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Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

for piano solo

Ronald A A MacDonald

Performance Notes

Written for piano solo, this work consists of thirteen movements. They should be

performed in the prescribed order, without omission or substitution.

Timings are approximate and are for

reference only.

Pedallings are, on occasion, suggested. These should, of course, be used as guidance and adapted depending on performance space.

4 – MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

I Among twenty snowy mountains, The only moving thing Was the eye of the blackbird.

MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird – 5

Wallace Stevens Ronald MacDonald(1879-1955) (1989-)

Moderato ( = 54)8va

3

R.H.

ca. 14''

3

8ba8ba

3

8ba

Stop string Pick stringwith finger with fingernailbefore playing

I

6 – MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

II I was of three minds, Like a tree In which there are three blackbirds.

MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird – 7

3 3

3

3 3

Rit.3 3 3

33

cresc.

5

ca. 14''

33

= c.64

II

8 – MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

III The blackbird whirled in the autumn winds. It was a small part of the pantomime.

MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird – 9

ca.8''

Con vivo = 90

III

10 – MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

IV A man and a woman Are one. A man and a woman and a blackbird Are one.

MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird – 11

= 64

L.H.3

6''a)

L.H.

4

33

ca.25''a) Depress silently and hold

IV

12 – MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

V I do not know which to prefer, The beauty of inflections Or the beauty of innuendoes, The blackbird whistling Or just after.

MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird – 13

Tranquillo = 60

sim.

Poco più mosso9''

7

subito L.H. sim.

ca.43''

V

14 – MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

VI Icicles filled the long window With barbaric glass. The shadow of the blackbird Crossed it, to and fro. The mood Traced in the shadow An indecipherable cause.

MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird – 15

a) Depress silently without sostenuto

3

ca.29''

3LH 3

3 3

a) = ca. 72

4

a)

VI

16 – MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

VII O thin men of Haddam, Why do you imagine golden birds? Do you not see how the blackbird Walks around the feet Of the women about you?

3 3

= 48

3

a) Hold LH finger upon string before striking note

a) sim.

R.H. R.H.

MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird – 17

3

3

3

L.H.

a)

a) Pull fingernail across string winding, one turn per crossed notehead.

8''

ca.1'10''

6

11

18 – MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

VIII I know noble accents And lucid, inescapable rhythms; But I know, too, That the blackbird is involved In what I know.

MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird – 19

ca.24''

5

3 3

Più mosso = 112

3 3dim.

3

VIII

20 – MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

IX When the blackbird flew out of sight, It marked the edge Of one of many circles.

MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird – 21

3

ca.24''

4

3

3 3

3

Risoluto = 523

IX

22 – MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

X At the sight of blackbirds Flying in a green light, Even the bawds of euphony Would cry out sharply.

MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird – 23

ca.25''

5 3Grazioso

dim.

Rall.3

Leggiero

Moderato = 50 Poco più mosso

3

8va

X

24 – MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

XI He rode over Connecticut In a glass coach. Once, a fear pierced him, In that he mistook The shadow of his equipage For blackbirds.

MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird – 25

Sempre con moto = 108a) Tranquillo

cresc.

a) Right hand should never be heard 'in front' of left.

XI

26 – MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

7

4

cresc.

MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird – 27

ca.40''

13

10

28 – MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

XII The river is moving. The blackbird must be flying.

MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird – 29

a) Pick strings inside piano with fingernail

3

3 3 3 3 ca.14''

= 54 6

56

a) ad lib. Leggiero

XII

30 – MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

XIII It was evening all afternoon. It was snowing And it was going to snow. The blackbird sat In the cedar-limbs.

MacDonald: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird – 31

3

Edinburgh, Dec. 2012ca.25''

Moderato ( = 54)3

Poco Rall.

XIII