Patrick Castillo

The Quality of Mercy

for Soprano, Flute/Alto Flute, Clarinet/Bass Clarinet in B-flat,

Violin, Cello, Percussion, and Electronics

FIN DU TEMPS

The Quality of Mercy (2009) for soprano, flute/alto flute, clarinet/bass clarinet in B-flat, violin, cello, percussion, and electronics (Max/MSP) Patrick Castillo “The Quality of Mercy” received its premiere on May 5, 2009, at St. Bartholomew’s Church, New York, NY. The performance was given by soprano Sarah Kerman, flautist Christine Perea, clarinetist Boris Shpitalnik, violinist Yuri Namkung, cellist Dmitri Percussion, and percussionist Michael McCurdy; electronics were facilitated by the composer. DURATION: c. 30’ Patrick Castillo/Fin du Temps (ASCAP) 165 Clinton Avenue #1A Brooklyn, NY 11205 www.patrickcastillo.com info@patrickcastillo.com

INSTRUMENTATION Flute/Alto Flute Clarinet/Bass Clarinet in B-flat Violin Cello Soprano Voice Percussion

Vibraphone Marimba (5 octave) Suspended Cymbal Medium Tam-Tam Finger Cymbal 2 Woodblocks Triangle Balloon + tack or pin 2 Bows

Electronics (Max/MSP)

PERFORMANCE NOTE The electronic component of “The Quality of Mercy” comprises both pre-recorded sound files and live audio processing; flute, violin, cello, and soprano each requires a microphone for signal processing (no amplification). Please contact info@patrickcastillo.com to obtain Max patches and sound files.

Copyright © 2009 Patrick Castillo

INTROIT [realization 2.2]

The Quality of Mercy Patrick Castillo

ca. 3 s ca. 10 s

ca. 12 s ca. 12 s

Flute

Percussion

Vibraphone/Marimba

Soprano

Violin

FINGER CYM. l.v.

VIB.Lento, rubato, molto tranquillo

p sempre

l.v.

come sopra

l.v.

CUE: start soundbed[Birds.wav; Water.wav]

CUE: start flute patcher*

*Flute signal triggers multiple iterations of Birds.wav at random speeds.

ca. 12 s ca. 12 s

Fl.

Vib./Mar.

mp

Rubato, rhythm ad lib.

più p

sim.

come sopra

Fl.

Perc.

Vib./Mar.

Vln.

poco f

Presto, come un uccello

3

sf

5

SUSP CYM.soft mallets

l.v.

p

Rubato, come sopra

(To MAR.)

poco f

q = ca. 76

sf

CUE: start violin patcher**

**Violin signal records to buffer, plays back at random speed.

A tempo q = ca. 76

A tempo q = ca. 76

Fl.

Perc.

Vib./Mar.

Vln.

più f

MAR.

sfz

To VIB.

poco f

ff

q = 60

q = 60

Fl.

Perc.

Vib./Mar.

Vln.

air sounds

molto

ff

gliss.

sfz

key clicks (sound note simultaneously)

bisbigl.simultaneously sing and play note

[ossia: sung note]

SUSP. CYM.

p

con sord.sul pont.

più p

Senza tempo

Senza tempo

Fl.

Perc.

Vib./Mar.

Vln.

come sopra

mp

p

l.v.

poco f

(VIB.) arco, full length of bow

Improvise on these pitches in manner of previous passage.

più p

2

Fl.

Vib./Mar.

norm.q = 60

poco più f

l.v. a niente

Perc.

Vib./Mar.

Sop.

Vln.

SUSP. CYM.

p

poco f e misterioso

Sop. buffer A

Sop. buffer B

come sopra

pp (con sord., sul pont.)

RECORD Sop. buffer A RECORD Sop. buffer B

Sop.

Vln.

Sop. buffer C

lunga poss.

q = ca. 76

poco f

norm.

sf

poco

RECORD Sop. buffer C CUE: Sop. loops*

*Sop. buffers A, B, and C loop at signal rates of -2, -1, -0.5, 0.5, 1, and 2; random iterations.

3

ca. 12 s

Perc.

Vib./Mar.

Sop.

Vln.

SUSP. CYM.

(VIB.)arco, full length of bow

q = ca. 76

q = ca. 76

poco f

Fl.

Sop.

Iterate fragments ad libitum, al fine.

mp

poco f

poco f

poco f

3 sf

5

lunga

Fl.

Vib./Mar.

Sop.

come sopra

4

lunga

Fl.

Vib./Mar.

Sop.

Vln.

p

con sord.sul pont.

più p

CUE: fade out soundbed,fade out Sop. loops;stop flute + violin patchers.

5

KYRIE [as the gentle rain I]q = 54

q = 54

Bass Clarinetin Bb

Marimba

Violoncello

pizz., quasi parlando

poco f ma molto tranquillo

3

3

3

3

5

5

8

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vc.

( = tongue-slap)

poco f

(B [concert A] sung)

arco

p

3

3

3

5

5

5

5

15

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vc.

(A [concert G] sung)

3

(B [A] sung)

arco

rearticulate as necessary, rhythm ad lib.

rearticulate as necessary, rhythm ad lib.

3

3

5

5

5

5

6

21

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vc.

sf

più f (lower note sung)

3

5

5

28

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vc.

come sopra

più intenso

5

5

33

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vc.

ppp

7

WHAT ca. 10 s

Flute

Clarinet in Bb

Percussion

Soprano

Violin

Violoncello

FINGER CYM. l.v.

TAM-TAMarco, full length of bow

poco f

Wha

non vib. molto vib.

non vib.

t

- - - - -

CUE: start soundbed[What_street.wav;church bells... .wav]

5

q = 56

q = 56

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Vib.

Sop.

Vln.

Vc.

Pno.

air sounds;percussively, pitches ad lib.

sfz

p

rfz

SUSP. CYM.

pp

l.v.

arco

poco f

brushes

(brushes)

pp

5

Wha

come sopra, più lunga

t

sf

- - - What

shall

I

Sop. buffer

call

you?

flautando

pp

REC. Sop. buffer: reverse playback

8

9

Fl.

Cl.

Sop.

Vln.

sfz

By

what

na(me)

[m]

shall

I

call

you?

O

più f

my

re

-

rfzf sub. p

9

Sop. sample

STOP Sop. buffer playback

13

Fl.

B. Cl.

Perc.

Mar.

Sop.

Vln.

Vc.

f

f

fl.

3

rfz

norm.

5 fl.

TAM-TAM (norm.)sfz

SUSP. CYM. (norm.)

f sf

sf

sf

3

sem

blance?

- - - - - -

my

dim.

re

- -

sfz

sub. p

7

gliss.

sfz

sub. p

7

CUE: start Introit violin patcher: flute, bass clarinet, violin, cello

9

15

attacca

A. Fl.

B. Cl.

Perc.

Mar.

Sop.

Vln.

Vc.

p

3

norm.

SUSP. CYM.arco

l.v.

sem

blance?

-

my

p

re

sem

- blance?

- - -

flautando

sfz

sfz

Piano sample

CUE: Stop Introit violin patcher FADE OUT soundbed

10

INTERLUDE [voiceprint]q = 40

q = 40

Flute

Percussion

Marimba

Vibraphone

Violin

ff

fl.

To ALTO FL.

6

TAM-TAMarco

ff

BALLOON

pp

l.v.

pp

flautando

poco più p

CUE: start soundbed[Kirchner... .wav]

Cue: trigger metro 188

pitch [A440]

noise

11

7

A. Fl.

Perc.

Mar.

Vib.

Vln.

p

5

5

5

5

5

555

WOODBLOCKS

p

5

5

5

5

5

TRIANGLE

5

10

A. Fl.

Perc.

Mar.

Vln.

Vc.

1.

1.

5

5

52.

2.

5

5

2.

1.

q = ca. 52

poco

pochiss. rit.

Vc. signal triggers cycle

12

q = 120

q = 120

repeat ad naus., lunga poss., a niente

Flute

Marimba

Violin

Violoncello

sfz

[it becomes the throned monarch better than his crown]

3

3

sfp

(p)

repeat ad naus. (proceed following flute dim. a niente)

sfz

sfz

6

Mar.

poco meno

p come sopra

13

Mar.

5 5

17

Mar.

5 5 53

5

21

Mar.

3 3 5

25

Mar.

5 5 3 3

30

Mar.

accel.

37

Mar.

sub. p

5 5 5 5 5 5

poco f

poco f

13

< e = e >5

46

Mar.

f

5

50

Mar.

rit. poco a poco

dim.

3 3 5

Molto meno mosso q = ca. 56

Molto meno mosso q = ca. 56

55

Fl.

Cl.

Mar.

Vln.

Vc.

Iterate ad lib., infrequently

sfp

3

Iterate ad lib.,infrequently, to m. 69

sfp

3

33

pp

sfp

Iterate ad lib., infrequently,to m. 69 (opt. 8vea)

3

Iterate ad lib., infrequently, to m. 69(opt.: 8veb; arco or pizz.)

sfp

3

CUE: start soundbed

14

59

Fl.

Mar.

poco f

sustain lunga poss. dim. a niente

3

poco

f

sfz

pochiss.

sf

p sempre

65

Fl.

Mar.

p

sf

sf

p

5

3

70

Cl.

Mar.

Vln.

pp

sf

3

pp

Continue soundbed;fade out

15

Tempo I77

Fl.

Mar.

5 5 5

ff

82

Fl.

Mar.

poco p

[BEGIN ELEV MUS NO 1]

poco

poco meno p

poco

etc.

3 3

repeat ad naus.;slowly dim. a niente

16

ELEV MUS NO 1q = 60

Flute

poco ppoco

poco meno p

poco

3 3

poco meno ppoco

poco meno p

poco

poco meno ppoco

poco meno p

poco

5

poco f cresc. pochiss. a pochiss.

5

3

(flatt.)

mf

5 7

pocopoco meno f

bisbigliando

quasi rfzsfp

17

q = 50ANTHEM [anathema]

Violin

sfz sf

p

sfz sf

p

sfz

3 3 3

4

Vln.

sf

sfz sf

poco

pp flautando

sfz

sfz sf

p

3 3

10

Vln.

pp

con sord.

senza sord.

sfz sf

sfz sf

poco

sfz

3

3 3

15

Vln.

pp

con sord.

senza sord.

sfz sf

p

sfz

5

3 3

18

Vln.

ff

poco meno

6

6 6

19

Vln.

sfz

pp

con sord.

sffz

6

3

22

Vln.

sfp

sf

p

senza sord.

sfz

sfz

3

18

senza misura25

S. Solo

Vln.

poco f

p

CUE: start violin_solo.maxpat

29

S. Solo

Vln.

Sop. buffer I

REC. Sop. buffer I

35

S. Solo

Vln.

Sop. buffer II

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

REC. Sop. buffer II

37

S. Solo

Vln.

19

38

S. Solo

Vln.

lunga poss.

CUE: Loop Sop.buffers I + II

39

Vln.

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

40

Vln.

sf

p

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Fade out violin_solo.maxpat

44

Vln.

pp flautando

sfz

sfz sf

p

3

48

Vln.

sfz

3

20

1as the gentle rain IIVivace q = 140

Vivace q = 140

Fl.

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vln.

Vc.

mp sempre, secco

p leggiero

5

Mar.

Vc.

9

Mar.

Vc.

pocchiss.

13

Mar.

Vc.

rfz

sub. p

rfz

p

21

17

Mar.

Vc.

p

rfz

p

p

p

rfz

p

21

Mar.

Vc.

p

p rfz

p

rfz

p

rfz

p

rfz

p

rfz

p

25

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vc.

f percussively

sfz

sub. p

3 3

sfz p

sfz

ff

sub. p

sfz

28

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vc.

quasi niente

p

crescendo poco a poco alla m. 36

p

sfz

p

sfz

p

sfz

22

31

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vc.

più f

sfz

gliss.

p

34

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vc.

ff

3

5 3 3

più f

f

ff

38

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vc.

sf

sf

sf

sf

sf

sf

41

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vc.

sf

sf

sf

sf sf

sf

poco

più f

23

45

Fl.

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vc.

sf

sfz

pizz.

49

Fl.

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vln.

Vc.

f

sfz

fl.

sfz

sub. p

3 3 3 3

3 3 3 3

f ma cantabile

arco

sfz

24

53

Fl.

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vib.

Vc.

poco f

sfz

poco meno f

sfz

sfz

3 3 3 3 3

3 3 3 3 3

poco f

sfz

poco

sfz

sub. p

57

Fl.

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vib.

Vln.

Vc.

fl.

fl.

3 3 3 3 3

3 3 3 3 3

To MAR.

25

62

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vln.

Vc.

sfz

3

sfz

3

mp

sfz

3

sub. p

sfz

3

3

3

p

sfz

3

sfz

3

66

Fl.

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vln.

Vc.

p

p

sfz

3

sfz

sfz

3 3

sub. p

sfz

3

sub. p

sfz

sub. p

sfz

3 3 3 3

3

3 3 3 3

p

sfz

3

sfz

sfz

3 3 3 3

26

70

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vc.

f

sfz

sfz sfz

f

sfz

sfz sfz

f

sfz

sfz sfz

74

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vln.

Vc.

sfz

3

3

sfz

3

3

3

3

sfz

3

3

27

78

Fl.

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vln.

Vc.

sfz

sfz

5

sfz

sfz

5

5

sfz

sfz

5

83

Fl.

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vln.

Vc.

sfz

5

sfz

3

sfz

5

sfz

3

5

3

sfz

5

sfz

3

28

87

Fl.

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vln.

Vc.

3 3 3

91

Fl.

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vln.

Vc.

p

poco meno

dim.

p

29

94

Fl.

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vln.

Vc.

97

Fl.

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vib.

Vln.

Vc.

poco f

mp

poco f

mp

sfz

30

100

Fl.

Vib.

Vln.

dim. poco a poco

5

3

105

Fl.

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vib.

Vln.

Vc.

pp

3

5

sfz

sfz

5

p

sfz

5

31

110

Fl.

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vib.

Vln.

Vc.

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

114

Fl.

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vc.

5

3 3 3 3 5

3 3 3 3 5

5

32

118

Fl.

B. Cl.

Mar.

Vc.

5

5 3

5 3

5

33

CODA

Clarinet in Bb

Percussion

Violin

Violoncello

TAM-TAM

VIB.

Lento, rubato, molto tranquillo

p sempre

come sopra

CUE: start soundbed

q = ca. 60

Cl.

Perc.

Vln.

Vc.

ff

come sopra

poco f

poco f

CUE: fade out soundbed A

CUE: fade out soundbed B

34

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