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Mysteries from the Ancient Nahuatl. 1984.

Duration: 49'

Download full score in 7 segments

An extended work for large forces: Chorus, soloists, instrumentalists, electronic tape, with narrator, with texts from “Ancient nahuatl Poetry” by Daniel Brinton (he translated 14-15 cent. Nahuatl PreColumbian poetry in this book).    Can either be performed as a concert work, or as a staged tableaux.  Everything necessary to perform this work is on this page, but parts would need to be copied from the score.  "Mysteries" has never been performed in its entirety. However, parts of it have been extensively performed and are available separately on this web site as complete works in their own right. They are:

"Mysteries" is in five large sections as follows:

  • I. The intoxication of the flowers

  • II. Hymn to the All-Mother

  • III. Incantation

  • IV. Ritual of the Dawn

  • V. Toward the Hereafter

Chronology of composition:

  • 1973: Begun in spring, at Indiana Univ. South Bend studios.  6/23/73. I & II done.  1st version.

 

  • 5/16/76.  2nd version of tape. IUSB Studio.  The main instrument used was the Synthi 100.

 

  • Summer, 1978.  Sand Lake cabin in Snowy Range of Wyoming.1st version of score blocked out on graph paper. Brought 2 tape decks, primitive equipment.  Electricity on only a few hours/day.

 

  • Summer 79, MacDowell Colony. Pretty much threw out last year’s material and started over (score). Did 1st part.1980.  Received $4000 summer research grant from Univ of Texas to work on it.

 

  • Fall, 1979-80: Adapted this, plus some of last part to the Excerpts (performed on European tour in ‘81).

 

  • Summer, 1981. MacDowell Colony. Mainly worked on Ritual of Dawn, at first doing the Ixtlan version (for 2 pianos)

 

  • 1982: Ritual of Dawn and Ixtlan finished.  These, plus the Excerpts version, were the only portions ever to be performed.

 

  • 1983. Received NEA grant to finish it.

  • 1984. MacDowell Colony. Completely redid sketch of Finale. Finished whole sketch.

 

  • Summer ‘84.  Finished the whole thing & mixed down the tape. The tape part was largely done in South bend Studio up to 1976.  Some additional work done on it at Univ. Texas -Austin studio and McLean's home studio in Austin.

 

Basically this was a huge effort which resulted in very little actual performance. Choral portions were rather ambitious, utilizing several simultaneous conductors, etc., and each part out of sync rhythmically with the other.

The free materials provided here (complete parts, stereo audio and score) will enable a performer to realize a complete performance. All I ask is that you cll me at 518 658 3595 and send me a program as attachment at pbmclean2@gmail.com.

Download Performance stereo file tp merge with live chorus, soloists and instruments. To download, click on "Download single"

Permission granted for artistic, non commercial and educational use

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