ISABELLA NICOLE NESS

Drttkvtt

a motet
for treble voices

2016

Copyright Isabella Nicole Ness & Trichord Publishing, 2016. All rights reserved.

ABOUT THE COMPOSER

Isabella Nicole Ness is a composer, vocalist,

and sound designerintent on exploring and
challenging the principles of narrative.
Part of a family of artists and readers,
Isabella was born in 1993 in Alexandria,
Virginia. Her sound aims to illustrate vivid
moments by coloring emotions, characters,
and scenes with purposeful orchestration
and evocative melody.
Isabella is a graduate ofTemple
Universitys Boyer College of Music and
Dance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where
she earned a Bachelor of Music in composition in 2016. She has studied piano
and vocal pedagogy with Carol Hoppe Roberts and vocal performance under
Angela Winter. During her time at Temple, Isabellastudied composition and
computer music synthesis with Maurice Wright and Adam Vidiksis.
A founding member of the Boyer Electroacoustic Ensemble Project (BEEP), she
has also collaborated often with students of dance at the Boyer College and other
creators in the Philadelphia areanotably the performing arts association Lyric
Festcomposing pieces and soundscapes for performance ortechnology
integration.Alongside exploring the renaissance of traditional art song &opera,
she alsocraftsoriginal music,sound environments, and SFX assets for video
games and other interactive media. On the stage, she has appeared as Venus in
Maurice Wrights robotic opera,Galatea_RESET.

PROGRAM NOTE
In ancient Scandinavia, the Skaldic school of poets took up in the courts of the Viking
Age. Their poems weaved complex metaphors together to wed myth and history, and
much of it has lasted into the 21st century on manuscript or stone. The common form of
Skaldic poetry, drttkvtt, is one of the most technically demanding poetic structures in
western rhetoric.
Drttkvtt, or lordly verse, presents an abundance of internal rhyme and assonance in
strict couplets. The typical stanza holds eight lines of four, and the subject matter is
recurrently tied back to nature amid recitations of myth, battles, and histories of lineage.
The music presented here is a setting of the Norwegian Rune Poem, a Skaldic poem in
Old Norse from a 13th century manuscript. The harmonies are at once lush and steely,
much like the tales from the Skalds themselves. Treble voices moving together in close,
often-unresolved intervals evoke the sensation of the icy beauty of Scandinavia, and the
Rune Poem comes to life in the fragile balance between the dark and light timbres of the
voice.

PERFORMANCE NOTE
Accidentals last throughout the measure.
Vocal technique should strive to be as pure as possible, but do not restrict natural
vibrato. Straight-tone is to be employed only as a vehicle to clarify cadences.
From m. 75 to the end of the piece, the lyrics su-dl-ah and any of its variants should
be treated in the style of Norwegian fiddle singingsimple, clean, and limber.
Example: Bl Tonar Fra Lom, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQvmMf1TQmo
(entrance ~0:33, after a fiddle introduction; Pernille Anker and Hans Brimi.)
IPA for the Old Norse pronunciation of the entire poem are available on the following
page.
Duration ca. 5:00

Rune Poem IPA Guide

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The Norwegian Rune Poem

F vldr frnda rge;
fesk ulfr skge.
r er af illu jarne;
opt lypr rinn hjarne.
urs vldr kvinna kvillu;
ktr vrr fr af illu.
ss er flstra fra
for; en skalpr er svra.

Wealth is a source of discord among kinsmen;

the wolf lives in the forest.
Dross comes from bad iron;
the reindeer often races over the frozen snow.
Giant causes anguish to women;
misfortune makes few men cheerful.
Estuary is the way of most journeys;
but a scabbard is of swords.

Ri kvea rossom vsta;

Reginn sl svret bzta.
Kaun er barna bolvan;
bol grver nn folvan.
Hagall er kaldastr korna;
Kristr skp himenn forna.
Naur gerer nppa koste;
nktan klr froste.

Riding is said to be the worst thing for horses;

Reginn forged the finest sword.
Ulcer is fatal to children;
death makes a corpse pale.
Hail is the coldest of grain;
Christ created the world of old.
Constraint gives scant choice;
a naked man is chilled by the frost.

s kollum br bria;
blindan arf at lia.
r er gumna ge;
get ek at orr var Fre.
Sl er landa ljme;
lti ek helgum dme.
Tr er inendr sa;
opt vrr smir blsa.

Ice we call the broad bridge;

the blind man must be led.
Plenty is a boon to men;
I say that Frothi was generous.
Sun is the light of the world;
I bow to the divine decree.
Tyr is a one-handed god;
often has the smith to blow.

Bjarkan er laufgrnstr lma;

Loki bar flra tma.
Mar er moldar auki;
mikil er grip hauki.
Logr er, fllr r fjalle
foss; en gull ero nosser.
r er vetrgrnstr via;
vnt er, er brennr, at svia.

Birch has the greenest leaves of any shrub;

Loki was fortunate in his deceit.
Man is an augmentation of the dust;
great is the claw of the hawk.
A waterfall is a River which falls from a
mountainside; but ornaments are of gold.
Yew is the greenest of trees in winter;
it is wont to crackle when it burns.

13th century.
trans. Ragweed Forge, used with permission.

Copyright Trichord Press & Isabella Nicole Ness, ASCAP

All Rights Reserved

Drttkvtt
13th Century
Isabella Nicole Ness (b. 1993)

Allegretto e = 148
mf

6 j
Treble 1 & 8

j j
#

J J

vl - dr frn - da

#
J

ge;

f - esk ul - fr

j
#

ge;

f - esk ul - fr

ge;

f - esk ul - fr

sk - ge.

mf
Treble 2

6
&8

vl

dr

dr

dr

f - esk ul - fr

sk - ge.

mf
Treble 3

6
&8

vl

sk - ge.

mf

6
Treble 4 & 8

vl

ge;

sk - ge.

mp

Tr. 1 &
il

Tr. 2

# #J 9 # 6
8
8
J

lu

jar - ne; opt ly - pr r - inn

urs

vl - dr

mp
j
9
6
j
& # # 8 # 8

r er af il - lu jar - ne;

Tr. 3

& n
r er af

ly - pr r - inn

#
jar - ne;

hjar - ne.

hjar - ne.

urs

vl - dr

mp
j 98 68 n j

ly - pr r - inn

hjar - ne.

urs

vl - dr

mp

Tr. 4

&
il

n
-

lu

#
jar - ne;

j n

j 98 68

ly - pr r - inn

hjar - ne.

urs

j

vl - dr

2
10

mf
9 p j j
6

Tr. 1 &
8 8
J
J
kvin - na kvil - lu;

Tr. 2

k - tr vr

& J J

kvin - na kvil - lu; k - tr vr

- r

fr af il - lu.

b
J

ss

er - stra,

mf
j 9p j j
6
8 8 b
- r

fr af il - lu.

ss er - stra

p
Tr. 3

j
j
&

kvin - na kvil - lu; k - tr vr

6
j9
j j
8 8
- r

fr af il - lu.

p
Tr. 4

& j j

kvin - na kvil - lu; k - tr vr

9
68
j8
j j

- r

fr af il - lu.

14

b b b b
b
Tr. 1 &
J J
ss er - stra fr - a

Tr. 2

&
fr

a,

for;

for;

9
8

9
8

en skal - pr er svr - a.

j j
b
fr - a

en skal - pr er svr - a.

mf

Tr. 3

&

fr - a

9
j j
b bj b 8
for;

en skal - pr er svr - a.

en

skal - pr er

mf
Tr. 4

&

j
b

b
ss

j j

j
b b b

er - stra fr - a

for;

en skal - pr er svr - a.

9
8

3
19

9
Tr. 1 & 8

6
8

Ri kve -a ros - som v - sta;

Tr. 2

9
&8

6
8

sl

j n j

svr

J
- et

Ri kve -a ros - som v - sta; Re - ginn

sl

svr - et

U
Tr. 3

9
&8

68

j
b

n
svr - a.

Tr. 4

9
&
8

Ri kve -a ros - som v - sta;

6
8

sl

j

b n

svr

Ri kve -a ros - som v - sta;

svr

- et

- et

23

f
Tr. 1 &
b

mf

b b

zta,

svr - et b - zta, b

f
Tr. 2

zta.

zta.

zta.

b
b
B

zta.

& b b b b

Kaun

zta,

zta.

er bar - na

mf

Tr. 4

Kaun er bar - na

mf

& b
b

zta.

B - zta, b

f
Tr. 3

mf

& b
b

4
27

Tr. 1 &

9
8

f
6 b b b
8
Ha - gall er kal - da - str

p
Tr. 2

&
bol -

Tr. 3

b b

van;

bol gr - ver nn

van;

fol - van.

Ha -gall er kal - da - str

9
68
8
b

& b b
bol -

9 b
6
8
8 b

bol

gr - ver nn

fol - van.

Ha - gall er kal - da - str

Tr. 4

&

9
8

6
8
b b
Ha -gall er kal - da - str

31

mp

tenderly

b
b b b b
Tr. 1 &
kor - na;

Kri - str skp hi - menn for - na.

mp
Tr. 2

Kri - str skp hi - menn for - na.

mp

&
kor - na;

& b b
kor - na;

Kri - str

skp hi - menn

tenderly

j
b

Kri - str skp hi - menn for - na.

mp
Tr. 4

tenderly

& b b b b
kor - na;

Tr. 3

tenderly

j n b
b
b

Kri - str skp hi - menn for - na.

Kri - str

skp hi - menn

5
35

Tr. 1 &

p
# # # n b bj 98
J J
J
J

6
8

Nau -r ger - er np - pa kos - te; nk - tan k - lr

p
Tr. 2

j j
j
j
# #

& b
for

na.

Nau -r ger - er np - pa kos - te;

j9
6
8 8

fro - ste.

j j
j # j nb 98 b 68
# #
n

Tr. 3

&

Nau -r ger - er np - pa kos - te; nk - tan k - lr

fro - ste.

Tr. 4

&
bb
for

na.

j j
j
j
# # # n

9
6
8 b 8
j
b

Nau -r ger - er np - pa kos - te; nk - tan k - lr

fro - ste.

40

6 mf

Tr. 1 & 8

kol - lum br bri - a,

mf
Tr. 2

kol - lum br bri - a, kol - lum, s

mf

kol - lum br bri - a;

b #

kol - lum br bri - a;

j
6
& 8 b b

s kol - lum br bri - a,

mf

6
Tr. 4 & 8

b b n

6
& 8 b
s

Tr. 3

b b

b
s

kol - lum br bri - a;

Kol - lum br bri - a,

b
s

kol - lum br bri - a;

6
44

mf

Tr. 1 &

12
# ## 8

li

68

#
-

a.

mf
Tr. 2

& # # # j #
blin - dan arf at

li

- a,

li

12 #
8 #

#
-

68

a.

mf
Tr. 3

&

j
#
at

li

12
8 #

- a,

li

6
8

#
-

a.

mf
Tr. 4

&

j
#

12
8

blin - dan arf

li

68
#

a.

q.=q
48

6 b b
b b b b 2 Uj U 4

b 4
Tr. 1 & 8
4
J
J
J
mp

r er gum-na g - e;

mf

get

mp
Tr. 2

Fr - e.

mf

j
6 b j
2
&8
b j b b b b b 4
r er gum-na g - e;

get

mp
Tr. 3

ek at orr var Fr - e,

4
4

4
4

mf

get

mp

ek at orr var Fr - e.

mf

6
j
j
Tr. 4 & 8
b b b b b
r er gum-na g - e;

4
4

ek at orr var Fr - e.

6
2
& 8 b bj nj b b b b n b b 4
r er gum-na g - e;

get

2
j
4
b b b n
ek at orr var Fr - e.

7
q = 56
53
warmly

4
Tr. 1 & 4

b b J b b

Lj - me;

Tr. 2

4 warmly j
& 4 bj b b
Sl

Tr. 3

er lan - da

er lan - da

lj - me;

l - ti

Sl

er lan - da

ek

j
b

lj - me;

l - ti

warmly
4
Tr. 4 & 4
j
j

b b b

ek

hel - gum

j
b b

4 warmly j
& 4 b j b
Sl

l - ti

ek

hel - gum

hel - gum

b b

lj - me;
l - ti

ek

hel - gum

e = 160
57

Tr. 1

& n b
d - me.

Tr. 2

Tr

Tr. 3

er in

& b b b
d - me.

Tr er

12
8

J
-

en - dr

in - en -dr

& b
b

b
d - me.

Tr er

in - en -dr

&
b

b b

Tr er

in - en -dr

opt

6
j 8
sa;

j
n b 68
J
sa;

12
8 b

d - me.

j
12 b
8
b

12
8 b b

Tr. 4

6
b j 8
sa;

j 68
j
j
n b
-

sa;

opt

8
e = 154
mp

60

Tr. 1

6
12
& 8 b bbb 8 b
vr -r

smi - r

b
68 b b

bl -

sa.

bbbb

Bjar - kan er lauf -grn - str l

ma;

mp
Tr. 2

6
&8

12
8

6 b b b
8

Bjar - kan er lauf -grn - str l

ma;

mp
Tr. 3

6
&8

12
8

6
8

Lauf -grn - str l

ma;

mp

6
12
6

Tr. 4 & 8
8
8 b
b

bb b
b b
vr -r

smi - r

bl

sa.

Bjar - kan er lauf -grn - str l

ma;

64

j
b b b bb 12
Tr. 1 & b b b b b
8
Lo - ki bar r -a

Tr. 2

t - ma.

& b j b b
Lo - ki bar r -a

Tr. 4

Ma - r er mol - dar au - ki;

mi - kil er

gr - ip

j
& b b b j b b
Lo - ki bar r -a

Tr. 3

t - ma.

& b b

Ma - r er mol - dar au - ki;

t - ma.

mi - kil er gr_ip

j 12
8

12
j
b

b
b 8
mi - kil er gr_ip

12
bb
b b b
j
8
j
b b b
b
bb b

Lo - ki bar r -a

t - ma.

Ma - r er mol - dar au - ki;

mi - kil er gr_ip

9
69

mf
Tr. 1

12
& 8 b

6 bj b b b b
8

hau - ki.

Tr. 2

with sprightliness

12
& 8 b

6
8

b bb
J

vl - dr frn - da

ge;

hau - ki.

mf
Tr. 3

12
& 8 b

6
8

b b b b b b b

hau - ki.

Tr. 4

12
&
8

F vl - dr

6
8

b b
hauk

with sprightliness

frn - da r - ge;

ki.

f
73

Tr. 1 &

b
b

b b

su - dl - ah su - dl - i su - dl - ah su - dl - i

mf

9
8

Ah

with sprightliness

f
Tr. 2

& b bb b
f - esk ul - fr sk

ge.

9
8

Ah

Tr. 3

&

Ah

mf
Tr. 4

& b

Ah

with sprightliness

j j b
b b

f - esk ul - fr

9
b b 8

j
b

b
bb
sk

ge.

Ah

9
8

Ah

10
78

mp

9 b 6
Tr. 1 & 8
8
J

b b

su - dl - ah su - dl - ah

Tr. 2

mp
9<b> j 6 b b
8
&8

su - dl - ah su - dl ah

mp
Tr. 3

9
6
& 8<b> b j 8

Ah

mp

9
Tr. 4 & 8

68
j
b

b bj

Ah

83

b b 98 b b 68
Tr. 1 & b
su - dl - ah su - dl - ah

su - dl - ah su - dl - i

Ah

Tr. 2

9
6
b 8 8

&

su - dl - ah su - dl - i

Ah

Tr. 3

9
6
b 8 8

&

su - dl - ah su - dl - i

Ah

9
8

Tr. 4

& b
b
Ah

b
Ah

mp

68
b b

j j
b

b b b
su - dl - i - yah

11
e = 148
88

mf

Tr. 1 &

j bj j b

b b b b b

Lo - gr er fl -lr r fjal

le

foss;

en gull e - ro nos - ser.

mf

Tr. 2

&

b
Lo - gr er fl -lr r fjal

b
-

j j

b b b

le

foss;

en gull e - ro nos - ser.

j j
b b b

le

foss;

mf

Tr. 3

&

b b
Lo - gr er fl -lr r fjal

en gull e - ro nos - ser.

mf

Tr. 4

b bj b
b

&
b
Oh

Lo - gr er fl -lr r

fjal

le

j j

b

b b b
foss

en gull e - ro nos - ser.

93

6
b J b b b b b 12
8
8
J
J

b
Tr. 1 &
r

Tr. 2

er vet - rng - str vi -a; vnt er,

b
& b b
r

Tr. 3

vet - rng - str vi -a;

er,

& bbb j n j b
r

Tr. 4

er

&
b
r

er vet -rng - str vi -a;

er,

j
j
b n b
b
er vet -rng - str vi -a;

er,

er bren - nr at

svi - a.

j
12
6
8 b 8
er bren - nr at

svi - a.

j b 12
68

8
b

er bren - nr at

svi - a.

12
6
j b 8 b 8

er bren - nr at

svi - a.

12
97

6 bmp
b
Tr. 1 & 8

gently

b b 9
8

su - dl - ah su - dl - ah

su - dl - ah su - dl - ah

mp gently
Tr. 2

6
&8

9
8 b b

su - dl - ah su - dl - ah

mp
Tr. 3

6
&8

gently

U
9

b 8

su - dl - ah su - dl ah

mp

gently

6
Tr. 4 & 8
b

9
8

b
Ah

Ah
Philadelphia, 2016