THE VERNACULAR WRIT

Christopher Walker

THE VERNACULAR WRIT

INSTRUMENTATION PERFORMANCE NOTES

2 Classical Guitars, micd + amplified in house Harpsichord, micd, processed through Pure Data + amplified in house Double Bass, micd, processed through Pure Data + amplified in house Electronics represented in Pure Data + amplified in house

Classical Guitars 1 & 2 serve as the pure voicings in this work. Each guitar is prepared by scordatura - a special tuning that in this work, will allow the instruments to create a crunchy texture when played openly together. The two tunings are as follows: The Harpsichord serves as the distorted voicing in this work. The part reads as any other keyboard instrument, but there are two clarifications to be made in notation. Again, as they appear in the score:
roll irregularly in any order

Guitar 1

1 2 3 54 6

The guitar parts are read in standard six-line tablature staves, but there are a number of nonstandard notation used throughout. They are as follows, arranged in order of appearance:

b b

Guitar 2

1 2 3 4 5 6

T A B

A B C D A - This notation indicates a full, thumb stroke across open strings. The notehead and stem length indicate which strings to openly strum. B - The standard notation; numbered noteheads indicate fretboard position on a particular string, slurs indicate the amount of time a note is left to resonate, harmonics are indicated by . C - This notation calls for the use of a slide appropriate to the instrument, adorned on the ring finger; a full thumb stroke across all open strings is made at the fretted position indicated by the number below, then the arrowed line indicates the motion of the slide in relative up and down motions across the fretboard. D - This notation denotes free aleatoric fingerings of the desired notes, for a duration as long as is indicated by the broad arrow in time.

12

oj

switch to slide

& g b gg b ? #

ggg b .... .

j j
B

A - Whenever the standard rolled arpeggiation is used, it is to be performed irregularly, in any up or down order. B - Whenever two noteheads with a bar between them are notated, this indicates a five-finger cluster note; the position of the notes show approximate hand placement on the keyboard.

r j

THE VERNACULAR WRIT

In general, whenever an X stands in place of a time signature, the piece is in free time, per the graphic notation sense of the term. The duration of these periods of free time are indicated in seconds above the staff. During these periods, a written notes duration lasts at the performers own discretion; the white space in between indicates rests, also with the performers discretion. All written material must happen within the time stated above the staff. These periods happen at the beginning of the work and during the Harpsichords free cadenza.

The Double Bass, along with the Electronics, represent the evolving voices of this work. A - Glissandi are notated by the thick black lines, indicating total direction along the fingerboard. The Bass part is in standard notation, with some modifiers, listed in order of appearance: B - This notation indicates a linear progressionfrom ordinary playing to multo sul ponticello playing, and back again. At msp, it is multo (ord.) sul (ord.) desired for the bow to be nearly on top of the bridge. This gesture pont. gliss. III will be often accompanied by dynamics motion. ? .

R
IV

C - This notation shows an extension of the glissandi gestures, but in the inclusion of a double stop, with individual strings notated.

The Electronics are to perfomed with Pd-extended, compiled against Pure Data version 0.42.5. All necessary files, libraries and extensions are to be found in the same folder as this PDF score. The main file is titled _vernacular.pd. Additionally, there is a separate _vernacular Readme.txt file included in the folder that has the full rundown on the PD file itself.

bbO ? O b >
9

DESCENDING SHEPARD TONE WILL FADE IN

O O bbw

17

The Electronics consist of a multi-layered drone, a sound file of a descending Shepar-Risset tone, and the plug-ins to make the inputs from the Harpsichord, Double Bass and Drone distorted and reverberant. The user at the computer simply has to have the ready_to_cue toggle on, then follow along in the score, clicking the space-bar whenever the next numbered cue (encapsulated int he score by squares) comes along in the performance. The you_are_here box should display the same cue as is present in the score.

THE VERNACULAR WRIT

PERFORMANCE NOTES (CONT.)

PROGRAM NOTE
This piece was created from the thoughts of What if? What if Western notation as we know it today was something forced upon instrumentation? What if instruments had their own unique vernacular; a dialect distinctly separate from both each other and their written history? What if the idiomatic usage of instruments was nowhere near its true vernacular? The Harpsichord a racuous judge, a Double Bass the subtle commentator. What if a group of like races, say stringed-instruments for instance, had a societal plight against them, an issue to rally under, a strife that demands justice and retribution? What if a legal writ was established in response?

Score

THE VERNACULAR WRIT

Christopher Walker
| 4 8 4 8 4 8 4 8 4 8 4 8

approx. 40"

Scordatura 1

Guitar 1

T A X B

Guitar 2

T A X B

Scordatura 2

Harpsichord

& ? ? ?
0

Double Bass

Electronics

12

Gtr. 1

Gtr. 2

4 ^ 0. 0 8 . 0. (full strums remain f, each subsequent single note is under a cresc.) 4 ^j 8

Steadfast e = 80

12

Hpschd.

4 &8 ?4 8

.J p
0

(full strums remain

f, each subsequent single note is under a cresc.)

12

D.B.

?4 8 ?4 8
HAARP & Liars (Christopher Walker) 2011-2012

12

Elec.

22

Gtr. 1

Gtr. 2

22

0 R J

^ 0 J

^ J ^ j
0

r^
0 0

the vernacular writ

& ?

J.

^ j

" j. " 0j. 0

0 4

^ ^ . 3 J 3 3 " 12 R
4

12 12

j j

12

j .

. J

j .

^r

" 0R

0 0

0 12 12

j ^ . 0 2 2 R R ^ . 0 0

Hpschd.

22

D.B.

? ?

22

b.

cresc.

(ord.)

b gliss. J

multo sul pont.

(ord.)

(ord.)

multo sul pont.

(ord.)

Elec.

32

Gtr. 1

j J.

Gtr. 2

"
32

J F
5

"
2

. 2

0 R J

12

^
4

^ 15 J

"

j3

^r " 2

& ?

12

12

^j

"

^r

"

12

R
0

2. jurit nova curia

0
3

Hpschd.

32

D.B.

? N> J ?

>

32

F #
1

>

^ >

^ " j R -

(ord.)

multo sul pont.

# . R

(ord.)

"
3

^ ^ " r " r j j j j -

Elec.

j -

III IV f F
2

the vernacular writ

Gtr. 1

Gtr. 2

oJ P
9

o " " j 12
simile

12

"

oj

"

41

& ?

o P
9

simile " "

oJ

oJ

"

12

oR o oR oj j 9
12 12

"

"

12

or

12

oJ

"

Hpschd.

41

D.B.

? . ?

bowing:

>

>

41

" r f

>

> > >

>

b # J

b J

b 3

^ b " R J J

III

" R
IV

Elec.

50

Gtr. 1

"
12

Gtr. 2

oj

"

oj

gg b .... g > .

" j b ggg b
> >

12

oj

> b J

12

50

Hpschd.

& g b gg b > ? # > ? ?

roll irregularly in any order

j # J

j gg g J
> >

oJ

o f

" . b ...
>

oJ

oJ

12

or

"

oj
$

switch to slide

$ "
>

>j

switch to slide

>j

>j
3

12

oj

N # $
> > >

r " #
>

j .. # .
> >

>j
12

>j
7

12

b ..
>

" br .

j gg b g b J
> >

50

D.B.

50

^ R " !

>

j -

" R P

# .

j j g j gb g b > > > b b j J J >

> >

j j
&

ggg b J

j b
> >

> gg # gg J >

>

^ J f

^ " R

Elec.

57

Gtr. 1

> j
9

> j

> j

Gtr. 2

57

& ? > > .. b.

oJ

12

oj

Hpschd.

>

>

b b #
>

oJ

j j
6
0

12

oj
>r
3

"

oJ

"

oR

>r
7

"

>

r
>j
14

>j
5

the vernacular writ

12

14

oR

" "

>r
1

>j
2

>j >r
7 3

>r
2

" 12 9 R oJ o

12

oj

12

oj

12

ovJ

>j
4

12

oj

57

D.B.

? ?

57

F F
5

(ord.)

multo sul pont.

(ord.)

b.

&

Elec.

68

> > > > 3

Gtr. 1

j
j

Gtr. 2
12 7 4

7 F>

" 12 oJ
>r
4

^ or

oj

oJ

>r
6

12

oj

"

>r
6

12

oj

12

68

& ?

F
1

oj o j 5
7

"

>r
4

12

oJ

"

r
3

> j

>j

>j

P
2

15

"

12
12

oJ

$
>r
5

"

Hpschd.

b J $ $
?

$
>

68

D.B.

68

& R f ? F
6

..

R f

>

J J

b
3

. J

# n #

II III

Elec.

3. leges humanae nascuntur, vivunt, moriuntur

the vernacular writ

Gtr. 1

Gtr. 2

Hpschd.

78 j & g gg b N ? gg # g J
78

j gg g

j j gg gg b g g ggg N ggg # J J
multo sul pont.

j gg b g

j gg g

j gg g

j gg g

remove slide

$ $ $ $ $ O O O O

$ $ $ $ $

j j gg gg b g g ggg N ggg # J J j j gg gg g g ggg ggg J J

remove slide j gg b g

ggg J

j gg g

ggg J
II

j gg g

ggg J

j j gg gg b g g ggg N ggg # J J b O
(ord.)

j j gg gg g g ggg ggg J J

j j gg gg g g ggg ggg J J

ggg N # J b

ggg J

ggg J

ggg J

ggg N # J

D.B.

? ?

j .. O > f
8

(ord.)

78

Elec.

bbO O b >
9

86

4. All hail he, who without fail, shall render a verdict true
Gtr. 1

Gtr. 2

86

&

|free b
cadenza X

P K ^ r O w O w

Hpschd.

?X
86

j b b

D.B.

? ?X

. . ! O bw f
10

..

P b b R

^ b

b b ww w R F

#. J b b .. f j # . .. . # . -

approx. 24"

. .

. ggg . J gg .. F

#
subito

b b

pp

.... b

b P b

N # . . . F .

...

b b J b J J p . . - -

b b b

b. . . b. - - - -

b p

^| R

86

Elec.

O w O
11

O w O

O w O

O w O

O w O

O w O

O w O

O w O

O w O

O w O

O b Ow O
12

O Ow O

O Ow O

O Ow O

the vernacular writ

Gtr. 1

Gtr. 2

103

& ?

$ $

| b b b b !

Hpschd.

b b
cresc.

r gg #

r gg #

# b

D.B.

|103 ?
103

approx. 6"

| bO O Ow O
13

j b # j # # J j # j #

approx. 32"

b b

b b J J

b b b
(

F)

N N

Elec.

O ? Ow O

O O Ow O

O O Ow O

O O Ow O

O O Ow O

O O Ow O

O O b OO w O
14

O O w OO O

O O w OO O

O O w OO O

114

Gtr. 1

Gtr. 2

114

& ?

# b b J
(

Hpschd.

f)

b j # b b b b # n b gg b . gg J

approx. 32"

b b b b #

114

D.B.

? O O ? bO w OO O
15

b b # b # ... b . J P gg g J O O O w OO O O O O w OO O O O O w OO O

# b

F b

# b b

bb b

n
3

gg b gg p b b

114

Elec.

O O O w OO O

O O O w OO O

O O O w OO O

O O O w OO O

O O O w OO O

O O O w OO O

O O O w OO O

10

the vernacular writ

Gtr. 1

Gtr. 2

125

& ?

$ $ |

Hpschd.

| b b b

b b ^ N b # #
cresc. into a stupor

^ b b b b

D.B.

| 125 ?
125

approx. 8"

b b b

b b ^ b

j j j b b j ^ j j j j A ^ j j j j b N # # # j j
approx. 24"

^ b b j j j j j j j j j j

j j j j j j j

j j j j

Elec.

O ? bO bw > F
16

O O w

O O w

O O w

DESCENDING SHEPARD TONE WILL FADE IN

17

132

e = 120

Gtr. 1

4 8 4 8

Gtr. 2

Hpschd.

j j j j 132 j j j j & j j j b b b j j ? j b
132

j j j j b ^ b

approx. 24"

j n

j j

j j j

D.B.

? ?

j j j j j

j j j j j j j

j j j j j

j j j j j

j | j j 4 8 f j j j j 4 r -j " j 8 4 8

j j

j j " " "

132

Elec.

18

b P
19

4 8

11

the vernacular writ

Gtr. 1

Gtr. 2

140

&

Hpschd.

? r -j "
140

j r j j . b " " " r -j " "

r b b . " " r -j F

r r " " .. . .

D.B.

? ?

b r . r r . . . r r j . . . .

r b . r

" " r

"A

b b b r b b r -j " "

" "

140

Elec.

e = 80

150

ritard

Gtr. 1

Gtr. 2

150

Hpschd.

& b n b ? r -j " "

r b . #

" "

# ... .

# b .... b -j "

.... J

# b J

" R

J J

" R J

J " b R

J J b b J

J J j b b

j J b b

J j

j b b

" R

150

D.B.

? ? $
20

150

Elec.

b
21

12

5. Amicus curiae
159
repeat in aleatory rhythm, though tenuto throughout

the vernacular writ

Gtr. 1

2 2

]
2 0 4

Gtr. 2

repeat in aleatory rhythm, though tenuto throughout

F
3

] [
0 0 2 0

159

&

b # b b b -

2 6 4 5

]
j r b " ! b b $ b b b b $ b b -

. $

j #

b b -

j #

j j -

Hpschd.

?
159

j #

j b b -

$ b bb -

$ bb -

$ $

D.B.

? ? .

159

Elec.

22

169

Gtr. 1

.
10 12 7 5 4

2 2 2

- 0

Gtr. 2

[
(

3 3 3

169

f)

]
$ b . $

5 3

& ? bb -

$ b #

- j
0

- 3 0 -

J f
5

- 0 1 3

j j
0

j j
0

. 5
0

j j 0 - - 0 0

" 3.

"

"

J 3J - r j
"
3

j j
0

3 0 0

j j . 3

- 2- 3 2 J

j 2

. .

j j - - - 2
2 4
3

Hpschd.

169

D.B.

? ?

169

Elec.

13

as even as possible
182

Gtr. 1

Gtr. 2

F -as even as possible j - - j j 1

- - j j j
2 2 2

182

& ?

J j

0 2

- - j j
1 4

- - j j
3 3

J - j j
4 3

> > > > j j

>
4

3 3 3

> j

"

> j
0

the vernacular writ

6. Straw poll

12

0 0

RJ
>

>
0

..

9 9 9 9 9

>
0 9 9 9 9 9

9 9 9 9 9 9

>

>
0

>
0 0

9 9 9 9 9

.
>

9 9 9 9 9

>
0

"
0

"
0

>
0 0

4 0

5 5

>

r 4
>

9 9

Hpschd.

P b

$
3

# #

182

D.B.

? ?

182

Elec.

195

Gtr. 1

>
0

9 9 9 9 9 9

Gtr. 2

9 9

195

& # ? b
3

>
0

>
0 0 0 4 14 2

9 5 5

2 2

# b #

>
0

"
3

>
0

5 5

5 5 2 4

2 0 5 0 4

4
4 3

$ .

# b

>

"

Hpschd.

3 3

# b
3 3

2 0 2

F j j
2

2 2

. 2
5

3 52

3 5 5

2 4

# b #
3 3

. J

# f
3 3

#
3 3

# J J

!
"

$ . $ J

cresc.

- . . "

. b. b . # " "
3

R !
3

195

D.B.

? ?

# -

cresc.

j #

# -

j #

195

# F

j# #

still cresc.

j# #

j # #

.. " . # ..

^ b# "

j # # f

j # #

Elec.

14

207

5 5 4

Gtr. 1

5 5 4

Gtr. 2

207

R v

". . # # . # # . (ord.)
5 4 4

5 4 4

5 5

5 5

^K r

the vernacular writ

". $ "
4 4

& ?

# #

R v

".

4 4

^K r

$ $

. $

^K r

".

$ $

". 2 . $
# R

^K r

$ $

.. ..

^K r

^K r

$ $

N. b
multo sul pont.

Hpschd.

207

D.B.

? # R ?

j # (ord.)

# -

b b $

# " r # # $ $

#. #.

r " #

# b P
23

(ord.)

multo sul pont.

(ord.)

207

Elec.

216

Gtr. 1

$ $

$ $

Gtr. 2

216

# ^K r
2

^K r

.. ..

& ?

Hpschd.

216

D.B.

? ?

216

# > f

>

>

decresc.

>

j N .
>

j >

>

#>.

>

#>

>

#> . J

>

>

F
24

>

>

J $

>

Elec.

cresc.

15

7. The vernacular writ

the vernacular writ

Gtr. 1

>>>>>>>> > > > > > > > > > > > >>>>

simile

Gtr. 2

j j j j r j j r .. .

229

Hpschd.

& >>>>>>>> j j j ? .. .. . .
> > > >

simile

r j . j . r .. .. r r

j j j

j j r j j j .. .. .. . . .

r j j

j j j .. .. . .

j j j r r .. .. . . r j j j j r .. .. . .

j j j j .. .. . .

j j .. .. . .

229

D.B.

? ?

229

Elec.

242

>
25

b b >
26

Gtr. 1

j .. .

" " " "

Gtr. 2

" " " " j r j " " " j r j j j .. .. " " " . . r r " "" " " " r r " "" " " " . . . r" r"
28

242

Hpschd.

j &

j j ?
242

j j r .. . j j j .. .. . .

r r j

r j r j j j j j j .. . > r j j j .. .. . .

j j j .. .. . .

D.B.

? ?

242

Elec.

16

27