Vietnam III

(male voice, piano, and electronics)

Audio sample (.mp3)

Score-pages 1 & 2 (.pdf - Click here to acquire Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Program Notes:

Vietnam III, dedicated to "all the dead children", was written for all the innocent children killed in the Vietnam War. The composition is serial. In addition to pitch control, certain sections are defined by partially controlling rhythm, register, and dynamics. The same intervals are expressed in the two hexachords of the row when considered melodically. This intervalic relationship permits the consideration of six notes as the basic collection, rather than the entire twelve-tone row. Certain intervals are further emphasized by control of the register (notes in particular sections are heard only in particular registers). Three distinct methods of sound production are used in the vocal part: singing, intonation usually combined with glissando, and spoken sections. The text used is a poem by LeRoi Jones, Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note, written for Kellie Jones, born May 16, 1959.

 

If you are interested in acquiring complete performance materials for this piece, please contact me by email (kindly include your phone number).

s-syverud@northwestern.edu

I will request a small handling fee to cover reproducing & shipping costs.