San Preux 5-6

Lyrics

[5-minute composition. One continuous slow emotional arc. Do not rush.] [PART ONE — INTIMACY AND SILENCE] [Long quiet introduction. Sparse piano, soft strings and open space.] [One mature warm mezzo-soprano appears far away, then slowly comes closer. Wordless, tender and trusting.] Mmm… Ooh… Ah… [Allow silence and breathing between every phrase] Mmm… ah… Ooh… ah… Ah—ah—ah… [The voice is now very close. No choir, no rhythm, no dramatic acceleration.] [REFRAIN 1 — one close voice, almost confidential] Тишина над водой. Свет ещё не имеет имени. [Hold the final vowel and slowly transform the words back into vocalise] Име-е-ени… Mmm… Ooh… ah… [The final vocal phrase travels across the water and returns as several progressively quieter echoes] Ah… ah… ah… ah… ah… ah… ah… [Brief silence] [One deep warm solo cello enters. Long lyrical legato phrases. The cello does not accompany the voice; it answers her as a second wordless singer.] [Female voice] Ooh… ah… [Cello answer] [Female voice, slightly farther away] Mmm… ah… [Cello answer] [Voice and cello begin to sing together slowly, leaving space between phrases] Ah—ah… Ooh… Mmm… ah… [PART TWO — WATER AND OPEN SKY] [The musical space gradually opens, like Lake Baikal surrounded by mountains. No sudden transition and no percussion.] [Soft violins enter one section at a time. The cello remains deep and expressive. Two distant female voices appear as reflections of the lead.] [Lead voice close] Ah… ooh… ah… [First distant voice] Ooh… ah… [Second distant voice] Mmm… ah… [REFRAIN 2 — lead voice in front, distant voices holding soft vowels behind her] Тишина над водой. Небо раскрывает глубину. [The final word expands into a long vocal phrase] Глубину-у-у… Ooh… ah… [The phrase travels far across the lake and returns as 7–8 fading echoes. Each return is quieter and farther away.] Ah… ah… ah… ah… ah… ah… ah… ah… [Long instrumental and vocal expansion. Do not hurry toward the climax.] [The cello rises beneath the lead voice. More violins enter gradually. Three female voices become four, then six. Use warm mezzo-sopranos and contraltos.] Ah—ah—ah… Ooh—ah… Mmm—ooh—ah… Ah—eh—ah… [Brief return to intimacy. Orchestra becomes quiet. One close voice remains.] Mmm… Ooh… Ah… [Pause] [The cello begins the final rise. Many violins gradually open above it. Layered female voices return in broad slow waves.] Ah… ooh… ah… Mmm… ah… Ooh—ah—eh—ah… [REFRAIN 3 — several warm female voices, majestic but restrained, words clear] Тишина над водой. Эхо уходит за звёзды. [Hold “звёзды” and transform it into the final vocalise] Звё-о-озды… Ooh… ah… Ah—ah—ah… [FINAL VOCALISE — full expressive cello, many violins and 4–6 layered female voices. Vast, luminous and powerful, but never screamed or piercing.] Ah—ah—ah… Ooh—ah—eh—ah… Mmm—ooh—ah… Ah—ah—ah—ah… [After the culmination, gradually remove the upper voices, violins and cello.] [One warm female voice remains alone. She slowly moves farther away across the water.] Mmm… Ooh… Ah… [The final note returns as distant fading echoes] Ah… ah… ah… ah… ah… [Complete silence]