He made forty
Premiere performance by Slagwerk Den Haag, Utrecht 2011
About this work
Text: Gertrude Stein (from "How to write")
The piece is scored for 4 identical sets: alu bell, 2 cowbells, hi-hat, roto-tom, darbuka, 5 membranes, pedal drum
Score
Lyrics / Libretto ▸
Harold Acton has left Sunday for Friday Harold Acton has left Thursday for another day Harold Acton has left Saturday for Tuesday. Harold Acton has left Monday for yesterday. Harold Acton has left the day before yesterday Harold Acton has left the day before Wednesday Harold Acton has left Tuesday for every day Harold Acton has left to day for a day for a day by day day by day Harold Acton has left day by day day by day day by day Harold Acton has left day by day day by the day day by the day Harold Acton has left the day by the day Harold Acton has left that day Harold Acton has left on the day Harold Acton has left on the day. Harold Acton one two two one one two two one Harold Acton and one two two two one Harold Acton and one one two two two one one two two one Harold Acton one two two two one Harold Acton two one two one two two one two two one two one two one two one Harold Acton one two two one. Harold Acton one two two one. Harold Acton inestimable and return to two two one two two two two one. Harold Acton inestimable and return returned to returned to two two two returned to two two two one two Harold Acton inestimable to returned to returned to two to two two one returned to inestimable returned two two two two one inestimable Harold Acton returned to to two two to two two to two two two to two two two two one Harold Acton returned returned to two two one Harold Acton returned to two two two two one. Harold Acton make is different from made and made is different from that and again and that and again is different from circumstance and circumstance is different from not and not and not at all and not and Harold Acton might be obliged to might be obliged to not to come might be obliged to not to come Harold Acton might be obliged to not to come Harold Acton might be obliged to not to come.
Harold Acton as to this to that to which is what is what to and which one. <...>
He made which, which is which which is it intermediate intermediately defined definite and this altogether. He had it in change and theirs at rest. The coming which is it of all that which is it of all rights which is it of all of which is it of all of which is it not which is it not all of which is it not all of which is it.
When it is really yes yesterday for them.
There is no reason why Harold Acton should have taken should have taken should have taken exceptionally can force be obliged obliged obliged can be forced to be apprised apprised can force be sweetly sweetly makes it makes it be and as noon sweetly can be sudden suddenly and authorized sweetly sweetly can be sweetly can be can be if it was was was to add added go indigo so so and so same at the same time and a time leave leave to three, thirty thirty makes twice fifteen and twice fifteen makes thirty and thirty make twice fifteen and thirty make twice fifteen and fifteen makes forty three time fifteen and minus one third of fifteen makes forty this is what he made he made forty.
From Gertrude Stein "How to Write" ("Regular Regularly In Narrative")