The narrator: how is it written?

Dear all,

I recently started a new composition for orchestra, choir and three narrators. There is a lot which can be said about the orchestration, a lot which can be said about the thematic development, but as for now it is a mere sketch.

The part of the narrators somewhat delayed its writing. Before I started I had a looked around going through compositions of e.g. Elgar, Prokofiev and several others, asking my way around to several people. The answers were as diverse as the number of people I asked or compositions I read through ranging from a mere textbox put above the measure during which the text is to be spoken over a mere indicative rhythmic indication over which the text is written to indicate the lengths of the syllables, over a plain musical notation not solely offering a rhythmic pattern but also a indicating the heights and lows in the spoken speech.

Not knowing very well how to proceed further and which one to choose, it would be very much appreciated if somebody could point out which method used, so I could complete the sketch to have it worked later.

Kind regards

Wolfgang Sachs

Well, I think you covered most of the bases and what's left is simply for you to decide what you need for the composition. It really depends on how you're thinking of the text. If you want it spoken in a rhythmic way or in a way that lines up very exactly with your music, then you'll probably want to add a vocal part and write in the exact rhythms. If you want to leave inflection to the performer then write the rhythms on the middle line of the staff with x-noteheads. If you want to specify inflection or shape of the spoken lines then you can use x-noteheads placed in approximate lines/spaces on the staff. There are a number of other methods too. Check out the scores for Copland's Lincoln Portrait, Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire or his later vocal works, and Berg's Wozzeck (several methods are employed here).

Well, I think you covered most of the bases and what's left is simply for you to decide what you need for the composition. It really depends on how you're thinking of the text. If you want it spoken in a rhythmic way or in a way that lines up very exactly with your music, then you'll probably want to add a vocal part and write in the exact rhythms. If you want to leave inflection to the performer then write the rhythms on the middle line of the staff with x-noteheads. If you want to specify inflection or shape of the spoken lines then you can use x-noteheads placed in approximate lines/spaces on the staff. There are a number of other methods too. Check out the scores for Copland's Lincoln Portrait, Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire or his later vocal works, and Berg's Wozzeck (several methods are employed here).

Thank you for your reply, Black Orpheus. I did not think of Schoenberg and Berg but will check them out, for sure. I had never realized that the different methods could coïncide with different approaches to the text. In my case, I think I would go for number two, rhythm indication but inflection left for the performer.

Thanks again