alan ridoat

& duvid delve

Iittle sad soand
a melodrama
for -douhle bass
and narrfltor
Jtorke edition
A Sound came out in the dark. He crept
siowly . . . through the blackness . . . of
the wild wood. Then he jumped and ran
. . . and somersaulted through the bushes
. . . running or', an into the darkness . . .
of the unknown. The trees . . creaked
above him. Little Sound was lost. He
didn't know where or what he was.
Little Sound had lost his memory. And
he sat down. . . and cried.
Far away in the Land of Music, several
other sounds were very hot-and-
bothered. Each time they tried to play
'Together', something was missing. "I
know what it is," said a High Sound.
"It's the Middle Sounds: they . . . are . . .
useless !"
The Middle Sounds were very angry.
"It's not our fauIt. . It's nol our fault
...It'snot!"
And Single Bass Sound just mumbled
quietly to himseif, "We've lost Little
Sound ! Let's go and find him."
They came to a river which they had to
cross . . by hopping from a leaf to a
branch to a stone. Now they went in
single file through a field of high grass.
Suddenly . . strange noises came from
behind . . . getting nedrer andnearer.Tlne
Sounds began to run. As fast as the
speed of souncl they ran. Huny ! Or you
will be caught. Hurry ! Hurry !
They got to the end of the fie1d . . . dived
through a prickly bush (Ouch!)
under a fence . . . round four giant trees
Ein Ton kam aus der Dunkelheit. Lang-
sam Kroch er . durch den schwarzen
. . . wilden Wald. Dann sprang er und
lief schlug Purzelbàume in den
Bùschen . . . lief immer weiter, weiter tn
die Dunkelheit . . der Fremde. Bàume
. . . knaruten ùber ihm. Da hatte er sich
verirrt. Er wusste nicht wo und was er
war. Alles hatte der kleine Ton
vergessen. Da setzte er sich hin . . . und
weinte.
Im fernen Land der Musik war es ein
paar anderen Tónen recht ungemùtlich
geworden. Versuchten sie ihr 'Zusam-
menspiel', so fehlte immer etwas.
,,Ich weiss, was fehlt", sagte ein hoher
Ton. ,,Es sind die Mitteltóne: sie
geben . . . keinen Ton uon sich!"
Das àrgerte die Mitteltòne sehr.
,,Nicht u,ns're Schuld . nicht uns're
Schuld...garnicht!"
Und der einzelne Basston murmelte vor
sich hin. ,,IJns fehlt der kleine Ton. Los.
suchen wir ihn."
Sie kamen zum Fluss und mussten
hinùber . so hùpften sie von Blatt zu
Zweig, und Zweig zu Stein. Jetzt gingen
sie im Gànsemarsch durch ein Feld mit
hohem Grass. Plótzlich kam von
hinten ein seltsames Geràusch es
kam niiher und niiher. Die Tóne fingen
an zu laufen. So schnell wie die Schal-
lgeschwindigkeit. Schneller ! Sonstwerd-
et ihr erwischt. Schneller ! Schneller !
Sie kamen zum Ende des Felds
schlùpften durch einen Dornbusch .
(Autscht!) und einen Zaun. . . rund um
 . and tumbled into an emPtY tree
trunk. They hid - making as little noise
as possible. Then they heard something.
Something like crying.
Little Sound was very sad. "This must
be the end of me !I'm so alone !"
"It could be a Monster," squeaked High
Sound. The Middle Sounds huddled
together for protection.
Sad Sound heard noises. Too tired to get
up and run away, he called out, "Come
on, come on and eat me up . . . I won't
taste very good but it'll end my misery !"
"Someone needs help," said Single Bass
Sound, sensibly.
"Oh you know it all," said High Sound.
"Hic": High Sound had the hiccups.
" Ssssshhh hh" w entthe others.
" Hic"
"Ssshhh"
" Hic"
" Sshh"
"...Hic!""5h!"
They listened . . . and decided it must be
someone crying, so they went timidly
to investigate.
"Hello, are you Lost Sound?"
"Yes I am," said Little Sad Sound.
"Well . . that's wonderful," everyone
shoutecl, "Come along with us".
"This can't be happening," thought
Little Sound. "This is too wonderful".
vier Riesenbàume . . und purzelten in
einen hohien Stamm versteckten
sich und waren so still wie mòglich.
Dann hórten sie was . . . das kiang wie
Weinen.
Ganz traurig war der kleine Ton. ,,Mit
mir ist's aus ! Ich bin so einsam !"
,,Sicher ein Untier", quiekte der hohe
Ton. Die Mitteltóne dràngten sich anein-
ander aus Angst.
Der traurige Ton hórte Geràusche. Zu
mùde, um davonzulaufen, rief er, ,,Kom-
mt, kommt d"och und fresst mich auf . . .
Gut schmecken werd' ich nicht, doch
mein Leid wird so ein Ende haben !"
,,Jemand braucht Hilfe", sagte ver-
nùnftig der einzelne Basston.
,,Du weisst alles besser", sagte der hohe
Ton. ,,Hick": der hohe Ton hatte
Schlucken.
"Sssssllúlú" machten die anderen.
,,Hick"
,,Sssttt"
,,Híck"
,,Ssstt"
,,. . . Hick!" ,,St! "
Sie iauschten . . . und beschlossen, dass
es Weinen war. So gingen sie zaghaft,
um nachzusehen.
,,Bist Du der verlorene Ton?"
,,Ja . . ja", sagte der traurige kleine
Ton.
,,Wirklich das ist aber schón",
riefen alle, ,,komm mit uns".
,,Das ist doch nicht móglich," dachte
der kleine Ton. ,,Es wàre zu schòn."
But it ruas happening, and all the Sounds
set offout of the wood.
When they reached the Land of Music,
they all sat down to play. Little Sound
sat by Single Bass Sound and joined in
when he díd.
"It works, it works !" shouted High
Sound. "That's what you needed: some-
one to help you."
"Yes," said Single Bass Sound, "and
now I am not so lonely down here. Hello,
Friend Bass. ''
"Hello, Friend Bass," said Little Sound.
"Partners !" they agreed. . .
With two Bass sounds together they
could make a Double Bass!
Little Sad Sound was commissioned in
1974 with funds provided by the Arts
Council of Great Britain. It was first
performed by Rodney Slatford in Delhi
in January 1975. The work was revised
ín 1977 and performed in its present
version on 15 July 1978 at the Wigmore
Hall, London.
Aber es ruor mógiich, und alle Tòne
machten sich auf, hinaus dem WaId.
Im Lande der Musik angekommen,
setzten sie sich hin und spielten. Der
kleine Ton sass beim einzelnen Basston
und machte mit, wenn er estat.
,,Es stimmt, es stimmt!" rief der hohe
Ton. ,,Das hat dir gefehlt: jemand der
dir hilft. "
,,JA", sagte der einzeine Basston, ,,und
jetzt bin ich nicht mehr so einsam hier
unten. Grùss dich, mein Bassfreund".
,,Grùss dich, mein Bassfreund", sagte
der kleine Ton.
,,Mein Partner !" riefen beide . . .
Zwei Basse zusamnxen im Kontrapunkt-
wúrde daraus nicht ein Kontrabass?
Deutsche Ùbersetzung Stefan de Haan.
z

full score a melodrama for speaker and double bass (or speaking double bass player)

little sud soand

duration 9' 30" for Rodney Slatford music by Alan Ridout words by David Delve

j = c.54

pp cresc.
A Sound came out in the dark.

He crept slowly. . . throush the blackness. . . of the r,r'ild wood.

Then he jumped and

€ l9T8byYorkeEdition
31 Thornhill Square, London N1 1BQ, England YIr 0061
and somersaulted through the bushes, . , .

, , , runnmg Ol'

ff
of the unknown. The trees..

tuist boa sloaly across A k D strings

to make a creak,ing sound.

mP
Littie Sound was lost.

YE 00ó1
mf espress.

He didn't know where

or what he was; Little Sound had lost
his memorv.

-
.

Far away in the Land

of Music, several other
Sounds were very hot
and botheted.
sul pont.

Each time they tried to play

Together, something was
missinE.

YE 0061
 'I know what it is.'
said a High Sound.

=J -:
8
o ogo oo oooo

nat. 'It's the Middle Sounds.

f They.... are.... USELESS! '

The Middle Sounds

were very angry.

tl
I h -1
tl
i
'It's not our fault.' 'It's not our fault.'

>>

It
*.
'it's not!'

YE 0061
 A

ditn.
And Single Bass Sound just 'We've lost Little Sound!
mumbled quietlv to himself,.. I-et's go and find him.'

pozz.

?
i
I_l * i L;, .i,
ll{
rl at.

They came toa riv -er which they had to c rÒqs ,^ hrz
sul G

arco

ll, L i
hop-ping from a
I
I

'E
leaf toa
I

branch
n
toa
lr
vta

stone.
mp-

pt,zz.
-.-]
9^.

T mr) f (.f)

YE 00ó1
 +
,-
-t v

Now
v\ vv
they
|

went
I
in
I
sing -
i

1e
r[l
file through a
i_]
fieid of
l.
high

*
grass.
piìr allegro

-pp
ntolto
Suddenly

stranfJe noises came from behind,

getting nearer and nearer"

'fhe Sounds began to run. As fast as the speed of sound

they ran. Hurryl or you rvill be caught. Hurry! Hurry!

They got to the end of the field, ... .

YE 0061
 ... dived through aprickly bush... Iouch!]

î
. . . and tumbled into
an empty tree trunk.

sul pont.

They hid- rnaking as little noise as possible.

Tempo I

nat.
Then they heard something; p

Something like crying.

) = c.54

p espvess. "This must be the end of me!

Little Sound was very sad. I'm so alone!'

YE 0061
 'It
could be a monster!'
squeaked High Sound.
J.= c.88
sul bont.

The Middle Sounds f sfpp

huddled together for protection. Sad Sound heard noises.

Too tired to get up and run away,

he called out, 'Come on. Come
and eat me up.'
) =c.54

'I won't taste very good,

but it'11 end my misery.'

9o9 9o9o

'Someone needs help.' said 'Oh, you knovr it ali.'

Sllgl" Bass Sound, sensibly. said High Sound.

stroke belly aitll nails of I It

A
o

ff pp- f.f w
'HIC'. High Sound SSSSHHHHH went the others. 'HIC SSSHHH
had the hiccups.

--
)

mp p-- They listened. .. and decided it must be

'HIC' SSSHHH 'HIC!' SH! someone crying, so they went timidly
- - to investigate.

YE 00ó1
10

sul G_ D _A G
9o o 3,----.

'Hello. Are you

Lost Sound?'
'Yes...Iam.'said
Little Sad Sound.

'We11, ... ff

mp
I 'This can't be mf v
... that's
wonderful!' This is too
everyone shouted happening, thought Little Sound. wonderful.
'Come along with us.'

But it was happening, and ali the

Sounds set off out of the ....
(arco)

wood.

When they reached the Land of Music,

they all sat down to play. Liftle Sound
sat by Single Bass Sound and joined in
when he did.

arco

YE 0061
 ll

ì--'
8-----r

It works, it works!' shouted

High Sound. 'That's what you
needed, . . . someone to help you.

Single Bass Sound, 'and now I am not

so lonely down here. Hello, Friend Bass.'

e' ff
f 'Hello, Friend Bass,'
said Little Sound. 'Partners !' they agreed.
8--- ---l
9ooo
:_-.;-'1T----=--

pizz. arco pizz.

with Two Bass Sounds together

they could make a Double Bass.

Printed in England by
YE 0061 Panda Press. Haverhill. Suffolk
z

fuìl score a melodrama for speaker and double bass (or speaking double bass player)

Iittle sud sound

duration 9'30" for Rodney Slatford music by Alan Ridout words by David Delve

Jl- = C.54

pp CTESC.

Un su*no uscì nel buio.

strisciò lert*.;r:enre afra-,/erso I' c scurità del bcsco selvatico.

Poi corse e saltÒ

G) Edition
I978 try Yorke
31 Thornhill Square, London Nl lllQ, Eneland YFi 0061
E fece capriole attraverso le siepi

Correndo, correndo

:-==- : îf
Dell'ignoto. Gli alberi
\

taist boa sLouly across A & I) strings

to mak,e a creaking sound.

,np
Piccolo suono si era perso.

YE 00ól
m1f espress.

\---/t
Non sapeva dove nw
o che cosa fosse: Piccolo Suono aveva
perso la memoria. e si sedette e pianse.

>

|r
> \ V V

Lontano nella Terra della

Musica, molti altri Suoni
erano molto accaldati e annoiati.

sul pont. L "*-*

* 1_"

Ogni l.olta che cercavano di giocare

assieme. qualccsa mancava.

YE 00ól
 "So che cos'è,"
disse il Suono Altc.

=J ---
f o

"Sono i Suoni diMezzo.

Sono inutili!"

I Suoni di Mezzo
erano molto arrabbiati.

tl

"Non è colpa nostîa. "Non è colpa nostra.

YE 0061
 dint.
E il Suono Basso Singolo mormorò "Abbiamo perso piccolo Suono!
Tranquillamente a se stesso. Andiamo a cercarlo.,'

pizz.

P
tf *L I * 1
l

Arrivarono che dovevano t-,

uy,
SUI G
l
arco

Saltando da una foglia

f-l n
a un ramo a una pietra.
mP<

B- hc t>
- yLLL.

mp

YE 0{-)ó r
 7\

Ora andarono in fila indiana

nnt
aftraverso un campo di erba alta.

piir allegro

Improw-isamente

.. . Awicinandosi sempre di piu.

I Suoni iniziarono a correre. Veloci come la velocità

del suono essi corsero. svelti! o verrete presi. Sveltil
Sveltil

____À_

Arrivarono in fondo al campo,

YE0061
 si tuffarono attraverso un cespuglio spinoso (ouch!),

sotto uno steccato,

attorno a quattro alberi giganteschi,

e rotolarono in un
tronco d'albero vuoto.

sul pont.

Si nascosero - facendo meno rumore possibile.

Tempo I

nat.
Quindi udirono qualcosa, P

r-
fY .
1)

nw
qualcosa come un pianto.

\
J =c.54

P espvess. "Questa dev'essere la mia fine!

Piccolo Suono era molto triste. Sono così solol"

YE 00ó i
 Ti t.
À.
!2- -t à.

"Potrebbe essere un mostro!"

sibilo Suono Aito.
J. = c.88
sul
/t' bont.
9z--'.

I Suoni diMezzo si strinsero s.fpp

assieme per proîeggersi. Suono Triste udì dei rumori.

Troppo stanco per alzarsi

e scappare, chiamò. "Vieni.
Vieni e mangiami.
.f
-ó

\----------
1+-'--/'i
Non sarò molto buono, ma questo
porrà fine alla mia infelicità."

*Í "quul"uno ha bisogno di aiuto," disse ,,Oh,

Suono Basso Singolo, tu sai tutto,,, disse Suono Alto.
assennatamente.

stroke belly aitll nails of l.h. J

ÍQ-.-
"Hic." Suono Alto "Ssshhh"" dissero gli altri. "Hic, ssshhh
aveva il sinshiozzo.

mp p
- Ascoltarono e decisero che ci doveva
Fiic, ssshhh - Hic! Shl" Essere qualcuno che piangeva,
perciò timidamente andarono a investigare.

YE 0061
10

8- -l
sul G_ D _A D G
Z I o 9 o o : I 3--.

"Ciao. Sei un Suono perso?"

"Si, lo sono," disse
Piccolo Suono Triste.

Bene,

"E' meraviglioso !" tutti m? "Non può succedere querto.fl/ "Questo è troppo
gridarono. Vieni con noi." '"pensò Piccolo Suono. meraviglioso."

Ma star,a accadendo, e tutti i Suoni si misero

in marcia per uscire dal bosco.
(arco)

Quando raggiunsero la Terra della Musica,

si sedettero a giocare. Piccolo Suono sedette
vicino a Suono Basso Singolo e si univa
quando anch'egli lo faceva.

ATCO

YE 0061
 1t

"Funziona, funziona!" grido Suono Alto.

"Ecco di che cosa avevate bisogno,
di qualcuno che vi aiutasse."

CTESC,

"Si," disse Suono Basso Singolo' "e ora io non sono così solo quaggiù.,, ,,Ciao,
Amico Basso.',

î ff
"Ciao, Amico Basso,,'
disse Piccolo Suono. "Soci!" convennero.
B- B- - --l
n ffrÈ.+ T V^
'Y o o o

òoo

ATCO

Con due Suono Basso assieme

potevano fare un contrabbasso

Prinled irì England by

YE 00ól Panda Press Haverhill. Suflolk