PERNAMBUCO
Jon-Luke Martin
A Thesis
Submitted to the Graduate College of Bowling Green State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF MUSIC
May 2020
Committee:
Christopher Dietz, Advisor
Mikel Kuehn ii ABSTRACT
Christopher Dietz, Advisor
Pernambuco is a thirteen-minute work for string quartet consisting of two violins, viola, and cello. The work centers around the idea of "bowing as speech," where the bow is the primary expressive force. The quartet does not utilize the left hand-as in no use of the left-hand fingers on the string to change pitch-for the duration of the work. To counteract this constraint, the instruments are tuned scordatura so that all 12 pitch-classes are achieved. The tuning for violin 1, from highest to lowest, is F D A#/Bb E, violin 2 G D G#/Ab D#/Eb, viola B F#/Gb D A, and cello C G C#/Db A. This leaves most pitch-classes in a fixed register.
Based on the tone row [0,e,5,6,8,t,4,3,7,9,2,1], Pernambuco uses serial techniques coupled with entirely open strings to create sounds not usually heard in a string quartet. It also relies on various extended techniques to create a diverse sonic palette having such limited pitch variance. While the piece mostly follows strict twelve-tone methods, some small sections use them only as an outline allowing intuition to guide the compositional process.
iii
To my mom. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank Dr. Marilyn Shrude and Dr. Timothy Rolls for their support as both my first graduate school composition teacher and my first composition teacher ever, respectively.
I would also like to thank Dr. Nathan Froebe for his continued guidance and wisdom as I pester him with questions while school is out of session. To my mom, step-dad, and aunt Theresa: thank you for always supporting me in any way you could. I can never say I’m not loved.
Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Christopher Dietz. Without him, this piece would not exist. Thank you for constantly challenging me every lesson knowing that I don’t back down from a challenge. Also thank you for not taking it easy, and constantly pushing me to do better.
This allowed me to realize just how much more I have left to go. It is exciting seeing my room for improvement, and you provided that. v INSTRUMENTATION/TUNING
(LOW TO HIGH): Vln 1: ↓F, D, ↑B , E Vln 2: G, D, ↓G#, ↓D# Vla: ↓B, ↓F#, D, A VC: C, G, ↓C#, A
Performance Notes:
Two scores are included. Pages 1-13 show the sounding pitches. Pages 15 to the end show the instructional notation (resultant) of the open strings.
There is no use of the left hand in this piece. The strings should be re-tuned before entering for the performance, and the tuning has been decided so that no string needs to de-tune more than one whole step away from its standard tuning.
Pizz/Hand: Bowing: OP: over pressure, until directed Bartok pizz On the string (détaché) unless otherwise. otherwise indicated (stacc.) Sul Tasto: play over the Slap strings: Ord: play standard arco fingerboard. with tenuto means to let vibrate; staccato means to *On bridge: play directly on Sul Ponticello: play near the mute with hand. bridge. bridge. L.P.: Low Pressure (white Flizzicato: aggressive noise) Bow Screw Gliss (BSG): flicking of the string H.P.: High Pressure (pitched) perform Glissando with bottom of the bow screw. Most Pizz. Tremolo: tremolo Gradual change effective if the string is plucked using two fingers before placing the screw on the string / Over pressure for that specific note Other: Short fermata *As double stops cannot be played exactly on the bridge, play as close as possible.
Program Notes: Pernambuco, also known as brazilwood, is the primary wood used in the manufacture of bows for string instruments. Score in Sounding Pitch Pernambuco for String Quartet Jon-Luke Martin
Delicate = 66 L.P. H.P. on bridge sul tasto Violin 1 L.P. H.P. ord. on bridge sul tasto Violin 2 at tip, on body Viola sul tasto pizz. arco at tip, on body Violoncello pizz. 8 (sul tasto) Vln 1 sul tasto pizz. Vln 2 on bridge pizz. arcoH.P. Vla (sul tasto) pizz. Vc.
rit. 15 Vln 1 sul tasto pizz. sul tasto arco arco Vln 2 ()
Vla
Vc. ()
© Jon-Luke Martin Music 2020 (ASCAP). All Rights Reserved. 2
Sempre Legato = 58 22 Vln 1 (sul tasto) Vln 2 on bridge on bridge H.P. Vla Vc.
pizz. pizz. 29 sul tasto arco arco Vln 1 Vln 2 sul tasto Vla () Vc.
36 pizz. sul tasto arco Vln 1 pizz. Vln 2 sul tasto
Vla sul tasto arco Vc. rit. pizz. 43 (sul tasto) Vln 1
sul tasto arco sul tasto Vln 2 sul tasto Vla (sul tasto) Vc. 3
Aggressive = 108 50 Vln 1 (sul tasto) pizz. Vln 2 (sul tasto) pizz. Vla pizz. (sul tasto) Vc. 57 pizz. arco Vln 1 sub. pizz. arco Vln 2 sub. stomp pizz. arco Vla sub. ( ) arco pizz. Vc. sub. 64 pizz. Vln 1
( ) stomp Vln 2 Vla pizz. Vc. 71 arco Animated = 100 (arco) Vln 1 sul pont. (arco) Vln 2 (arco) Vla arco pizz. Vc. 4
( = ) 78 Vln 1 sub. pizz. Vln 2 ( ) Vla sub. Vc. ( ) 84 Vln 1 arco Vln 2 Vla Vc. 88 Vln 1 Vln 2 Vla bring out arco Vc.
92 Vln 1 Vln 2 Vla Vc. 5
96 Vln 1 Vln 2 Vla ord. OP Vc.
100 Vln 1 Vln 2 Vla ord. A.H.A.P. Vc. *alternating between ord., sul pont., & over pres. as harsh as possible (A.H.A.P.)
105 Vln 1 Vln 2 Vla (vln 2) (vln 1) (A.H.A.P.) Vc.
string. 112 pizz. Vln 1 ( ) pizz. Vln 2 ( ) pizz. Vla ( ) (vln 2) (A.H.A.P.) Vc. 6
a tempo ( = 100) 119 (pizz) Vln 1 (pizz) Vln 2 (pizz) Vla (A.H.A.P.) Vc. 126 Vln 1
Vln 2 Vla (vla ) Vc.
arco 133 (pizz) Vln 1 sul pont. arco Vln 2
arco (pizz) Vla pizz. arco Vc. 140 Vln 1 sub. Vln 2 sub. Vla sub. Vc. sub. sub. 7
molto rit.molto rit. 147 Vln 1 Vln 2 sub. Vla Vc.
a tempo ( = 100) 153 sul pont. Vln 1 sul pont. ord. Vln 2 () sul pont. ord. Vla sul pont. ord. Vc. 160 Vln 1 Vln 2 Vla Vc.
167 Vln 1 Vln 2 ord. sul pont. Vla ( ) Vc. 8
molto rit.molto rit. 174 Vln 1
Vln 2 ord. pizz. Vla Vc.
a tempo ( = 100) Holding Back = 96 molto rit.molto rit. 180 Vln 1 sub. ( ) Vln 2 ( ) arco Vla sub. ( ) Vc. sub. ( ) Leggiero = 116 187 con sord. Vln 1 con sord. Vln 2 Vla sub. con sord. Vc. sub.
(vln 2) 194 Vln 1 col legno
Vln 2 Vla (vln 2) Vc. 9
col legno 201 Vln 1 (col legno) arco Vln 2 con sord. Vla Vc.
(vla) 208 Vln 1 (vln 1) Vln 2 (vln 1) Vla (vln 1) Vc.
(vla) 215 Vln 1 (vln 1) Vln 2 (vln 1)
Vla (vln 1) Vc.
222 Vln 1 Vln 2 Vla Vc. 10
(vln 2) 229 Vln 1 (vln 1) Vln 2
Vla
Vc.
(vla) 236 Vln 1 Vln 2 Vla Vc.
243 senza sord. Vln 1 col legno col legno senza sord. arco Vln 2 col legno col legno senza sord. pizz. arco Vla col legno arco pizz. senza sord. Vc.
250 pizz. Vln 1 () pizz. arco Vln 2 pizz. arco Vla arco () Vc. () 11
rit. 257 pizz. arco pizz. Vln 1 () arco pizz. arco pizz. Vln 2 pizz. arco pizz. Vla () pizz. arco pizz. Vc.
Declamatory = 72 rit.rit. Hectic = 63 264 arco Vln 1 arco Vln 2 arco Vla arco Vc. 269 ord. Vln 1 ord. Vln 2 ord. OP ord. Vla Vc. 272 (ord.) OP ord. Vln 1 (ord.) OP ord. Vln 2 Vla ord. Vc. 12
275 Vln 1
Vln 2 Vla
(ord.) OP Vc.
Apprx. 10" each accel. at own pace, do not synchronize. 277 Vln 1 ( ) Vln 2 ( )
Vla ( ) ord. Vc.
Apprx. 15" played freely, alternating between ord., sul pont., over pres., and izzicato 278 as harsh as possible Vln 1 possibile
Vln 2 possibile
Vla possibile
Vc. possibile 13
pizz. Stately = 60 279 arco Vln 1 pizz. arco Vln 2 pizz. arco Vla With Bow pizz. Screw (3") arco Vc. gliss. 286 sul pont. sul tasto Vln 1 sub.
sul pont. sul tasto Vln 2 sub. sul pont. sul tasto
Vla sub. sul pont. sul tasto
Vc. sub.
293 (sul tasto) Vln 1 (sul tasto) Vln 2 (sul tasto) pizz. arco sul tasto Vla (vln 1) (sul tasto) Vc. 14
300 (sul tasto) sul tasto Vln 1 (sul tasto) Vln 2 (sul tasto) Vla (vln 1) (sul tasto) Vc.
pizz. 307
(sul tasto) sul pont. Vln 1
possibile pizz. (sul tasto) Vln 2
possibile pizz. (sul tasto) Vla
possibile pizz. (sul tasto) Vc.
possibile 15 16 Score in instructional notation Pernambuco for String Quartet Jon-Luke Martin
Delicate = 66 L.P. H.P. on bridge sul tasto Violin 1 L.P. H.P. ord. on bridge sul tasto Violin 2 at tip, on body Viola pizz. sul tasto at tip, on body arco Violoncello pizz. 8 (sul tasto) Vln 1 sul tasto pizz. Vln 2 on bridge pizz. arcoH.P. Vla (sul tasto) pizz. Vc.
rit. 15 Vln 1 pizz. sul tasto sul tasto arco arco Vln 2 ()
Vla
Vc. ()
Jon-Luke Martin Music 2020 (ASCAP). All Rights Reserved. 17
Sempre Legato = 58 22 Vln 1 (sul tasto) Vln 2 on bridge on bridge H.P. Vla Vc.
pizz. pizz. 29 sul tasto arco arco Vln 1 Vln 2 sul tasto Vla () Vc.
sul tasto 36 pizz. arco Vln 1 pizz. Vln 2 sul tasto Vla sul tasto arco Vc.
rit. pizz. 43 (sul tasto) Vln 1
sul tasto arco sul tasto Vln 2 sul tasto Vla (sul tasto) Vc. 18
Aggressive = 108 50 Vln 1 (sul tasto) pizz. Vln 2 (sul tasto) pizz. Vla (sul tasto) pizz. Vc.
57 arco pizz. Vln 1 sub. pizz. arco Vln 2 stomp sub. pizz. arco Vla sub. ( ) arco pizz. Vc. sub.
64 pizz. Vln 1
( ) stomp Vln 2 Vla pizz. Vc. Animated ( = 100) 71 arco (arco) Vln 1 sul pont. (arco) Vln 2 (arco) Vla arco pizz. Vc. 19
( = ) 78 Vln 1 pizz. sub. Vln 2 ( ) Vla sub. Vc. ( )
84 Vln 1 arco Vln 2 Vla Vc.
88 Vln 1 Vln 2 Vla bring out arco Vc.
92 Vln 1 Vln 2 Vla Vc. 20
96 Vln 1 Vln 2 Vla ord. OP Vc.
100 Vln 1 Vln 2 Vla ord. A.H.A.P. Vc. *alternating between ord., sul pont., & over pres. as harsh as possible (A.H.A.P.)
105 Vln 1 Vln 2 Vla (vln 2) (vln 1) (A.H.A.P.) Vc.
string. 112 pizz. Vln 1 ( ) pizz. Vln 2 ( ) pizz. Vla ( ) (vln 2) (A.H.A.P.) Vc. 21
a tempo ( = 100) 119 (pizz) Vln 1 (pizz) Vln 2 (pizz) Vla (A.H.A.P.) Vc. 126 Vln 1
Vln 2 Vla (vla ) Vc.
arco 133 (pizz) Vln 1 sul pont. arco Vln 2
arco (pizz) Vla pizz. arco Vc.
140 Vln 1 sub. Vln 2 sub. Vla sub. Vc. sub. sub. 22
molto rit.molto rit. 147 Vln 1 Vln 2 sub. Vla Vc.
a tempo ( = 100) 153 sul pont. Vln 1 sul pont. ord. Vln 2 () sul pont. ord. Vla sul pont. ord. Vc.
160 Vln 1 Vln 2 Vla Vc.
167 Vln 1 Vln 2 ord. sul pont. Vla ( ) Vc. 23
molto rit.molto rit. 174 Vln 1
Vln 2 ord. pizz. Vla Vc.
a tempo ( = 100) Holding Back = 96 molto rit.molto rit. 180 Vln 1 sub. ( ) Vln 2 ( ) arco Vla sub. ( ) Vc. sub. ( ) Leggiero = 116 187 con sord. Vln 1 con sord. Vln 2 Vla sub. con sord. Vc. sub.
(vln 2) 194 Vln 1 col legno
Vln 2 Vla (vln 2)
Vc. 24
col legno 201 Vln 1 (col legno) arco Vln 2 con sord. Vla Vc. (vla) 208 Vln 1 (vln 1) Vln 2 (vln 1) Vla (vln 1) Vc.
(vla) 215 Vln 1 (vln 1) Vln 2 (vln 1) Vla (vln 1) Vc.
222 Vln 1 Vln 2 Vla Vc. 25
(vln 2) 229 Vln 1 (vln 1) Vln 2
Vla
Vc.
(vla) 236 Vln 1 Vln 2 Vla Vc.
col legno 243 senza sord. Vln 1 col legno col legno senza sord. arco Vln 2 col legno col legno senza sord. pizz. arco Vla col legno arco pizz. senza sord. Vc.
250 pizz. Vln 1 arco () pizz. Vln 2 pizz. arco Vla arco () Vc. () 26
rit. 257 pizz. arco pizz. Vln 1 () arco pizz. arco pizz. Vln 2 pizz. arco pizz. Vla () pizz. arco pizz. Vc.
Declamatory = 72 rit.rit. Hectic = 63 264 arco Vln 1 arco Vln 2 arco Vla arco Vc. 269 ord. Vln 1 ord. Vln 2 ord. OP ord. Vla Vc. 272 (ord.) OP ord. Vln 1 (ord.) OP ord. Vln 2 Vla ord.
Vc. 27
275 Vln 1
Vln 2 Vla
(ord.) OP
Vc.
Apprx. 10" each accel. at own pace, do not synchronize 277 Vln 1 ( ) Vln 2 ( )
Vla ( ) ord. Vc.
Apprx. 15" played freely, alternating between ord., sul pont., over pres., and izzicato 278 as harsh as possible Vln 1 possibile
Vln 2 possibile
Vla possibile
Vc. possibile 28
pizz. Stately = 60 279 arco Vln 1 pizz. arco Vln 2 pizz. arco
Vla With Bow pizz. Screw (3") arco Vc. gliss.
286 sul pont. sul tasto Vln 1 sub.
sul pont. sul tasto Vln 2 sub. sul pont. sul tasto
Vla sub. sul pont. sul tasto
Vc. sub.
293 (sul tasto) Vln 1 (sul tasto) Vln 2 (sul tasto) pizz. arco sul tasto Vla (vln 1) (sul tasto) Vc. 29
300 (sul tasto) sul tasto Vln 1 (sul tasto) Vln 2 (sul tasto) Vla (vln 1) (sul tasto) Vc. pizz. 307
(sul tasto) sul pont. Vln 1 possibile pizz. (sul tasto) Vln 2 possibile pizz.
(sul tasto) Vla
possibile pizz. (sul tasto) Vc.
possibile