Karen Keyhani

" . . . and His Cuff was Damped with Tears"

(for String Quartet)

Tehran - 2013

General Abbreviations and Symbols

= Slightly lower or higher the intonation, which is a not precisely determined size, and may
reach a maximum of a maximum of a quarter-tone.

= Lowest note possible , Highest note possible.

= Quick crescendo at the very end or vice versa.

= Crescendo dal niente; Diminuendo al niente.

= Change gradually from one sound or way of playing to another.

= Behind the bridge.

s.p , s.t

= sul Pont , sul tasto.

l.v

= Let vibrate.

* All other instructions are written in the score.

Duration: Approximately 10 minutes
Note:

And His Cuff Was Damped with Tears "for String Quartet (in one movement), is composed
in the Summer of 2012 inspired by Ahmad Shamloo from his poem Said the Canary. The
original motivation for writing the piece came to me during the first live performance of
Chahargan Ensemble (a Persian string quartet consists of: kamancheh I & II,alto gheichak, bass
gheichak) in Tehran, where I was an audience to. Apart from the stunning sonic quality of the
Persian string quartet in terms of timbre and microtonal abilities, what attracted my attention
most was the true potentials of experimentation in the realm of contemporary music, both in its
style and in techniques for writing specifically for Persian instruments. After recording the piece I
recomposed the piece for western string quartet. The melodic and rhythmic elements of this piece
are derived from the Persian traditional Radif system.
The hollow, sad look in her eyes, few seconds before they burst into tears, never left my sight
throughout the movement . . .
www.karenkeyhani.com

". . . and His cuff was damp with Tears . . ."

(for string quartet)
Karen Keyhani

Tempo rubato  = ca.80

1
Violin I G

4 !5 ?

(l.v.)
J

Viola

J (l.v.)
pizz.

Violin II

Violoncello

pizz.

4 E5 ?

5k

ca.40"

s.t.

s.p.

!
"

'

'

1
Vln.I G

'

J

()
()
(change bowing imperceptibly)

:
4 E5

"

5k

 '

Vla.

Vc.

"

J

:
4 !5




!55
!! 55



!55
!! 55

pizz.

GGGGGGGG

pizz.

GGGGGGGG

 

Vla.

Vc.

 = ca.60

G 

Vln.II

J



5 = 
5
5 E5

!
5

!5


arco, s.p.

!
5

!'
'

'
'

!'
'

'
'

(change bowing imperceptibly)

!
5


!5k

5 :

J


! 5k

5 :

J




5

J


!5k


5

(lunga)

(l.v.)


5

 5 : 5 5 : !5 5 : 5 B

(lunga)


0

ca.5''

ca.5''

ca.5''


0

(lunga)


0


B





BB

J

BB

 BB

BB

BB


B
B

J

5 5

J

5 : 5 5: !5 5: 5B



! 5k

5k


0

IV
arco

J

ca.5''


4


5k

(lunga)

III

4 5


J
pizz.



arco

s.p.


5k
!5
J
arco (change bowing imperceptibly)
s.p.

k

!55
J

5:

B
B

arco, s.p.

4 !5


 

5 !5 4 !5

ord.

D5k

s.t

J

1 
Vln.I
G
13

'
'

J

4
s.t

J

2
'
'

"

J

'

'

III

III

JJ

JJ

III

Vln.II

!'"

s.p.

"

"

"

"

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G
4

Vln.I


4
G  !5
!5

Vln.II

pizz.

J
pizz.

  5 !5 4

Vla.

J
pizz.

  !5
Vc. 2
 !5 4

= 5

= 5

pizz.

17

J

J

= !5

J

= 5


?


?


4 ?

arco


! 5k

!5 :
5 5 :!5 5 : 5



?

21

Vla.

Vc.

!B

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J

J

Vc.


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!5k

5 :
J

 =
5


!5k

5 : 5 5: 5 5: 5 B


5 5 :
5 5 : !5 5: 5 5: 5
s.p.


k
!5


!5k


5 =

Vla.

 
5k

E5



ord.

!5


5 =


5

!5 :

J

5 :


E5 5 :

!5 5 :

5: !5 5: 5 5
5


!5k

E5

B


! 5k

5:


5



J

J

5
5


5


5

!5 :
5 5 : !5 5 : 5 !B


5k

!5

ord.


!5k

1
G
G

!5

 5 : 5 5 : 5 5 : 5 B
2

arco

5: 5 5: 5

5: 5 5: 5 5: 5 B


!5k

espr.

G !5 : 5 5 : 5 5 : 5 B

Vln.II

Vc.


! 5k


5k

Vla.

E5

!5

!B

24

Vln.II

!B

s.t.

2 B

1
Vln.I G




5 5k 5: 5 5 :!5 5 : 5

J

1
Vln.I
G

Vln.II



arco


!5k

!5 :

EB

1
k
Vln.I
G 5  B

. 

!5 !5
!5 !5
M !5M




30

J

Vln.II


 5k

. 
!5 !5 !5M !5

M
!5

B

J


5k



 B

Vla.


!5

J

Vlc.


5k

J

pizz.

. !5 !5 !5M !5
M




!5 ! 5
J
pizz.

33

J

Vln.II

M
! BM

M
E BM

arco
 M
Vlc.
2 !5k EBM

S
4

G 5

 E5

S
4

S
4

Vla.

Vlc.

2 E 5


 =
5M

ca.3''

1
Vln.I
G 5

M
Vln.II

J

ord.

J

36


 =
5M

ca.3''

J

S
4

ca.3''

J

ord.

arco


! 5k


 =
5M

J

Vla.

J

ord.

arco


 5k


 =
5M

ca.3''

ord.

J

J

M
! 5  5 5 5:M

J

M
E 5 ! 5 5 5:M

J

M
E5 !5 5 5:M

J

!5 : 5 5M !5M


!5 : 5 5M !5M


E5 :


!5 !5M E5M


E 5 : ! 5 ! 5M E 5M



S
?
S
?
S
?
S
?

5
ord.


 =
5M

J ca.2''

 =
5M

ca.2''

J

ord.

5
ord.

!B


!B


 =
5M

J
ca.2''

 =
5M

ca.2''

5

5

5


!B


5

J

!5

5


!5 : !5 5k 5 :


5k


5k

J sub.

!5 : !5 5k5 :


J sub.

E5 : E5 5k 5 :


!5k


4

4

ca.4''


4

ca.4''


4

ca.4''

J sub.

5
B
J J

5
B

J

5
B

J

E5 : E 5 5k 5: 5 B

 J sub. J J


!5k

J

!B

!5

ca.4''

J

(l.v.)

ord.

IV

J

!5 ! 5

M
! 5  5 5 5:M

(l.v.)


1 arco
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G
 MM
 5k ! B

J
pizz.

J

(l.v.)

!5 ! 5

= 5

(l.v.)

pizz.



. 

!5 !5
!5 !5 ! 5
M M




B

!5 !5

=
"
=
"
=
"
=

"

5 :

!5 5M E5M

espress.

1
Vln.I
G

39 l'istesso, non rubato

Vlc.

!5 :

Vla.

espress.

!5
5



!5 : !5 5
5 5
5 5 : 5
M M
! 5 5M ! 5M 5 5 5 : 5
J

!5
5 5: 5 5 EB

J

J







 5 5 
 5 5:
5 :


5
5 !5
J

J

espress.

5
5 5 :
5 !5 : 5 5 :5!5

J

J

!5M
5 5 5:

!5 : !5 5M

Vln.II

J


!5 E5

J

J


1
Vln.I
G

!5D5 5: 5 !5 5

43

Vla.

5
5 : !5!5 : 5 5 :



!5k

!5 :

5
5
J

5 : !5


!5

J

Vlc.

J


2
5 5 5 : 5 E5 :
J



 5

J

J


!5k

5 :

!5 :

J

J

5D5 5:



5 :5 5 :5
5

J

J

5:


E5 5
5 5:

5
5 E5 :

 J



5 : E5
5M 5M



5 !5

J





5 5k 
5 :

J

. 5M D5M 4

!5 !5 : !5 5M
5M


J

G 5

Vln.II

!5 :5 5 :5 !5k 5 :


!5 B

! 5 
 5

J




46

J

Vln.II

!5 :

 !5 :
J


!5k

Vla.

Vlc.


! 5k

J


 5

5 5 !5 :

5
5
5
5
5 5 : 5
M M

5k

J

5 5M ! 5M 
 5 5 5 :
J

!5 5M !5M B
!5 :

 J


E5 !5

J

!5
J

5:

E5

pizz.

M

5 = !!55 =

!! 55

GGGGGGGG

1
Vln.I
G !5
5 5:

5k

J

k
5

!5 5M !5M EB
E5 E5
J

!5 :

:
EE 55 :

J

!5 !5 :


arco


!5k

J

5 : E5 5 :E5 !5

 J


5

5 !5 E5

 


!5k


!5


5k

!5 5: 5

J

55 5: 5 ! 5

J

5 B

J

5 : 5E5 :!5E5 : 5EB

J



pizz.




4


4

ca.4''

J
5
55
5


4

ca.4''

J
5
55
5

ca.4''


4

GGGGGGGG

!5 : ! 5 5 E 5
M M



 !5
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!5

GGGGGGGG

J
5
55
5

GGGGGGGG

Vlc.

 !5
 !!55
!5



5
55
5

Senza Misura
Tempo Rubato  = 60



GGGGGGGG

J
pizz.



 !5
 !! 55
!5

GGGGGGGG

! 5 :
5 5M ! 5
M

 !5 :
4
E5 5M !5M

J
pizz.



Vla.

GGGGGGGG

Vln.II

pizz.

GGGGGGGG

 !5
 !! 55
!5

GGGGGGGG

1
G
5 : !5 5M E5M 4
49

Vln.I

ca.4''



EB :

sul pont.
arco

J

sul pont.
arco

!B :

J


1
G

ord.

E5 5

54

Vln.I

(sul pont.)

G !5 5 E5 B

Vln.II

Vla.

Vlc.

!5 B

J

5 5 !5 B
J

58



 5




5 5 5 5M

5 !5 B
J

5 5 B
J

5 !5 B
J

"

ord.

s.t.



ord.

s.t.

!5 5 E5 B

!5 B

ord.

s.t.



!5
!!! 555

J

!5
!! 55
!5

J

!!!555
!5

pizz.

J

!5
!! 55
!5

pizz.

J

arco

 lagrimando

5
arco
s.p.

!5


arco
s.p.

!5

!5

5



"

S
?

"

M M
5
5 5 5
5 5 5
5 5 5 5




lagrimando

s.t.
M M
!5
5 5 5 5 5 : 5 5
5 5


5 E5 B
5 !5 B


arco
s.p.

S
?



S
s.p.
4 5 : !5
5 5 : 5

!5 5 !5 B

pizz.

pizz.

s.t.



E5 5

GGGGGGGG

 5
Vlc.
2

GGGGGGGG

Vla.

GGGGGGGG

Vln.II



GGGGGGGG

1 5: 5 5
5 5 5
Vln.I
G
G E5

J


5 =
"

(sul pont.)

ord.


5 =
"

(sul pont.)

J

E5 5

!5 : E5 5M !5M 4

5 =

"

!5 B

!5

5 !5 B


61

5 !5 !5
5 5M !55
!5

!5
ord.

pizz.

ord.

G EB

Vln.II

Vla.

Vlc.

!B

5 !5

5 E5

5 :
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5M : !!55
!! 55

pizz.

J
pizz.

!!55
!!55

J

!!55
!! 55

55
55

!'

J

G '

E'

J

J

M M

 5!5 5 5 5 5 : 5 5 5 5 5 5

Vlc.

B:

J

EB :

4


!'

E'

J

!'

55
55

ord.

E 5 !5

E'

'

!5 E5

'

E'

J
arco

arco
!
5 !
5 ::
5

J



EB



4 4 !5 5 :: 5

arco

arco

!5 E5

E'

'

J



!'

arco

J

E'

J

J

'

ord.

J melanconico

67

E'

J

GGGGGGGG

J

pizz.

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J

Vla.

M
BM

55
55

GGGGGGGG

 M
Vlc.
2 
BM:

Vln.II

ord.

J

J

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J

1
Vln.I
G

J
pizz.

M
 BM

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M
BM

J

J

!55
!! 55

5 : 
5 =

55
55

GGGGGGGG

J

 !BMM:

5 !5

J

Vla.

5 5

GGGGGGGG

G MM

B :

s.t.



1
G 4

5 !5

2 !B

Vln.II

5 E5

ord.

64

Vln.I

5 4

J
s.t.

M M
5 !5 5 5 E5 5: 5 5
5 5 5

ord.

s.t.

ord.



J



!5 :E5 5 5: 5:
s.t.
arco

GGGGGGGG

1 5
Vln.I
G


B

J melanconico

EB
B !B

B:

J



! B !B

ord.

EB

J

B E B !B
J


4

ca.3"

ord.

"
ca.3"

4

B:

"

4



ca.3"

EB :

ord.

"



ca.3"



4
5
5
5
!
5
5:

5
:
5M M M
55555 5



1
Vln.I
G ?
71

   =
E 5M 5M 5M 5M

=
! 5M 5M 5M 5  5 5:! 5 5 :! 5 5

M
J

 
?
Vla. 
!E!55E555555=
?
J
& & & &
 
 ?
E5 5 5 5 =
Vlc.
2
! 5M 5M 5M 5M

Vln.II

J



J

!5
!! 55
!5

5
55
5

4 EB !B

pizz.

GGGGGGGG

4 B !B

J

5
55
5

GGGGGGGG

   = ?
5M 5M 5M 5M

!5
!!55
!5

GGGGGGGG

pizz.

GGGGGGGG


E5M 5M 5M 5M = ?

$ =:
5M

! 5M 5M 5M 5
5 5 5 5 5
5 5



J

arco

J

J

arco

J

74
! 5M 5M 5M
5 !5
5 :E5
5 :!5 5M
M !5M 5M
5 E5
5 : 5
5 : 5 5M
1
!
5
MM M
M MM
Vln.I
 = 4
G 4
 = !5M 5M 5M 5 !5E5 5 5 5 !5!5M 5M 5M 5 !5E5 5 5 5 !5

J

Vln.II

Vla.

Vlc.



J



()

E5M 5M 5M 5 !5E5M 5M 5M 5 !5

G 4 !5M 5M 5M 5 !5 5 :!5 5 :!5 5 = 4 !5!5M 5M 5 5 5 : 5 5 : 5 5 = ?

M


M

M
J

J

 '

2 E'

!'

'

!'

E'



EB

J

!'

!'

J

!B

molto cresc.

!B

molto cresc.


ca.3"
77
I !






1
Vln.I
G II !5 5 5 5 = 4 ?

JJ

=
E
5555
Vln.II G II
=

JJ

=

Vla.
!!5555=
JJ



III     =
Vlc.
2
IV ! 5 5 5 5
I

JJ

E5M 5M 5M
5 5M !5M 5M 5M 5M = 4


J

ca.3"

4 
?
4 ?

4 
?
4 ?


5k


5k

ca.3"

ca.3"


!5

J

J


!5

!5

!5

.

!5 !5
M

E5M

.
!5M

E5M


!5





= 4
E5M 5M 5M 5
!
5
5
5
5
E
5

M M M M M


J

1
G

!5M 5M 5M 5 !5 E5M 5M 5M 5 5: E5M 5M 5M 5M

= 4
!5

E5M 5M 5M 5M

= 4

= 4
! 5M 5M 5M 5 5 E5M 5M 5M 5 5: 5 !5M 5M 5M 5M

!5M 5M 5M 5M = 4

80

Vln.I

Vln.II

 !5 !5 5 :




!5k

arco

Vla.

Vlc.






!5k


5


!5k

!
5 !
5 5 :



!5k

arco


5



5 :



5 :



5 5:

5 5: 5 B

5 5:

5 5: 5 B



"

"


1
Vln.I
G
83

Vln.II


! 5k

!5 :




5 5k 5:

5 5 : !5 5 : 5 ! B

J

!B

E5

5 : 5 5 : 5 !B



Vla.

Vlc.


!5k

!5 :
5 5 : !5 5 : 5


!5



J

E5

B

J


86

5M ! 5M

?
?
?

(l.v.)

pizz.

!
5 ! 5

J
pizz.

!
5 ! 5

J
pizz.

!
5
J

!
5

(l.v.)

(l.v.)

(l.v.)

GGGGGGGG

5

GGGGGGGG

Vla.




5


!! 22
!! 22

!! 22
!! 22

!! 22
!!22

!2
!!! 222

GGGGGGGG

G !B

5k

Vln.II

Vlc.

pizz.
!
5 !
5

GGGGGGGG

1
Vln.I
G


4

ca.7"


4

ca.7"


4

ca.7"


4

ca.7"

10

1
G ?

89

Vln.I

5  5 
5

()

arco

G ?

Vln.II

E
M

5

arco

Vla.


!5 =





Vlc.

 

M

M

!5 =  =



1
G 

5 5 5 

Vln.II

Vla.

E
M
5

G B:
 


Vlc.




2 0





M


M


E
M
0

!'



 
5M
M



 =
M =

5M




M
:
  
0
! B"

B

:

J

M

M




J

M

(III)

5 5 5    0




M
!5


97

Vln.I









:

! B"



E
M
  :

()

 
5M

 =

5

M




E
M
M
5

5 5 5 

(II)

5  5    0
5

:
G 





Vla.



(IV)

1
G B
"

Vln.II

:

arco
(III)

93

Vln.I


Vlc.
2 0


" "

0
0
0


11

1 
Vln.I
G

:
5 5 5       

100

E :

Vla.

Vlc.

 
5M
M




! B"

J

Vln.II


 =
M =
M =
!5M



:

E
M
M
5



M
 !5 =


0
'

J



J

M
M
M

    

5  5   
5

M
 =

M
 =



J


ca. x'
1                         ad lib.
Vln.I













G
104

Vln.II

Vlc.

! B"

1 0
Vln.I
G
111

Vln.II

Vla.

Vlc.



E
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M E
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M E
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M

M
  =

Vla.

E0

M
 =

M
 =

B



M
 =

M
 =
0

M
 =

M
 =

ad lib.

M
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 ad lib.
 =


(behind the Bridge)

(behind the Bridge)





2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 ad lib.




0
0

Duration : + 10'

"
"
"
"