junshi

for string quartet

Nikolaos-Laonikos Psimikakis-Chalkokondlyis

junshi
in memoriam: remembering the Great War
for string quartet

Programme Note
Junshi, in the Japanese samurai culture, was the act of following your lord to the death (sometimes translated as suicide through fidelity), the suicidal ritual that samurai performed when their lord fell in battle or was murdered. It only seems natural to talk about suicides through fidelity when it comes to wars, and especially wars such as the World Wars. No attempts have been made in any way to depict junshi in this composition; junshi is simply a word, an idea that brings together wars, Yamamoto Tsunetomo (a samurai who did not perform junshi when his lord died, and wrote Hagakure -also known as The Way of the Samurai-, a collection of writings describing the way a true samurai must be prepared to die at any moment, and to die for a higher ideal other than just himself), and John Burnside's poem A Myth on Narcissus (from The Good Neighbour, 2005), in which he quotes a phrase from the Hagakure, and which to me is an incredibly powerful poem, very directly connected to wars whether in the form of Samurai battles, the World Wars or the revolutionary riots currently taking place in Athens. Concerning the writing of the piece, the piece itself is not emotional; it is not based on a motif; it is not written in a specific form; it is just the sounds, sounds which are created out of thin air only to end up being thin air again once they finish; sounds which die out and other sounds which follow them, until there is nothing else. As a composer I am very interested in memory and time, and consequently, the item that intrigued me the most out of the exhibition at the Museum was Edward Thomas' pocket watch, which stopped at the time of the shell-blast that killed him. That watch stopped at that exact moment due to the impact of war on that particular location, that particular time. In a way, it carries something with it from back then, it carries a bit of time that it has yet to release and in a sense, it's as if that watch has performed junshi, following its master to his death.
The end is important in all things - Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure, tr. William Scott Wilson

This piece was written for the Imperial War Museum In Memoriam Composition Competition Duration: 8 - 9 minutes i

Performance Instructions
The players play non-vibrato throughout the piece. All bartok pizz. must be let to ring on. If available, the second violin and cello players must use a wooden mute instead of a plastic one. Otherwise, a plastic mute can be used, but the players must play a little bit more towards the board (sul tasto) x noteheads indicate finger taps on the board (no bowing) this indicates an approximate, continuous glissando for the duration specified by the beats above

k K l J

This symbol means that the note is to be raised by a quarter-tone This symbol means that the note is to be lowered by a quarter-tone This symbol means that the note is to be raised by three quarter-tones This symbol means that the note is to be lowered by three quarter-tones , means scraped (scratch tone)

G.R.

Any other non-traditional/standard actions not described above are explained in the score.

on a stem means fast, irregular bowing/tremolando (such as in m.114 and 117 of the violin part)

ii

junshi
without much emotion with more distance from the music itself

in memoriam: remembering the Great War

Violin I

. b 2 &4 J p 2 &4 2 &4 ?4 2

q = 50-54

. . #
3

. J

. # J

#
3

Violin II

Viola

# #O J 3 p #

#
3

# # J R J . # #O J . # R R
pizz.

Nikolaos-Laonikos Psimikakis-Chalkokondylis

# # R 3 F #. p O J J 3

# J p

P5

Violoncello

Vln. I

@
11

# & J

Vln. II

R & 3 3 P # # & ?

j O ## P R . B J

Vla.

# J R . 3 p p . .. J R P F

R
3 5

# 3 4 b J

Vlc.

# # . . 3 p

# 3 r 4 b p . . F 3 4
arco

3 4

2
Vln. I

junshi // in memoriam: remembering the great war

19

. . # & R J
3

. . # J

4 # J 4 J 4 4 4 4

Vln. II

& B

Vla.

Vlc.

Vln. I

. r # r b F P J R 5

4 O 4 J

# J . R f p j p . R

# .# R J . R

. # 2 J . R 4 2 4 2 4

. r r . P . O O R

3 3 j # J . . r r 3 p P . J J 3 F . R 3 f

25

3 # O . . . # # - 3 O Oj 2 J 8 &4 J R 3
A
3 3

Vln. II

2 &4 2 B4 ?2 4

Vla.

j b O b f

col legno battuto

Vlc.

R F

r b p F con sordino 3 r b b 8 R J b O 3 b P p 3 R R 8 5 pizz.. b 3 R . 8 3 p

. . b R

R
3

7 #J 8 F R 7 J 8
arco

7 8 p

. . J R
3

2 4

R R

b b r r R 7 b . O O b 8 P

J F

31

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vlc.

Vln. I

. . # b # # r j # O O R R b & J # R 3 3 F o o P P (con sord.) . . # .. B J J . b r # 3 p F 3 3 . F # 3 j ? # . b J F p P & . & J F F # F . .

3

# J

junshi // in memoriam: remembering the great war

. R .

. . R . R

R R J 3 3 P 5 3 # b j 3 p . # R R 3 p F. # # J # J # J
3 3 3

35

Vln. II

& J b
(con sord.)
3

Vla.

j B j
3

2 . R . b 4 R 3 3 ..

J p

2 # 4

. #
5

senza sordino

b 3 b n 4
3

3 . #J 4 R

2 3 r 4 j

. R
3

3 4 3 4

Vlc.

r
5

2 4 . r

p 3 b J b J J R p r J J . b p # R . R R 3 3 P

4
41

junshi // in memoriam: remembering the great war

Vln. I

&

Vln. II

# # &
3

4 r . 4 4 4

J
o
5

J
o

b
3

pizz.

.
o
3

Vla.

B # J
3

4 4

.
3

# . J w w
o pizz.

Vlc.

Vln. I

? . J 4 w 4 J 5 3 F 5 &4 O 5 &4
o

. .
arco

j .
5

r w
3

F
3

. F w p
5

# Oj . O O . F o

5 4 5 4 5 4

w w

48

tap

Vln. II

. R . J p p
pizz.

. # .

# # # 3 # # R R R 8 3 P 3 8 . 3 # . 8 J . 3 pizz. . # arco j J 3 J J R 8 3 p F
3

7 16 R . arco 7 . J J 16 7 .. 16 7 J R r 3 j 16

arco ## J # R R
3 3

5 4

5 8 5 8 5 8

Vla.

5 B 4 j
3

. # . R
o

Vlc.

?4 5

- # n #

J
q

R F

f3

5 8

junshi // in memoriam: remembering the great war

55

Vln. I

5 &8 J 5 &8
pizz.

# J .
5

J J

1 m 4 1 4
pizz.

pizz.

6 J 8 6 8
3

j
q

. . #
3

n J

arco

. .
5

2 4 b 2 4 #
3

b.
5

7 8 7 8 . R 7 8 P
pizz.

Vln. II

arco

Vla.

Vlc.

Vln. I

5 r B8 # . . # . ? 5 # # 8 R
3

1 4 m j .
arco
gliss.

6 j 8 6 . 8

q.

. . . .

. .

2 4 2 4 J
pizz.

1 4 l
C pizz.

# J

61

& 7 .. 8

..
o pizz.

Vln. II

7 # # &8
5

7 3 16 # j 4 # . p 7 16 ..
arco

3 4 3 4 3 4

Vla.

# B7 J J 8 J 3 o
arco

7 .. 16 7 16

Vlc.

?7 8

j #. b 3 3 P5 arco pizz. # # # 2 b # # # J . # # J 4 J 3 3 p 3 3 f F . J 2 J 4 J 3 3 o F pizz. arco # 2 J J 4 # o

arco

2 4 b. P

# #

7 8

junshi // in memoriam: remembering the great war

69

Vln. I

& & # f B

# # #
5

# # J #
3

b #
3 3

Vln. II

#
3

f
o

Vla.

b J
arco

Vlc.

Vln. I

? #
3

pizz.

r # 3 P 3 # # # b J
5

m m m J # 3 3 f 7:8 . m m . -. m . # b
3

b n

3 3

J
G.R.

75

Vln. II

Vla.

Vlc.

# j m 3 J # & b j b b b n b n # J b 3 3 . . 3 F p F 3 3 3 3 n # b b b # # & R 3 f p 3 F . 5 b # # b j B . J . R 5 P f o p p P pizz. arco j ? K J p

4 # # 4 J # 5 4 # . 4 4 # 4 3 4 4

6 16 j . P 6 16 .

G.R.

5 16

5 # 16 5 16 5 16

. . . # 6 n 16 F 5 arco 6 . r b # 16 p

# # . J r

82

Vln. I

Vln. II

5 j b j & 16 . 5 & 16 #
pizz. arco

junshi // in memoriam: remembering the great war

3 4 7 . 16 8 # #

pizz.

3 4

4 7 16 # 8 # J 4 7 16 8 J

b R

Vla.

. 5 J J B 16

Vlc.

Vln. I

? 16 5
91

& l . . & B ..
G.R. G.R.

G.R.

Vln. II

Vla.

G.R.

..

3 G.R. G.R. G.R. 3 4 b .# # 4 4 j 16 j .. 4 j .. 2 1 7 J 4 b b n 4 .. 3 J 3 f 3 F P p P p pizz. arco G.R. 3 G.R. G.R. . 3 b G.R. 4 7 j b 4 2 1 7 3 b J 4 4 16 8 # 4 4 m 16 k .. 4 l .. .. 3 3 3 P P F P p F . . . F # . b b . . . b 2 b U 9 j #. ## 5 2 J 16 b . J J J J J R4 8 k .. 4 J o P F f o o . . . . . U 9 5 2 2 . . . . . 4 16 r . J J J J 8 .. 4 # ## o F o o F G.R. . pizz. U 9 . . . j arco j . . . . . . 2 . 5 2 R 16 J 4 8 .. 4 J J J R J J J 5 P o p f f f o 5

F arco . G.R. b b . pizz.R 4 3 4 J 4 3 P

arco
3

4 j 5 j 4 F 3

G.R.

1 7 3 4 16 m 4 k . . F P p G.R. G.R. 2 1 7 3 4 . 4 16 .. 4 .. J J .. 3 f F P p
E

2 4

G.R.

Vlc.

? l .. 8 l 5

2 .. 4
o

m
o

9 16 . . .

# b . . . . J J J # . . p f p

2 4 b n F
con sord.

8
101

junshi // in memoriam: remembering the great war

Vln. I

Vln. II

& b b f & b b B . . P

Vla.

Vlc.

Vln. I

(con sord.) . ? # .

107

Vln. II

3 &8 J 3 o 3 # #. 5 &8 J 8 5 o B3 8 3 o ?3 8
(con sord.)

b b b b p r p # # . . b # # 5 f b b r 3 . - # # . 4 # . . p G b. 5 3 R 4 8 J o . . R # .
o

# 3 4 f P r 3 . 4 . F # # 3 4

# R . 5 p b b b . p R . J. P

# #

. 2 k 4 R
o

3 8 3 8 3 8

. # gliss. l . F .

2 4 . m
3

# . P
tap tap

b 3 3 2 3 r m r 4 . 8 n . 3 o
5

2 J . 4 5 o f

3 4

O ..

Vla.

5 8 5 8

Vlc.

. J
o

3 4 R . col legno tratto O . O . 3 R J 4 (change bowing

# j J J O ..

# # . # P b b p
3

O ..

3 16 3 16 3 16 3 16

O .. O ..

as seamlessly as possible)

116

Vln. I

3 3 & 16 z j 4 . (any low pitch) (open strings) 3 & 16

con sord. arco G.R.

junshi // in memoriam: remembering the great war

Vln. II

3 4 3 4 3 4

2 j 7 4 16 z .. p
tap arco G.R.

4 4

2 4 2 4 2 4

7 16

frantically

(any pitches)

sim.

4 4 4 4 4 4 O w

3 b # 16 j z .
tap arco G.R.

9
G.R.

1 2 4 16 zj

3 4

tap

# J

3 16

1 2 4 16

sim.

sim.

3 4 3 4 3 4 O ..

Vla.

Vlc.

Vln. I

3 B 16 quickly (as possible) as .. O ? 16 J 3

(con sord.)
126

pizz.

O ..

7 16 sim. O .. .. 7 16
senza sord. sul tasto

3 16 sim. .. 3 J 16 O .. O .. O ..

1 2 4 16 sim. 1 2 J 4 16

O ..
pizz.

& & B ? O ..

(con sord.)

O ..
tap

b J O ..
arco

Vln. II

Vla.

R .
o

. R J P 3 sul pont. arco J 3 p O ..

2 4 J 2 4 2 4 2 4 O

. R
arco

normale

Vlc.

O ..

O ..

J sul tasto O ..

~~~~~~~~~~
o 3

3 P

normale

O ..

10
138

Vln. I

&

3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4

Vln. II

& R . B ? O

. J p p n p O .. O ..
sul pont.

junshi // in memoriam: remembering the great war

sul pont.

normale

sul tasto

normale J 3 o o

# F

Vla.

(gliss. harmonics) O

&

O ..

~~~~~3 j p
sul pont.

J p j
o col legno tratto

r .

sul tasto

normale
5

(con sord.)

normale

Vlc.

Vln. I

O ..

O ..

O ..

o O ..

O ..

3 o P
o

normale sul tasto

r b P

149

& & & ?

spiccato

R .

Vln. II

# . J
5

Vla.

r b
senza sord.

4 Oj 4 f # 4 J 4 p 4 4

3 J 4 J p f 3 4 3 4 3 4

#
3

# j # J f p j j O b O # P

7 11 # 16 J . J 8 F 11 16 11 16 .

b j p

@
2 4 2 4 2 4 2 4

Vlc.

. J
5

4 . 4 f

11 b O 16 n . J p

7 sul pont. 8 J J . j 7 j . 8 P p 7 8 .

junshi // in memoriam: remembering the great war

11

156

Vln. I

2 &4 2 &4 2 &4

sul pont.

Vln. II

# sul pont. 9 J . . R J 8 F 5 5 r j 9 . . . 8
normale J

Vla.

Vlc.

Vln. I

? 4 Oj 2
K
165

9 8 9 8

# 3 4 J n normale 3 4 J p 5 j . . . # 4 O 3 O normale b 3 . J . . 4 f O .. O .. 11 b Or 16 p 11 r 16 # 11 16 r p 11 16 R
con sord. normale

7 16

7 J j 4 16 8 7 16 j 7 Oj 16 p 3 r 8

4 b Oj 8
3

5 4
sul tasto

. . . .

normale

5 16 5 16 5 16 5 16

r r 5 4 . 5 r r 4 . O O ## o . 5 4
3

4 8 4 8

5 & 16 .
normale 5 j . & 16 p

6 j 8 6 8 J P 6 bO. 8 . 6 J 8 p

sul pont.

. . O .. .

Vln. II

sul pont. 3 bO 8 R

sul tasto 7 # r 16 p normale 7 # r 16

R p .. .. R .

J j # p J

Vla.

5 & 16 . ? 16 . 5

Vlc.

3 r 8 # p 3 Or 8

con sord.

7 16 7 16

R R . p

sul pont.