James Chan

speaking
2017

for SSSATTBB solo voices

ii
 iii

James Chan

speaking
2017

for SSSATTBB solo voices

Programme Note

Performance Notes

ah = [ʌ], as in some
i = [ɪ], as in wish

Whispering should not be vocalised, and never more

than 'stage whisper'.

Consonants or syllables in brackets indicate either:

1) that they should not be sung, or 2) a consonant that
should be held at the end of a syllable, in which case it
is notated with cross noteheads.

Duration: ca. 2'30"

iv

Comments On Language And Words

from The Things Between Us - Living Words: Anthology 1

Sometimes you don't feel on top

You think I wish something like this or that happened
Could remember better
The whole life is a mystery
We can assume what we can assume
But we can't
Force it to happen.

Every year that you are

Growing up
Puts different words in to your mind
We are changing
For the worse or the better

Sometimes you don't feel on top

Point is: when you are talking about one thing
Your mind is going different directions
Sometimes use words - weren't intentional -
They fit.

We got to be a goldmine practically of words

Can stir something else up
Think, wish, remember?
 speaking
James Chan

° 4
Hazy at first q = 54
4‰ œ œ œ
p
∑ 6 ∑ Œ
1 &4 4 4 J
re - mem(ber)
close onto final consonant
immediately

4 6 4 œ. -¿
p
SOPRANO 2 &4 ∑ 4 ∑ 4J ‰ Ó
life

p like sighing pp moderate to fast whispering**

4 ∑ 6 4Œ
3 &4 4‰ œ #œ.
j Ó Ó 4 Œ Ó
Could remember better
some

close onto final consonant

immediately
p like sighing

4 œ™ œ. -¿ ™
4 6 4
ALTO & 4 œ #œj ‰ Ó j ‰ Ó 4 œ gliss. œ. j ‰ Ó
.
ah* ah wish so(me)

pp moderate to fast whispering** p like sighing

&4
4 ∑ 6
4‰ ‰ Œ Ó Ó 4Ó
4 œ gliss. #œ. j ‰
‹
1
You think I wish something m
like this or that happened
TENOR

pp moderate to fast whispering**

4 ∑ 6 4‰ ‰ Œ
&4 4Œ Œ Ó Ó 4 Ó
‹
2
Sometimes you don't The whole life is a mystery
feel on top

? 44 6 4Ó
pp
1 ∑ 4 ∑ 4 ˙
m
BASS

?4 6 4
¢ 4
2 ∑ 4 ∑ 4 ∑

{
Ó™
Hazy at first q = 54
4 œj œ œ
4 œj œ ™
4 Œ Ó 6 Œ œ Œ
& 4 œ 4 œ J
Piano
(for rehearsal p
only)
? 44 ∑ 6
4 ∑ 4 Ó
4 ˙
°
* ah = [ʌ], as in some.
** not vocalised and never more than 'stage whisper'.
2

°
4
6 ‰ œJ œ #œ #œ œJ ‰ Ó 4
p
1 & ∑ ∑ 4Œ 4
We got to be
pp

#œ œ gliss. e ¿ 46 ¿
j Ó™
3 pp moderate to fast whispering*
∑ Œ œ Œ Œ 4
S 2 & gliss.
4
Some - times - (s) Puts differnt words

pp
∑ ∑ 6 4
3 & 4Ó Ó Ó 4
talking about one thing Your mind

∑ ∑ 6 ∑ 4
A & 4 4

pp
∑ Œ Œ Ó 6 ∑ 4
& 4 4
‹
1
Sometimes use words
T

œ ¿™ 6 4
pp
& ∑ Œ ‰ œ 4 ∑ 4
‹
2
J J
life - (f)

pp moderate to fast whispering*

? ˙ Ó ‰ ‰ Œ Ó 6 ∑ 4
1 4 4
Every year that
B

? 6 4
¢
2 ∑ ∑ 4 ∑ 4

{
∑ Œ œ œ Ó 6 œ œ #œ #œ œ 4
& 4 Œ ‰ J J ‰ Ó 4
Pno.
? ˙ Ó ∑ 6 ∑ 4
4 4

* not vocalised and never more than 'stage whisper'

 3

° 4 œ œ #œ #œJ.
7 mf p
Œ ‰ ‰ 6 ∑ 4
1 &4 4 4
3
Think ah**

4
mf p
#œ -¿ 6 4
S 2 &4 œ ‰ œ
J
gliss.
4 ∑ 4
Think (l)ife - - (f)

4
& 4 #œ
6 j Ó™ 4
mf p
‰ œ œ œ gliss.
4 #œ ¿™ Œ 4
3
J
Think wish - - - - (sh)

pp moderate to fast whispering*

4 6 4
A &4 Œ Œ Ó 4 ∑ 4
mystery, The whole life

pp
4 6 4
pp
&4 Œ Œ Ó 4 Œ Œ Ó Ó 4
‹
1
Something like this or that Every year that you
T
o
™
Ϫ Ϫ
4 6 4
pp
j
&4 ‰ 4 œ ¿.— Ó 4
‹
2 œ œ gliss. gliss.

m - - y - - - - - - st
(mystery)
pp

1
? 44 ‰ ‰ Œ Ó 6
4 ∑ 4
4
what we can, what we can assume
B
pp moderate to fast whispering*
?4 6 4
¢ 4 Œ
2 Œ Ó 4 ∑ 4
But we can't Force it to happen.

{
4 œ œ #œ. 6 4
& 4 #œœ ‰ œ ‰ #œ J ‰ 4 ∑ 4
J 3
mf pp p

Ó™
Pno.
? 44 ‰ œ™ ˙ 6
4 ˙™ 4
4

* not vocalised and never more than 'stage whisper'

** ah = [ʌ], as in some.
4

° 4
9 A pp moderate to fast whispering*

1 &4 ∑ Œ Œ Ó
in to your mind, Every year that you

p like sighing
4œ #œ. œ #œ
pp p
S 2 &4
gliss.
J ‰ Ó Ó Œ ≈
ah Every year that you are grow - ing

Ϫ
pp
4
p
3 &4 ‰ ‰ Œ Ó œ gliss. œ gliss. ‰
Growing up Puts different ah**

p p
4 ∑ Œ ‰ #œ
3
‰ œ
A &4 #œ œ J
Ever - y year mind

p
4 ∑ Œ ‰ #œ
3
œ œ Œ
&4
‹
1

Ever - y year
T

4
pp
&4 ∑ Œ Œ Ó
‹
2
Put different words in to your mind

o pp

? 44 ∑ ‰
œ™ œ gliss. #œ. ‰
1 J
i**
B o pp
?4
¢ 4
2 ∑ ‰ œ™ œ œ gliss.

wi - - - - -
(wish)

{
A
4 œ œ #œ
3

& 4 œ Œ Ó œ œ ≈
##œœ œœ œœ
Pno.
? 44 œœ œœ œœ
∑ ‰ Œ
J

* not vocalised and never more than 'stage whisper'

** ah = [ʌ], as in some.
*** i = [ɪ], as in wish.
 5

°
11
#œ
p
5 œ
mf
6
1 & Œ Ó 4 ‰ ‰ Œ Ó 4
words Think

5 6
p mf
S 2 & Œ #œ Ó 4 ‰ œ ‰ Œ Ó 4
words Think

5 #œ 6
p mf
3 & Œ #œ Ó 4 ‰ ‰ Œ Ó 4
words Think

p pp

5 6
3

A & œJ ‰ Œ ‰ #œ œ. Œ 4 Œ Œ Œ Ó 4
Think the worse or the better,
different words

5 6
pp
& Œ Œ Ó 4 ∑ 4
‹
1
We are changing For the
T worse or for the better
o o
5 6
pp
& Œ 4 ˙ Œ Ó 4
‹
2 ˙ œ
m

? Ó #œ. 5 6
p pp
‰ œ gliss.
4 ‰ ‰ Œ Œ Ó 4
1
J
ah* Puts different words
in to your mind
B

? œ. -¿ ™ pp
5 6
¢
2 J ‰ ‰ Œ 4 ∑ 4
- sh Growing up Puts
different words

{
###œœœ 5 #œœœ 6
3

& Œ ‰ #œ œ. Œ 4 ‰ ‰ Œ Ó 4
Pno.
? Œ ˙™ 5 ˙ Œ Ó 6
4 4

* ah = [ʌ], as in some.
6

° 6 mf
13 B
œ ‰ #œ œ Œ Ó 4 ∑
1 &4 J 4
Think, wish

6 4
mf
S 2 &4 œ ‰ œ
J
œ Œ Ó 4 ∑
Think, wish

o
Ϫ Ϫ
6 4‰
mf
j
pp
3 & 4 #œ ‰ #œ œ Œ Ó 4 ‰
Think, wish m

p like sighing
6 4
mf
&4 œ ‰ j Œ Ó 4œ j ‰ Ó
A œ œ gliss. #œ.
Think, wish Some

6 4‰
pp pp
&4 Œ Œ Ó Ó 4 ‰ Œ Ó
‹
1
Sometimes you don't feel on top Point is: when you are
T talking about one thing

6 4Œ
pp pp
&4 ‰ ‰ Œ Ó Ó 4 Œ Ó
‹
2
a goldmine, Can sitr something else Sometimes you don't
feel on top

? 46 ‰ 4
pp
1 ‰ Œ Ó Ó 4 ∑
Every year that, changing for
the worse or the better
B

?6 4
¢ 4 Œ
pp
2 Œ Ó Ó 4 ∑
Sometimes use words -
weren't intentional

{
B
6 œ j
Ϫ Ϫ
# œ œœœœ 4 j
& 4 #œœœ ‰ œ
# œœ Œ Œ Œ 4 œ ‰
Pno.
? 46 ∑ 4
4 ∑
 7

° Ó #œ œ ™
f espress. p
œ œ œ œj #œ ™
15

‰ œ
3
#œ œ #œ 3
1 &
Your mind is go - ing diffe - rent di - re - tions

#œ ™
mp echoing f espress.

œ #œ œ œ
3

& Ó Œ ‰ ‰ #œ œ œ
3 3
S 2 J
Your mind Some - times use words
echoing
j
p mp
& #œ #œ œ œ™ Ó Œ ‰ #œ
3 J
Your mind use

p pp shadowing

#œ ™
‰ Ó
3
A & #œ œ œ #œ œ œ #œ
Your mind your mind

shadowing
j
Ϫ
p pp
& œ œ œ Ó Œ ‰ #œ
‹ Your
1
J
mind use
T

Ϫ
pp
j
& Ó Œ #œ œ ˙
‹
2

Ϫ
pp
? Ó Œ #œ #œ ˙
1 J
m
B

Ϫ
pp
?
¢ Ó
Œ œ œ ˙
2
J
m

{
œœ ™ j
3 3
#œ˙ œ #œ
3

& ##Óœœ
‰œ œ œœ #œ #œ#œ
3

#œœ œ #œ œ œ œ #œœ œ #œ œ œœ
œœ œ #œ # ˙ #œ
œ œ œ

œœœ ™™™
Pno.
#œœœ ˙˙˙
3
? Ó ‰ œ ##œœœ
J
8

° ‰
17
2 4
pp
1 & ‰ Œ Ó 4 ∑ 4
use words - weren't intentional,
when you are talking
p
pp
œ 2 4
3

& ‰ ‰ Ó 4‰ #œ œ œ ‰ 4
S 2
J
weren't intentional, They fit.
Sometimes use words
pp
#œ œ 2 4
3

3 & #œJ ‰ ‰ Œ 4 ∑ 4
words We can assume what
we can assume

2 4
pp
A & Œ Œ Ó 4 ∑ 4
Every year that you are
growing up

pp
2 4
& #œJ #œ œ
3
‰ ‰ Œ 4 ∑ 4
‹ words
1
Sometimes you don't
T feel on top

& #œ ™
2 4
pp
‰ Ó 4 ∑ 4
‹
2
Growing up Puts
different words

pp
? ˙ œ ‰ ‰ ‰ 2 ∑ 4
1 J 4 4
Sometimes use words
B

? 2 4
¢
pp
2 ˙ Œ Œ 4 ∑ 4
Your mind is going
different directions

{
j 3
#œ œ 2
3
4
& ##œœ #œ œ
Ó 4 ‰ #œ œ œ
J
‰ 4

? #˙˙ ™™
Pno.

˙™ Œ 2 ∑ 4
4 4
 9

° 4Œ œ #œ #œ œ ™
f mf

œ 45 #œ #œ
19 3
œ œ #œ #œ œ 4
3

1 &4 ‰ J œ œ œ œ #œ 4
We got to be a gold - - mine prac - tical - ly of

4 ‰™ r 5 4
f mf
&4 Ó Œ
3
S 2 #œ 4 ˙ #œ #œ œ œ œ œ 4
a gold - - mine prac - tical - ly of

& 4 #œ ™ 4 œ™
4
pp
j j 5 j 4
3 #œ œ™ œ œ ˙ #œ 4
ah ah ah

4 5 j 4
pp

#œ œ ™
&4 j j 4 œ™ #œ ˙ 4
A
œ™ #œ #œ
ah ah ah

œ #œ œ œ ™
f mf
4 œ œ 45 #œ œ #œ œ œ 4
3

&4 Œ ‰ J #˙ œ œ 4
‹
1

We got to be a gold - - mine of

T

4 ‰™ r 5 4
f mf
&4 Ó Œ #œ 4 #˙ œ #œ 4
‹
2 ˙
a gold - - mine of

? 44 œ ™ 5 ™
pp
#œ œ™ #œ 4
1 J J 4 œ œ
J
˙ #œ 4
ah ah ah
B

? 44 Ϫ Ϫ j
4 Ϫ
5 j 4
pp
#œ
¢
2 J œ #œ ˙ #œ 4
ah* ah ah

{
#œ
& 4 #œ ™
5 #œ
3
4 œ œ #œ #œ œ œœ œ #œ œ#œ ˙ 4
4 Ϫ
œ™ #œœ #˙ 4
# œœ
#œJ #œJ œœ

? 44 œœ™™
œ œ #œ œ
###œœœ œ 5 #œ ™ #œ
Pno. 3
œ œ œœ œœ œ œ œ #˙˙ #œœ 4
J 4 #œ #œœ 4
J

* ah = [ʌ], as in some.
10

C
° 4 ˙™ #œ ™
21
3 4œ
f
1 &4 Œ 4 ∑ 4 Œ ‰
words Think, wish,

& 4 ˙™ œ™
4 3 4œ
f
S 2 Œ 4 ∑ 4 Œ ‰
words Think, wish,

& 4 <#>œ ™
4 j 3 4œ œ™
mp f
3 #œ œ œ œ œ 4 #˙ Œ 4 Œ ‰
Can stir some - thing else up Think, wish,

Ϫ
4 3 4
mp f
A & 4<#> œ ™ j
# œ #œ œ œ #œ 4 #˙ Œ 4 #œ Œ ‰
Can stir some - thing else up Think, wish,

& 4 #˙ ™ #œ ™
4 3 4œ
f
Œ 4 ∑ 4 Œ ‰
‹ words
1

Think, wish,
T

& 4 #˙ ™ #œ ™
4 3 4œ
f
Œ 4 ∑ 4 Œ ‰
‹ words
2

Think, wish,

? 44 <#>œ ™ œ # œ #œ œ œ
mp f
3 4œ
1 J 4 ˙ Œ 4 Œ œ™ ‰
Can stir some - thing else up Think, wish,
B

? 44 <#>œ ™ 3 4œ
¢
mp f
œ #œ #œ œ œ 4 ˙ Œ 4 Œ œ™ ‰
2
J
Can stir some - thing else up Think, wish,

{
œœ ™™ 4 œœ ™™™
C
4 j 3
& 4 #œ œ
#œ œœ œœ œ
#œ 4 ##˙˙ Œ 4 #œ ‰ #˙˙
˙
#œ
™
? 44 ##œœ ™
œ 4 œœ™™
Pno.
œœ œ
#œœ
œœ 3 #˙˙
J
#œ œ 4 ˙˙ Œ 4 ‰
 11

° ‰ #œ
24
˙
mf (senza dim. al fine)
& J
œ Œ ‰ #œJ œ Œ #œ Œ ‰ œ œ
1
J
re - mem - ber? Think, wish, re - mem -

‰ #œj ‰ #œj
mf (senza dim. al fine)
S 2 & ‰ #œj #œ ˙ Œ œ Œ œ Œ œ
re - mem - ber? Think, wish, re - mem -

‰ #œj ‰ #œj
mf (senza dim. al fine)
3 & ‰ #œj #œ ˙ Œ œ Œ œ Œ œ
re - mem - ber? Think, wish, re - mem -

‰ #œj ‰ #œj
mf (senza dim. al fine)
A & ‰ #œj œ #˙ Œ œ Œ œ Œ œ
re - mem - ber? Think, wish, re - mem -

#˙ ‰ #œJ
mf (senza dim. al fine)
œ j
& ‰ œ œ Œ Œ #œ Œ ‰ œ œ
‹
1
J
re - mem - ber? Think, wish, re - mem -
T

#˙ ‰ #œJ
mf (senza dim. al fine)
œ j
& ‰ œ œ Œ Œ #œ Œ ‰ œ œ
‹
2
J
re - mem - ber? Think, wish, re - mem -

? ‰ #œJ #œ j
mf (senza dim. al fine)
˙ Œ ‰ œ œ Œ #œ Œ ‰ œ #œ
1 J
re - mem - ber? Think, wish, re - mem -
B

#œ j
mf (senza dim. al fine)
?
¢ ‰ J #œ ˙ Œ ‰ œ œ Œ #œ Œ ‰ œ #œ
2
J
re - mem - ber? Think, wish, re - mem -

{
j j j
& ‰ #œ
#œ #œœœ n# n˙˙˙ Œ ‰ ###œœœ œœ Œ #œœ Œ ‰ ##œœœ œœœ
#˙ #œ œœ œ
##œœœ
Pno.
œ j œœ œ
? ‰
J #œ ˙ Œ ‰ œ œ Œ ##œœ Œ ‰
J
#œ
12

° #œ ™ #œ ™
27

‰ Ó ‰ œ
mf
‰ Ó ‰ Ó
1 &
ber? Think, wish,

& #œ ™ #œ ™
mf
S 2 ‰ Ó ‰ œ ‰ Ó ‰ Ó
ber? Think, wish,

& #œ ™ #œ ™
mf
3 ‰ Ó ‰ œ ‰ Ó ‰ Ó
ber? Think, wish,

& Ϫ
mf

#œ ™
A ‰ Ó ‰ #œ ‰ Ó ‰ Ó
ber? Think, wish,

& #œ ™ œ™
mf
‰ Ó ‰ œ ‰ Ó ‰ Ó
‹ ber?
1

Think, wish,
T

& #œ ™ œ™
mf
‰ Ó ‰ œ ‰ Ó ‰ Ó
‹ ber?
2

Think, wish,

? œ™ #œ ™
mf
1 ‰ Ó ‰ œ ‰ Ó ‰ Ó
ber? Think, wish,
B

#œ ™
¢ œ™
?
mf
2 ‰ Ó ‰ œ ‰ Ó ‰ Ó
ber? Think, wish,

{
™
###œœœ ™™™
œ
& ##œœœ ™™ ‰ Ó ‰ #œœ ‰ Ó ‰ Ó

? #œœ ™™ #œœ ™™
Pno.
œœ
‰ Ó ‰ ‰ Ó ‰ Ó
 13

° ‰ œ œ #œ ™
30 mf
& ‰ Ó Œ #œ œ ‰ Œ Ó #œ Œ Ó
1
J J
re - mem - ber? Think, wish,

#œ ™
j
mf
S 2 & ‰ #œj œ ‰ Ó Œ #œ œ ‰ Œ Ó #œ Œ Ó
re - mem - ber? Think, wish,

#œ ™
j
mf
3 & ‰ #œj œ ‰ Ó Œ #œ œ ‰ Œ Ó #œ Œ Ó
re - mem - ber? Think, wish,

Ϫ
mf
& ‰ œj œ ‰ Ó Œ
#œ œ
j ‰ Œ Ó Œ Ó
œ
A

re - mem - ber? Think, wish,

& ‰ #œJ œ #œ ™
mf
‰ Ó Œ œ œ ‰ Œ Ó Œ Ó
‹
1
J œ
re - mem - ber? Think, wish,
T

& ‰ #œJ œ #œ ™
mf
‰ Ó Œ œ œ ‰ Œ Ó Œ Ó
‹
2
J œ
re - mem - ber? Think, wish,

Ϫ
? ‰ #œ #œ
mf
‰ Ó Œ œ œ ‰ Œ Ó œ Œ Ó
1
J J
re - mem - ber? Think, wish,
B
j
mf
? #œ
¢ ‰ J #œ œ™ ‰ Ó Œ œ œ ‰ Œ Ó œ Œ Ó
œ œ
2

re - mem - ber? Think, wish,

{
j ™
##œœœ ™™ ##œœ
œœ
& ‰ #œœœ œœœ ‰ Ó Œ ‰ Œ Ó ##œœ Œ Ó
J

? ‰ ##œœ #œœ œœ ™™
#œœ œœœ
Pno.
œœ
‰ Ó Œ œ ‰ Œ Ó Œ Ó
J J œ
Hong Kong, August 2017
14

beginning to A
in semi-graphic score

arrows indicate approximate timing between entries

vertical dotted lines indicate synchronisation
(no other synchronisation is needed)
 15

speaking
James Chan

°
Hazy at first q = 60

1 &

SOPRANO 2 &

ì œ j ì
p like sighing

3 & S3 gliss. #œ.

some

close onto final consonant

0.5"
immediately

ì
p like sighing

œ™ ™
& œ gliss. #œj ‰ Œ Œ j
ALTO
. œ. -¿ ca. 3"
ah* ah wish

1"

ì You think I wish something ì

pp moderate to fast whispering**

&
‹
1 T1
like this or that happened

TENOR 0.5"

ì Sometimes you don't ì

pp moderate to fast whispering**

&
‹
2 T2
feel on top

1
?

BASS

?
2
¢

* ah = [ʌ], as in some.
** not vocalised and never more than 'stage whisper'
16

° ì œ
p
œ™ ì
1 &
re - mem(ber)
0.5"
close onto final consonant
immediately

. -¿ ì
p
S 2 & œJ
life

ì Could remember better ì

pp moderate to fast whispering*

3 & S3

1"

œ. ì
A & œ j ca. 3"
gliss.

so(me)

ìœ #œ. ì
p like sighing
j
&
‹
gliss.
1 T1
0.5"
m
1.5"
T

ì ì
pp moderate to fast whispering*

&
‹
2 T2 They whole life is a mystery

1"

B1 ì ì
?
pp
1
˙ ˙
m
B

?
2
¢

* not vocalised and never more than 'stage whisper'

 17

° ì œJ
p
œ #œ #œ œ ì
1 & S1 J
We got to be

1.5"

ì œ gliss. #œj œ ì ì ì
pp pp moderate to fast whispering**
3

S 2 & ¿™ 0.5" S2 Puts different words 2"

Some - times - (s)

0.5"

ì ì
pp

3 & S3 talking about one thing Your mind

A &
0.5"

ì Sometimes use words ì

pp

&
‹
1 T1

T 0.5"

ì œ ¿™ ì
1"
pp
&
‹
2 T2

life - (f)

? ì Every year that ì

pp moderate to fast whispering**

?
2
¢

* not vocalised and never more than 'stage whisper'

18

° œ #œ #œJ.– ì
mf p
œ Œ ‰
1 &
3
Think ah*

#œ. ì
mf p -¿
& œ ‰ œ gliss.
S 2
J
Think (l)ife - - (f)

& #œ
j ì
mf p
‰ œ œ œ #œ. -¿™
gliss.
3
J
Think wi - - - - sh
(wish)

ì ì
pp moderate to fast whispering**

A & A mystery, the whole life

1" ca. 3"

& ì something like this or that ì ì Every year that you ì

pp

‹
1 T1

T 0.5"

o
ì œ™ œ™ ¿.— ì
pp
& j
œ
‹
2
œ œ gliss. gliss.

m - - y - - - - - - st
(mystery)

ì what we can, what we can assume ì

pp
?
1

0.5"
B

? ì But we can't Force it to happen ì

pp moderate to fast whispering**
2
¢

* not vocalised and never more than 'stage whisper'