Thea Musgrave
GREEN (2008) for twelve strings
Full score
NOVELLO
Thea Musgrave GREEN For twelve strings Commissioned by the Scottish Ensemble with support from the Friends of the Scottish Ensemble
first performed on 15th December 2008 at Queen’s Cross Church, Aberdeen Programme note This short work is about conflict – expressed here by the clash of opposing musical forces. One ‘force’ an ‘arioso’ is based around the harmonic field of E and is melodic, tonal, straightforward, and, at times, emotional. It is mainly led by the first violin. The other ‘force’ led by the double bass, is strongly discordant [at first a single note F later gradually growing to a giant cluster]. It is essentially chordal [non-melodic], static, suffocating, inexorable and impersonal. Its only contrast is getting louder or getting softer, getting denser, or less dense. The interruption of the opening ‘arioso’ by a single note F on the double bass is at first not very threatening and the reaction to it is one of surprise. Later as the threat increases so the reaction becomes stronger; at first one of irritation, then anger. A passionate outburst on the violins follows which falls on deaf ears. Then a solo violin, solo viola and solo cello all appeal in turn: still no response. Finally only fragments of the original ‘arioso’ are heard before dying away. Whereas near the beginning of the work the F on the double bass was an intrusive discord to the E of the ‘arioso’, now at the end a high lingering E on the solo viola [all that is left of the original ‘arioso’] is a discord to the giant cluster based on F. Many parallels to this conflict can of course be drawn from real life. The title ‘Green’ for me represents either the freshness of youth, or for the plant life in our world on which we all depend. Thea Musgrave
Duration: circa 13 minutes Instrumental parts are available on hire from the publisher
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to Matt and Anya Ridley
Green for twelve strings Calm, warm h = 52
4 Violin I
p
altri
3 Violin II
2 Violas
Vln. I
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
Cb.
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
p
p
2 p altri
mf
p
© 2008 by Novello & Company Limited
unis.
p
mf
mf
mf
mf
mf
p
p
pizz.
mf
pizz.
arco
p
mf
mf
p
p
1° solo
3
p
p
mf
1
p
p
Cb.
mp
actual pitch
mp
mf
16
Vln. I
p
1 Contrabass
8
mp
p
2 Violoncellos
unis. p
1° solo
Thea Musgrave
p
rev. 18/02/09
2
23
Vln. I
Vln. II
Vln. I
pizz.
p
mf
Vc.
38
Vc.
Vla.
pizz.
p
p
pizz.
p
mf
pizz.
arco
6
arco
mf
arco
Vln. II
Cb.
mf
5
mf
Vla.
pizz.
mf
p
p
mf
31
Vln. II
Vln. I
arco
p
p
Cb.
mf
Vc.
Cb.
arco
Vla.
4
3
45 Vln. I
Vc.
Vla.
Vc.
Cb.
pp
pizz.
arco
(arco) sfz f
f
h = ca.48
6
pp
p
a niente
dim. poco a poco
pochiss. accel.
6
p
pp
8
p
p nervoso
p
pp
p
pp
pp
p
pp
pochiss. accel.
p
1° solo
altri
sfz f
Vln. I
Vln. II
7
53
2° 3° 4°
Vla.
1°
Vln. II
Cb.
Subito meno mosso h = ca.44
pochiss. accel.
p
mf
p
p
mf
p
Tempo I h = 52
unis. arco
p
actual pitch
p
mf
4
61 unis.
Vln. I
Vln. II
Vc.
Cb.
9
p
p
Vla.
solo
1°
mf
6
2° 3° 4°
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
Cb.
sfp
p
mf
p
f
mf
sfz f
p
mf
mf
mf
f
f
mf
p
pizz.
sfz f
6
6
mf
mf
mf
f
mf
6
sfz f
mf
mf
Vln. I
mf
10
68 agitato 6
p
mf
f
mf
mf
f
f
dim. poco a poco
5
74 unis. 11
Vln. I
f
Vln. II
6
mf
f
p
Vc.
Cb.
Vln. I
p
arco
13
f
Vc.
Cb.
ff
p
mf
cresc.
f
6
p
6
mf
rit.
mf
f
f
6
cresc.
f
pizz.
arco arco pizz. arco
cresc.
poco accel.
Più mosso h = ca.60
sim. 6
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p
mf
p
p
p
sim.
pizz.
6
6
pizz.
Vla.
pizz.
84
Vln. II
arco
mf
6
Vc.
p
ppp
Vla.
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p
80
Vln. II
mf
Cb.
12
Vln. I
mf
Vla.
mf
gliss.
mf
1° solo
altri
mf
f
f
mf
mf
arco
p
6
14 Tempo Iº h = 52 unis.
91
Vln. I
mf
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
mf
mf
Vla.
Vc.
p espress.
p espress.
arco p
pizz.
p
mf
p
p
p
p
mf
p espress.
Cb.
actual pitch
niente
15
98
Vln. II
niente
p
Vln. I
mf
Cb.
dim.
mf
mf
pizz.
mf
pizz. mf
pizz. sf
sfp
7
105 rit.
Vln. I
16
a tempo
p
Vla.
17
Vln. II
mf
f
mf
f
mf
mf
sfp
f
mf
pp
pp
p
pp
arco
sfp
mf
sfp
sfp
mf
dim.
dim.
mf
mf
sfp
sfp
mf
p
p
3 3
f
mf
mf
p
mf
pp
(non trem.)
f (non trem.)
mf
f
mf
pp
mf
sfp
18
sfp
p
3 3
mf 3
mf
3
f
p
sfp
sfp
arco
(non trem.)
dim.
mf
3 3
mf
pp
arco
sfp
Cb.
arco
Vla.
Vc.
p
sfp
112
Vln. I
mf
Vc.
p
Cb.
pp
Vln. II
sfzp
dim.
sfzp
dim.
3 3 (non trem.) gliss.
3 3
f
mf
mf
(non trem.)
gliss.
p
f
p
f
3 gliss.
f
3
p
8
poco accel.
118
Vln. I
f
mf
Vln. II
rit.
Vc.
Cb.
f
Vln. II
f
Vla.
Vc.
20
solo dramatic!
3
gliss .
p
mf
p
gliss. 3 3 3
3
f
p
f
gliss.
mf (non trem.)
f
sfzp
f
p
f
sfzp
cresc.
3
p
mf
ff
cresc.
6
3 3
p
sfz
(non trem.)
3
en dehors
mf
3 3 gliss.
mf
mf
3
(non trem.)
Poco più mosso h = ca. 60
ff
non trem.
f
f
Cb.
cresc.
p
f
f
accel.
Vln. I
cresc.
3 3 cresc.
cresc.
3 3 (non trem.) gliss.
p
125
cresc.
f
p
mf
p
rit.
f
mf
pp
pp
Vla.
pp
f
pp
poco accel.
19
f
6
ff
6
f
p
p
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3
mf
p
3 3
gliss.
mf
p
gliss.
mf
3
3
mf
p
3
p
21
Vln. I
Vln. II
131
rit.
p
p
Vc.
Cb.
Vln. II
f
niente
22
1° solo
p
p
Cb.
mf
p
mf
mf
pizz.
mf
pizz.
mf
3
p
p
arco
gliss.
sfz
mf
p
pizz.
3
p
actual pitch
unis.
p
mf
mf
p
p
Vc.
niente
p
unis.
Vla.
mf
p altri
9
6
dim.
Vln. I
niente
3
138
mf
Vla.
Tempo Iº h = 52
sfzp
p
3 3
cresc.
10
146
Vln. I
Vln. II
p
23
p
sfpp
Vln. II 3°
Vla.
Cb.
6
mf
f
6
3
dim.
gliss.
p
p
f
ff
6
p
p
(non trem.)
(non trem.)
3 3
3°
sfp
ppp
sfp
ppp
1° & 2° div.
[
3 3
arco
f
dim.
f
sfpp
mf
sfpp
dim.
pp
pp
f
6
f
pp
3
24
f
Vc.
3
151
1° 2°
mf
mf
Vln. I
f
mf
Cb.
mf
solo en dehors 6
mf
arco
sfpp
Vc.
p
arco
Vla.
f
3 3
11
25
157
Vln. I
f
Vln. II
6
Vc.
Cb.
pp
mf
p
3
3
gliss.
p
mf
Vc.
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mf
p
sfzp
6
arco
p
3
gliss.
p
3
mf
gliss.
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f
6
f pizz.
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mf
p
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6
mf
f
sfzp
pp
sfzp
Vla.
pp
sfzp
Vln. II
26
Vln. I
mf
arco
mf
163
6
pizz.
gliss .
mf
3
3
6
pp
sfp
f
mf
pp
f
pp
sfp
f (non trem.)
f
pp
mf
f
Vla.
(non trem.)
pp
pp
sfp
solo en dehors
sfp
f
f
3
3
dim.
ppp
6
12 pochiss. accel.
27
169
Vln. I
Vln. II
f
mf
ppp
mf
f
ppp
mf
f
p
mf
Vla.
p
Cb.
ff
174
Più mosso h = 60
f
mf
f
f
mf
cresc.
mf
cresc.
cresc.
pp
f
29
f
pp
f
f
f
f
mf
Vla.
Cb.
mf
f
Vc.
cresc. cresc.
Vln. II
mf
niente
28
Vln. I
mf
ff
Vc.
pizz.
f
6 mf
p
p
p
sfz
3 3
3 3
sfz f
mf
f
f
6
arco
mf
mf
(non trem.)
sfz mf
(non trem.)
sfz mf
mf
p
p
13
181
Vln. I
Vln. II
Vla.
f
trem.
trem.
p
p
Cb.
Vln. I
Vln. II
p
mf
gliss.
f
f
gliss.
gliss.
p
mf
mf
mf
p cresc.
31
(non trem.)
(non trem.)
f
f
p
mf
(non trem.)
p
mf
mf
f
mf
mf
mf
mf
f
p
p
mf
mf
f
f
3
mf
p
mf
sfz f
f
p
p
3
3
f
p
sfz f
3
mf
mf
3
gliss.
3
3
mf
mf
f
mf
3
3
p
mf
mf
gliss.
sfz f
3
p
mf
sfz f
p 3
mf
mf
mf
p
f
6 mf
6
p
sfz f
p
p
p
3
sfz f
mf
3
Cb.
gliss.
p
p
sfz f
sfz f
Vc.
6
f
6 f
Vla.
(non trem.)
f
mf
6 mf
mf
mf
sfz mf
mf
6
f
(non trem.)
sfz mf
3 3
188
3 3
p
f
f
Vc.
30
p
f
mf
mf
14
Vln. I
1° 2°
Vln. II
3°
cresc.
cresc.
203
Vln. I
Vln. II
Vla.
f
mf
mf dim.
mf dim.
appassionato unis.
ff
appassionato
f ff ff
f
f
ff
ff
ff
3
pp
arco
3
sffz pp
pp
mf
cresc.
gliss.
mf
cresc.
p
sffz p
3°
gliss.
sffz p
gliss.
3
sffz p
3
f
ff
f
ff
f
f
cresc.
mf
sffz
cresc.
mf
sffz
3
cresc.
3
cresc.
sffz p
gliss.
cresc.
mf
mf
ff
ff
p
pizz.
sffz
ff
ff
p
mf
1° / 2° div.
mf
gliss.
sffz p
33
f
mf
ff
f
3
Cb.
mf
mf dim.
Vc.
f
mf
mf dim.
f
f
mf
f
f
f
f
cresc.
32
Vla.
Cb.
cresc.
Vc.
195
niente
f
f
p
p
mf
cresc.
mf
mf
p
mf
cresc.
mf cresc.
mf cresc.
15
Vln. I
210
Vln. II
Vla.
f
pizz.
gliss.
f
35
Vln. I
217
unis.
pp
sffzpp
appassionato
sffz f
ff
Vln. II
ff
sfz
Cb.
sfzp
cresc..
p
mf
f
ff
pp
cresc.
cresc. 3
pp
mf
sffzp
f
gliss.
3
mf
div.
gliss.
f
mf
gliss.
mf
mf
f
gliss.
gliss.
f
f
mf
unis.
mf
pp
pp
mf
f
pp cresc.
p
mf
p
mf
mf
p
p
p
ff
Vc.
mf
gliss.
mf
cresc..
p
mf
p
ff
Vla.
ff
gliss.
p
sffz
pp
gliss.
f
div.
mf
f
arco sffz
f
pp
pp
f
f
Cb.
f
Vc.
34
mf
16
36
224
Vln. I
mf
f
Vln. II
sfz
Vla.
sfz
sfzp
Vc.
sfz
Cb.
sfz
p
3
p
sul tasto
p
sul tasto
p
div.
sfz pp
sfz pp
Vc.
Cb.
p
p
mf
3 3 3
cresc.
mf
3 3
cresc.
3
mf
3
sfz
sfz
mf
3
3
mf
sfz pp
sfz pp solo en dehors
*
gliss.
gliss.
sfz pp
*
*
sfz pp
*
f mf molto espress.
gliss.
sfz pp
gliss.
sfz pp
pp
arco
pp
sffz p
pp
pp
arco
pizz.
pizz.
sffz
f
ff
pp
3
mf
* these notes non trem. (sempre sim.>)
sul tasto
3
dim.
3
Vla.
3
sul tasto
mf
37
Vln. II
f
mf
3
230
Vln. I
f
mf
mf
f
pp
p
gliss.
pp
sffz p
17
237
Vln. I
1° 2°
3°
gliss.
Vc.
Cb.
p
Vln. I
Vln. II
gliss.
gliss.
gliss.
gliss.
f
gliss.
mf
Vla.
Vc.
Cb.
mf
pp
p
pp
p
p
p
p
p
gliss.
p
39
gliss.
gliss.
mf
mf
pp
pp
p
(sempre sul tasto)
pp
mf
p
p
pp
(sempre sul tasto)
pp
pp
pp
pp
(sempre sul tasto)
mf
gliss.
(sempre sul tasto)
gliss.
p
pp
p
f
3°
mf
gliss.
pp
f
pp
1°/2° div.
mf
f
pp
pp
gliss.
gliss.
pp
mf
sfz pp
gliss.
p
mf
p
pp
sfz pp
p
pp
sfz pp
p
mf
pp
gliss.
p
p
gliss.
sfz pp
pp
sfzp
pp
p
p
p
gliss.
gliss.
sfz pp
pp
pp
gliss.
gliss.
gliss.
pp
gliss.
p
sfz pp
p
gliss.
sfz pp
p
sfz pp
pp
sfz pp
p
sfz pp
244
gliss.
ff
Vla.
sfz pp
gliss.
p
gliss.
p
Vln. II
sfz pp
p
gliss.
p
38 gliss.
gliss.
mf
mf
gliss.
sfzp
pp
pp
pp
18
250
Vln. I
Vla.
gliss.
sfp
sfp
p
Cb.
sfp
257
pp
gliss.
gliss.
pp
pp
Vln. II
sfpp
gliss. pp
sfpp
f
f
mf
mf
p
molto p espress.
pp
mf
gliss.
mf
gliss.
mf
mf f f
p
41
gliss.
gliss.
gliss.
sffz
gliss.
mf
sffz
mf
ff
sfpp poco a poco al ord. gliss. gliss.
gliss.
p
mf
sfpp
solo [en dehors]
gliss.
gliss.
pp
p
poco a poco al ord. gliss.
sfp
sfpp
mf
ff
gliss.
mf
sfpp
gliss.
sfpp
Vc.
gliss. pp
Vla.
gliss.
poco a poco al ord.
p
poco a poco al ord. gliss.
sfp
sfpp
p
mf
gliss.
gliss.
p
gliss.
gliss.
sfp
sfpp
mf
Vln. I
Cb.
sfpp
pp
sfp
pp
gliss.
sfpp
gliss.
sfp
gliss.
gliss.
sfp
40
gliss.
sfpp
gliss.
p
Vc.
gliss.
sfp
gliss.
gliss.
gliss.
sfp
sfp
p
gliss.
Vln. II
gliss.
gliss.
ff
gliss.
mf
mf
mf
mf
sffz
mf
sffz
mf
f
mf
mf
19
264
dim. poco a poco
Vln. I
Vln. II
sfzpp
niente
(non
(non trem.)
sfzpp
(non trem.)
f
p
p
sfzpp
sfzpp
sfzpp
mf
mf
f unis.
Vla.
sffz mf
sffz mf
Vc.
sffz mf
sffz mf
Cb.
sffz mf
sfz mf gliss.
dim.
sfz mf
dim.
sfz mf
p
p
(non trem.)
pp
pp
(non trem.)
p
(non trem.)
p
mf
mf
mf
pp
mf
p
mf
f
mf
sffz
f
mf
sffz mf
sffz mf
3 3
sffz mf
3
pp
sffz mf
unis. f
mf
p
mf
p
(non trem.)
43
pp
div. in 3
ff
pp
pp
dim.
pp
gliss.
ff
pp
dim.
p
f
mf
gliss.
mf
sffz
sfz mf
mf
Vln. II
gliss.
mf
42
unis.
sfzpp
niente
unis. f 272
Vln. I
trem.)
Cb.
(non trem.)
sfzpp
Vc.
dim. poco a poco
sfzpp
Vla.
3
sffz mf
pp
pp
pp
pp
pp
20
Vln. I
280
Vln. II
(non trem.)
ff
sffz mf
p
sffz mf
p
Cb.
p
3°
ff
f
4°
ff
3
ff
ff
Vln. II
ff
f
ff
f
ff
ff
f
ff
ff
f
ff
3°
Cb.
gliss.
mf
p (non trem.)
p
p
3 f
(f)
gliss.
sffz mf
pp
sffz mf gliss.
pp
sffz mf
pp
gliss.
3
3
mf
p
mf
3
3
mf
f
3
sffz
f
mf
mf 3
3
mf
* sffz mf f 3 * sffz mf f 3 * sffz mf f 3 * sffz
3
f
3
3
(non trem.)
f
3
3
3
p
3
3 * sffz
p
Vc.
f
3
gliss.
p
Vla.
sfz
2°
mf
3 * ff sffz mf f f 3 3 *
1°
f
f
sfz
3
ff
3
Vln. I
pp
2°
(non trem.)
p
286 1° ff
p
(non trem.)
mf
pp
3
3
f
sffz mf
3
pp
(non trem.)
(non trem.)
Vc.
f 3
mf
p (non trem.)
Vla.
ff
f
44
3
3
mf
sffz
sffz
sffz
sffz
sffz f gliss.
f
f
sffz
sffz
gliss.
3
f
3
f
3 f 3
gliss. f
f
f
gliss.
gliss.
f
sffz
f
gliss.
mf
gliss.
sffz
f
gliss.
gliss.
* Play as fast as possible detaché, NOT necessarily all together. Repeat pattern as necessary. Quick, jagged rhythms.
f
21
45
as before
290
sffz
3
f
mf
** sffz mf
3
as before
sffz
mf
f
cresc.
** sffz mf
cresc.
Vln. I as before
sffz
sffz
f
as before
mf
f
Vln. II
sffz
mf
f
sffz
mf
**
sffz mf
cresc.
sffz mf
cresc.
** cresc.
sffz mf
** 3
f
sffz mf
mf
cresc.
**
sffz
3
as before
**
3
as before
sffz mf
3
mf
sffz
f
mf
as before
3
3
3
cresc.
gliss.
3
3
mf
sffz
Vla.
mf
sffz
f
gliss.
3
3
mf
3
sffz
3
sffz
gliss.
mf
3
3
3
3
mf
Vc.
sffz
Cb.
mf
sffz
gliss.
3
mf
3
mf
sffz
3
3
sfz
3
mf
3
** as before, but start with slower rhythms and then go faster.
sfz
mf
22
294
f
46
ff
Vln. I
f
f
f
f
ff
mf
f
f
gliss.
gliss.
ff
f
ff
f
ff
gliss.
sffz
f
ff
ff
ff
f
ff
f
Vln. II
ff
ff
f
f
ff
ff
ff
gliss.
sfz
mf
Vla.
sffz
mf
sffz
gliss.
gliss.
gliss.
gliss.
gliss.
gliss.
sfz
3
3
3
3
gliss.
mf
sfz
sfz
mf
gliss.
sfz
mf
Vc.
Cb.
gliss.
gliss.
mf
mf
cresc.
cresc.
23
298
gliss.
gliss.
gliss.
Vln. II
gliss.
gliss.
gliss.
mf
p
sff
sff
mf
p
sff
mf
sul tasto
p
sff
sff
ff
f
ff
f
p
ff
f
mf
ff
f
sff
ff
48
ff
f
ff
f
f
f
Vln. I
solo
47
sff
sul tasto pp
mf
p
p
pp
solo
sff
sff
sff
p
p
sul tasto
mf
p
pp
mf
p
sul tasto
f
ord. sff
ord.
sff
sff
Vla.
ff
f
f
sff
gliss.
gliss.
gliss.
mf
p
pp
mf
p
mf
sff
sul tasto
pp
p
p
ord.
sff
ord. sff
Vc.
f
Cb.
f
sff
sffz f
p
gliss.
mf
p
mf
sff
gliss.
sffzf
24
306 mf
f
ord. sul tasto
mf
sul tasto
pp
pizz.
mf
p
Vln. I
mf
mf
Vln. II
mf
mf
mf
f
pp
sul tasto
p
p
pp
sul tasto
pp
sul tasto
pp
p
p
(sul tasto)
pp
p
(sul tasto)
pp
p
(sul tasto)
pp
p
tasto sul
p
mf
sul tasto
p
pp
pp
p
pizz.
mf
Vla.
pp
sul tasto
p
p
mf
p
mf
f espr.
Vc.
p
mf
Cb.
gliss.
mf
mf
gliss.
sffzp
pp
25 312
49
arco
mf
pp
pp
ord.
sfz f
f
50
rit.
mf
p
pp
p
Meno mosso
mf
mf
f
mf
f
Vln. I
pp
sfz f
ord.
sfz f
ord.
pp
Vln. II
ord.
sfz f
pp
sfz f
pp
ord.
ord.
sfz f
arco ord.
sfz f
p
p
sul tasto
p
pp
sul tasto p
pp
sul tasto
p
pp
p
pp
pp
p
p
p
pp
p
tasto sul
pp
p
sul tasto
p
mf
ord.
mf
ord.
pp
p
pp
f
pp
p
mf
f
ord.
mf
f
pp
ord.
pp
mf
Vla.
arco ord.
sfz f
sfz f
p
pp
p
pp
p
ord.
p
pp
mf
mf
f
f
Vc.
arco
gliss.
mf
p
sffz
mf
Cb.
gliss.
sfz f
sffz f
pp
gliss .
mf
f
sfz
mf
gliss .
mf
sfz mf
f
26
320
f
mf
mf
f
ff
mf
mf
mf
f
f
Vln. II
mf
f
f
mf
mf
f
f
f
f
mf
mf
f
mf
mf
ff
mf
mf
ff
Vla.
mf
mf
f
f
mf
mf
Cb.
mf
f
f
f
mf
ff
fff
sfp
p
pp
mf
sfp
ff
sfp
pp
ff
fff
pp
ff
molto
mf
sfp
mf
mf
sfp
sfp
f
fff
mf
sfp
molto
f
ff
gliss.
dim.
ff
sffz ff
ff
pp
pp
ff
fff
ff
pp
fff
molto
f
pp
mf
molto
pp
mf
fff
molto
f
fff
sfp
molto
mf
fff
molto
mf
Vc.
molto
51
molto
Vln. I
very long pauses – at least 5-6"
ff
ppp