Knight, Death, and Devil

SCORE IN C

for eighth blackbird

Frederic Rzewski
(2007-8)

1.
q = 60

Violin 1

Violin 2

ff

3


ff

sul III

Violoncello 1

Alto Flute
in G

Bass Clarinet
in Bb

ff

pp

pp

ff

q = 108

sul IV

Viola

pp

sul IV

pp

pp

Violin 3

Violoncello 2

3
Bathtub

Hi
Percussion M
Lo

ff

q = 60

Piano

ppp

(Snort)

pp

pp

pp

(fingers)

q = 108

ff

pig-like sound)
(inhale;

pp

pp

(3. ped)

pp

una corda

Vln. 1

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

A. Fl.

B. Cl.

cresc.

H
Perc. M
L

Pno.

cresc.
Bathtub

cresc.

Vc. 2

A. Fl.

H
Perc. M
L

Pno.

pizz.

arco
f

cresc.

trem.

f
cresc.

(3. ped off)
tre corda

Vc. 2

Vln. 3

poco a poco cresc.

B. Cl.

11

Vln. 1

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

cresc.

Vln. 3

p sub.

p sub.

p sub.

p sub.

pp

pp

pp

pp
(tap under keyboard)

pp

mp

Vln. 1

18

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

A. Fl.

B. Cl.

rit.

mp pp

q = 88

Vln. 3

Vc. 2

mp

Bathtub

H
Perc. M
L

mp

mp

Pno.

mp

pp

pp
(tap)

To Goose Call

(tap)

pizz.

pp

mp pp

(heel) To Vib.

rit.

Vibraphone

q = 88

(tap) (slap)

24

Vln. 1

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

A. Fl.

Vln. 3

Perc.

Pno.

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

A. Fl.

Vln. 3

Perc.

Pno.

Vln. 1

27

Vibraphone

pizz.

30

Vln. 1

pizz.

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

A. Fl.

Vln. 3

Vln. 1

35

pizz.

Vla.

A. Fl.

B. Cl.

Vln. 3

Perc.

arco

arco

Pno.

Vibraphone

Vln. 2

Vc. 1

Perc.

Pno.

(3. ped)

rit.

To Picc.

arco

rit.

(3. ped)

To Bathtub

2.

I
II

III
IV

q = 108

Vln. 1

III
IV

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

III

IV

Piccolo

Picc.

Goose Call
Squawk:

Cl.

Snort:

Vln. 3

Snort:

Vc. 2

Bathtub Screech:

pp

(scrape with wood or plastic)

q = 108

H
Perc. M
L

Pno.

Picc.

(3. ped. off)

(3. ped) una corda

Cl.

Vln. 3

Vc. 2

H
Perc. M
L

Pno.

To Cl. in Bb

To Vib.

q = 92

10

Vln. 1

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

Picc.

Cl.

Vibraphone

Perc.

q = 92

Pno.

Vla.

Vc. 1

Picc.

Cl.

Pno.

ppp

ppp

ppp

ppp

pp

pp

pp

mp

Perc.

ppp

mp

(3. ped)

pp

pp

pp

mp

p
mp

mf

mf

mf

mf

mp

mp

mp

mp

arco

pizz.

mp

ppp

(3. ped)

17

Vln. 2

Vln. 1

ppp

Clarinet in Bb

mf

24

Vln. 1

Vla.

Vc. 1

Picc.

Cl.

pp

pp

pp

32

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

Perc.

Pno.

pp

pp

pp

pp

pp

(3. ped)

pp

pp

pp

pp

(3. ped)

sf

pp

pp

pp

pp

arco

pp

pp

pp

pp

pp

pizz.

pp

pp

pp

sfz

Picc.
Cl.

(3. ped)

Vln. 1

pp

Pno.

pp

Vibraphone
Perc.

pp

Vln. 2

40

Vln. 1

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

Vibraphone

Perc.

Pno.

Vc. 1

pp

pp

pp

pp

46

pp

pizz.
p

Perc.

Picc.
Cl.

pp

pp espr.

pp
Pno.

(3. ped)

pizz.

f
arco
f

pizz.

arco

pp

p
To Bathtub

arco

To A. Fl.

arco

arco

pizz.

pizz.

sf

mf

(3. ped)

ppp

Vla.

trem.

Vln. 2

45

Vln. 1

Picc.
Cl.

To B. Cl.

10

3.
q = 84

Vln. 1

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

A. Fl.

B. Cl.

Vln. 3

Vc. 2

Alto Flute

Bass Clarinet

sul I

Vln. 1

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

Vln. 3

Vc. 2

pizz.

11

Vln. 1

q = 108

arco

Vln. 2

sul IV

Vla.

Vc. 1


A. Fl.

B. Cl.

14

Vln. 1

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

A. Fl.

B. Cl.

12

Vln. 1

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

19

Vc. 2

H
Perc. M
L

A. Fl.

BATHTUB

B. Cl.

Vc. 2

H
Perc. M
L

pizz.

4.

q = 84

B. Cl.

A. Fl.

B. Cl.

A. Fl.

pizz.

13

A. Fl.

Vc. 2

Vla.

A. Fl.

B. Cl.

Vln. 3

Vln. 2

Vc. 1

BATHTUB
(scrape with chopstick:)

q = 92

To Cl.

sf

arco

Vc. 2

(soft sticks)
To Glock.
H

Perc. M

L
pp

cresc.

mf

mf

cresc.

mf

mf

mf

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.
p

(arco)

pizz.

10

Vln. 1

pizz.

B. Cl.

H
Perc. M
L

14

rit.

16

Vln. 1

dim.

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

A. Fl.

dim.

dim.

mf

dim.

mf

mf

mf

pizz.

mf

arco

mf

pizz.

a tempo

mf

arco

dim.

Vln. 3

pizz.

dim.

arco

Vln. 1

22

dim.

Vln. 2

dim.

Vla.

pp

A. Fl.

dim.

dim.

Vln. 3

pp

pp

dim.

pp

25

(pizz.) arco

dim.

Vc. 1

pp

pp

dim.

dim.

pizz.

arco

pizz.

pizz.

arco
dim.

dim.

dim.

To Picc.

pizz.

attacca!

15

H
Perc. M
L

Tutti

5.

(5")
Throw 2-3 plates on floor
or hard surface so that
pieces scatter.

q = 76

(10")

(15")

G.P.

G.P.

G.P.

pp

Vc. 2

Perc.

pp
p

q = 76

Glockenspiel

Pno.

pizz.

Vln. 3

pp

pp

rit.

arco

a tempo

rit.

pp

Piccolo

to Glockenspiel

Scrape or rub bathtub with some semi-hard

material (wood, rubber, plastic) to produce a
low growl or roar. Rhythms etc. free, as above.)

(5")

Clarinet in Bb

Cl.

Drag chair or table across

floor: rhythms, dynamics free.

Picc.

(15")

(10")

a tempo

sf

mf

(3. ped. sempre)

Picc.
10

Cl.

Vln. 3

Perc.

Pno.

Vc. 2

pp

pp

pp

pp

pp

16

Picc.
14

Cl.

Vln. 3

Vc. 2

Perc.

Glockenspiel

Vc. 2

Perc.

Pno.

23

Picc.

Cl.

Vln. 3

Vc. 2

Pno.

To Bathtub

Perc.

pp

(Release 3. ped)

pizz.

pp

pp
una corda

To B. Cl.
ppp

pizz.

pp

arco

arco

arco

cresc.

To A. Fl.

cresc.

pizz.

cresc.

cresc.

19

Vln. 3

Picc.

pizz.

Pno.

pp

Cl.

pizz.

cresc.

ppp

17
q. = 80

Vln. 1

(arco)

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

Vln. 3

pizz.

Vln. 1

Vln. 2

Vla.

6.

pizz.

Vln. 3

Vc. 2

Vc. 1

Vln. 1

Vln. 2

Vla.
Vc. 1

Vln. 3

Vc. 2

13

arco

pizz.

(arco)

Vc. 2

(Tune III to F)

arco

arco

18

7.

q = 104

Vln. 1

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

A. Fl.

Alto Flute

p
f

Vln. 3

Vc. 2

H
Perc. M
L

col legno batt.

q = 104

Pno.

sf

accel.

cresc.

q = 112

Bathtub

col legno batt.

accel.

Bass Clarinet

B. Cl.

sf

sf

pizz.

sf

q = 112

19

pizz.

Vln. 1

Vln. 2

Vc. 1

A. Fl.

sf

Bathtub

H
Perc. M
L

on tailpiece

beyond bridge

on tailpiece

on tailpiece

beyond bridge

q = 104

on tailpiece

beyond bridge

on bridge

(press body against

tub to dampen sound)

beyond bridge

ff

on bridge

ff
arco
near bridge

Vc. 2

on bridge

ff
arco
near bridge

on bridge

ff
arco
near bridge

pizz.

bridge
near

B. Cl.

Pno.

Vla.

arco

(fingers, both hands)

q = 104

15

H
Perc. M
L

(gradually move body away from tub)

cresc. e accel.

q = 112

ff

pp

20

Bathtub solo

22

H
Perc. M
L

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

ALL PLAYERS: Play lines 1-10 in any order with bars

of rest ad lib. Any sounds high and low. Start and end
with bathtub solo. (1 minute max.)

(q = 112)

23

1.

21
q = 144

con sord.

Vln. 1

pp

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

Vln. 1

con sord.

pp

8.

pp
con sord.

pp

a tempo

Vln. 1
mp

Vln. 2

mp

Vla.

mp

Vc. 1

Vln. 1

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

mp

cresc.

rit.

mf

pizz.

dim.

pp

a tempo

pp

rit.

(IV)

pp

dim.

mf

pp
pizz.

mf

dim.

mf
dim.
cresc.

rit.

rit.

cresc.

14

a tempo

con sord.

Vln. 2


p

Vla.

Vc. 1

pp

pp

pp

arco

pp

22

9.
(q = 112)

H
Perc. M
L

Bathub

(q =112)

Pno.

(screech:)

B. Cl.

Vln. 3

Vc. 2

H
Perc. M
L

Pno.

(roar:)

pp

fff

flutter

mf

mf

pizz.

mp

q = 84

mp

cresc.

mf

cresc.

mf

mf

mf

mf

trem.

(arco)

q = 84

pizz.

Vla.

A. Fl.

(LO IMPRO)

Vln. 2

Vc. 1

ff

Vln. 1

(HI IMPRO)

23

12

Vln. 1

mf

Vln. 2

B. Cl.

Vc. 2

Vln. 3

Bathub

ff

pizz.

Pno.

p
f

ff

mf

mp

H
Perc. M
L

Vc. 1

A. Fl.

arco

Vla.

ff

ff

arco

ff

ff

mf

dim.

arco

pp

ff

pizz.

arco

ff

dim.

ff
dim.
(p)

ff

ff

ff

dim.

24

16

Vln. 1

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

pp

pp

pp

A. Fl.

pp

Vc. 2

pp

Pno.

trem.

pp

pp

pp

cresc.

cresc.

ff

pp

pp

ff

ff

ff

ff

trem.

pp

trem.

pp

flutter

pp

pp

pp

pp

pp

Bathtub

H
Perc. M
L

Vln. 3

pp

B. Cl.

flutter

ff

ff

pp

25

Vln. 1

23

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

H
Perc. M
L

Bathtub

Pno.

pp

cresc.

ff

cresc.

26

Voices
(Tutti)

(hold until breathless)

(tongue out)

AH

H
Perc. M
L

ff

ppp

To Glock.
(Howl:)

IMPRO

ppp

26

Vln. 1

q. = 72
p

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

Picc.

Vln. 3

Glockenspiel

Pno.

cresc.

cresc.

Piccolo

cresc.

Perc.

cresc.

[CAD]

cresc.

cresc.

pp

pp

pp

pp

pp

pp

pp

pp

pp

[CAD]

q. = 72

Vc. 2

cresc.

Clarinet in Bb

Cl.

10.

pp

27

Vln. 1

Vln. 2

Picc.

Cl.

Vln. 3

Vc. 2

Glockenspiel

Perc.

Pno.

pizz.

[CAD]

dim.

dim.

dim.

dim.

dim.

mp

pizz.

dim.

pp

arco

pp

arco

pp

[CAD] arco



pp
p

pp

dim.

dim.

dim.

pizz.

f sub.

pizz.

Vla.

Vc. 1

[CAD]

pp

pp

pp

pp

[CAD]

pp

28

arco


16

Vln. 1

allargando molto

cresc.

Vln. 2

Vla.

Vc. 1

Picc.

Cl.

Vln. 3

Vc. 2

Perc.

pp

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

pizz.

Glockenspiel

Pno.

cresc.

pp

III

arco

dim.

pp

pp

allargando molto

(pizz.)

pp

(arco)

III

pp

pp

ppp

pp

pp

pp

ppp

pp

ppp

29

11.
ALL PLAYERS: Play any line in any
octave. Drop out or change lines ad lib.

q = 108

1
A
2

B
f

p


p

mp

mp

1
A
2

pp

B
C

pp

pp

pp

pp

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

pp

mf

rit.

f
rit.

rit.

a tempo

a tempo

rit.

rit.

a tempo

rit.

pp

pp

mp

pp

rit.

mp

rit.

rit.
a tempo

f p

a tempo

rit.

rit.
a tempo

rit.

rit.

a tempo

rit.

cresc.

cresc.

pp

p
p

mp

Apr 1 08

30

Epilog
(piano solo)

q = 48

espressivo, legato

Pno.

(con ped. ad lib.)

una corda

Pno.

mp

Pno.

ten.

dim.

mf

mp

cresc.

dim.

12

Pno.

pp

(long)
[CAD]

rit. slower

f sub.

15

Pno.

(short)
[CAD]

rit.

pp

dim.

allargando

pp