CHOIR

An SATB choral setting by Peter Gore-Symes

of the poem 'Choir' by John Burnside
Dedicated to harmony in the Middle East, Far East, MiddleWest, FarWest, North and South.

Digital recording and program notes is available at

http://notes-about-music.blogspot. com. au/ 20 I 6 I 05/choir-for-satb-choir.html

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Peter Gore-Symes (1951- )

Moderato expressivo

Sop.

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(div.)

Alto

to be-lieve

gain,

that the dark-ness will sift

to be-lieve

gam,

that the dark-ness

It is hard

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It is hard

Bass

the

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(div.)

Ten.

be-lieve

that the dark-ness will sift

to

,f

sift

ltw

(div.)

It is hard

to be-lieve

a-

gain,

that the dark-ness

sift

the

Les- sence from the flesh

and

make it-weight
---

es-sence

from

the flesh,

make it weight

es-sence

L-3
from

the flesh,

make it-weight

nry

p-

less

and ev -

ry

P--t---:--

less

and ev - er

and ev -

nw

less

and ev -

-es-sence from

make it

weight -

er -

last

last

er -

last

er -

last

Subito
ritenuto
ad lib.

Allegretto leggiero

I'd

mg.

ra-ther think of

us-

When one voice stops,

"!f
Choir, Choir, Choir

A
stops,

A
ing.

Choir, Choir Choir

,!f
Choir, Choir, Choir

stops, a-no-ther

A
stops,

Giocoso scherzando

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,!f

U-ni- son!-

f s n-.-- ,!f
U ni- son!-

These games we play with

r-B----16ri-ses,

First, to take its place,

3-----r

U ni-son!

l_i

a-a

games- we

playwith song_

these

games-

play

Play,

we

play with,

we

play

play

with,

play-

with,

play

with

play-

with,

play

'--

"

with

Allegro affrettando

poco rit,

"f

Moderato
risoluto

\J

play- with

non! Re -

Ca-non Ca-non Ca

A
,

play-

with, play with song!

Ca-non Ca-non Ca

non

play* with

non!

Ca

"f

r-3
Re-

Ca-non Ca

with

frain,

re

frain,

non!

song!

re- - frain;-

Po-lyph-o-ny,

tl

unis.

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lvph

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tl./
frain,

re - frain,

re - frain;-

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Po

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re

frain,

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re

frain,

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o-

ny,

Po-lyph - o

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l*ournl

Parlando a piacere

huml

P
Po

-lyph-o-ny!

mm, mm

Solonf
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o- ny,

Po

lyph-o-ny!

Po-lyph-o- ny!

mm, mm

Re-ci

DO, mm, mm

- ta -ri

(uaggered breathing

if required)

(smggered breathing

if required)

p
div.

ny-

Po-lyph- o-ny!

mm)

mm,

mm

Andante
sostenuto
e serioso

mm, mm.

rirtti \ -f

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ci-ta-ti

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mm, mm.

r1dio.

mm_

mm-mm

A
mm, mm.

,.,^

,!f

n
singr-

Ising]

the

wi-der ground we make-

\-J7
we

[sing]

Ising]

-!f

more

Ising]

The

,!f

rypp

make-

play

,!f

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'rtsinsl

play- in, to

to

more

we sing-

in,

to

ry

make-

play

to

,r!f

,ryP

play in,

make-

to

a tempo

poco rit.

"!f
play-

in,

play

in,

to play- in,-

\--PlaY,-

der ground

The

-/

The

wi

"!f
play

in,

play,-

,!f
play

in,

play in,-

The

wi

der ground we

|-Y

to-

make-

play

Con-tra

make,

Breath,

pun -

tal, Con-tra-

pun-

Breath,

tal,

//
we

der ground

Con-tra pun

make

tal//

ral-

Con-tra pun

ground;

Breath,

Optional ending:
final 'th'sound which is a problem to sing as it has no intrinsic pitch, but given its central importance
to the meaning of the poem, it ought in this instance be made adequately audible. I suggest two possible alternative solutions:

The word 'breath'has

individually begin to run out of breath on the final note, each could save their final gasp for 'thhhh'
(tongue between teeth) and fade to silence. Thus it may be left to the audience's discretion to judge when the performance is
over and to provide possible humorous interaction. On each 'thhh'the individual performer could flop their head forward.
1. As the performers

2.

The final 'thhh' could be indicated by the conductor and performed simultaneously by all in the conventional manner, but

with audibly more emphasis than usual on rhe'thhh'.

,!f
All_

morendo-

One

Breath-

,!f

morendo,

All

One

t./

Breath-

,!f

7n6ysnflsBreath-

unxs.

.!f

fl
morendo-

Rreoth