Love, Loss, and Exile (women’s poems from Afghanistan) For soprano with cello and piano 2022
Full score
Juhi Bansal
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
Program note
We don’t often think of poetry as rebellion, but the women of Afghanistan have built a tradition out of artistic defiance, of speaking in rhyme words they are forbidden in prose. In the Pashtun culture from the mountainous regions near Pakistan, girls and women share, compose and speak landays – an oral tradition of short poems by and for women, passed down for generations from woman to woman and tribe to tribe. The anonymous nature of these poems allows them to speak the unspeakable – to talk frankly of sensual love and desire, of yearning to make choices, of girls wanting to be more than an adjunct to their fathers, brothers and husbands. In a society where young girls are bartered to old men, where to choose where to love is to risk death, where girls are forbidden from education, the landays tell women’s stories in their own words, unfiltered and unchecked by the men’s voices that surround them. The texts chosen for this song cycle are only the tiniest smattering of a powerful tradition, but were chosen to highlight recurrent themes that appear in landays - love and desire, grief, exile, war, and yearning. While set for classical soprano with western instruments, the music pays homage to the origins of the poetry by calling for each musician to use a variety of timbres, modes and ornamentation that come from this style.
Duration – 15 minutes
Copyright ©2022 Juhi Bansal Music All rights reserved
juhibansalcomposer@gmail.com www.juhibansal.com
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
Texts
1. Love Your love is like water, like fire; The waves engulf me, the flames consume me.
2. The Stoning Ground Mother, come to the prison window Talk to me before they take me to the stoning ground.
3. Grief If my love dies, let me be his shroud Together we will wed the dust.
4. Exile I hold a fading flower in my hand I don’t know who to give it to in this strange land.
5. Tulip I’m like a tulip in the desert, I will die before I can open And the waves of desert wind will scatter my petals.
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
Performance directions and notation To all performers • Movements 1 and IV (Love and Exile, respectively) use proportional rhythmic notation, indicated by dashed barlines or no barlines, and an “X” time signature. In these movements, rhythms given are approximate, and may be stretched or condensed at will. Play expressively and with great freedom, always following the singer. Vocalist • This piece draws on a number of different vocal traditions, including Afghani folk singing and ornamentation from Hindustani classical singing. These styles use a variety of timbres, particularly those including heavier use of chest voice, no vibrato, scooping, slides and other ornamentations not found in Western classical tradition. Although the piece can certainly be sung in a more typical Western classical voice, you are encouraged to use as much of these tones and colors as you are comfortable doing. (Some vocalists you may listen to for ideas of these timbres include the Pashto singer Zarsanga, and Kaushiki Chakraborty from the Hindustani tradition.) • A few different notations are used to convey ornamentation: • Small notes are often used in juxtaposition with regular sized noteheads. Smaller notes should have less emphasis and a much lighter articulation. (This example is from I. Love, rehearsal 9)
• A dashed line between two notes indicates a portamento (a subtle slide). • a solid line between two notes indicates a clear, drawn-out glissando. The majority of the time should be spent on the slide, not on the start/ end notes. (from V. Tulip mm 73)
Piano • All dynamics should be interpreted on the softer side, such that the voice is never covered. • Two types of grace notes are used throughout:
x (16th note grace notes should be played extremely rapidly, creating an inarticulate blur) e (8th note grace notes should be only moderately fast and flowing, and remain articulate and melodic) Cello • All dynamics should be interpreted on the softer side, such that the voice is never covered. •
This notation (used in the aleatoric boxes as described below from mvt. 1) indicates a tremolo of varying speed; start extremely slowly moving back and forth between the two notes, then gradually speed up into a true unmeasured tremolo. Then reverse the process.
• Aleatoric gestures are used in several sections of this work. • Figures inside aleatoric boxes are to be repeated at will for the duration marked with the arrow. When dashed lines are used within the box (as in the example below, from I. Love) Move freely between the gestures separated by these lines, repeating and jumping from one to the other at your discretion. Any of the figures or fragments may be repeated at will before moving to a different one.
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
2
1. Love * ALL PERFORMERS: This movement uses proportional rhythmic notation, all rhythms are approximate and may be stretched or condensed at will. Play expressively and with great freedom, always following the singer. Please read the 'Performance Directions and notation' page in score or part carefully for clarifications on notation, style, and performance techniques.
Flowing, restful, q = 80 (Take time between each phrase)
X Soprano X Violoncello
Irregular, shimmering, like flowing water
X X
siempre pp always soft
Piano
S.
X
X sfz
X X
1
mf
Your
pp
sfz
love
is
2 (hold as long as desired)
3
like
wa
sul A
Pno.
pp
leave sustain pedal held down and ringing straight through this movement
Always matching the energy and motion you hear in the piano 7-10 secs
Vc.
sfz
pp
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
-
3
ter,
3
S. Vc. 4
5
like
Pno.
S.
Vc.
Pno.
Pno.
6
3
wa
-
-
-
sfz
7
pp
ter,
S.
Vc.
3
Your love
3
8
is
like
pp
pp
sfz
9
wa
-
-
sfz
3
-
-
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
-
ter,
4
S. 10
Vc.
Pno.
the
p
3 S.
12
Pno.
14
pp
sfz
3
the waves
sul A
en - gulf me,
16
like
15
7- 10 secs
Pno.
S.
Vc.
waves
pp
13
en - gulf me,
Vc.
11
wa
-
-
3
17
ter,
sfz
pp
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
S. en Vc. 18
Pno.
3
-
-
-
-
gulf me
Pno.
Vc.
21
Fast, aggressive, driving (3-4 secs)
Fast, aggressive, driving
Pno.
mp
-
-
ter,
. gliss
-
yer)
(drawn-out, dramatic gliss)
Your love
S.
wa
Fast, aggressive, q = 90 (driving ahead from each gesture 20 to the next without pause)
19
like
sfz
S.
Vc.
5
3
mp
is like
(fah fire
22
the
flames
(3-4 secs)
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
S. Vc. 23
6
Pno.
Pno.
sfz
26
3
con - sume
flames
sfz
27
pp
fire, (fah -
yer)
pp
30
like
pp
s. glis
sfz
pp
for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com This score is not licensed to purchase performance copies.
Pno.
pp
like
sfz
28
the
me,
29
25
me,
S.
Vc.
24
con - sume
S.
Vc.
3
fire, (fah - yer)
S. Vc.
31
S.
Vc.
Pno.
33
fire,
pp
The flames
Losing energy
sfz
the waves
36
con - sume me
Losing energy
37
3
en - gulf me
5-7 secs
slower, longer, losing energy
Vc.
pp
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
Pno.
7
3
35
(3-4 secs)
s. glis
34 Gradually slowing down
sfz
S.
like
Pno.
32
8
39 38 q = 80 Restful, take time between phrases
S. Vc.
like
wa
3
-
-
ter,
Pno.
sfz
pp
S. 40
your love
Vc.
is
like
3
wa
-
-
41
ter,
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
Pno.
pp
S.
42 (ossia)
your
love
is
your love
is
9
gliss.
fire
like
fire
like
43
gliss.
slower still
Vc.
(long)
Pno.
7 - 10 secs
pp
44
S.
Vc.
Pno.
(ossia)
your
love
is
your love
is
like
fire
gliss.
ss. gli
like
45
46
fire
(long, release with natural decay of piano pedal)
pp
(long, hold pedal till decays) sound naturally
performance copies. This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com topurchase
(ca 4 mins)
10
2. The Stoning Ground
q = 70 - 80
Vocal timbre: Childlike, very little vibrato, as if looking for comfort
Soprano
S.
Violoncello
ff
n
ff
Mo ther
Heavy and dramatic without ever covering the voice
molto espressivo mf
come
n
Heavy and dramatic without ever covering the voice
Piano
ff
6
to the pri son win dow,
Vc.
Pno.
( ppp ) ff
f
ff
ppp
3
Mo ther
(all diminuendos should disappear into the sound of the piano)
n
come to the pri - son win dow,
ppp
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
11
S. 11
Vc.
pp
f
ff
n
ppp
Pno.
ppp
Mo ther
ff
p
come to the pri - son
f
pp
n
ff
to the pri - son win dow,
Vc.
come
f
16
Mo ther
S.
Mo - ther,
Pno.
14
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
n
12 3 S.
20
Mo - ther,
win dow,
Vc.
Pno.
ppp
ff
ppp
poco a poco cresc.
Mo - ther
Vc.
Pno.
mf
mf
talk to
me,
n
pp
n
25 With motion q = 96 - 100
S.
Mo - ther
n
f
pp
mf
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
n
13
S. 30
mo - ther,
Vc.
Pno.
talk to
mf
pp
mf
S. 34
Vc.
Pno.
pp
mf
n
they
take
pp
n
mf
mf
be -
mf
f
me,
n
fore
3
pp
me
mf
n
mf
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
pp
14
S. 38
to
Vc.
Pno.
the ston - ing
mf
n
mf
pp
f
Vc.
Pno.
-
-
f
mp
mp
come
n
mp
n
pp
n
mf
ther,
-
pp
-
mf
pp
n
42
-
mo
S. -
ground.
41
p
p
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
46
S.
Vc.
Pno.
n
48
come
pp
talk to
n
p
pp
they
pp
p
n
take
pp
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies. Pno.
p
54
fore
Vc.
n
p
poco dim.
be -
p
p
me
51
S.
15
p
p
16
55
S.
Vc.
Pno.
me
n
pp
S. 60
take
Vc.
Pno.
they
p
dim.
n
63
p
to the ston - ing ground,
pp
p
me,
to
59
n
pppp possible
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
17
S.
67
to
Vc.
the ston - ing
70 Relentless q = 70
ground.
Pno.
S. 72
Mo - ther
(no tremolo)
p
n
p
ppp
p
poco a poco cresc.
mo - ther
mo ther
ppp
mo ther
mp
mp
mf
poco a poco cresc. (never covering the voice)
n
n
n
poco a poco cresc. (never covering the voice)
Pno.
mo - ther
with growing urgency, poco a poco accel.
mo- ther
Vc.
(no tremolo)
p
p pleading
mp
ppp
mp
ppp
mf
n
ppp
mf
mf
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
ppp
18
S. 76
mo ther
Vc.
n
Pno.
f
f
80 (ossia)
S.
Mo
ff
ther
Mo ther
Vc.
mo ther
n
f
ppp f
mo ther
mo ther
n
ff
ppp ff
n
ff
ppp ff
82
n
ff
n
ff
p
Pno. ff p p ff Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase This score is not licensed for performance. performance copies.
( ff)
ff
ppp
S. 83
Vc.
Pno.
19
(q = 96)
(no tremolo)
ff
ff
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
(4 mins)
20
3. Grief
Sombre h = 70 - 85
Soprano
Violoncello
Heavy
Piano
p
Vocal timbre: keening, piercing, with little vibrato. (Long held notes may be released early as needed)
8
S. 9
11
15
mp molto espressivo
If my love dies,
Vc.
Pno.
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
21
S. 17
Vc.
molto legato (mirror the timbre of the voice)
p
Pno.
let
me
be his shroud.
n
S. 24
Vc.
Pno.
p
if my
love
n
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
22
S.
n
dies
Vc.
Pno.
p
mp
n
31
S. 38
let me be his shroud.
Vc.
Pno.
p
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
23
S.
45
49
If my love
Vc.
Pno.
dies,
n
S. 52
Vc.
Pno.
p
57
let
me be his
poco a poco cresc.
n
poco a poco cresc.
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
24
S.
58
shroud.
Vc.
Pno.
p
(ossia)
S. Vc.
Pno.
mf
If
my
love
dies
n
mp
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
25
71
S.
Vc.
77
Pno.
mp poco a poco cresc.
to
n
-
mp poco a poco cresc.
S. 78
-
Vc.
Pno.
-
-
ge
-
ther
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
26 89
(ossia)
S.
Vc.
we
will
Pno.
mf
f
wed
f dim.
f
91
S.
Vc.
Pno.
3
the
dust, 3
mp
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
p
27 mp
3
S.
102
103
3
3
Pno.
3
dust,
Vc.
p
97
dust,
pp 3
pp
S. Vc.
Pno.
3
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
28
109
p
S.
to
Vc.
-
-
-
n
Pno.
-
ge - ther
115
we
will
3 S. 116
wed the dust
Vc.
Pno.
p
to
-
-
p
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
123
S.
Vc.
Pno.
-
ge - ther
Pno.
S.
Pno.
p
p
134
ppp
ppp
wed the
will
ppp
rit. 3
138 137
Vc.
dust
29
we
130
Vc.
3 S.
wed the
127
dust
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
3
(4 mins)
4. Exile
30
* This movement uses proportional rhythmic notation, all rhythmic figures are only approximate
1 Slow, molto espressivo with absolute freedom
Soprano
(long)
XX
Vocal timbre: throaty, no vibrato, extremely expressive; in the manner of a folk singer mp
I
hold
a
fa
-
I
hold
-
ding
molto sul tasto hoarse and dark
Violoncello
X X
ding
sul G sempre p
S.
flow - er,
2
(sul G)
Vc.
a fa
sul C
S.
3
3
flow - er,
Vc.
my hand,
I
Vc.
in
4
S.
5
don't know who
to
3
give it to
I
don't know who
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
to
31
6
3
S.
give it to
Vc.
3 give
Vc.
don't
know
who
to
it to
(long)
3 9
I
(long)
10
don't
know
who
to
give
it
to
12 3 3 3
In this strange
Vc.
11
S.
I
8
S.
7
land.
(hold harmonic into next movement)
attacca (1:30 to 2mins)
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
5. Tulip
32
Soprano
Violoncello
q. = 130 Vocal timbre: Innocent, angelic (no vibrato)
(molto sul tasto)
p p
Ethereal
Piano
4 S.
Vc.
ord.
sul G p
Pno.
Vc.
Pno.
7 S.
p
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
S.
Vc.
S.
Vc.
S.
Vc.
Pno.
I'm
14
de - sert
like a
Pno.
p
Pno.
33
11
10
p
lip
-
in
the
pp
17
tu
p
19
p
I'm
like a
pp
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
34
20
S.
tu
Vc.
Pno.
-
-
lip
in
the
de - sert.
p
26
24
S.
p
I'm
Vc.
Pno.
(seagull effect)
f
pp
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
pp
like a
27
S.
Vc.
Pno.
S.
Vc.
tu
de- sert
-
lip
p
in
30
the
pp
35
gliss.
p
Pno.
S.
Vc.
p
33
Pno.
I'm
like
a
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
36 S.
36
tu
Vc.
Pno.
S.
Vc.
S.
-
39
lip
in
the
de
40
sert
(seagull effect)
pp
f
pp
42
p I
Vc.
-
Pno.
p
will
die,
(ped. simile) This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies. Pno.
45
S.
46
I
Vc.
Pno.
S.
48
Pno.
die,
Vc.
pp
51 S.
Pno.
will
die,
poco cresc.
I
-
poco cresc.
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
be
50
will
Vc.
37
38
take time mf
54
S.
4
fore
I
can
o
(out of time, follow voice) Vc.
S.
Vc.
S.
Vc.
a tempo
pen.
pp
mp
sul pont, metallic and shimmering
60
And the
waves
62
n
mp
gliss.
p
59
a tempo shimmering
Pno.
-
57
Pno.
(out of time, follow voice)
Pno.
56
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
of
de - sert
63
S.
Vc.
Pno.
S.
Vc.
Pno.
Vc.
Pno.
gliss.
gliss.
mp
waves
of
n
(sul pont.)
mp
gliss.
69
S.
wind,
66
39
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
40 S.
72
de - sert
Vc.
Pno.
S.
Vc.
S.
Vc.
wind,
75
78
(sul pont.)
Pno.
Pno.
my
will
gliss.
n
pe- tals,
scat - ter
mp
p
p
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
82
81
S.
Vc.
Pno.
S.
Vc.
S.
Vc.
my
n
my
p
87
p
scat - ter
pe tals,
pe- tals,
86
Pno.
41
n
84
p
Pno.
scat - ter
p
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
n
42 S.
90
p
scat - ter
Vc.
Pno.
S.
Vc.
S.
Vc.
Pno.
my
pe tals,
p 94
93
scat - ter
my
pe- tals,
98
n
96
p
Pno.
p
(sul pont.)
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
99
S.
43
poco a poco rit.
Vc.
Pno.
S.
Vc.
gliss. poco a poco rit.
gliss.
102
Pno.
Vc.
morendo, poco a poco rit to end
I'm
like
a
tu
a tempo morendo, poco a poco dim. to end
Pno.
105 a tempo p
S.
n
ppp
-
lip
in
the
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
44 S.
109
de - sert.
Vc.
Pno.
S.
p
like
a
tu
lip
in
Pno.
-
the
pp
gliss.
de - sert.
Vc.
117
S.
113
Pno.
gliss.
pp
I'm
Vc.
ord.
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
121
p
S.
Vc.
Pno.
S.
Vc.
like
a
tu
lip
in
I'm
-
125
Pno.
45
the
gliss.
pp
de - sert.
129
S.
Vc.
Pno.
(take time)
(seagull effect, change strings freely) f
p
f
p
f
p
f
n
pp
leave ringing with pedal
down till sound naturally fades This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies. (3:30 mins)