Four Dickinson Songs

Robert Beaser

Text: Emily Dickinson

1. A word is dead

160

2
K 
E K D,
!
A

"E

word

is dead

K


2 


D
,

When it is said,

Some


 D  D
! !
 ! D!
D

"  O

,


say

! D
E D
D

!
Q
sub.
D
D

 O, D D D O

say

Some

say

K  K
D

D

   !
D
 
 
D

D 
,

,


Q
K D
K





,
, D
word




D D

is dead

D D D

D D
!

D


Some

D
D D D

! 
D D 


D
D D  D





When it is said

D DD 





O


D D D E

(ay)

D D D D D D

D D D O

D D D D 
D D

D
!
D  D D
D

"
 D 
,
D

O
9

Copyright 2002 Helicon Music Corporation.

International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved.

E
D E
,

Sharply
13

Some

say

13

D D

D
D
D

" E D

E

K  D!

E D
 D , , E
!
I say
it
just Be-gins
@
K

K K D D D D
DD
D

@
 @
D
D


E
D E
,
l
{
D@
D
D D E " D D  D @K E

D
D
D 

D D





D D
,


,

 


E D

2
 D 


D


E D  , D  , E , , ,
sub.

17

I say

DD 
E

D  
   2
" E

17

21

it just it

G
D  
,,


just Be - gins


DD
K
D
 

E
D

D DO
O D

{



D

E
D


D 
,

K D K D

D
D
D
say

21

it just

Be - gins

to live

O


D D
D!
!

@
 DD @ D O D D DD D


D
{! 
{
!
!
! D! D D O O
!
!

 D D D O  O  O O O D
 D D O
! ! ! !

K
D

say

it just

2

Be


-

gins

to

K
D

  
D D D
D D
D

!


!
Q
2



D  D 

L.H.


"

24

Be - gins
24

   
"  


to

 



D  D  D  D D D! D D   O   
,
,
live

 O D O D D D


    
D
 
K D

D

 D 









D D D D O  
,

! !

K
D     K
D

D D  O !  !

O 
,
!
@ "
D





Sharply

!
 !  , K  ,

!

!

27

it

@


27



"



,

 

Be-gins

DD 

O O 

Be - gins

DD  D DD

"



! 


D! 


!
!  D DD 
"   


42

it

just

G
K
! !
,   D
!
! D D!

!


O
D
!  ! O O

    
  
!
!
 D D
D
D 
D

"  D  D  D 

O O D D
, ,
D  D 
! ! !
!
Q
{
l
 






 
   
{ {

   

That




! 


day




!
,

{


 
!

cresc.

I say

!
D
  D E
  


!
h
h
!


 DD  O " E D! D 


D
D D
D

!
!




34

34

!
K
,




Incisive

(ve)

gins to live

!




! D 
D 
,

 D 



 


to live

@


O@
l



,

31

31

just





,

!
O @ D! O
D O  D!
O! D!
42 D

, , E , ,
,
cresc.
! O ! O !
!
!

!


!
!


!
!
" O O D! D! O O O E D D D O   O ! !
  
D D



X

"

@ @
O

R.H.

"


L.H.




D! O @ D  O

,
,
presto possible

! D! O! O! ! D!
DD D O DD D

__G_l_iss.
__

I say

 K 
,  ,
!
I say
it just Be
D 
@ D

O   O
@
"

DD D O 


D
DD
,
O O
" D D
,

2. It was not death

Flessible 88-96

p
j b b
3
&4

U
j b 44 . j b b
(poco)

It was not

death

U
.

j b b
& 43
p
b

? 3 J b
4

&

I stood

up

And all the dead lie

j
b 44 .

U .

(poco)

3
4

for

n b b

4 .
J
4

b - b
-

b .
J

j b b

- N - b b n b b

j
4
b 4 .

.
night,

for all the

j b
b

bells

Put out their

j
j 43 j b j b 44
& b
b b b b
J b
J
J
J
rubato
j
4
? b J b
3
j

4
J 4
b b

-j >
- b
J

b
Giusto

& b - b
tongues, for

>
&

b b
J
j
bb -
b .
?
9

poco rit.

3
4

noon.

b > b j
b

J
f
b b b
?
& b b

>

j
3 j
j
4
& 4 - b 4 b - b for on my

4
4

J
b b

96

p
43
It was not

animando

3
4 b b b
> - b
b - b
j
43 J

flesh I felt sir-roc-cos

4
3
4 b 4
> b
p
44
43
.
.

j b

13

frost,

moving

poco rubato

down;

A tempo

rubato

It was not

- b

crawl,

j
b j
-

Nor fire,

for just my mar-ble

feet

13

& 43 b 44 b
b
b
?3
4
b
b

4
4

b.
b.

b b b b b

.
.

- .

b - .

5
poco rit.
17

j
b b

&

could keep a chan - cel

17

& b

b
?
.

45 j

.
cool.

j b

44

And yet it

5 b
4

b
b b -

5
b 4 .
b

b
b
j

4
4
4
4

A tempo

4 b
&4
tast
20

& 44
?4
4

animando

. b 9
8 .

20

ed like them

all;

The fi - gures

- .

. b b .. b .. ..

b.

.. b b .. .. .. b 98 .. ... b . .. .. ..
. . .
. b. . .
b
F b b
b

8 b.
.
.

.
.
cresc.

23

ly

for bu - ri - al,

re - mind-ed

me

b.
b . .. b b .. b j . j .
b b ...
b

J
.
.
.
b b ..
J
J
cresc.
b

b
b
b
b

? 6 b b b
J
b
8 b
n
b
b
n
b .
6 J .. b .
&8

.
. b.
& . b
And fit - ted

> . b . - .
to

frame

J b.
J

..
. J

- b
..

of mine,

23

28

I have seen

b. b.

as

12
8

b > .

breathe

12
8
12
8

if

my

68

b
6
8
.

life were sha - ven

j
..

.
. b b b .. b ...
J
b b b b
n
n
(tenuto)

And could not

j j j
j
j
28
b b b -n b b b b b b b b ... b- .
& b b
. b J .

J
poco allarg.

b
b b

?
n.
n
b
b
n
n.
b

Set or - der -

>
. b. b. . b. . b. .

> b b
.
b
b

. .
.

6
& 8 - . b . -

6
b 8

b
b b > b

j j b
b b b

(moving forward)

b b b
cresc.

(a tempo)

. b. . b.
with- out

b - b .
b J b b
f > b > > b b b b
> > b
b
bw.
bw.

98

j
9
8

98

9 b - .
&8

6 b . b . b . 9 > . b . . b - . .
8 J
8
J
J
(movendo)

32

key;

And'twas like

j
9 b b b b
&8 J

b b b b

?9
8 b.
b.
f
-.
.
& b b -. b
thing that ticked

When e - very -

(movendo)b b b
6 b
9 b b b b
8
8 b

>.
b . b J
J

some,

j 6
j
6 b b b b 9 b b
.

8
8 b b 8 b b b

32

36

mid-night,

6 . b. b. b.
8
J

hasstopped

P b. b.
J
And space

6 b b b b
8

b b b.
J J J

stares

all

a - round

- b -
- b - - b

& b b b b b bb b b bb bb bb
f
decresc.
b b ...
b b b b ...
b
b

?
? . n.
.
.
.
.
.

n &

. .
n.
n.
.

36

41

& .

p
. j b . b . 12
8 N.
b .

or gris - ly

.n.

frosts

n. .

& b b bb bb bb b b bb 12
8 #

p
b b b b b b b b b b b b
n #
12
? J
8 n n
n

9
& 8 .

. j
. .
Re -

#.

. #. .

- peal

the

12
8 >

# -

beat - ing

9
8

# 9
8

# -

ground

b
& 98 # # J 12
8 b b n # n # #

f marcato
# #

? 9 #
12
J
J

J J 8 b
8

b
45

98

first au-tumn morns,

41

45

7
48

& w.

p
. j
. .
But

44

most

like

48

44
& # #
# n # # # .. # ..
p
dim.
j

? b b b b b 4
b b b b 4
J J
quasi niente
ten.

4
&4 w

P j
# j -. -. # j
J
J
- os stop - less, cool,
j
..
#

# ..
J

&

52

delicato
52
4 #
&4
#
J

?4

4
#
sonoro #

cha

F 3
-

j
.
.

. # # # - # ..
n
J #
J
J

p
j

. j j # j # j .
# -

with - out

chance or spar

# .
.

b b

#.

bb

P
3

b . j w

57

&

Or

b
b
& n

ven a re - port of

?
P

&

de

spair.

62

b ..
b
.

bw
? w

b.
b
.

& b ww

gg b
gg
ggg
ggg
g b

b. . b
To jus - ti - fy
b

(Slowly)

62

b
b
b

p
b
b

land

57

(Bell-like)

b
b b

sonoro

p
w
w
w

ten. sempre- 7 -

&

b
b

bU
ww
w

b .
b .
b b ..
b .

w
n ww
*

4/19/02
NYC

3. I dwell in possibility
Ebullient

& 43

160

>
j

>
cresc.
j

J
J

>
? 43

p

78

78 &
JJ

F
> J > j j

bb b b 4
5

J 8
&
4
JJ
J
I
dwell in pos-si - bi - li-ty, a
>
con forza >
7
bbb 4

b
&
85 .
4
f
.

? b b b 44

85
b

b
& b b b 43
12

b
& b b b 43
12

? b b b 43
b

>

>
>

> >
& J

b
& b b b 85
16

j
68

> > >

>

3
4
G.P.

> > 3 ?

4
>>

bbb b 44
bbb b 44

68 j 44 w
J
fair-er housethan

68

68

42

24
p
24

win - dows - su - per - i - or

for
loco

>
16
bb b b 5 6
8
n
&
8

bbb 5
?
6
b

8
b
&
8

prose.

44 > 43
>
f

>
44 >
43

P
J 68
more

F
>
n n n n 42

43

5
J 8

nu - mer-ous - of

68
85
68 85

43 .

doors

>
3> n n n n 42
4
.

J
j
n n n n 42 43 -
-
>

P
- j
j

J .
JJ
J

dolce

20

& .

Of cham-bers as the Ce-dars im - preg - na-ble of

> j> j
&
J
? > >
20

.
. ..
p

& #
for
27

& # # .

p
? j
#. #.
# #
34

agitato

& .

P
j

vi - si- tors the

> b
> 7:6
> n # .
?
b

b
>

j
j
b

b b b b b
p

b b b b b

sub.

&

39

& 42

7:6

68

f
# >

& 42
? 42

b> b b j b - .

j
j

- b J

J
fair - est for
oc - cu - pa - tion
>this
b
... b - .
j
b
j n b j b b b b n # b . b b ...
n
J
b b b b
f sub.p cresc.
#

#
#

n # # # # b n # #
n
# # n
>
j
#

#
J

my
> .. - ing wide
#spread
#
#

.
# #
#

bn #

68 # .

7:6
f # > .
# # b
.

# # 68 # .
# n n

ten.

. .
.
.

..
.. .
.
.

cresc.

the

39

sky

#
n

P
..

- -

j
b J

b b - b b
j
n ..
b

..
b

Of

34

And

b
- >
P - b -
- - - b
b b

an ev - er - last - ing roof the gam-brels of the

eye

j# J # > # - #

# .
J J

27

7:6

# - #
J

j
#

nar - row hands

# > ...
.

ten.

# ..
> .

to

# #
# #
7:6

>

42
42
42

ga - ther Pa - ra -

# > ...
.

ten.
#

# #
# n b b
>
7:6

10

p
& .
43

dise

78

b
.

> . .
b J 78

j
.
n

.# # b J -

J
& # #

>
>
precipitoso
sub.P cresc.
7:6
P 7:6
7:6
- .
> b .
.
.
.
.
.
>
.
.

b
>
.

b
?
b b b b b b b b
& # # # 78 b b n n # # # # # # # # b
#

. # . . . . . .
7:6
>
P
f
F
F
48
b
b b bb 44
j 85 jjJ j j j 78 j 45 w
43
&
>
> - < < >
() > >> >
G.P.
> - I dwellinpossi- bi-li-ty a fairerhousethan prose > 48
b b b b 4

5 .
3
7
5

b
&
8
8
4
4
b4

G.P.
f
>
>

>

>
.

.b . b

5 - ? 43

78
bbb bb 44 85 .
&
4
>

>

ten.

P 55
bb b b 3
5
j

& b4
J 8

7:6

43

7:6

j

.

bb b b 3

& b 4
>
>
F
? b b b 43 > > &
bb
55

bb b 5 b
& b8
59

59

&

bbbb

b
& b bbb

mer-ous
of

5
8
more nu -

> f
p
J 85

j 68

win - dows
su - per - i - or
for
(
)
loco
>

68
58
n
>

F

b
?
68

85

nnn b 2
n 4
>

68
.

doors

nnn b 2 n 4 . . .

f
n n n b 42
n

< .

>
6
. 8
P
68
-
.
>

11
dolceP
j
& b j
63

j
J

- j j .

85 .

of cham-bers as the Ce-dars im - preg-na-ble of eye

j j
& b

ggg
gg
dolce
p
? b j

b
63

70

& b 78 .

.
b
ggggg ... ... ggggb
g

F
68
J

b j

And

for an ev

b b

b
J
-

j . j
b
b

- 5

. b 8

n 85
b

. b

>

b b j J

er - last - ing roof

the

78

78
78

b b j 85
J

gam - brels

of the

b b
jb b b b b > ..

>
b
j

b
.
7
6

b b b ...
.
.
bb 85
& b 8 b 8 .
>

f
F
b b b
>
>
>
b

>
b

n
.
b 6 # n .. .
b b . b b .
? n n 5
? b 78
8
8
&
b

b b b b
b

> b

f sub.p
P
74
b

.
.
j
j
78 J
& b 85
42 n 68 - J
70

sky

Of

>
& b 85 .
# n
? b 85 n

n > #
sub. p
74

&
79

- 7 j

# .n # 8 #n # # n #

n #

&
# # n 8 n #

J J J j
J

oc - cu-pa-tion

79

&
>
P
fair - est

for

> - ?

&

vi - si - tors

the

24 n # # # n 68
J
p dolce
.
.
42 # # n n 68 ..
n
F
ten.

F
j
#

The

loco
b> b b - b b

b - b
j b.
b

b
J
b b
Fj
p
j
j
b
b b b & b b b
b. b . b. ?
b b
b
J
>
.
this

12

84

& #

#
J

f p
.

b j
J

> b - ther Pa - ra - dise

84
- .
b
> b n .

j
b b

J

& j # #
b ?
&

b
7:6
agitato
j b
f
P j
r .
j
j

7:6
j
b

? . #

# b b
b.
nn .

b.
> .
spread - ing wide

.
J
&
88

my nar - row hands

p
j
j
b j b

of
88

&
?

j
n

b b b .
b b
>
7:6

7:6

b b
b

b
>

93

& .

vi - si- tors

>

&
>
>
93

99

.
# # ..

98

&

>

the

ga

j
b b j J
fair

est

>

>
.
# # .. &

f F
j #.
b

b > b j
b
J

for

j b j
j
b b n b
b b . b . b b b
sub.
. b . n . .
#

n b
# . n n . # . n .

The

? #
#
>

to

f
>
J

spread-ing wide

my

nar

>
bb b j
b

j
b b b

b
>
Bell-like
> ..

#
>

# # n n n n # . # # ...

oc-cu - cu - pa - tion

J
-

this

F
.

rowhands to

>

ga -

>

b J J
J
J
F cresc.
> b b b b
b
b

# b n # b b b b b b b

b b b n n b n b
A tempo - Presto

U - [Take time]
- - 3 >

J
J 4 .

>
ther Pa - ra - dise. loco
b > >

99
b b n n n > >
U
J . . 43
n # n ?
b b
&

>

>

> > >

b b b # n # b b 9 b b b U . . ? 3 bb > b b b b

8 J J
4 J
&
b > b b
> > > b >
>
>

>

>

98 J

- 12 -

>
b
J

j
b
b
>

4/195/1/1994
NYC

13

4. We never know how high we are

With Dignity qk 48-52

animando
bb b 6
- j
j
j

j
j j . j . . j J
& 8
j

We ne-ver knowhow high we are Till we are asked to

bb -
b
&
J

.
j

sta-tures touch the

bbb

? bb

&

P
bb b j
&

13

# j
# n #
J
p
cresc
n. .
n.
n.

j j
J
-

ne - ver know how high we are Till

b
j
& b b
P
? b b ..
b .

j
.

13

b
&bb
18

true

to plan

our

b
& b b

J
b

..

.. ..
.

18

? bb

..
.

.
.
.

we are

J
.

. .

sta - tures touch

the

b.

b.

j
# n bb
J
J
b ..
.#.
#

#
b b ..
n.#
# .
#
n #

j j

. .

.
skies.

rise

We

And then

j
..

b.

j
u

. .. U
b
J J
dim
.. b ..
ten.

j . . .

j
.

asked to

j
b

The

cresc

f
#
J
J

if we are

p
#

sub

.
. .

n #
J

j
#

he - ro - is - m

n
n n b b #n## n # J
J
sub p
#.
bn ..
bb
n n .. # .
b
n.
b
n n ..
n.

j
.
.. .. b b b ...
1

And then if we are true to plan our

skies.

b
. b b b
ggg
J
ggg
ggg
. gggg b .
b.

rise

14

j
#

b
& b b #
22

we

re - cite

j
n # j

#.

P
J

Would

be

a nor - mal

thing

Did

bb # n # # n
b
&
J
J
j# #
n

? b b n . # #
b # # .
.
22

bb n b
&
26

Cu

b n
&bb n

bb b 12 - .
& 8
.
P
? b b 12
b 8
30

.
# # .

n # n

J
n.
#

n
J

#
J

j n.
J
n

bits warp

For

to be

fear

n # n
J
J

# #
n .
n ..
.

. . .

.

N N

not

our - selves

the

n
#
J
J
J
J
n ..
..
n

n
.

n
.
N N b ...
n n ..

f
n

j
n

# #
J
n
#

? b b # n ..
b # n .
26

# #
#

rall.

U 12
8

King

. #
#
J

# n
#
n.
# # ..

n.

n . #
#
J
# n
#
n.
# # ..

. U 12
n 8
J
n.
12
8
p

. . .

. .

R
R
R

.
.
.

b
& b b .
. . .
. . .
. .

.
R

b .
.

? bb

b

b .

32

15

animando

b
& b b - .
34

b
&bb
b
&bb
36

? bb

.
.

.
.

..

.
.
J
J
cresc

? bb
b

36

.. .

..

.
J
The
rall.

b
.

.
. .
b ...
b

.
.
.
.
b
b

.
.
. ..

R
b b

b

b
n b
n

n
n >
>

68
68
68

Meno mosso [Giusto]

f
bb b 6 #
& 8

j
n

38

He

ro - is

we

#
#

#
J
re - cite

would

be

j j
j
bb b 6 # #

n . n
n #

& 8 #
J
f
#

? b b 68
# n

#n
b n
#
38

41

&

.
bbb #

J J

thing

bb b
b
&
41

Did

b
> >

? bb b

b b

nor

J
-

mal

# n

n
J
J

> # n

#n n

n #
#

J b
J

# n
J

n
J

j
12
8

b> . - . -
r .

.
b
# n . . b n .
n >

> . >

..

>
not our - selves

the Cu - bits warp

10

for

fear

to be

12
8
12
8

16

bb 12 w .
b
& 8

45

King

- ..
..
..
bb b 12 n .. n > .. b . n > .. b
n
.
n

& 8 .

n
j
j dim
>
>.
nn ..

.
.

? b b 12
.

.
.
- J
b 8 n .. n n .
.
..

.

n .
> .
n n > .
J L.V.
>
> L.V.
45

molto rall.

b
& b b .
47

We

A tempo [with quiet fervor]

ne

ver know

U
..
bb b n .. .. . . ..
..
.
.
&
.

..
.
.
? bb
.
.

.
b
ww .
47

how

..
.

high

we are

Till

L.V.

animando poco a poco

. . . 3

bb b j
.
.

. . b.
& . . . . . . . . .
4
50

we are

bb ..
b
& .

called to

rise

and then

ifweare true toplanour sta-turestouch the

skies. The

# ..
n
.
n

.. . . . # ..

..
..

.
. .
..
.
.
. . .
p
> >>

.
>
? b b . . b b .. b - . b - n n
b
n. .
w .
bw.
.
b.
w.
n . > .
>
50

43

43

17

b
& bb
56

j
n J

43

He

Ossia

56

b
& bb

43

56

43

? bb
b

ro - is - m

b b

j
# n

n
we

re - cite

# # ..

b
j
. b
b . delicato

sub

j
#

would

be

nor

j
J

mal

thing

Did

# n
#

j
# n #
j
#

. #
.
..
# # .

# #

n.
#
j n #
# #

# # n ...

not

our - selves

n ..

the

n
nn ... n J

bb 3
b
& 4

b J #
J

56

He - ro - is - m

n J
J

we

re-cite would

n # #
J
J

be

nor - mal

J
J

thing

Did

# n n #
#
bb b 3 b b # # ..
.
n
n
& 4
#
sub
#
#

j
b

j
n

j
# #
j#
? b b 43 b

n
..
b b .
.
# # ..
.
# # .
.
56

# J
J
not our-selves the

n ..
.
n
cresc
n
n n
.
n n .. J

delicato

p
61

&

bbb

n
cu

Ossia

b
& bb
61

61

? bb
b

#
J

j
n

bits

warp

for

n > ..
nn> n ..
J

n ?
& # n
>

J
fear

to

.
b b ...

..
bb > .
J

be

King

b ?
&

b
n j
bb
J
b

J
&

J
cu - bits warp for fear to be a

61

n
bb b

&
p ..
P n > ..

? b b n n > n . & n n ? b b> . & ?

b J
J
>
61

..
.

n b .
.

&

b ..
>

. ...
..

j
j
b .. ?
.. &
>
.
King

b.
& n

# n
# # n ... #

. ...
..

b .
b ..

& n

n ..

..
b
.

..

18

With Great Space

b
&bb
67

hmm

67

&

bbb

. .
? b b .
b .

b
&bb
74

. . .

..

.
.

. . .

ah

.. ..
. .

-

bb b .. ..
& . .

? b b
b
74

b
&bb
81

* . .
. .

. .

.
..

..

. .

. ..
.. .

.
..

..

&

&

etc.

al niente

U .

hmm

81
b
&bb
bb b
&

quasi niente

4/26/02
NYC