to a stranger

8/20/2019 To a Stranger

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/to-a-stranger 1/20

to a strangerfor SATB double choira cappella

Price Walden



Program note:

I have always felt a kinship to the poetry of Walt Whitman, especially his poems

about strangers. There is such a beauty and imagination there that I find irresistible.But when I originally tried to set one for this piece, nothing felt right. After much

deliberation, I decided to take Whitman's frame and idea, but fill it with modern texts.

I made two lists - one of phrases beginning with the words "I am", and one with the

words "You are"- which serve as the text of the piece. I took phrases from the Internet,

from Whitman's poetry, from friends, and some from myself. My idea was to take these

little stories- some kind of funny, some heartbreaking, some simple, some deep- and to

create a space for them to live side-by-side. I wanted to give voice to all the things we

really wish we would say to one another.

"Stranger, if you passing meet me and desire to speak to me,

why should you not speak to me?

And why should I not speak to you?"

-Walt Whitman

Performance notes:

The piece was written for 8 solo voices, but more can be used, if

you wish. The two choirs must be equal.

The tempo should be very fluid throughout. Don't worry about strictness.

It's more important that each of the phrases are allowed to breathe andmove of their own accord.

Don't be afraid to let the silences linger.



V

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82

8

2

82

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2

82

8

2

8

2

8

2

Soprano

Alto

Tenor

Bass

Soprano

Alto

Tenor

Bass

Choir 1

Choir 2

Ó . . .

You are

Ó

.

. .

You are

spacious qd = c 70

. . . Ó .

beau ti ful

.

. .

Ó

.

beau ti ful

Ó . . .

You are

Ó

.

. .

You are

. . . Ó .

good e nough

.

. .

Ó

.

good e nough

Œ . . .

I am

Œ

.

. .

I am

- - -

- - -

To a stranger

Price Walden

© Price Walden 2015 All Rights Reserved



V

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6

Ó

.

œ

œ

œ

You are my

Ó

.

œ

œ

œ

You are my

.

here

.

here

œ

œ

Œ Ó

.

sun shine

œ

œ

Œ Ó

.

sun shine

. .

.

.

I am ha ving

. . . .

I am ha ving

œ

œ

‰ ‰ Ó

.

trou ble

œ

œ

‰ ‰ Ó

.

trou ble

Œ

.

. .

I am

Œ

.

.

.

I am

.

.

.

you are you

. . .

you you are

œ

œ

‰ ‰ Ó

.

so rry

œ œ

‰ ‰ Ó

.

so rry

-

-

- -

- -

-

-

4 To a stranger



V

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11

.

.

.

you are you

. . .

you you are

Œ

.

.

.

.

I am not

Œ

.

. . .

I am not

Ó

.

.

.

I am

.

.

.

you are you

. . .

you you are

œ

œ

‰ ‰ Ó

.

so rry

œ

œ

‰ ‰ Ó

.

so rry

Ó

.

.

.

You are

.

.

.

you are you

. . .

you you are

Ó

.

. .

You are

. . . . .

not a ha ppy

.

.

.

you are you

. . .

you you are

. . . . .

not a ha ppy

Ó

.

.

.

I am

Ó

. .

.

I am

-

-

-

-

5To a stranger



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15

. .

Ó

.

Œ

.

per son

.

.

.

you are you

. . .

you you are

. .

Ó

.

Œ

.

per son

.

.

.

not an

. .

.

not an

.

.

œ

œ

œ

You are go ing too

.

.

.

you are you

. . .

you you are

. . œ œ œ

You are go ing too

.

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

a ddict

.

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

a ddict

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

fast

.

.

.

you are you

. . .

you you are

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

fast

.

.

.

you are you

. . .

you you are

.

.

I am

. .

I am

. .

I am

-

-

-

-

-

-

6 To a stranger



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19

. .

You are

.

.

.

you are you

. . .

you you are

. .

You are

.

œ

œ

œ

strong I am

.

œ

œ

œ

strong I am

. œ œ œ

strong I am

. .

.

in

.

.

.

you are you

. . .

you you are

. . .

in

.

.

Ó

.

des perate

. .

Ó

.

des perate

. . Ó .

des perate

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

side

.

.

.

you are you

. . .

you you are

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

side

.

.

.

you are you

. . .

you you are

.

.

.

you are you

. . .

you you are

. .

I am

. .

I am

. .

I am

-

-

-

-

-

7To a stranger



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24

.

.

.

you are you

. . .

you you are

. .

Œ

.

young

. .

Œ

.

young

. . Œ .

young

.

.

.

you are you

. . .

you you are

. . .

I am re

. . .

I am re

. . .

I am re

Ó

.

.

.

You are

.

.

. .

you are You are

. . .

you You are

Ó

. . .

You are

œ œ œ

.

Œ

.

spon si ble

œ œ œ

.

Œ

.

spon si ble

œ œ œ . Œ .

spon si ble

œ

œ œ

Ó

.

not so smart

œ œ œ

Ó

.

not so smart

œ œ œ

Ó

.

not so smart

œ œ œ

Ó

.

not so smart

.

.

I am

. .

I am

. .

I am

. .

I am

Ó

.

Œ

œ

œ

You are

Ó

.

Œ

œ œ

You are

Ó

.

Œ

œ

œ

You are

Ó

.

Œ œ

œ

You are

.

.

pre tty

. .

pre tty

. .

pre tty

. .

pre tty

- - -

- - -

- - -

-

-

-

-

8 To a stranger



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29

œ

œ

‰ ‰ Ó

.

preg nant

œ œ

‰ ‰ Ó

.

preg nant

œ œ

‰ ‰ Ó

.

preg nant

œ œ

‰ ‰ Ó

.

preg nant

.

sure

.

sure

.

sure

.

sure

Ó

.

.

. . .

You are get ting

Ó

.

. . . .

You are get ting

Ó

.

.

. . .

You are get ting

Ó

.

. . . .

You are get ting

.

Ó

.

.

Ó

.

.

Ó

.

. Ó .

.

Œ

.

.

. . .

old You are be ing

.

Œ

.

. . . .

old You are be ing

.

Œ

.

.

. . .

old You are be ing

.

Œ

.

. . . .

old You are be ing

.

.

I am

.

I

.

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

lied to

. .

Ó

.

Œ

.

lied to

. .

Ó

.

Œ

.

lied to

. .

Ó

.

Œ

.

lied to

.

.

I am

.

.

I am

.

I

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

9To a stranger



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33

.

.

I am

.

.

I am

. .

I am

. .

I am

.

. .

go ing to

.

. .

go ing to

. . .

go ing to

. . .

go ing to

.

Œ

.

Œ

œ œ

die I am

.

Œ

.

Œ

œ œ

die I am

.

Œ

.

Œ

œ œ

die I am

. Œ . Œ œ œ

die I am

œ œ

‰ ‰

. . . .

lone ly I am be ing

œ œ

‰ ‰

. . . .

lone ly I am be ing

œ œ

‰ ‰

. . . .

lone ly I am be ing

œ œ ‰ ‰ . . . .

lone ly I am be ing

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

- -

-

-

-

10 To a stranger



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37

. .

Ó

.

Œ

.

care ful

. .

Ó

.

Œ

.

care ful

. .

Ó

.

Œ

.

care ful

. . Ó . Œ .

care ful

Ó

.

.

.

You are

Ó

.

. .

You are

.

. .

Ó

.

not a lone

.

. .

Ó

.

not a lone

Ó

.

.

.

You are

Ó

.

. .

You are

.

.

Ó

.

bro ken

. .

Ó

.

bro ken

-

-

-

-

- -

- -

11To a stranger



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42

Ó

.

œ œ

œ

You are my

Ó

.

œ œ œ

You are my

Ó

.

œ œ œ

You are my

œ

œ œ

Ó

.

des ti ny

œ œ œ

Ó

.

des ti ny

œ

œ œ

Ó

.

des ti ny

Ó

.

.

.

You are

Ó

.

. .

You are

Ó

. . .

You are

Ó

.

. .

You are

. .

Ó

.

not me

. .

Ó

.

not me

. .

Ó

.

not me

. .

Ó

.

not me

. .

You are

. .

You are

. .

You are

. .

You are

- -

- -

- -

12 To a stranger



V

?

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47

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

strong

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

strong

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

strong

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

strong

. .

I am

.

.

I am

.

.

I am

. .

I am

. .

You are

. .

You are

. .

You are

. .

You are

œ œ

‰ ‰ Ó

.

wo man

œ

œ

‰ ‰ Ó

.

wo man

œ

œ

‰ ‰ Ó

.

wo man

œ œ ‰ ‰ Ó .

wo man

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

fat

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

fat

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

fat

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

fat

œ œ œ ˙ œ

I am the o ther

œ œ

œ

˙

œ

I am the o ther

œ œ

œ

˙

œ

I am the o ther

œ œ œ ˙ œ

I am the o ther

. .

You are

. .

You are

. .

You are

. .

You are

œ œ

‰ ‰ Ó

.

wo man

œ

œ

‰ ‰ Ó

.

wo man

œ

œ

‰ ‰ Ó

.

wo man

œ œ ‰ ‰ Ó .

wo man

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

drunk

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

drunk

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

drunk

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

drunk

˙ œ ˙ œ

I am fun at

˙

œ

˙

œ

I am fun at

˙

œ

˙

œ

I am fun at

˙ œ ˙ œ

I am fun at

- - -

- - -

- - -

- - -

13To a stranger



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52

. .

You are

. .

You are

. .

You are

. .

You are

œ œ

‰ ‰ Ó

.

par ties

œ

œ

‰ ‰ Ó

.

par ties

œ

œ

‰ ‰ Ó

.

par ties

œ œ ‰ ‰ Ó .

par ties

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

there

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

there

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

there

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

there

˙ œ ˙ œ

I am mo ving

˙

œ

˙

œ

I am mo ving

˙

œ

˙

œ

I am mo ving

˙ œ ˙ œ

I am mo ving

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

back

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

back

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

back

. Ó . Œ .

back

˙ œ œ œ œ

You are go ing to

˙

œ

œ œ

œ

You are go ing to

˙

œ

œ œ

œ

You are go ing to

˙ œ œ œ œ

You are go ing to

˙ œ œ œ œ

I am go ing to

˙

œ

œ œ

œ

I am go ing to

˙

œ

œ œ

œ

I am go ing to

˙ œ œ œ œ

I am go ing to

˙ œ

.

Œ

.

hell for this

˙

œ

.

Œ

.

hell for this

˙

œ

.

Œ

.

hell for this

˙ œ .

Œ

.

hell for this

˙ œ

.

Œ

.

hell for this

˙

œ

.

Œ

.

hell for this

˙

œ

.

Œ

.

hell for this

˙ œ . Œ .

hell for this

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

14 To a stranger



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57

Ó

.

Œ

œ œ

I am

Ó

.

Œ

œ

œ

I am

Ó

.

Œ

œ

œ

I am

Ó . Œ œ œ

I am

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

scared

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

scared

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

scared

. Ó . Œ .

scared

. .

You are

Ó

.

. .

You are

œ œ œ

œ œ

œ

in an a bu sive re

œ œ œ œ œ œ

in an a bu sive re

˙ œ

.

la tion ship

˙ œ .

la tion ship

. .

I am

Ó . . .

I am

- - - - -

- - - - -

15To a stranger



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62

.

˙ œ

not ta king

. ˙ œ

not ta king

.

.

I am

.

I

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

sides

. Ó . Œ .

sides

.

.

I am

.

I

Ó

.

.

.

You are

Ó

.

. .

You are

.

.

I am

.

I

œ œ œ

˙ œ

not near ly scared e

œ œ œ ˙ œ

not near ly scared e

.

.

I am

.

I

-

-

-

-

-

-

16 To a stranger



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67

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

nough

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

nough

.

.

I am

.

I

Ó

.

.

.

I am

Ó . . .

I am

.

.

I am

.

I

. . . .

œ œ œ

in a bet ter place than I

. . . . œ œ œ

in a bet ter place than I

.

.

I am

.

I

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

was

. Ó . Œ .

was

Ó

.

.

.

You are

Ó

.

. .

You are

.

.

I am

.

I

-

-

17To a stranger



V

?

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A

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71

œ

œ œ

Ó

.

suf fer ing

œ œ œ

Ó

.

suf fer ing

.

.

I am

.

I

Ó

.

.

.

You are

Ó

.

. .

You are

Ó

.

. .

You are

.

.

I am

.

I

œ œ œ œ œ œ

sad a bout be ing a

œ œ œ œ œ œ

sad a bout be ing a

œ œ œ œ œ œ

sad a bout be ing a

.

.

I am

.

I

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

lone

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

lone

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

lone

.

.

I am

.

I

.

.

I am

.

I

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

-

-

-

18 To a stranger



V

?

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76

. .

I am

. .

I am

œ œ

‰ ‰ Ó

.

brea thing

œ œ ‰ ‰ Ó .

brea thing

. . .

I am a

. . .

I am a

. . .

I am a

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

shamed

.

Ó

.

Œ

.

shamed

. Ó . Œ .

shamed

-

-

-

-

-

19To a stranger



V

?

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80

œ œ œ

.

I am the new

œ œ œ

.

I am the new

œ œ œ

.

I am the new

œ œ œ .

I am the new

. .

‰

. .

˙

œ

per son you have to

. .

‰

.

.

˙ œ

per son you have to

. .

‰

.

.

˙ œ

per son you have to

. . ‰ . . ˙ œ

per son you have to

.

. .

Ó

.

know a bout

. . .

Ó

.

know a bout

. . .

Ó

.

know a bout

. . . Ó .

know a bout

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

20 To a stranger

to a stranger

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