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TREVOR BAA
PREFACE
Akasha is a music of invisibility, electricity and the open expanse of the sky. The title is the Sanskrit word for the ther, a concept once understood as an unseen force present in all things in motion in the world.
Scordatura. The violins are tuned as usual. String IV of the viola is tuned down a minor third to A\2; string IV of the cello is tuned down a minor third to A\1.
Accidentals. Accidentals govern only one note. Because of this no natural signs appear in the score: G]4 G4 should be played G]4 G\4. This is especially important in the densely chromatic sections that appear throughout the score.
String contact points. Five string contact points appear in the score:
Bridge contact points. The indication OB stands for directly on the bridge and means that the bow should be run diagonally on the bridge to produce white noise with no pitch at all. Fractional bridge contact points also appear. These are played with the bow
extremely high on the string such that the hair of the bow runs against both the wrapping of the string and the wood of the bridge at the same time. Taken as a series these bridge contact points do three things: they reduce the fundamental of the strings fingered
pitch; they increase the spectral content of the upper partials; and they replace the overall sensation of pitch with noise. Some examples:
4 OB one quarter of the hair on bridge (and three quarters of the hair on string)
1
2 OB one half of the hair on bridge (and one half of the hair on string)
1
4 OB three quarters of the hair on bridge (and one quarter of the hair on string)
3
OB bow directly on bridge with a diagonal bow (to produce white noise only)
Bow speed colors. The score contrasts widely different speeds of the bow:
XFB extremely fast bow (extreme flautando with the bow only very lightly skimming the string)
FB fast bow (very pronounced flautando just slightly less than above)
NBS normal bow speed (neither flautando nor scratch)
1
4 scratch timbre with one quarter part scratch (and three quarter parts pitch)
1
2 scratch timbre with one half part scratch (and one half part pitch)
3
4 scratch timbre with three quarter parts scratch (and one quarter part pitch)
scratch moltiss. timbre with as much scratch (and as little pitch) as possible (though without encouraging subtones)
Do not substitute tasto for the FB and XFB degrees of bow speed flautando requested in the score: bow speeds combine freely with the string and bridge contact points given above. Indications for individuated clicks of the bow also appear; these result from almost
impossibly slow motions of the bow against the string.
All passages marked leggierissimo should be played off string. The effect is to be an incredibly fast, and nimble, flurry of notes. (All such passages carry a quiet dynamic and are marked with staccati.)
Akasha was written for the JACK Quartet who gave the world premiere the piece on February 6th 2016 in Paine Hall on the campus of Harvard University.
A K A S H A
= 44 = 44 = 55 = 44
3 6 3 A 4 5 4
8 8 4 4 4 4
mf p mp
= 55
12
6 6 4 6 5
4 leggierissimo: off-string bowing on staccati
4 4 4 4
9:8 9:8 tasto + XFB
Vn. 1
p pp
tasto + XFB
Vn. 2
pp
Va.
Vc.
= 55
22
3 9 B 4 8
4 8 8 8
Vn. 1
tasto + 1/2 scratch
Vn. 2
mp
Va.
leggierissimo: off-string bowing on staccati
Vc.
p 9:8 9:8 5:4 9:8 9:8 5:4
= 55
28
3 4 7 6 C 4 6 6
8 8 8 4 4 4 4
Vn. 1
tasto + XFB
Vn. 2
pp
3:2 9:8 3:2 3:2
tasto
Va.
mp
tasto
Vc.
9:8 9:8
5:4 9:8
mp
42
6 4 3 4 5 3 4
4 4 4 4 4 4 4
OB
mf
Vn. 1
OB
mf
Vn. 2
Vc.
p
mp pp
= 126
55
5 4 6 3 D 4 3 6 7 4 8
4 4 4 8 8
5/A4(II) + vib. mod.
8 8 8 8 8
8va
Vn. 1
mp
tasto
Vn. 2
pp
7/A2(IV) + vib. mod.
3:2
tasto + 1/2 scratch tasto
Va.
mp mp pp mp
+ 1/2 scratch
tasto tasto 11/A1(IV) + vib. mod.
Vc.
mp mp
mp pp
/ Akasha 2 Baa
70
9 7 3 6 7 9 4 8 9 4 3
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
8va
XP + senza vib. + full bow strokes
Vn. 1
ppp
XP + full bow strokes
Vn. 2
ppp
Va.
Vc.
= 55 = 126
85
9 4 8 3 4 7 3 6 4 3 6 7
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
Vn. 1
tasto
Vn. 2
p
tasto + senza vib. 3:2
XP + full bow strokes
Va.
ppp
sf ppp
XP + senza vib. + full bow strokes XP + full bow strokes
tasto
Vc.
ppp
sf ppp ppp
= 44 = 44
101
3 8 9 4 3 6 7 4 E 6
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 4 4
Vn. 1
scratch moltiss.
terminate each note abruptly
4:6
Vn. 2
ff
OB
Va.
mf scratch moltiss.
terminate each note abruptly
9:8 5:6
tasto
Vc.
ff
sf ppp
/ Akasha 3 Baa
= 55 accel. = 89
117
6 5 3 4 5 3 6 4
4 scratch moltiss. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
terminate each note abruptly pi meno scratch
4:6 3:5 4:3 4:3 9:8 9:8 11:10 7:6 7:6 13:12
Vn. 1
ff pi meno scratch
f 9:8
5:6 6:5 7:8 7:8 9:10 5:6 5:6 11:12 7:8
Vn. 2
f
Va.
pi meno scratch
senza scratch
10:8
4:5 5:3 5:3 10:8 12:10 8:6 8:6
Vc.
f mf 14:12 10:8
accel.
130
6 4 3 4
4 4 4 4 leggieriss.
senza scratch
13:12 13:12 13:12 9:8 7:6
Vn. 1
senza scratch
leggieriss. mf
11:12 11:12 11:12 5:4 6:4 5:4
Vn. 2
mf mf
Va.
leggieriss.
Vc.
14:12 7:6 7:4 5:4 7:4
mf 5:4 7:4 6:4
= 126
136
5 3 4
4 4 4
7:4
Vn. 1
5:4 5:4 7:4 5:4 7:4 6:4 5:4 7:4
6:4 5:4 6:4 5:4 7:4 6:4 5:4 6:4 5:4 7:4 6:4
Vn. 2
Va.
9:8 7:4 10:8 12:8
Vc.
5:4 7:4 5:4 7:4 6:4 5:4 7:4
/ Akasha 4 Baa
141
5 4 6
4 4 4
Vn. 1
5:4 7:4 6:4 5:4 7:4 6:4 7:6 9:6 8:6 7:6 9:6 8:6
pp
7:4
5:4 7:4
5:4
Vn. 2
6:4 6:4 5:4 9:6 8:6 7:6 9:6 8:6 7:6
pp
Va.
14:12 10:6
12:8 5:4 11:8 6:4 12:8 9:8 9:6
Vc.
13:12 15:12 pp
145
4 6
4 4
Vn. 1
7:6 9:6 8:6 5:4 7:4 6:4 7:6 9:6 8:6
Vn. 2
15:12 11:6 12:8 14:8 9:6 17:12 10:6
Va.
Vc.
18:12 9:6 15:10 12:8 6:4 15:12 11:6 14:10
= 44 = 126
148
5 3 3 F 4 5 3
4 4 4 4 4 4
Vn. 1
5:4 7:4 6:4 7:4 6:4 5:4 7:4 6:4 5:4
Vn. 2
14:8 11:8 6:4 11:8 5:4 12:8 14:8
Va.
leggieriss.
tasto + 1/2 scratch
Vc.
14:10 14:8 7:4 pp 14:8 7:4 13:8 12:8 6:4
mp
/ Akasha 5 Baa
= 55 = 89
156
3 3 4 5 6 4
4 4 4 4 4 4
+ XFB
tasto
5:4
5:4
Vn. 1
pp
pp 5:4
p 5:4 5:4
p 5:4 5:4
pp 5:4 pp5:4 5:4 5:4
p p pp pp 5:4
p 5:4 5:4
p 5:4
tasto + XFB
Vn. 2
scratch moltiss. pp pp p p pp pp p pp pp p
166
6 5 3 4
4 4 4 4
5:4 5:4
Vn. 1
pp p p pp
5:4
pp 5:4 pp5:4 5:4 5:4
p p pp p 5:4
pp 5:4 pp
5:4 5:4 5:4 5:4
p
Vn. 2
p pp pp p p pp p pp pp p p pp pp p
Va.
Vc.
accel.
173
5 3 6 4 6 4
4 4 4 4 4 4
tasto + 1/2 scratch
trans.
Vn. 1
mp mp
pp p p
tasto + 1/2 scratch trans.
Vn. 2
pp p p mp mp
trans.
Va.
mp
trans.
Vc.
mp
/ Akasha 6 Baa
= 126
183
3 4 5 3 4
4 4 4
4
pos. ord. 4
scratch moltiss.
Vn. 1
f ff 14:8 12:8 6:4 11:8 6:4 12:8 14:8 7:4
pos. ord.
scratch moltiss.
Vn. 2
f ff 12:8 6:4 11:8 6:4 12:8 14:8 7:4 14:8
pos. ord.
scratch moltiss.
Va.
f ff 11:8 6:4 12:8 14:8 7:4 14:8 14:8
pos. ord.
scratch moltiss.
Vc.
f ff 6:4 11:8 6:4 12:8 14:8 7:4 14:8 14:8
= 55 = 126
191
5 4
6 6 x6
4 4 4 4
leggieriss.
Vn. 1
14:8 14:8 11:8 6:4
fff pp 18:12 16:12
leggieriss.
Vn. 2
14:8 11:8 6:4 12:8 6:4
fff pp 16:12 9:6
leggieriss.
OB + terminate abruptly
Va.
mf
pp
fff
11:8 6:4 12:8 6:4 11:8 6:4 15:12 10:6
leggieriss.
Vc.
pp
14:8 11:8 6:4 12:8 6:4 11:8
fff 15:12
= 55 = 126 = 44
198
6 7 G 3 6 9 4 8
8 8
4 8 8 8 8
tasto + 1/4 scratch trans.
tasto
Vn. 1
pp 14:8 10:6 6:4 11:8 10:6 18:12 f mf mf
trans. trans.
ff f f mf mf
tasto + scratch moltiss.
trans.
trans.
mf
OB + terminate abruptly 1/4 scratch tasto
Va.
ff f f mf mf
trans. trans.
tasto + scratch moltiss. 1/4 scratch tasto
Vc.
ff f f mf mf
/ Akasha 7 Baa
accel. = 89 = 89 = 44 = 55
208
3 4 8 9 4 3 4 H 5 3 3 4
8 8 8 8 8 8 4 4 4 4 4
trans.
XFB
flaut.
XFB flaut.
FB
Vn. 1
p p pp ppp p ppp
trans.
XFB flaut.
FB XFB flaut.
Vn. 2
p p pp ppp p ppp
tasto
FB trans.
XFB flaut.
OB
9:8
Va.
p mf
p pp
mp pp
trans.
XFB flaut.
tasto
9:8
FB XFB flaut.
Vc.
p
p p pp ppp ppp mp pp
= 89 = 55 = 89
224
6 I 4 6 4 5 3 4
4 4 4 4 4 4 4
vib. moltiss. senza vib. vib. moltiss.
pos. ord. + senza vib trans.
OB
Vn. 1
sfp f sfp f ppp
pos. ord. + senza vib
vib. moltiss. senza vib. vib. moltiss. senza vib. vib. moltiss.
Vn. 2
sfp f sfp f sfp f
trans. 3/4OB trans.
OB
pos. ord. + senza vib vib. moltiss.
Va.
sfp f ppp
pos. ord. + senza vib
vib. moltiss. senza vib. vib. moltiss. senza vib. vib. moltiss.
Vc.
sfp f sfp f sfp f
= 55 = 89 = 55
235
5 3 4 6 4 6
4 4 4 4 4 4
trans. 1/2OB trans. XP
3/4OB
XP + FB
Vn. 1
ppp
OB trans. 3/4OB trans. XP
XP + FB
Vn. 2
ppp trans. 1/4OB trans. XP ppp
1/2OB
XP + FB
Va.
OB XP ppp
/ Akasha 8 Baa
= 126 = 55 = 89 = 55
245
3 4 5 3 3 4 5 6
leggieriss.
4 4 pos. ord. 4 4 4 4 4 4
XP + FB tasto + FB trans. tasto + 1/2 scratch
Vn. 1
mp ppp 14:8 12:8 6:4 11:8 6:4 ppp mp p ppp mp
trans.
XP + FB
tasto + FB tasto + 1/2 scratch
Va.
mp ppp mp p ppp mp
trans.
= 44
rit. = 44 = 44
256
4 6 4 6 4 K 8 9
4 4 4 J 4
scratch moltiss. 8 8 8
terminate each note abruptly
4:6 4:6
trans. tasto + 1 click/3-4 sec.
scratch moltiss.
Vn. 1
mp mf ff ff
scratch moltiss.
terminate each note abruptly
trans. scratch moltiss. 5:6 7:6 tasto + 1 click/3-4 sec.
Vn. 2
ff
mp mf
ff
trans.
268
3 4 3 6 7 4 3 7 3 6 7 9 4
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
trans.
1 click/1-2 sec.
trans.
1-2 clicks/sec.
trans.
scratch moltiss.
trans.
Vn. 1
ff
trans. 1 click/1-2 sec. trans. 1-2 clicks/sec. trans. scratch moltiss. trans.
Vn. 2
ff
trans. 1 click/1-2 sec. trans. 1-2 clicks/sec. trans. scratch moltiss. trans.
Va.
ff
trans. trans. trans. trans.
1 click/1-2 sec. 1-2 clicks/sec. scratch moltiss.
Vc.
ff
/ Akasha 9 Baa
283
8 9 7 3 6 9 4 8 3 4 8
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 x6 8 8
trans. trans. vib. moltiss. pos. ord. + senza
vib XP
1/2 scratch pos. ord.
Vn. 1
ff fff sffp fff
1/2 scratch trans. pos. ord. trans. vib. moltiss. pos. ord. + senza vib XP
Vn. 2
ff fff sffp fff
1/2 scratch trans. pos. ord. trans. vib. moltiss. pos. ord. + senza vib XP
Va.
ff fff sffp fff
trans. trans. pos. ord. + senza vib
1/2 scratch pos. ord. vib. moltiss. XP
Vc.
ff fff sffp fff
297
9 4 3 6 7 7 3 4 3 6 7
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
XP pos. ord. XP pos. ord.
pos. ord. XP pos. ord. XT
Vn. 1
fff p sffp fff fff p sffp pp
XP pos. ord. pos. ord. XP XP pos. ord. pos. ord. XT
Vn. 2
fff p sffp fff fff p sffp pp
pos. ord. + 7/A2(IV)
XP pos. ord. pos. ord. XP XP pos. ord. pos. ord. XT
Va.
sffp
fff p sffp fff fff p sffp pp
pos. ord. + 11/A1(IV)
pos. ord. pos. ord.
XP pos. ord. XP XP pos. ord. XT
Vc.
sffp
fff p sffp fff fff p sffp pp
rit. = 38
314
4 8 9 7 3 6 7 9 4 8 9 4
8 8 8 8 8 x6 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
pos. ord. + 9/A4(II) 8va
pos. ord. pos. ord.
8va XP XP pos. ord. XP
Vn. 1
sffp f sf fff fff f sffp fff
pos. ord. + 5/A4(II) 8va
pos. ord. pos. ord.
XP XP
XP
8va pos. ord.
Vn. 2
sffp f sf fff fff f sffp fff
pos. ord. pos. ord.
XP XP pos. ord. XP
Va.
f sf fff fff f sffp fff
pos. ord. pos. ord.
XP pos. ord.
XP XP
Vc.
f sf fff fff f sffp fff
/ Akasha 10 Baa
= 55 = 55
328
3 9 4 8 4 L 6 6 3 5 M 3
8 8 8 8 4 4 4 4 4 4
8va
Vn. 1
8va
Vn. 2
OB + terminate each note abruptly
Va. mf
trans.
pos. ord. + vib. poco
Vc.
pp ppp
accel. = 89
342
4 5 3 6 4 6
4 4 4 4 4 4
tasto + XFB
Vn. 2
pp
trans.
tasto + XFB
Va.
pp
Vc.
ff pp
rit.
353
3 4 5 3 4 5 6 4
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
pos. ord. + XFB trans. pont. + XFB trans. XP + XFB trans. XP trans. 1/3OB
Vn. 1
pos. ord. + XFB trans. pont. + XFB trans. XP + XFB trans. XP trans. 1/3OB
Vn. 2
pos. ord. + XFB trans. pont. + XFB trans. XP + XFB trans. XP trans. 1/3OB
Va.
Vc.
pp
/ Akasha 11 Baa
= 89
= 44
364
6 4 3 N4 7 3 6 9 4
4 4 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
full bow strokes
trans. trans.
2/3OB OB (no pitch) terminate each note abruptly
Vn. 1
mf
trans. trans.
Vn. 2
full bow strokes
trans. trans.
2/3OB OB (no pitch) terminate each note abruptly
Va.
mf
full bow strokes
terminate each note abruptly
Vc.
mf
378
8 6 7 3 8 9 4 3
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
Vn. 1
leggieriss.
Vn. 2
pp
9:8 9:8 9:8
Va.
Vc.
389
4 8 9
8 8 8
Vn. 1
Vn. 2
Va.
Vc.
Cambridge, MA; Dallas, TX; Madison, WI
Oct. - Dec. 2015
/ Akasha 12 Baa
AWN-016 Scores available from the composer at www.trevorbaca.com $60 / e54