grotesque scene #1 -...
TRANSCRIPT
Transposed Score
Aaron Brooks
Two Grotesque Scenes for Clarinet in Bb, Violin, and ‘Cello
ii
Two Grotesque Scenes
Aaron Brooks
Duration: ca. 18’
Program Note:
Two Grotesque Scenes, for Clarinet, Violin, and ‘Cello, features two extended movements, which
may be performed in either order or individually. Both movements are concerned with establishing a
dramatic, often incongruous dialogue between varying types of repetition and non-repetition, sound and
silence, and pulsed and non-pulsed material. Such disparate textures are tied together by a unified atonal
harmonic sense, featuring a mediation between strict 12-tone serial material and unordered pitch
collections, derived from this material.
Grotesque Scene #1 finds the three players repeatedly trying to coalesce into clear melody and
accompaniment “dance” textures across a number of different sections. Each attempt is thwarted, with the
ensemble always falling into chaotic, improvisatory material, obsessive repetition, or complete silence. A
sometimes tragic, sometimes comical dialogue is sought between minimalistic, complexist, and more
moderate aesthetics’ approaches to texture and repetition.
Grotesque Scene #2 features three main sections, where in each case the ensemble embraces
some type of counterintuitive dramatic arc. The opening section features a succession of brief, complex
gestures that repeat several times, with only slight distortions occurring each time. These repeating
gestures are separated by “palate cleansing” sustained notes/glissandi, which act as a sort of substitute for
silence. The use of only slightly varied repetition, and the insistence of the long notes gives an oddly
meditative quality to the otherwise maximalist nature of this music. This opening material eventually
gives way to a middle section which is constructed around a repeating pattern of shifting meters. This
pattern is initially left primarily silent; only the performers are privy to its intricacy. As the music
progresses, the meters are gradually “filled in” with actual sound material, eventually revealing the
rhythmic pattern to the listener. The resulting “dance” material culminates in the movement’s most
traditional climax, which immediately breaks apart into the final section, where the opening gestural
material is recast in a more conventionally organic narrative. The frenzied nature of this material proves
to be unsustainable, as it quickly gives way to the movement’s extended slow ending.
1
Performance Notes:
1. The two movements may be played together in either order, or separately.
2. Courtesy accidentals are used liberally. However, should any question arise, accidentals do carry
through the bar and do not transfer the octave.
3. Staccatissimo markings (wedges) are simply notes shorter than normal staccato notes. They
should not be treated as accents.
4. In passages that move between simple and compound meters (5/4 to 6/8, etc), eighth note always
equals eighth note.
5. (G.P.): “Grand Pause.” The performers should appear frozen during these silences, as if they may
resume playing at any moment.
6. (2+3), (2+2+3), etc: These markings indicate the groupings of the basic rhythmic unit in
asymmetrical time signatures.
7. (x 9), (x 5), etc: These markings indicate the number of times a passage should be repeated. The
first occurrence of the material (before the repeat sign is reached) is included in this number.
8. Glissandi should always begin as soon as the note articulates.
9. Strings: Short notes featuring glissandi with unspecified terminating pitches/rhythms are quick,
instantaneous glissandi without a sense of final pitch. These gestures should sound as if the player
is “flying off the fingerboard.”
10. Clarinet: Glissandi with unspecified terminating pitches/rhythms are lip glissandi with a range of
no more than a major second.
Clarinet in Bb
Violin
Violoncello
f mpp f
p ffpp mf
Impish, impetuous
f p f p ff
5
f p fmp
f mpp
8
Transposed Score
solo
3
5
q = ca. 84Aaron Brooks
Grotesque Scene #1
(2+3)
4:3
5
(2+3)
(2+3)
(2+2+3)
(2+3)
5
3
(2+2+3) (2+2+3)
2
mf fp mf f mp f
11
pp
Brash14
ff mf ff mp p f
ppp f mp ff
16
mp ff mf f p
mf f p
(3+2)
5
5:3
(3+2)
(3+2)
3
sul pont.5 3 7
(2+3)
sul pont. sul tasto
(2+3)ord.
3
ord. sul pont. (2+3)
ord.
3
Contemplative, deadpan19
f mpff pp
mp ff pp
23
mp mf mp
Dance-like27
mp
mf
p
4:3
pizz.
4:3
sul pont.
ord.
sul pont.arco
ord.
(3+2)
(3+2) 2
2
arco
(3+2)
4:3 4:3
4
f pmf f mf
32
mp f p f mp
mf
ff f mp
Disintegrating
38
mf f mf ff f mp
f mf fff
mf ff
Impish43
mf ff mf f ff
ff mp
(2+3)
(2+3)
(2+3)
(3+2) (2+3)
(3+2) (2+3)
(3+2)
(2+3)
5 3
sul pont, ord.
mp
5
sul pont.
ord.3
5
mp f ff mp
45
f mf p
fff mp
mp f ff p
mf f pp
48
mf ff mp f pp
ff pp
f pp f pp f pp
Insistent, Argumentative52
ff pp ff pp ff pp ff
4:3
3
3
4:3
(2+3)
(2+3)
(2+3)
sul pont.
ord.
sul pont.
6
f pp f pp
56
pp ff pp ff
f
Obsessive, with stubborn interruptions60
f
mf
f
64
ff p f
sffp ff f p
ord.
pizz.
(3+2)
4:3
3
(3+2)
4:3 3
(3+2)4:3 3
3
3
arco3
7
68
f
mp f
72
ff mp mf mp ff
ff
mf ff mf f mf
74
ff ppmf
pp f mf
(3+2)
(3+2)
3
4:3
(3+2) (3+2)
3 4:3
(3+2)
(3+2)
3 4:3
sul pont.
3
3
5
pizz
(G.P)
3
3
ord. (G.P)
arco pizz. (G.P)
8
79
mp
p
Impish, impetuous84
mf fff mp p f ff mp
p
88
f ff p f ff p ff mf ff pp
(G.P.)
(G.P)
(G.P)
(solo)
5
33
(2+3)
sul pont.
ord.sul tasto (2+3)
ord.
6
5:3
(2+3)
9
92
f mp f p f
ff mf f
95
mf f p ff mp f mf ff f
f
mf f mp f
Dance-like99
f mf mp f
p
sul pont.ord.
5 6
3
5
(2+2+3)
(2+2+3)sul pont. ord.
4:3
(2+2+3) arco
10
mf ff f
102
mf ff f
mf f mf mf
106
mf f mf
f mff
ff
Obsessive
109
mf f mf fff
ff
(2+3)
3 4:3
(2+3) 3 4:3
(2+3)
3 4:3
(3+2)
(3+2)
(3+2)
(x 3) (2+3)
(x 3)
(2+3)
(x 3)
(2+3)
11
113
mf f mp
Almost Furious118
sfpp
sfpp
f f pp
121
f p
f mpf
mf ff
mf fff pp
(x 4) (2+3)
(x 4)
(2+3)
(x 4)
(2+3)
(2+3)
3 5
(2+3)
(2+3)
(ricochet) (non ricochet)
sul pont.
ord.
35
7
12
ff p mf f f
123
mf mp ff f pp fff
ff pf
mf pp f
ff
f mf
126
p ff mp
ff pp mp pp
pp pp mp p ppp pp pp
q = ca. 76 q = ca. 66130
mf p mpp ppp p
mp p ppp pp ppp p
(2+3)
3
sul pont.
(2+3)ord.
sul pont.
(2+3)
ord. 5 3 6
(3+2) mp
4:35
Losing steampoco rit.
(3+2)
4:3
(3+2)
sul pont.
4:3
pizz arco
3
pizzord.arco sul pont. pizz
ord.
13
p pp pp p
135
pp ppp p ppp
pp
ppp
A tempoSettling
q = ca. 84141
pppp ppp
p ppp
147
3
sul pont.
3
(2+3)
(G.P) (2+3)
(G.P)
sul tasto (2+3) ord.
(G.P) (2+3)
(G.P)
arcoord. (2+3)
pizz (G.P) (2+3)(G.P)
(2+3) (x 5)
(3+2)
(G.P) (last time only)
4:3
(2+3)(x 5)
(3+2)
(G.P)
4:3
(2+3) (x 5) (3+2) (G.P) 4:3
14
f mf f
Dance-like152
f mf f
f mf
mf f
155
mf f
f mf
mf f mf f
160
mf f mf f
fmf
arco
(2+3)
(2+3)
2 2
(2+3)
4:3 4:3
(2+3)
2
(2+3)
2
(2+3)
4:3 4:3
15
f mp p f mp
165
mp fmp f ff
f mp
mf ff
mf ff
Crazed167
ff pp f
ff pp f p
mf ff f mf ff mf ff
169
pp ff mp mp ff
ff mp ff mp ff
3
sul pont.
3
3
5
ord.
sul pont.
sul pont.
mf
ord. 6 3
flt. ord.
55 5
ord.
7
sul pont. pizz ord.arco
3
16
mf
171
p ff
fff p
f
172
p mf fff
ff pp ff pp ff
mf ff pp ff pp ff
ff f ff
174
mf ff
mf ff
6
pizz
5
pizz
flt.
ord.
(ricochet)arco
(non ricochet) sul pont. ord.
3
3
arco
sul pont.
ord.
5
3
35
3 3
5
sul pont.
5
pizz
5
17
fffff
Embracing Obsession176
fff ff
fff ff
mf
183
mf
mf
p
188
p
p
bite reed ord.
(G.P)
ord.
(G.P)
arcosul pont.
ord.
(G.P)
(2+3) (3+2) (G.P)
4:3
(2+3) (3+2)
(G.P)
4:3
(2+3)
(3+2)
(G.P)
4:3
(2+3)(x 9)
(3+2)
4:3
(x 9)(2+3)
(3+2)
4:3
(2+3)(x 9)
pizz (3+2)
4:3
18
mp f p mp mf
q = ca. 72 Meditative
mp f mp mf
mf mf f p
mp f p mp mf
3
mp f mp mf
mfff
mf f p
mp f p mp mf
5
mp f p f mp mf p
fff
mf f p
3 5 6
Grotesque Scene #2
sul pont. ord.
pizz arco
3 5 6
sul pont. ord.
sul pont. ord.pizz
arco
7
3 5
sul pont. ord.
3
sul pont. pizzord.
arco
19
mp f
fff p mp mf
8
f p mp mf
ff mf f p
mp fff
f p mp mf pp mf p
11
ff mp mf pp mf
sffp ff mf f
p
pp mf
pp mf p pp mf p
15
ppmf
ppmf
pp mf pp mf n
slap
tongue
ord.
5
7
sul tasto
ord.
5
pizzarco
3
slaptongue
ord.
5 3
3
3
pizz arco
5
3
35
sul pont.
20
pp mf p
19
ppmf
pp
pp mf n
pp mf p f mf
24
mf f p mp f
pp mf n ff mp f
f p mf
p f mf
26
f pp f p mp f
f pp ff mp f
3
3
ord
3
3
53
5 3 5
ord sul pont. pizzord.arco
6
3 5 5
pizzarco
6
21
f p mfp
29
mf pp
mf pp
f mf f p mfp
31
f p mp f mf pp
ff mp f mf pp
pp mf pmp pp
35
pp p ppmf p
pp mp pp mp pp
(bounce onone bow)
(normalbowing) sul pont.
3 5 3
sul pont.
5
3
5 5
ord. 5 pizz
ord.
3
3
22
pp mf pmp pp
39
pp p ppmf p
pp mp pp mp pp
pp mf p
44
ppp pp
mp pp
mp pp f mf ff mf ff
48
mf p f mf ff mf ff
mp ppf
mf ff mf ff
5
3
arco pizz3
3
ord.
3
arco
ord. sul pont. ord.
slaptongue ord.
flt. ord.6
pizz arco
7
3 3 5
23
f mf ff pp ff
51
f pp f mf ff pp ff
fpp
fpp
fmf ff pp ff
fpp
fmf ff pp ff
54
f mf ff pp ff f pp
fmf ff pp ff
f pp
fff p ff
57
fff p ff f pp
fff p ff
f pp
slaptongue
ord. flt. ord.
7
5
3 6
slaptongue
ord. flt. ord.
5
6
3
7
slap tongue
ord.
6
6
5
24
mp f p mp mf mf f p
59
mp f mp mf
mf
mf p
64
f
fp
71
fp pp f p
fp p f
arco
3 5 6
sul pont. ord.
(2+3) (2+2+3) q = 100 Quirky, maintaing rhythmic energy through the silences (visual cues encouraged)
(2+3) (2+2+3)
(2+3)
pizz. (2+2+3)
(2+3) (2+2+3)
(2+3) sul pont.
(2+2+3)
(2+3) arco
pizz
(2+2+3)
25
mf f mp p f
78
pp n p f
pp n p f
mf pp mf
85
mf mpmf mp ff
f f mp
mff p
92
p p ffpp
ff mp f pp
(2+3) (2+2+3)
(2+3)
sul tasto (2+2+3)ord.
(2+3) arcosul tasto (2+2+3)
ord.
(2+3)
(2+2+3)
(2+3) (2+2+3)
(2+3) (2+2+3)
3
(2+3) (2+2+3)3
(2+3)sul tasto
sul pont. (2+2+3)
(sul pont.)
(2+3) arco
pizz
(2+2+3)arcosul pont.
26
f mp p
99
f
f mf pp
f p
103
fp
fp
pp mp
106
pp mp
ff p mp
(2+3)
(2+3) ord.
(2+3) ord.
sul pont.
(2+2+3)
3
(2+2+3)
pizzord.
(2+2+3) arco
(2+3) 3
(2+3) 3
(2+3) pizz
27
mf ff
110
ff p mf ff
f mf
f f mp
113
f ff
fff mf
mf f
117
mf p f
mf f
(2+2+3)
(2+2+3)
arco(2+2+3)
(2+3)
(2+3)
(2+3) pizz
(2+2+3)
(2+2+3)
arco
(2+2+3)
28
mf p mpmf
pmf
120
mf p mp mf p mf f
mf p mp mf p mf
mp f ff mf
124
mp f ffmf
ffmf
mf f mf f mf mp
Dance-like127
mf f mf f mf mp
f
(2+3)
3 3
(2+3)
3
(2+3)
pizz
(2+2+3)
(2+2+3)
(2+2+3)
(2+3)
3
(2+3) 3
(2+3)
29
f mf f
mp
131
f mf fmp
mp
fmp f
mf f
134
fmp f mf f
f
mp f mp f mf f mp
137
mp f mp f mf f mp
(2+2+3)
(2+2+3)
(2+2+3)
(2+3)
3
(2+3)
3
(2+3)
arco
(2+2+3)
(2+2+3)
(2+2+3)
30
mf f mf f
141
mf f mf f
mf f mf f
144
mf f mf f mf
mf fff
146
f ff
(2+3)
(2+3)
(2+3)
(2+2+3)
(2+2+3)
(2+2+3)
31
f ff fff f
148
f ff fff f
ff
ff f ff f
151
ff f ff f
fff
154
fff
fff
(2+3)
(2+3)
(2+3)
(2+2+3)
(2+2+3)
(2+2+3)
32
ff mf ff mp
q = ca. 72 Beginning explosively, then mellowing drastically
156
mf ff fmf ff
fff mf f mf
ff mf ff
158
mf ff
ff mp ff
mf f
159
mf f p mp f
f mf f mp ff
65
66
5
5
6
5
sul pont.
5
5 6
sul pont.
7
ord.(bounce onone bow) (normal
bowing) 3 5
33
mp f mf
160
mp f p f p f
mp f mp
f p mf mpf
161
mp f mfmp f mp ff p
mp mf
f p f mp f
mp f mp f p mp mf
163
mp f p f ff mp f mp mf
mp f mf ff mf
5 5 3
ord. sul pont.
76 6
3
5 5
5
ord.
5
36
(bounce onone bow)
(normalbowing) sul pont.
ord.3 6 6 5
5
5 3 5 6
sul pont. ord.
5
sul pont. pizz arcoord.
34
mp f f mf
165
f p f p f p mp f
fp
f ff mp f
f p mf pp pp mf p
167
f pp p pp
f pp mp pp
mp pp pp mf pp mf p
poco rit. q = 64171
mf p pp
mp pp mp pp
3 5
(bounce onone bow) (normal
bowing) 3
35 3 5
pizzarcoord.
6
3
5
ord.
ord. 3
5 3
5
5 pizz arco
3
3
35
pp mf p pp mp
175
mf p pp mp pp
p pp pp mp pp
pp mp pp p
179
mppp mp pp mp pp
mp pp mp ppmp pp
pp p ppppp pp ppp
poco rit. q = 58183
ppp
p pp ppp
3
3
3
3 5
3
3
5
36
pp ppp pp ppp pp ppp
188
pp ppp
pp
pp ppppp ppp
193
pp ppp
ppp
5
35
3
5
5
37