Res Cogitans, by Jonathan Howard Katz

Description

RES COGITANS (2024) by Jonathan Howard Katz

for mezzo-soprano and drone

7 pages (score)

Vocal range: A3 – G#5

9 in. x 12 in. bound score

Program note:

Res Cogitans is an unusual addition to my body of work. It is meditative, measured, and, throughout most of its duration, resistant to the sort of forward motion and harmonic tension that I usually strive for. One might suggest that the self-consciousness of the text (the second most famous of all the Descartes texts) would hinder any mystical insight, as these are usually associated with a release or disintegration of the ego, but I will leave this question open for the listener.

Note:

The drone may be produced by the same vocalist (humming) with the aid of a loop pedal, but otherwise should not be an electronic sound. An organ, bowed string instrument, singing bowl, or two or more vocalists stagger-breathing on a hum would be among the other options. In any event, the drone may begin up to around ten seconds before the main vocal line enters, and will ideally fade out at the end as written or after a few more seconds. The vocal line was written for a single mezzo-soprano but may also be performed by multiple voices in unison.

This work is available for retail purchase from Theodore Front Musical Literature.
This work is available for institutional purchase from Harrassowitz (OttoEditions) and Theodore Front Musical Literature.
PDF score coming soon!

ISMN 979-0-800356-12-4