NONET

for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass

by

Alan Belkin © Alan Belkin, 2004, minor revisions 2006, 2008.

My Nonet was commissioned by the Sächsisches Kammernonet in 2004, and premiered by them in Dresden the following year. In three movements, the work lasts about 20 minutes. Like all my instrumental music, it includes references to classical form, which however always take unexpected turns. Salient moments recur, but with surprising new continuations. The first movement starts with a vigorous tutti motive, which is repeated immediately, more reflectively. After a small climax, a more soloistic and intimate second idea follows. This music playfully disintegrates, and the bassoon tries to re-establish the lyrical tone. But the playful mood recurs, leading to a more lively, extraverted section. Following some development and another climax, the beginning returns, but now pianissimo, mysterious. Shortly the music again takes up the opening motive, greatly expanding its energetic character and leading to a final climax. The movement ends with a humorous surprise, again playful. The second movement is in one of my favorite forms, a lyrical adagio alternating with a scherzo. Long, singing lines lead eventually to a new, ornate theme in the bassoon. A brooding transition, of low, dark chords, leads to a luminous section with gentle calls in the horn and accompanying whispering and murmuring in the other instruments. This section dissolves into fragmentary phrases in bassoon and double bass. The energetic opening of the first movement tries to return, but is quickly chased away by the bassoon, now starting the scherzo with a new theme. Before long the cello tries to declaim a new idea, passionately, but is interrupted more insistently by material from the first movement: the entire energetic section from the end. The same climax heard before now leads to a return of the opening of the adagio. After quickly disintegrating into a varied reprise of the fragmentary bassoon/double bass dialogue, there begins a fast, light coda. After a final interruption by the cello’s passionate phrase, this playful coda descends, muttering, into the bass. The last movement is a fugue, on a very lively subject. This shortly disintegrates into mysterious, sustained, high notes in violin and flute, over cello pizzicato chords. The fugue resumes in a lighter character. It shortly dissolves a second time into sweet, repeated sighs. Once again it restarts, only to be interrupted, yet again, by a melancholy little waltz, The waltz, however, proves to be only a vague reminiscence, and leads directly into the main development of the fugue. A climax is followed by the return of the horn calls, from the second movement, complete with their accompanying murmuring and whispering. A final return of the fugue material rushes to the end. © Alan Belkin, 2006.

(score is transposed, i.e. NOT in C)

Allegro Moderato q = 90

© Alan Belkin, 2004, minor revisions 2006, 2008

NONETI

by Alan Belkin

poco rit.

a tempo

Fl.

Oboe

Clarinet in Bb

Bn.

Horn in F

Violin

Viola

Violoncello

Contrabass

f

pp

poco

pp

f

p

poco

poco

p

pp

p

f

p

f

M M

pizz.

f

arco

pp

pizz.

p

p

p

poco

p

pizz.

pizz.p

poco rit.8 a tempo

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

3 3

sfp 3 3

mf

arco

p

3 3

arcop

arcop

13

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

f

dim.

pp

f

f

dim.

pp

3 3 3 3 3

33 3 3

f

f

p

f

f

dim.

pp

f

dim.

pp

pizz.

f

arco

mf

pizz. p

pp

Tempo I16

Meno mosso q = 75

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

mp

p

f

p

pp

f sfp

p

3 3 3 3

3

3 33 3 3 3 3

f

con sord.

f

f

pizz.

arco

mf

3 3

3

pizz.

f

arcomf

3 3

3

pizz.

f

arco

p

mf

3

3

3

f

arco

p

2

23

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

mf

3 3 3 3 3

p

mf

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

p

mf

3 3 3

senza sord.

mf

3

3 3

pizz.

arco

mf

mf

3 3

mf

3 3

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

mf

3

pizz.

mf

3

29

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

3 3

3

mf

p

3 3 3 3

pizz.

mf

p

3 3 3 3 3 3

p

3

36

rit.

poco meno mosso

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

p

pp

3 3 3 3 3 3

pp

.

pizz.

p

(pizz.)

pp

(pizz.)

pp

43

Tempo 1 q = 90

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

mf

p

mf

mf

pp

p

mf

mf

(pizz.)

ppp

pp

p

mf

arco

mf

3 3 3

pp

p

arco

mf

3

33

3

(pizz.)

mf

4

49

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

3

3

3 3 3

3 3 3

3

3

33

33 3

3 3

3 3

3 3 33

3

3

54 poco rit.

Tempo I

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

p

p

p

3

p

p

dim.

p

3

3

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

dim.

3

3 3 3 3

p

5

60

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

3

p

3 3 3

p

p

pizz.

p

68

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

f

mf

f

f

mf

f

sfp

sfp

f

f

mf

f

sfp

sfp

f

f

mf arco

f

pizz.

mf arco

f

6

80

Meno Mosso q = 70

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

pp

misterioso

pp

misterioso

pp

p

pizz.

(pizz.)

misterioso

pp

pp

pizz.

arco

p

pizz. (pizz.)

pp

misterioso

pp

arco

p

pizz.

(pizz.)

p

pp

91

poco rit.

Tempo I q = 90

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

pp

misterioso

pp misterioso

arco

p

misterioso

pizz.

pp

pizz.

pp

misterioso

7

100

rit.

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

pp

p

pp

110

poco a poco

q = 70

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

p

3

p

3

arco

p

pizz.

p

8

118

Tempo I

poco rit

a tempo

poco rit.

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

pp

poco

pp

f

p

poco

p

pp

p

f

f

M M

pizz.

f

arco

pp

pizz.

p

poco

p

p

poco

pizz.

p

pizz.p

126

Piu Mosso q = 110 Presto q = 145

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

f

f

f

f

f

p

pizz.

f

p

arco pizz.f

arco

p

pizz.f

pizz.f

9

133

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

f

f

f

arco

f

arco

f

arco

f

140

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

10

147

molto allarg.

Molto Meno Mosso q = 60

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

ff

f

pp

ff

f

ff

f

ff

f

ff

f

ff

pizz.

p

f

pp

ff

pizz.p

f

pp

ff

pizz.p

f

pp

arcoff

pizz.

f

pp

11

Andante cantabile q = 60

II - Adagio/Scherzo

Fl.

Oboe

Clarinet in Bb

Bn.

Horn in F

Violin

Viola

Violoncello

Contrabass

p

con sord.

p

con sord.

con sord.pizz.

p

10

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

p

mf

p

mf

p

mf

p

12

19

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

cresc. poco a poco

p

cresc. poco a poco

cresc. poco a poco

p

cresc. poco a poco

p

con sord. cresc. poco a poco

cresc. poco a poco

cresc. poco a poco

arcocresc. poco a poco

26

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

dim.

pp

f

dim.

f

dim.

pp

f

p

3 3 3 3

f

dim.

pp

f

dim.

pizz.

p

f

dim.

mf

f

dim.

p

f

dim.

mf

13

32

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

3 6 3 3 3

p

3 3 3 3

3 6

pizz.

38

poco rit.

a tempo

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

pp

3 3 3

pp

arco

pp

arco

pp

14

poco rit.50

Poco Meno mosso q = 55

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

3

3

3

3

3

3

p

p

poco

p

mf

arcop

pizz.

p

poco

pizz.

p

3

3 3

3

3

3

poco

pizz.

p 3 3

3

54

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3 3

3 3

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

15

58

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

3

3

pp

3

3

3

64

Allegro q = 100

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

f

pp

f

f

senza sord.pizz.

f

p

pizz.

arco

pp

p

pizz.

16

72

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

p

p

p

p

p

senza sord.

pizz.

p

p

arco

p

senza sord.pizz.

p

p

80

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

p

p

p

(pizz.)

p

arco

pp

senza sord.

p

pizz.

pp

sul tastoarco

pizz.

17

88 Meno mosso q = 60

molto rit.

Allegro q = 100

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

f

f

f

pizz.

f

pizz.

f

f

arco

p

f

pizz.

f

3

5

pizz.

f

Presto q = 140

95

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

f

f

f

f

arco

f

arco

f

arco

f

18

102

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

109

allargando

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

arco

ff

19

Tempo I q = 60115

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

pizz.

p

pizz.

p

pp

arco

p

con sord.

p

pizz. pp

p

arcocon sord.

pp

pizz. con sord.

p (pizz.)

126

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

p

p

con sord.

pp

arco

p

con sord.

p

pizz.

20

135

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

3 3

p

3

3 3

p

33 3

pp

poco rit.143

Allegro leggiero q = 75

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

mf

p

mf

p

3 3 3

mf

p 3 3

3 3 3 33 3

mf

p

3 3 3

mf

p

senza sord.

mf

p

3 3 3 3

3 3

3 3 3 3

pizz.

mf

(senza sord.)

p

arco

mf

(senza sord.)

p

pizz.

mf

(senza sord.) p

21

146

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

p

3 3 3 3

p

3 3 3 3

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

p

3

p

p

pizz.

arco

p

p

3 3 3 3

3 3 3 3

pizz.

p

arco

p

pizz.

149

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

p

p

p

p

arco

p

p

3 3

3 33 3 3 3

p

pizz.

p

3

arco

p

pizz.

p

22

152

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

mf

mf

3 3 3 3

mf

mf

3 3

3 3

mf

f

3 3

3 3 3

p

mf

mf

f

3 3

mf

mf

f

3 3 3 33 3

pizz.

f

mf

f

pizz.

mf

f

Meno mosso q = 60156

rit.

Presto q = 80

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

3 3 3 3

f

pizz.

p

3

f

arco

3

3 3

3

f

arco

3

f

arco

23

163

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

3 3 3 3

p

3 3

3 3

p

3 3

arco

p

pizz.

3 3

pizz.

p

arco

p

3 3

pizz.

p

arco

p

3 3

pizz.p

167

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

pp

3 3 3 3 36 6

3

pp

24

Allegro q. = 110III - Fugue

Fl.

Oboe

Clarinet in Bb

Bn.

Horn in F

Violin

Viola

Violoncello

Contrabass

f

f

f

f

pizz.

f

10

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

25

19

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

f

f

pizz.

f

arco

f

28

rit.

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

dim.

dim.

dim.

f

arco

26

37meno mosso q. = 95

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p dolce

pp

p

p

p

dolce

pp

pizz.

pp

49

Tempo primo (q. = 110)

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

p

p

pp

f

pp

f

f

p

pizz.

p

27

60

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

mf

mf

mf

f

mp

con sord.

f

mf

arcomf

mp

pp

arco

f

mf

arco

f

mf

Poco Meno mosso q = 13070

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

pp

pp

p

p

p

pp

pp

pp

28

poco rit.81

Tempo I

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

senza sord.

f

p

f

f

pizz.

pp

f

90

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

mf

dim.

p

dim.

p

mf

p

mf

p

mf

pizz.

p

29

100

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

mf

p

mf

p

p

mf

p

pp

(pizz.)

pp

112

q = 110

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

pp

p

mf

pp

pp

(pizz.)

pp

pp

(pizz.)

pp

30

125 molto accel.

Tempo I

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

pp

f

mp

f

f

p

f

f

mf

f

f

arcof

p

arco

f

137

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

f

f

31

145

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

f

f

f

f

f

152

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

f

pizz.

f

arco

f

f

f

32

160

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

cresc.

cresc.

f

cresc.

pizz.

pizz.

f cresc.

pizz.

f cresc.

168

poco rit.

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

ff

dim.

mf

f

ff

dim.

mf

ff

p

ff

arco

ff

dim.

mf

ff

arco pizz.

p

ff

arco

f pizz.

p

ff

arco

f

33

Meno mosso q = 55

176

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

p

p

p

p

p

3 3

3 3

3 3

3 3

pizz.

p

3

3

3

3

180

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

3

3

3

3

3

3

3 3

3 3

3

3

3

3

34

183 rit.

Tempo primo

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

3

3

p

f

arco

f

p

3 3 3 arco

p

sub. f

pizz.

p

arco

p

sub. f

189

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

p

p

f

f

f

p

f

p

arco

f

pizz.

p

f

arco arco

p

f

f

35

197

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p

mf

f

mf

f

f

mf

f

p

mf

f

mf

f

f

f

205

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

f

f

36

213

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

cresc.

cresc.

f cresc.

cresc.

f

cresc.

sfp

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

219

poco allarg.

Fl.

Ob.

Cl. (Bb)

Bn.

Hn. (F)

Vln.

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

ff

sfpp

ff

ff

sfpp

ff

ff

sfpp

ff

ff

sfpp

ff

ff

sfpp

ff

pizz.

ff

arco

ff

pizz.

ff

arco

ff

pizz.

ff

arco

ff

pizz.

ff

arco

ff

37