
3 3 3
3
3 3
3
solo
3
22
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Cym.
Perc.
Hpcd.
pp
A shade slowerq = ca. 78G93
mf colla voce
mf
A shade slowerq = ca. 78G
mp
mp
Wind Sounds:Blow through flutewith no clear pitch.
Wind Sounds:Blow through flutewith no clear pitch.
solo sul tasto
3
CLOSED MOUTH
3
3
3
3 3
3
3 3 3 3
3
3 3 3 3
3
3 3
3
3 3
3
3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 33 3 33 3
23
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Cym.
Perc.
Hpcd.
mp colla voce
H102
H
3 3 3 33
3 3
3
3
3
3
3
Now Gradually OPEN MOUTH
3 3
3
3 3 33
3
3
3 3
3
3 3
3
3 3
3
3 3
3
3 3 3 3 3
3
3 3
3
3
3 3 3 3 3 3 33 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
24
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Cym.
Perc.
Hpcd.
mf
I110
mf
mf
use any conformable syllables, avoiding "ah" or "oo"
mfI
3
3
3
3 3 3 3 3 3
3
3
3
3 3 3 3 3 3
OPEN
3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3
3
3
3 3 3 3 33
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3
3 3
3
3
3
3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 33 3 33 3 3 33 3 3 33 3 3 33 3 3 33 3 3
25
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Cym.
Perc.
Hpcd.
pushing forward, just a little118
pushing forward, just a little
3
3
3
3
3
3
3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3
3 3 3
3
3 3 3
3
33
33 3 3 33 3 3 33 3 3 3 33 3 3 3 33 3 3 3
26
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Cym.
Perc.
Hpcd.
(mf) ff
A little faster than beforeq = ca. 90J123
mp mf
mp
mf
A little faster than beforeq = ca. 90
J
mf
3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3
3
3
3
3
nat.
3 3 3 3
3
33
3
3
3
3 3 3 3 3
3
3
3
Sizzle CYMBAL (2.)played with hands
2.3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 33
3 3 3
33 3 3 3 33 3 3 3 33 3 3 3 3
27
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Cym.
Perc.
Hpcd.
p f (f)
K129
pp
pp
f mp
f
K
mf
mf
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3 3
solo
solo
3 3
China CYMBAL (vocalist)
28
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Cym.
Perc.
Hpcd.
136
p mp mf
p mp mf
mf sotto voce f mf f
mp
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
solo
solo
3 3
3
3
3
29
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Cym.
Perc.
Hpcd.
q = ca. 58Suddenly slower
accel. L M144
fq = ca. 58Suddenly slower
accel. L
M
3
3
3
3
3
30
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Cym.
Perc.
Hpcd.
f ff
q = ca. 90a tempo
N153
f ff
f ff
ff
ff
q = ca. 90a tempo
N
f
f
3 3
3 3
no vib. wide vib.
31
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Cym.
Perc.
mp sempre
q = ca. 96Floating, wandering
mp sempre
p murmuring slow slide ad lib., very murky
q = ca. 96
Floating, wandering
pp subtle swells, ad lib.
Flute 1: For this movement, alternate fingerings for these pitches are needed. Here are two possible fingerings:
III. Island of Fire
Flute 2: Pulled-out headjoint, as before.
Flute 3: Return to standard tuning.
arco
MALLETS:1 or 2 soft mallets for Rototom Roll 1 or 2 soft mallets for Cymbal Roll ROTOTOM
34
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Cym.
Perc.
P181
mp
mp sempre
p
n
This
p
place it is the South and the
P
n p
n
sounding pitches
sounds 1/4 tone lower
play:
1/4 tone vib.
non-vib.
Sizzle CYMBAL
35
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Cym.
Perc.
Q188
p
mp\
n p
North this place is
Q
ppp
n p
"wind" sounds
36
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Cym.
Perc.
198
p mf
n n
the great sea of
p
the White Wall.
mf
n p n
n n
Wind Sounds
non-vib.
37
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Cym.
Perc.
R207
pp p
p n
This place is named: the House of Flame.
R
pppp pp
"wind" sounds
non-vib.
38
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Cym.
Perc.
S216
p p
mp
colla voce
And this place will be called from now hence forth the is land-
S
ppp
p pp
"wind" sounds
ord.
39
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Cym.
Perc.
225
pp mp
mp pp
is
pp
land- - - - - - - - of fire.
mf
ppp mp mp
mp
Return to Standard Tuning
China CYMBALpercussionist
40
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Perc.
Hpcd.
f simile
Chanting, vigorousq = ca. 96 in 4
f
f
f
f robust, like a cantor
This
f
place is called Sheh det.- - - - - - - - - - - -
Chanting, vigorousq = ca. 96 in 4
mp blended into texturemf
mf sempre non-legato
flutter
(ord.)
IV. Menmehnet: The Fighting Place
Standard Tuning
3
solo
5 3
3
Castanet
Vibraslap3
3
3
42
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Perc.
Hpcd.
in 4T247
as before (tutti)
This place is named A ne- - - - - - - ty- and
in 4T
mp
3
3
solo
3 6 3
3
Castanet
3
3
43
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Perc.
Hpcd.
in 4256
be longs- to Se - - - - - ma Beh- - - heh- det.- - - -
in 4
(ord.)
3 ord.
3
3
3 3 3
3
3 3 3
3
3 3 3
Vibraslap
Castanet
3
3 3 3
3
3 3 3
44
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Perc.
Hpcd.
in 3 in 4 pushing forward...U
263
Call this place Hah wi,- and this here Peh ret,-
in 3 in 4 pushing forward...U
ord.
3
solo
3 6 3
3
Castanet
Vibraslap Castanet 3
3
3
45
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Perc.
Hpcd.
fp fp fp fp f articulated
in 3 q = ca. 112274
fp fp fp fp f articulated
fp fp fp fp f articulated
fp
fp
place of Sop (p)- - - - - - - du.- Lord of the East
in 3 q = ca. 112
3
3
3
3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3
3 3 3 3
Vibraslap
3 3
3 3 3
3
3 3 3 3
46
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Perc.
Hpcd.
in 3 V283
ff
f ff f
(st). This land is Men meh- -
in 3 V
3 5
3 5
3
5
3
solo
3 3 3
3 5
3
Castanets
3 5
3
3 53
47
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Perc.
Hpcd.
L'istesso Tempo: Increasingly Enflamede. = q = ca. 132
W291
net Fight
fff
ing
raw
- place... of man.
L'istesso Tempo: Increasingly Enflamede. = q = ca. 132
W
3 3
3 3
3 3
Vibraslap
3 3
3 3
48
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Perc.
Hpcd.
X296
Men meh- - - - - - - - - - -
X
f
ord.
3 3
Change to PICCOLO
1. Tambourine2. Castanets
49
Picc.
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Perc.
Hpcd.
fff f
Y303
f
f
f
- - - - - - - - - net
Y
mf pp
mf
PICCOLO
solo
3 3
3 3
3 3 3
3 3
CHINACymbal
TambourineCastanets
50
Picc.
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Perc.
Hpcd.
313
ff
ff
ff
ff
Men meh- - - - - - - net- -
f
f
3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3
3
3
3
3
3
51
Picc.
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Perc.
Hpcd.
ff f
322
f
f
f
f
Fight ing- place of man. Men meh- net-
mf p
f
f
solo
3
3
3
3
Cymbal
52
Picc.
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Perc.
Hpcd.
332
ff articulated
ff articulated
ff articulated
ff articulated
Men meh- - - - - - net.- - - - - - - - - - - - Men -
f
ff articulated
3 3
3 3
3 3
3 3
3
3
3
53
Picc.
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Perc.
Hpcd.
341
at the frog
at the frog
- - - meh net.- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Change to FLUTE
3
3
3
3
3
Vibraslap/Sistrum
3
3
54
Voice
Crot.
Hpcd.
This
f
is where we live, where we stay where we dwell where
pp
we...
q = ca. 68Very free, unhurried, with a sense of arrival
Z349
mp
f
Voice
Crot.
Hpcd.
love
f
and where
350
3
V. Dwelling Place
3
3 3
55
Voice
Crot.
Hpcd.
we will die. This place is our dwell ing- place. We brought
351
Voice
Crot.
Hpcd.
our selves- there and we sett led- here in this lake here in this place.
molto accel. molto rit.
3 5 5 5
33
5 5 3 3 3 3 3 3
56
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Perc.
Hpcd.
p very smooth
Slow and freeq = ca. 56 - 60AA353
p very smooth
p very smooth
p mf
p poco p simile
f
There
full but earthy
our child ren- live and those af ter- them: the child ren- of our bod ies-
Slow and freeq = ca. 56 - 60AA
pp
mp always rolled, before the beatsimile
6 3 5 6 3
3 3
3
3
FLUTE
non-vib.wide vib.
pizz. pizz. arco
3 33
Rototom - very soft mallets
57
Fl.1
Fl. 2
Fl. 3
Vln.
Cb.
Voice
Perc.
Hpcd.
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61