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Skempton Poems of Love and War

for SATB unaccompanied Poems of Love and War sets a sequence of nine poems from 'Viking Poetry of Love and War' by Judith Jesch. The war poems are formal and celebratory, making vivid use of figures of speech known as 'kennings', while the love poems are more direct, and sometimes playful. Skempton's imaginative settings bring these striking texts to life, artfully using changing metres to evoke the sound of spoken word.

for SATB unaccompanied
Poems of Love and War sets a sequence of nine poems from 'Viking Poetry of Love and War' by Judith Jesch. The war poems are formal and celebratory, making vivid use of figures of speech known as 'kennings', while the love poems are more direct, and sometimes playful. Skempton's imaginative settings bring these striking texts to life, artfully using changing metres to evoke the sound of spoken word.

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NEW<br />

HORIZONS<br />

2<br />

Secular<br />

SATB unaccompanied<br />

HOWA R D SK E M P TON<br />

<strong>Poems</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Love</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>War</strong>


Composer’s note<br />

<strong>Poems</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Love</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>War</strong> is a sequence <strong>of</strong> settings <strong>of</strong> nine poems from ‘Viking Poetry <strong>of</strong> <strong>Love</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>War</strong>’ by Judith Jesch. The war poems come first <strong>and</strong> are formal <strong>and</strong> celebratory, making vivid use<br />

<strong>of</strong> figures <strong>of</strong> speech known as “kennings”. The love poems are more direct, <strong>and</strong> sometimes playful.<br />

Howard <strong>Skempton</strong><br />

October 2019<br />

For more information about the texts, see:<br />

JESCH, Judith, ed., Viking Poetry <strong>of</strong> <strong>Love</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>War</strong> (The British Museum Press, 2013).<br />

for online perusal only


<strong>Poems</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Love</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>War</strong><br />

1. ‘The earl bore his banner’<br />

Arnor Thordarson (11th century)<br />

trans. Judith Jesch (b. 1954)<br />

HOWARD SKEMPTON<br />

q = c.92<br />

mf<br />

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SOPRANO<br />

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œ ˙ ˙ œ ˙˙ œ œ œ ˙ œ ˙ œœ œ œœ<br />

The earl bore his ban - ner on to an - cient En - glish ground, his<br />

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TENOR<br />

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troop red - dened ea - gle’s tongue as he made flags ad - vance.<br />

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foe <strong>of</strong> boughs spewed smoke <strong>and</strong> threw light to - wards the sky.<br />

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for online perusal only<br />

Flames shot up; halls col - lapsed; his men made re - fu - gees; the<br />

2<br />

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2<br />

4<br />

3<br />

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Music © Oxford University Press 2020. Text by Judith Jesch from ‘Viking Poetry <strong>of</strong> <strong>Love</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>War</strong>’,<br />

The British Museum Press © 2020 The Trustees <strong>of</strong> the British Museum.<br />

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, MUSIC DEPARTMENT, GREAT CLARENDON STREET, OXFORD OX2 6DP<br />

The Moral Rights <strong>of</strong> the Composer have been asserted. Photocopying this copyright material is ILLEGAL.<br />

Duration: 8 mins<br />

Printed in Great Britain


<strong>Poems</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Love</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>War</strong><br />

1. ‘The earl bore his banner’<br />

Arnor Thordarson (11th century)<br />

trans. Judith Jesch (b. 1954)<br />

HOWARD SKEMPTON<br />

q = c.92<br />

mf<br />

°<br />

SOPRANO<br />

& b 2 3<br />

4 4<br />

2 3<br />

4 4<br />

Œ<br />

ALTO<br />

œ ˙ ˙ œ ˙˙ œ œ œ ˙ œ ˙ œœ œ œœ<br />

The earl bore his ban - ner on to an - cient En - glish ground, his<br />

? 2 3<br />

TENOR<br />

¢ b 4 œ ˙ 4 ˙ œ ˙ œ 2 œ<br />

4 œ 3<br />

œ<br />

BASS<br />

4 ˙ œ ˙ œ<br />

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˙ ˙ œ ˙ œœ ˙ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ œ œœ<br />

troop red - dened ea - gle’s tongue as he made flags ad - vance.<br />

? 2 3<br />

2<br />

3 2<br />

¢ b<br />

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œ œœ ˙ œ ˙ ˙ Œ<br />

foe <strong>of</strong> boughs spewed smoke <strong>and</strong> threw light to - wards the sky.<br />

? 2<br />

3<br />

¢ b œ ˙ ˙ ˙ œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙<br />

˙ 4<br />

4<br />

˙˙<br />

Œ<br />

for online perusal only<br />

Flames shot up; halls col - lapsed; his men made re - fu - gees; the<br />

2<br />

4<br />

2<br />

4<br />

3<br />

4<br />

3<br />

4<br />

© Oxford University Press 2020<br />

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, MUSIC DEPARTMENT, GREAT CLARENDON STREET, OXFORD OX2 6DP<br />

The Moral Rights <strong>of</strong> the Composer have been asserted. Photocopying this copyright material is ILLEGAL.<br />

Duration: 8 mins<br />

Printed in Great Britain


4<br />

Egil Skallagrimsson (10th century)<br />

trans. Judith Jesch<br />

2. ‘Sword-edges clashed’<br />

q = c.132<br />

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* pronounced ‘Ayrik’s’<br />

† pronounced ‘Nahri’s’


Arnor Thordarson (11th century)<br />

trans. Judith Jesch<br />

3. ‘Bright sun will become black’<br />

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* pronounced ‘Owstri’s’


6<br />

Arnor Thordarson (11th century)<br />

trans. Judith Jesch<br />

4. ‘Giver <strong>of</strong> captured gold’<br />

q = c.126<br />

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¢ #<br />

this na - tion. Your roy - al - ty re - mains for - ev - er.<br />

˙˙ ˙ 3<br />

4 œ Œ œ ˙ œ<br />

2<br />

4<br />

œ<br />

œ 3 2 3<br />

4<br />

˙˙ œ ˙˙ ˙<br />

4 4 Œ<br />

* pronounced ‘Mayti’


8<br />

Hallfred Ottarsson (10th century)<br />

trans. Judith Jesch<br />

5. ‘I thought, when I caught sight’<br />

SOPRANO<br />

ALTO<br />

°<br />

& # # # # # 3<br />

4<br />

q = c.96<br />

p<br />

œ ˙ œ<br />

2<br />

4<br />

œ œ ˙<br />

œ œ 3 2 3<br />

4 ˙ œ 4 ˙ 4 œ œ<br />

Œ<br />

2<br />

4<br />

I<br />

†<br />

thought, when I caught sight <strong>of</strong> the Gunn* <strong>of</strong> fine lin - en,<br />

TENOR<br />

BASS<br />

?# 3<br />

¢ #<br />

# ## 4<br />

œ ˙ œ<br />

p<br />

2<br />

4<br />

œ œ ˙<br />

œ œ 3 ˙ œœ 2 3<br />

4 4 ˙ 4 œ œ Œ<br />

2<br />

4<br />

8<br />

°<br />

& # # # # # 2<br />

4<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

3<br />

4<br />

˙<br />

œ<br />

2<br />

4<br />

˙ ˙ œ œ<br />

3<br />

4 ˙ œ œ ˙˙<br />

2<br />

4<br />

œ<br />

Œ<br />

that a boat was float - ing on the sea be - tween two isles;<br />

?# 2<br />

¢ #<br />

# ## 4<br />

œ œ 3 ˙ œ ˙<br />

2 ˙ œœ œ 3 ˙ œ 2<br />

4 4<br />

4<br />

œœ ˙ œ<br />

4 Œ<br />

°<br />

16<br />

3<br />

& # # # # # œ œœ ˙ 4<br />

˙<br />

‡<br />

œ ˙ œ<br />

2<br />

4<br />

for online perusal only<br />

3<br />

œ œ 4 ˙ œœ œ œ<br />

Œ<br />

2<br />

4<br />

?#<br />

¢ #<br />

# ##<br />

<strong>and</strong> the seam - Sa - ga gleamed a - midst the stream <strong>of</strong> wo - men,<br />

œ œ ˙ 3<br />

4<br />

˙˙<br />

œ ˙˙ œ 2<br />

œœ œ 3<br />

˙˙ œ œ œœ<br />

4 4<br />

Œ<br />

2<br />

4<br />

23<br />

° 2<br />

& # # # # # 4<br />

œœ<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

˙<br />

3<br />

˙ 4 ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙<br />

œ<br />

œœ<br />

œ<br />

Œ<br />

?# 2<br />

¢ #<br />

# ## 4<br />

like a well - e - quipped war - ship with sail <strong>and</strong> gold - en tack - le.<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

˙<br />

˙<br />

3<br />

4<br />

˙<br />

œ<br />

˙<br />

œ<br />

œ˙ œ œ œœ œœ<br />

Œ<br />

* pronounced ‘Goon’, with ‘oo’ as in ‘book’<br />

† Gunn <strong>of</strong> fine linen = a kenning for woman, meaning ‘headdress-valkyrie’<br />

‡ seam-Saga = a kenning for woman. ‘Saga’ is the name <strong>of</strong> a goddess, with ‘seam’ alluding to the textiles she is wearing.


Anonymous (10th century)<br />

trans. Judith Jesch<br />

6. ‘All the grown girls’<br />

9<br />

SOPRANO<br />

°<br />

&<br />

3<br />

4<br />

q = c.108<br />

mp<br />

2<br />

˙ œ 4 ˙ ˙<br />

All<br />

3<br />

4<br />

œ œ<br />

2<br />

œ 4 œ œ ˙ œ<br />

the grown girls want - ed to go with In - golf,<br />

Œ<br />

3<br />

4<br />

ALTO<br />

3<br />

¢ & 4<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

mp<br />

2<br />

3<br />

œ 4 œ œ ˙ 4 ˙<br />

œ 2<br />

4 œ œ œ œ ˙<br />

3<br />

4<br />

All<br />

the grown girls want - ed to go with In -<br />

for online perusal only<br />

8<br />

°<br />

&<br />

3<br />

4<br />

2<br />

˙<br />

4<br />

œ œ œ<br />

3<br />

4<br />

˙<br />

2 3<br />

2<br />

œ 4 ˙ 4 ˙ œ 4 ˙ œ<br />

those who were <strong>of</strong> age; the wee ones were wretch - ed.<br />

Œ<br />

3<br />

¢ & 4<br />

œ<br />

Œ<br />

2 3<br />

œ<br />

4<br />

œ<br />

4<br />

œ œ œ<br />

œ<br />

2 3<br />

2<br />

4 œ œ 4 ˙ œ 4 œ œ ˙<br />

- golf, those who were <strong>of</strong> age; the wee ones were wretch -<br />

15<br />

°<br />

&<br />

˙ ˙ œ œ<br />

˙ 3<br />

2<br />

3<br />

4 œ ˙ 4 œ œ œ œ ˙ 4<br />

œ<br />

‘I, too,’ said the old wo - man, ‘want to go with In - golf, as<br />

Œ<br />

œ<br />

¢ &<br />

œ<br />

Œ<br />

˙ ˙ œ œ<br />

3<br />

4<br />

˙ œ 2<br />

3<br />

4 ˙ œ œ œ œ 4 ˙ œ<br />

- ed. ‘I, too,’ said the old wo - man, ‘want to go with In - golf,<br />

24<br />

°<br />

&<br />

2<br />

4<br />

œ œ œ ˙ ˙<br />

3<br />

2<br />

˙ ˙ 4 œ œ œ 4 œ œ œ<br />

long as I have two teeth still wob - bl - ing in my gums.’<br />

Œ<br />

¢ &<br />

Œ<br />

2<br />

œ<br />

4<br />

œ œ œ ˙ ˙<br />

3<br />

2<br />

˙ 4 ˙ œ 4 œ œ œ<br />

Œ<br />

as long as I have two teeth still wob - bl - ing in...’


10<br />

Anon. (from the Poetic Edda)<br />

trans. Judith Jesch<br />

7. ‘In Gymir’s gardens’<br />

TENOR<br />

°<br />

& b 3<br />

4<br />

‹<br />

q = c.120<br />

mp<br />

œ œ<br />

2<br />

3<br />

˙ 4 ˙ œ œ<br />

4 ˙<br />

œ 2 3<br />

4 ˙ 4 ˙ œ œ Œ œ<br />

2<br />

4<br />

In<br />

Gy-mir’s*<br />

gar - dens I saw a girl just for me; her<br />

BASS<br />

? 3<br />

¢ b 4<br />

œ œ ˙ 2 ˙ 3<br />

4 œ œ 4 ˙ œ<br />

mp<br />

2<br />

4<br />

˙ 3<br />

4 ˙ œ œ Œ œ<br />

2<br />

4<br />

for online perusal only<br />

8<br />

°<br />

& b 2<br />

4<br />

‹<br />

˙ ˙ œ œ ˙ œ œ 3 ˙ 2 3<br />

4 œ 4 œ œ 4 œ Œ œ<br />

mf<br />

arms shone, <strong>and</strong> from them all the air <strong>and</strong> all the sea. That<br />

? 2<br />

¢ b 4<br />

˙ ˙ œ œ ˙ œ œ 3 ˙ œ 2 œ œ 3 œ<br />

4<br />

4 4 Œ œ<br />

mf<br />

16<br />

°<br />

& b<br />

‹<br />

œ 2<br />

œ œ ˙ œ 4 œ œ<br />

œ œ ˙ 3 ˙ œ ˙<br />

4<br />

œ œ Œ œ<br />

?<br />

¢ b<br />

girl is more mine than a - ny o - ther young man’s, from days <strong>of</strong> yore; not<br />

œ 2<br />

œ œ ˙ œ 4 œ œ œ<br />

œ ˙ 3 ˙ œ ˙<br />

4<br />

œ œ Œ<br />

œ<br />

24<br />

°<br />

& b<br />

‹<br />

œ œ œ ˙ œ 2 3<br />

2 3<br />

4 ˙ 4 œ œ œ 4 œ œ 4<br />

œ œ<br />

Œ<br />

one <strong>of</strong> the gods or elves want us to be to - ge - ther.<br />

?<br />

¢ b<br />

œ œ œ ˙ œ 2 3<br />

2 3<br />

4 ˙ 4 œ œ œ 4 œ œ 4 œ œ Œ<br />

* pronounced ‘Gimir’s’, with ‘gi’ as in ‘gift’


Rognvald Kali Kolsson, Earl <strong>of</strong> Orkney (12th century)<br />

trans. Judith Jesch<br />

8. ‘It’s a fact, wise woman’<br />

11<br />

SOPRANO<br />

ALTO<br />

°<br />

& bb b 2<br />

4<br />

q = c.96<br />

p<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

3<br />

˙<br />

˙ ˙˙ 4 œ<br />

œ Œ 2<br />

4 œ<br />

œ<br />

3<br />

4<br />

˙<br />

œ<br />

˙<br />

œ<br />

2<br />

4<br />

TENOR<br />

BASS<br />

? 2<br />

¢ b b b 4<br />

It’s<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

p<br />

a fact, wise wo - man, that your hair is pret - ti -<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

˙ œ œ<br />

˙<br />

˙˙ 3<br />

4 œ Œ<br />

2<br />

4<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

3<br />

4<br />

˙<br />

œ<br />

˙<br />

œ<br />

2<br />

4<br />

8<br />

°<br />

&b b b 2<br />

4<br />

œ œ ˙<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

3<br />

˙ 4<br />

˙ œ<br />

˙<br />

œ ˙ œ<br />

œ<br />

Œ<br />

œ<br />

2<br />

4<br />

? 2<br />

¢ b b b 4<br />

- er than that <strong>of</strong> the la - dies with locks like Fro - di’s meal. The<br />

œ œ<br />

œ<br />

˙ œ<br />

œ ˙ 3 ˙<br />

4 œ<br />

˙<br />

œ<br />

˙<br />

˙<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

Œ<br />

œ œ<br />

2<br />

4<br />

16<br />

°<br />

&b b b<br />

2<br />

4<br />

˙<br />

œœ<br />

œ<br />

for online perusal only<br />

˙<br />

˙<br />

˙<br />

3<br />

4<br />

˙<br />

œ<br />

˙<br />

œ<br />

2<br />

4<br />

˙<br />

˙<br />

3<br />

4<br />

?<br />

¢ b b b<br />

2<br />

4<br />

prop <strong>of</strong> the hawk - field* lets hair like gold - en silk fall<br />

˙ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙˙<br />

˙<br />

3<br />

4<br />

˙ œ œ ˙˙<br />

œ<br />

2<br />

4<br />

˙<br />

˙<br />

3<br />

4<br />

25<br />

° 3<br />

&b b b 4<br />

œ œ œ 2 3<br />

4 ˙ 4<br />

œ<br />

Π2<br />

œ 4 ˙<br />

œ œ ˙<br />

˙<br />

œ<br />

Œ<br />

on<br />

- to her shoul - ders; I red - den the ea - gle’s claws.<br />

? 3<br />

¢ b b b 4<br />

œ<br />

œ œ œ 2 3<br />

4<br />

˙˙ 4 œ Œ œ<br />

2<br />

4<br />

˙ œ œ ˙<br />

˙<br />

œ<br />

Œ<br />

* a kenning for woman


12<br />

Anonymous (from the Poetic Edda)<br />

trans. Judith Jesch<br />

9. ‘Praise the day at evening’<br />

q = c.88<br />

mp<br />

°<br />

SOPRANO 3<br />

& b<br />

ALTO<br />

4 œ<br />

œ<br />

hum<br />

p<br />

TENOR ? 3<br />

¢ b<br />

˙ <br />

BASS<br />

4<br />

5<br />

°<br />

&b<br />

˙<br />

sim.<br />

?<br />

¢ b<br />

˙œ<br />

Œ<br />

9<br />

°<br />

&b<br />

?<br />

¢ b<br />

˙œ<br />

Œ<br />

Praise<br />

œ j<br />

œ<br />

J<br />

the day at eve - ning, the wife when she’s cre - ma - ted, a<br />

∑<br />

œ œ œ<br />

œ œ œ<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

p<br />

hum<br />

sword when it’s test - ed,<br />

a girl when she’s mar - ried,<br />

Œ<br />

œ˙<br />

sim.<br />

œ˙<br />

œ œ<br />

j J<br />

œ<br />

Œ<br />

œ ‰<br />

˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ ˙˙<br />

Œ<br />

œ<br />

j<br />

J<br />

ice when you’ve crossed it, beer when you’ve drunk it. Chop<br />

Œ<br />

hum<br />

˙œ<br />

for online perusal only<br />

œ˙<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

˙œ<br />

Œ<br />

œ j<br />

œ<br />

J<br />

œ œ œ œ<br />

œ œ œ œ œ<br />

Œ<br />

œ˙<br />

hum<br />

˙ œ œ œ œ Œ<br />

˙œ<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

œ˙<br />

œ œ œ<br />

œ œ œ œ œ œ<br />

Œ<br />

œ˙<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

Œ


13<br />

13<br />

°<br />

& b<br />

˙<br />

œ œ œ ‰ œ<br />

j<br />

J<br />

œ œ œ<br />

œ œ œ<br />

œ<br />

j<br />

J<br />

œ œ œ œ<br />

wood in the wind, row out to sea in good wea - ther, speak<br />

?<br />

¢ b<br />

˙œ<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

œ˙<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

˙œ<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

œ˙<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

17<br />

°<br />

& b<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

œ œ œ<br />

Œ ‰ j œ œ<br />

J<br />

œ œ<br />

j J œ<br />

to a girl in the dark; the day’s eyes are ma - ny; you<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

?<br />

¢ b<br />

˙œ<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

œ˙<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

˙œ<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

œ˙<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

21<br />

°<br />

&b<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

œ j<br />

œ<br />

J<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

œ<br />

œ ‰<br />

œ<br />

j<br />

J<br />

˙ œ œ œ œ ‰ œ<br />

j<br />

J<br />

need a ship for glid - ing, a shield for pro - tec - tion, a<br />

?<br />

¢ b<br />

˙œ<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

for online perusal only<br />

œ˙<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

˙œ<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

œ˙<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

25<br />

°<br />

&b<br />

˙ ‰ œ<br />

j J<br />

œ œ ‰ j œ œ<br />

J<br />

œ œ<br />

j J œ<br />

sword for strik - ing,<br />

a mai - den for kiss - ing.<br />

œ<br />

Œ<br />

¢<br />

˙œ<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

œ˙<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

˙œ<br />

Œ<br />

Œ<br />

? b<br />

September 2019<br />

œ˙<br />

hum<br />

Œ<br />

Œ

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