bruce the eye of night (score) · david bruce the eye of night for flute harp and viola....
TRANSCRIPT
David Bruce
The Eye of Night for flute harp and viola
Commissioned by Art of Elan, San Diego
Dedicated to Gordon Brodfuehrer
The Eye of Night
The Eye of Night was commissioned by Art of Elan in San Diego and is
dedicated to Gordon Brodfuehrer. It is a series of four tender movements, each
in their own way a kind of nocturne. The night and in particular the night sky
has long held a fascination for me. We all know the awe-inspiring site that
awaits us if we are lucky enough to find ourselves away from the city lights in
front of a cloudless night sky - I think the awe we experience on such
occasions is not just because of the beauty and grandeur of the spectacle - but
because it one of the very few times we are directly faced with the vast
mystery of the universe. I have made an oath to myself that at least once every
year I will make a pilgrimage to somewhere where I am able to lose myself in
such a spectacle.
Continuing a source of inspiration from one of the songs in my song-cycle for
Dawn Upshaw, The North Wind was a Woman (a series of songs conveying
the painfully melancholy points of view of inanimate or incorporeal objects:
snow, wind, night, the moon and a mountain), I have been drawn to the image,
first discovered in a short story by Aimee Bender, of the night sky as a giant
eye looking down on us, unblinkingly. The image fascinates me because it
captures the complexity of feelings one experiences when staring up into
space - it is friendly, familiar and constant, whilst at the same time being
overwhelming, dizzying and quietly terrifying.
The first of the pieces has a dark atmosphere, that falls somewhere between
sensual and plaintive. The melodic flute lines draw inspiration from the
ornamental style of Indian bansuri flute playing. I am very grateful to Alex
Housego, a British -born flute player who spent much of his childhood in India
and so is familiar with both western and Indian traditions. His advice in
finding areas of bansuri-flute technique which would translate adequately to a
modern western flute was invaluable.
The second, very short movement has a sweeter atmosphere, showing a more
tender and blissful side of night. The third, while still in a largely piano or
pianissimo dynamic register is move active and flowing. The final piece is a
lullaby, or 'song without words' inspired by William Blake's Cradle Song
where he imagines the 'little sorrows' and 'quiet desires' of a sleeping baby.
David Bruce 11 July 2010
Copyright © 2010 by Red Balloon Music
Alto Flute
Viola
Harp
pp
Tender, sensual, quietly plaintive h. = 60
pp
p
Tender, sensual, quietly plaintive h. = 60
mf
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
8
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
15
Throughout the piece, but especialy in the first movement, the flute writing draws inspiration from the Indian Bansuri flute. Whilst it is recognised the Bansuri is very different from a modern Western flute, the player should nevertheless attempt to capture the nuance and atmosphere of Indian Bansuri playing, particularly on the embellishments and slides.
I.
David BruceThe Eye of Night
sul tasto.
very fast bow, with absolutely no pressure down on to the strings, producing a wispy 'breathing' sound
Db
D§E#
(like a little weep)
GbEb
v.fast, 'folk-like' grace notesso fast that the grace notes don't necessarily speak clearly
2
(*) these slides should imitate the ornamental slides of Indian violin music
(*)
3
F§G§ F#
3
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
22
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
ppp
29
mf
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
mf p pp
A36
2
3
2 pizz
3
turn in
9
2
A. Fl.
Hp.
mp pp pp mp p
42
A. Fl.
Hp.
p mf p mf p
49
sfz
A. Fl.
Hp.
55
A. Fl.
Hp.
62
turn in 3
sim.3 3 3
3
3
66
lip bend
5
5 5 5 5
3
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
B68
p
p
Va.
Hp.
74
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
mp
C81
p mp
mp
5 3
arco 2
gliss.
Eb3
3
2
gliss.
3
turn in
3
gliss.
4
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
dim. mp
89
dim. p
pdim.
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
mf mp
D96
p
mf
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
102
3 3 3
5 5 5
3
3 3 3
3 3
3
3 3 3 3 3
3
3
3 3
3
3
5
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
108
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
pp
E114
pp
p
mf
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
122
gliss.
3
33 3
3 3 3
gliss.
3 3
6
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
129
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
p
F135
p
p
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
143
pizz
3
(pizz)
7
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
148
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
G153
p ben ritmico
ben ritmico
mf
Va.
Hp.
pp
158
ossia octava basso
turn in
3
arco
3 3 3
8
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
f
164
p mp
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
H170
f
f
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
177
Flute
pizzarco
3 3
6
pizz
(*) 'snatch' away the grace-notes here- very fast, so that they don't really sound,again, as in Indian music
(*)low D fingering
B#Bb
9
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
183
mp
sfz
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
f
I188
mf
f
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
194
arco sul tasto, punta d'arco
3 3F§
arcoricochet
G§F#
3 3
ricochet
10
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
f ff
199
mf ff
ff
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
f
J203
p
mf
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
f
210
3 3 3 3
pizzarco
F§
pizz arco pizz
arcosul tasto, punta d'arco
11
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
pp
K218
pp
mp
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
226
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
rall.232
pppp
p
to A. Fl.
(keep fast tremolo through the rall.)
12
Viola
Harp
p dolce
Tenderly q = 96
mp
Va.
Hp.
246
Va.
Hp.
254
Va.
Hp.
261
pizz sul tasto
(behind harp)
II.
13
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
pp
L268
pp
pp
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
pp
275
pp
pp
A. Fl.
Hp.
p
M282
p
A. Fl.
Hp.
290
sim.
arco
v.quick 'folk-like' grace-notes - so quick that the grace note doesn't fully sound
14
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
N297
pp p pp p
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
pp
O304
pppp
pp
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
312
pp
pp
pizz arco pizz arco
pizz sim
arco
loco
15
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
ppmp
P319
mp
mp
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
f subito
325
f subito mf
f subitomf
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
mf
331
f mf
f mf
pizz quasi-guitarra
arco
IVIII
II I I II III IV
16
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
336
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
341
A. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
345
IVIII
IIII III IV
IVIII
II I I II III IV
III
II I III
III
IV IIIII II
IIIIV IV
IIIII I I II III
IV
IVIII
IIII III
IV
3
3 3
3 3 3
gliss.
17
Flute
Viola
Harp
pp misterioso
With a lilt q = 160
mf
mf
With a lilt q = 160
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
352
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
357
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
III.
pizz
gliss.
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
3 3
18
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
p
361
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
366
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
370
gliss.
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
3 3 3 3
3 3
3 3
3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
19
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
374
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
378
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
382
33 3 5 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 5 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 3 3
3 3
3 3 3
20
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
Q386
mf
f
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
390
mf
p
Va.
Hp.
394
gliss.
3 3 3 3
3
3 3 3
3
arco2
slide fingeras in Indian music
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 3
3
3 3 3
3
3 3 3
3
3 3 3
3
3 3 3
3
21
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
f
398
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
R401
f
f f
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
f
404
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 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
3
3 3 3
3
3 3 3
3
22
Fl.
Hp.
mf
S407
mf
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
mf cresc. mf mf
410
mf cresc. mf mf
mf cresc.
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
ff
414
ff
ff
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 33
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
5
5 5 6 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
5
6 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3
23
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
T
417
ff mf
ff
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
mf
420
mf
mf mp f
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
cresc.
424
mf cresc.
cresc.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 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 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
24
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
molto ff
428
molto ff
moltoff
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
U431
f p
pf
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
pp
436
p
p
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 3
33 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
pizz
3 3
(use open strings wherever possible)
3 3 3 3
3
loco
3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3
3 3 3
3 3 3 3
3
25
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
p
441
mf
mf
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
pp
445
p
p
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
mf
V448
mp
mf
sim.
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
3 3 3 3
arco
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3
3
26
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
pp mf
451
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
455
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
459
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 3 3 3
3
33 3 5 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 5 3 3 3 3
27
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
462
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
mf
465
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
W469
p
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 5
5
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 3
(gliss over full length of note)
gliss. gliss.
3
3 3 3
28
Va.
Hp.
p
474
cresc.
mf cresc.
Va.
Hp.
477
mf
p cresc.
Va.
Hp.
(p)cresc.
480
cresc.
pcresc.
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
33
3
3
6 6 6
6
gliss.
3 3 3 3
3 33
3
3
33
36 6
3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3
33
6 6
33
3 33
3
29
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
mf
483
mf p cresc.
mf
p cresc.
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
mf cresc.
486
f non troppo
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
fmp
488
fmp
fmp
6 6 6 6
3 33 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
33 3 3
3 3 3 3
off the string
3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3
3 3
33
3 33
3
30
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
fmf cresc.
490
fmfcresc.
fmfcresc.
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
494
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
ff
497
f
ff
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
3 3 3
3
33
3 33
3 33
3 33
3
3 33 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 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
on the string
(flute in foreground till end)3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
31
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
f
500
mf mp
f mp
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
502
p
p dim.
Fl.
Va.
Hp.
pp
504
dim.
pp dim.
as fast as possible3 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
3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 33
3 3 3 3
32
Viola
mp
q = 72
Va.
pp
mp
mf
517
Va.
rall.528
B. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
p molto tranquillo, teneramente
X538
pp
B. Fl.
Hp.
546
senza vib., viol-like3
33 3
3
IV.
3 3 3
3
3 3
3
3 3
3 3 3
Bass Flute
A tempo
7
33
B. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
553
ppmisterioso
B. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
Y559
p
B. Fl.
Hp.
564
3
7
66
66
66
7
34
B. Fl.
Hp.
pp espress.
Z570
B. Fl.
Hp.
577
B. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
AA582
pp
l.v.
3 7
35
B. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
(pp sempre)
588
B. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
BB592
p
B. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
596
15
66
66
66
15
66
36
B. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
pp
Hushed, with great inner intensityCC600
p
Hushed, with great inner intensity
B. Fl.
Va.
608
B. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
618
p
3 3 3 3
sim.
3 3
senza vib., viol-like 3 3
66
3 3 3 3 3 3
3 33
3
3 tenuto
3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
33 3
33 3
3
3 3 3 3 3
37
B. Fl.
Va.
Hp.
628
Hp. p
CalmoDD638
Hp.
649
Hp.p p
rall.
658
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 3 3 3 3 3 3
3
3 3
3 3 3 33
3
3
3
38