The Race a fable for Narrator and Piano

Transcription

1 Gwyneth Walker The Race a able or Narrator and Piano based on the story The Hare and the Tortoise

2 2 The Race duration: ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The Race is a contemorary adatation o the amiliar story, The Hare and the Tortoise In this new version, the central characters (Rabbit and Tortoise) remain the same But, additional characters (the neighbors, the Owl) are added Sights and sounds rom the neighborhood are incororated [A baseball game The birds singing Neighbors waving hello ] And, the race itsel takes lace with the characters donning running shoes and cas A reeree starts the race, with the sound o a Starter s Pistol There is a moral to this well-known story: slow down and areciate your surroundings (!) And, the entire adventure ends in a grand celebration arty or all! This work may be erormed in standard concert clothing (although running shoes and cas may be added) It would be most eective to have ros on the stage For examle, i drawings o a Rabbit and Tortoise, or even stued animals, might be laced on chairs or music stands in ront o the Narrator, then these characters might be acknowledged at aroriate times in the narrative Reerence is made to a lighthouse, neighbors waving to the racers, birds heard singing and children laying baseball All o these elements can be dislayed through ros or osters And an agile Narrator might run (or walk) ast the characters and laces as the race is described The role o the Narrator is to bring the characters and laces to lie through the reading, gestures to ros and costume additions ad lib The ianist rovides the musical deiction o the story And although changes o costume are not required o the ianist, adding a running ca at letter [M] is requested in the instructions and would be a nice touch ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Widely erormed throughout the country, the music o American comoser Gwyneth Walker is beloved by erormers and audiences alike or its energy, beauty, reverence, drama, and humor Dr Gwyneth Walker (b 197) is a graduate o Brown niversity and the Hartt School o Music She holds BA, MM and DMA degrees in Music Comosition A ormer aculty member o the Oberlin College Conservatory, she resigned rom academic emloyment in 1982 in order to ursue a career as a ull-time comoser For nearly 0 years, she lived on a dairy arm in Braintree, Vermont She now divides her time between her childhood hometown o New Canaan, Connecticut and the musical communities o Sarasota, Florida and Randolh, Vermont Gwyneth Walker has been a roud resident o Vermont or many years She is the reciient o the Year 2000 "Lietime Achievement Award" rom the Vermont Arts Council as well as the 2008 "Athenaeum Award or Achievement in the Arts and Humanities" rom the St ohnsbury (VT) Athenaeum In 2012, she was elected as a Fellow o the Vermont Academy o Arts and Sciences Walker's catalog includes over 00 commissioned works or orchestra, chamber ensembles, chorus, and solo voice A secial interest has been dramatic works that combine music with readings, acting, and movement The music o Gwyneth Walker is ublished by E C Schirmer (choral and vocal music) and Lauren Keiser Music (orchestral and instrumental music) Further inormation concerning Gwyneth Walker and her works is available at wwwgwynethwalkercom ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

3 Piano (Narrative recedes the musical commentary) Narrator: This is a story about a race A road race between two animals Fanare Quickly q = 1, with energy with edal rit ^ N: Once uon a time, there was a seedy animal A 7 The Race a able or Narrator and Piano v w loco # u N: He was a srinter A1 Quickly q = Words and Music by Gwyneth Walker N: He ran so quickly that the wind whistled as he went by! 9 B Pianist exhales loudly [imitating the wind whistling as the Rabbit rushes by] Coyright 2011 by Gwyneth Walker 252 Park Street, New Canaan, CT 0680 wwwgwynethwalkercom All rights reserved

4 N: He was a Rabbit A Seedy Rabbit C 10 Quickly q = 160, as i hoing # # # P N: In act, he was always in such a rush, that he never slowed down to notice the beautiul lighthouse at the end o his road, casting its circle o light out to the shis at sea D Moderate temo 1 F cantabile with edal N: He never heard the birds singing in the trees overhead D1 Moderate temo 18 m m m m as birds singing m m #m m rit b u N: He did not sto to watch the children laying baseball in the ark D2 19 Moderate temo *LH ta ledge** # # # # * to simulate the sound o a baseball hitting a bat, or (or the agile ianist) aroximate a baseball swing (with both hands) while making a knocking sound with the tongue **The Narrator might catch an imaginary ball!

5 N: And, he never waved hello to his neighbors sitting on their orch 2 D # # # # Moderate temo as i waving hello a Ó n n n n 5 N: He was very seedy, and always rushed to where he was going E Quickly q = # # # P Ó 29 LH # Ó # RH v Ó LH # # ^ ^ random, ascending, white-note clusters loco # cresc both hands, random clusters, scamering u the keyboard ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (cresc) ^ # ^ ^ ^

6 6 N: And then, there was the Tortoise F Slowly 5 # # 8 F cantabile u N: [A Tortoise is a VERY LARGE turtle!] F1 Very slowly 6 # # # # # N: He was not seedy In act, he never ran at all He lodded along at a leisurely ace, always stoing to admire the lighthouse at the end o his street, casting its circle o light out to the shis at sea G Slowly rit with edal N: He always slowed down to listen to the birds singing in the trees overhead G1 2 Slowly m m m m as birds singing m m #m m b u N: And, he always stoed to watch the children laying baseball in the ark G2 Slowly *LH ta ledge # # # # *to simulate the sound o a baseball hitting a bat See ootnote on age

7 N: O course, he always waived hello to his neighbors, sitting on their orch 7 G # # # # Slowly as i waving hello a Ó n n n n N: He was a slow Tortoise, but he always got to where he was goingeventually! H At a slow, lumbering temo b b - b b b b b - 5 b b - b Grandly rit b b b b b dim b N u N g Less slowly b b b b rit Ó #

8 8 N: One day, the Rabbit 61 I I 1 Slowly 62 # # N: (who was a boastul creature) said to the other animals: I am the astest animal o all I am very seedy Thereore, I challenge any o you to a race See i you can catch me! The other animals drew back in ear They did not want to race the Seedy Rabbit They knew that they could not catch him But, the Tortoise 2 2 u 2 2 N: (brave Tortoise!) steed orward and said: Seedy Rabbit, I am not araid o you I will race you I accet your challenge At a slow, lumbering temo 6 K 67 b b # - b b b b b u N: The Rabbit laughed and relied: YO! You will race me! Why, you are the slowest animal on the block I can beat you on only one oot i I wanted! Quickly [reeat a ew times]

9 N: The Tortoise relied slowly: That may be true But you should save your boasting until ater the race L Quickly q = 1, with energy 68 (rearing or the race) with edal # Rabbit motive loco b b # loco Tortoise motive b b N: So, the Rabbit and the Tortoise changed into their running clothes They ut on their running shoes, and their running cas M 80 [Narrator and Pianist may ut on cas] ^ v Hold chord [to beginning o next reading] u 9

10 10 N: And, they lined u at the Starting Line The Owl acted as Reeree, and he said: Runners take your marks readysetgo! [Narrator clas hands loudly, to start the race] M1 [Narrator and Pianist ta eet quickly, as i running 81 loudly at irst then diminuendo to a quiet background behind the reading] N: The Rabbit got o to a quick start He sed down the road, leaving the Tortoise ar behind Then, noticing his great lead, and being a boastul Rabbit, he said: I am so ar ahead, that the slow Tortoise will never catch u I think that I shall sto here and take a little na That will show the Tortoise how much aster I am than him! M2 82 [Footstes sto] N: So, the Rabbit ound a nice sot little sot o grass, and lay down or a na N Moderate temo 8 b b b b b b b b b rit slowing tremolo (as i dozing o) b b b π N: Meanwhile, the Tortoise was lodding down the road at his usual ace O course, he stoed to admire the beautiul lighthouse, casting its circle o light to the shis at sea O Leisurely temo 87 F cantabile with edal rit b u

11 N: O course, he stoed to listen to the birds singing in the trees overhead O1 Leisurely temo 91 m m m m as birds singing m m #m m 11 N: O course, he stoed to watch the children laying baseball in the ark [For, he was a Red Sox an, and he knew a good game when he saw one!] O2 Leisurely temo *LH ta ledge 92 Or substitute the name o a local baseball team # # # # N: And, o course, he waved hello to his neighbors as they sat on their orch 96 # # # # O Leisurely temo P 98 a Ó N: By now, he was nearly at the Finish Line At ust this time, Seedy Rabbit awoke rom his na n n n n *to simulate the sound o a baseball hitting a bat See ootnote on age

12 12 N: He looked around, but did not see the Tortoise behind him, as he had exected Nor did he see the Tortoise close by him, as he had thought he might Instead, to his horror, he thought he sotted the Tortoise o in the distance, ust about the cross the Finish Line! The Rabbit raced down the road as ast as he could O course, he did not sto to admire the beautiul lighthouse, casting its circle o light out to the shis at sea Q Prestissimo 99 F cantabile N: O course, he did not sto to listen to the birds singing in the trees overhead Q1 Prestissimo 10 m m m m as birds singing m m #m m b u N: O course, he did not sto to watch the children laying baseball in the ark (even though he was a Yankees an, and knew a good game when he saw one!) Or substitute the name Q2 Prestissimo o a rival team *LH ta ledge 10 *to simulate the sound o a baseball hitting a bat See ootnote on age

13 N: He raced, and he raced [Narrator becomes short o breath with exhaustion] When he came to the neighbors sitting on their orch, he stoed to ask: Have you seen the Tortoise Has he assed this way The neighbors (who were surrised to hear rom the Rabbit ater all o these years) answered: Oh yes, the Tortoise came by some time ago He is ust now crossing the Finish Line Hooray Tortoise! (they shouted to each other) Hooray Tortoise! Let s have a arty to celebrate! R With energy 108 gliss In celebration q = 160 # # - # 1 b b b b b b N: The Rabbit sank down on his aws in shock Woe is me! Woe is me! I have lost the race to the Tortoise And, what is worse, I have missed out all o the wonderul eole and laces along the way, all o these years! Woe is me! 11 b b b b b b S Slowly, mournully with edal rit wu g w n n n n n n N: The neighbors comorted the Rabbit by saying: Don t worry, Rabbit You can change your ways right now Slow down! And, we will be your riends So, the neighbors threw a BIG arty, and invited everyone They celebrated the Tortoise winning the race, and they welcomed the Not-so-Seedy Rabbit as their new riend T 117 Quickly q = 1, with energy N N gliss

14 1 Narrator congratulates the Rabbit a temo (q = 160) 121 very oyully # ( ) # - # Narrator congratulates the Tortoise 125 # # # # V Everyone dances! 129 # # - # # loco 1 # dim W b b b w #

15 17 ^ ^ N ^ v b ^ ^ b v b b v v b b w b b b b b b ^ cresc b ^ v ^ b v b ^ b v b ^ b ^ b v ^ v b ^ b v ^ v b b v Narrator toasts the animals and the ianist (with uice!) X Esecially celebratory 15 N # Ó # w Ó w - # # # # # # 19 rit b N: (exclaims) THE END! Ó raise ists Pianist and Narrator raise ists in the air as i celebrating winning a race Piano version comleted uly 20, 2011 Braintreee, Vermont

16 16 Otional art or Narrator, to be used instead o the ull score, i desired The Race This is a story about a race A road race between two animals {FANFARE} Once uon a time, there was a seedy animal {A} He was a srinter {A1} He ran so quickly that the wind whistled as he went by! {B} (The Pianist exhales loudly imitating the wind whistling as the Rabbit rushes by) He was a Rabbit A Seedy Rabbit {C} In act, he was always in such a rush, that he never slowed down to notice the beautiul lighthouse at the end o his road, casting its circle o light out to the shis at sea {D} He never heard the birds singing in the trees overhead {D1} He did not sto to watch the children laying baseball in the ark {D2} (Pianist mimes hitting a baseball and the Narrator catches it) And, he never waved hello to his neighbors sitting on their orch {D} He was very seedy, and always rushed to where he was going {E} And then, there was the Tortoise {F} [A Tortoise is a VERY LARGE turtle!] {F1} He was not seedy In act, he never ran at all He lodded along at a leisurely ace, always stoing to admire the lighthouse at the end o his street, casting its circle o light out to the shis at sea {G} He always slowed down to listen to the birds singing in the trees overhead {G1} And, he always stoed to watch the children laying baseball in the ark {G2} (Pianist mimes hitting a baseball and the Narrator catches it) O course, he always waived hello to his neighbors, sitting on their orch {G} He was a slow Tortoise, but he always got to where he was goingeventually! {H}

17 One day, the Rabbit {I} 17 (who was a boastul creature) said to the other animals: I am the astest animal o all I am very seedy Thereore, I challenge any o you to a race See i you can catch me! The other animals drew back in ear They did not want to race the Seedy Rabbit They knew that they could not catch him But, the Tortoise {I1} (brave Tortoise!) steed orward and said: Seedy Rabbit, I am not araid o you I will race you I accet your challenge {} The Rabbit laughed and relied: YO! You will race me! Why, you are the slowest animal on the block I can beat you on only one oot i I wanted! {K} The Tortoise relied slowly: That may be true But you should save your boasting until ater the race {L} So, the Rabbit and the Tortoise changed into their running clothes They ut on their running shoes, and their running cas {M} (Narrator and Pianist may ut on cas) And, they lined u at the Starting Line The Owl acted as Reeree, and he said Runners take your marksready setgo! (Narrator clas hands loudly, to start the race) {M1} (Narrator and Pianist ta eet quickly, as i runningloudly at irst, then diminuendo to a quiet background behind the ollowing reading) The Rabbit got o to a quick start He sed down the road, leaving the Tortoise ar behind Then, noticing his great lead, and being a boastul Rabbit, he said: I am so ar ahead, that the slow Tortoise will never catch u I think that I shall sto here and take a little na That will show the Tortoise how much aster I am than him! {M2} So, the Rabbit ound a nice sot little sot o grass, and lay down or a na {N} Meanwhile, the Tortoise was lodding down the road at his usual ace O course, he stoed to admire the beautiul lighthouse, casting its circle o light to the shis at sea {O} O course, he stoed to listen to the birds singing in the trees overhead {O1} O course, he stoed to watch the children laying baseball in the ark [For, he was a Red Sox* an, and he knew a good game when he saw one!] {O2} (Pianist mimes hitting a baseball and the Narrator catches it) And, o course, he waved hello to his neighbors as they sat on their orch {O} *or substitute the name o a local baseball team

18 18 By now, he was nearly at the Finish Line At ust this time, Seedy Rabbit awoke rom his na {P} He looked around, but did not see the Tortoise behind him, as he had exected Nor did he see the Tortoise close by him, as he had thought he might Instead, to his horror, he thought he sotted the Tortoise o in the distance, ust about the cross the Finish Line! The Rabbit raced down the road as ast as he could O course, he did not sto to admire the beautiul lighthouse, casting its circle o light out to the shis at sea {Q} O course, he did not sto to listen to the birds singing in the trees overhead {Q1} O course, he did not sto to watch the children laying baseball in the ark (even though he was a Yankees* an, and knew a good game when he saw one!) {Q2} He raced, and he raced (Narrator becomes short o breath with exhaustion) When he came to the neighbors sitting on their orch, he stoed to ask: Have you seen the Tortoise Has he assed this way The neighbors (who were surrised to hear rom the Rabbit ater all o these years) answered: Oh yes, the Tortoise came by some time ago He is ust now crossing the Finish Line Hooray Tortoise! (they shouted to each other) Hooray Tortoise! Let s have a arty to celebrate! {R} The Rabbit sank down on his aws in shock Woe is me! Woe is me! I have lost the race to the Tortoise And, what is worse, I have missed out all o the wonderul eole and laces along the way, all o these years! Woe is me! {S} The neighbors comorted the Rabbit by saying: Don t worry, Rabbit You can change your ways right now Slow down! And, we will be your riends So, the neighbors threw a BIG arty, and invited everyone They celebrated the Tortoise winning the race, and they welcomed the Not-so-Seedy Rabbit as their new riend {T} THE END! *or select a rival team