INSTRUCTIONS
Robert Ashley
SOUND
The Soloist is given a “focus” pitch for each of the fifteen sections of the piece.
“Focus” means singing “in tune with” the given pitch but using the inflections of
Rede. The vocal sound is a kind of inflected chanting.
Section and focus pitch: 1-F / 2-C / 3-Db / 4-Eb / 5-Ab / 6-Gb /
7-F / 8-C / 9-Db / 10-Eb / 11-Ab / 12-Gb / 13-F / 14-E (natürlich) / 15-F
The Solo vocal style should be as “casual” as possible; das ist, it should be as much
like speech as possible but focused on a sung pitch. This style is a kind of “crooning.”
This means that the sounds of “extended vocal techniques” are not appropriate to the
meaning of the text. Auch, the Soloist uses the microphone rather than “projecting”
the voice. This means that the vocal sound is rather softer than in traditional singing.
The tempo of the Solo line is roughly the tempo of the title spoken slowly and
evenly at a natural rate.
WORLD WAR THREE / JUST THE HIGHLIGHTS.
(While the word “the” in the title is usually spoken as an unaccented pick-up to
the next word, in the singing of the solo line that syllable is treated as a beat that
is equal in stress and duration to the other seven.)
12 BLUME 101 (2012), S. 12–21.
© 2012 Robert Ashley
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WORLD WAR III
JUST THE HIGHLIGHTS
Robert Ashley
[F]
ICH
/
Op-
do
It’s
/
gets
bei
/
vents
Though
ma
/
/
/
ich –
Tod
/
welche
A
[C]
Some
/
ma-
San
went
Sie
Bin
Das
er-
/
ex-
ich-
/
Die
Die
/
es ist
gine
In
würde
/
von-
/
/
/
fa-
Re-
sur-
jor
Fran-
A-
don’t
nicht
/
A
/
Akt-
von
/
Erste
hoch
/
hart
Das
/
/
Reich-
A
führen
Die
Geräusche
na-
bei
Die
Ist
Die
ly
A
ex-
/
Schule
com-
/
Die
Die
sub-
ard
Das
Zu
Hier-
/
tic
li-
prised
pa-
cis-
long
know
gion
/
trons
co
mit
/
alle
San
plan-
Ring.
/
/
cit-
meet-
/
mit-
/
hoch
Bay
scribe
Wag-
suf-
hap-
af-
mehr
ich-
/
/
/
Op-
Die
what
sur-
Fran-
ning
/
Die
/
ing
ing
/
tee.
Zu
/
A-
/
ner’s
fer-
pi-
ter
wie
von
prised
cis-
/
/
kind
Das
/
von
/
/
/
fly-
Re-
Zu
/
ing
ness
/
/
A
nor
Das
von
er-
handeln.
they’re
Bin
/
/
A
/
get-
/
co
Zu
/
von
/
/
/
e-
/
ich-
ers
A
/
/
Und
In
/
/
aus
ICH
/
Die
/
/
ting
ASHLEY / World War III Just the Highlights 13
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(
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/
rea-
Von-
five
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alt
verlassen
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Weg
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Bin
cis-
aß
mehr
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ly
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A
von-
ers
Re-
pro-
/
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tours:
/
Neu
hav-
enz
/
/
box
dol-
dol-
/
/
Sohn
ter
min-
Und
man
Die
Die
/
A-
who’s
sur-
co
did
/
mehr
/
Profi-
Für
Die
In
fer-
von
A
ich-
Re-
Für
/
In
York
ing
prob-
/
Ist
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lar
lars
/
Und
/
/
utes
pow-
/
Gattin
Also-
(Or
round
zählen-
prised
Op-
nicht
/
mu-
/
duc-
In-
San
San
ing
/
/
enz
mem-
In-
/
Nash-
Ci-
/
lems
diese
pack-
/
seats
/
bei
/
Zu
Die
Die
er-
can
/
ziell
/
von-
ing.)
/
er-
kommen
cre-
si-
mehr
tiv
Haltung,
Fran-
Fran-
Die
/
ein
/
ber
Haltung,
Der
ville,
ty,
manche
von
/
ing
mit
/
/
Die
Sie
care.
Erste
ve-
voll
split
Zu
/
/
pend-
/
Das
A
hoch
A-
cal
/
/
/
/
/
ry
Und
/
/
/
Die
ing
/
Die
di-
mit
tiv
/
fi-
/
/
co
co
er-
Die
er-
würde
mit
/
/
cis-
cis-
op-
/
op-
Sie
/
/
Grand Ole
Die
/
welche
/
/
/
its
/
/
Tage,
Die
/
zwei-
/
für
/
Du
Wenn
ry
ve-
In-
have
/
für-
rich
bus-
/
clean
mess.
oth-
/
/
San
rec-
/
/
/
nan-
[Db]
plan.
clos-
Op-
/
A
Bay
A
/
plea-
guid-
Op-
Met
/
au-
eigen
/
bal-
hun-
twen-
get
Zu,
NEIN
/
ty-
/
j
Und
hoch
/
er
An
ICH
Fran-
tor-
A
Und
Und
ziell-
/
ing
er-
Und
lov-
A-
ex-
/
Sicher.
Hrsg
ry
In
Ist
di-
/
Und
lot
dred
ty
Dort
14 BLUME 101
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(
1
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2
1
7
9
5
5
2
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9
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[Eb]
/
ris
nan-
fume
dus-
na,
Dauer-
j
Ist
ping.
ca-
/
hor-
ing
ing
Das
für
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ses
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ler-
food,
just
they’ve
ner
Die
Und
pu-
tle
A
last
Pa-
fi-
pro-
In-
In-
shop
Ver-
Das
shop-
mous
solch.
weird
In-
know-
/
/
/
cu-
based
al-
ar
Or
Wo
Wag-
von
j
Re-
bei-
nicht
There were
mem-
ber.
min-
Und
ziell
Und
versucht.
/
ing
/
what
/
fé,
/
ses
go
/
Du
/
/
für
An
gies,
/
take
/
thing
twen-
Also
ta-
/
Ort
alle
/
[Ab]
bei-
Bey-
stuff
Sind
dol-
In
tle.
reuth,
Dort.
pay-
lars
Die
/
/
/
ing
/
Pa-
ute.
Die
/
Die
/
/
Die
ex-
/
/
/
/
Und
Zu
/
Wille
Die
mit
/
/
/
et
ihnen
been
/
ti-
cre-
tion
/
/
those
/
And
Wenn
/
/
für
ra-
/
sub-
back-
gar-
/
/
day.
pen-
ICH
Eat
Freud
Go
Dann
Die
In
stay
Erste
plen-
leav-
tra-
un-
ce
Zu
do-
seit
eth
bei-
/
/
eins
mov-
Das
God
Sie
ICH
thou-
sev-
dores
/
Stan-
ing
ment
Or
Wo
/
sive.
call
In
/
Zu
In
op-
Anzeige-
/
/
ty
ing
vel
fa-
te-
Se-
ing
Die
/
ing
für
von
würde
ies
Und
/
still
mean
sands
In
von
/
tial
von
/
/
Du
/
/
/
A
/
sehen
Die
er-
vance
An-
Akt
von
/
stress,
mi-
ra.
bei-
/
mid-
cen-
/
/
Sei-
go.
/
Das
knows
do
peo-
/
nights
north-
/
/
Die
/
Vi-
can
/
Jetzt
/
fa-
Und
Die
ev-
A
/
ly
/
ex-
/
/
li-
/
tle
Die
dle
tur
Die
Se-
ing
/
Re-
Se-
/
Das
Bitte
von
/
ern
ASHLEY / World War III Just the Highlights 15
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M
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P
:
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D
ich
R
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C
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M
ich
T
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D
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P
A
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J
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l
A
R
T
ich
C
e
–
P
D
F
/
/
3
4
2
(
1
0
1
)
/
1
2
1
7
9
5
5
2
8
P
A
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J
J
_
A
_
0
0
0
8
9
P
D
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F
B
j
G
u
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S
T
T
Ö
N
0
7
S
e
P
e
M
B
e
R
2
0
2
3
/
you’re
Die
/
/
Bitte
Zu
/
get
dow.
nicht
In
night
else
It’s
/
go
/
tired
/
/
A
/
/
/
In
/
/
von
/
know-
Pa-
Dort
/
good
Liebe
ein-
Nicht
look-
/
ing
ra-
Ist
Zu
für
/
j
Also
ing
/
Das
dore
NEIN
go.
/
WHO
Ort
good
out
/
/
/
Ort
/
zwei
don’t
/
Wenn
Die
/
Spanien
once
für
/
/
peo-
want
else.
Du
win-
[Gb]
Looking out the window
Hoping to see the ghost of
El Cid, Rodrigo Diaz,
Who terrorized
These desperate plains
In war.
El Cid,
The model for those
conquistadores
That brought Spain
To America
And made us
What we are.
[F]
Rodrigo took himself
Off into exile once more.
This time he struck out
As a freelance — free lance —
In the literal meaning of the term.
Renowned as a commander
And wealthy
From the spoils of
Successful warfare,
He could attract
Enough troops
To form his own
Private army.
During the remaining
Ten years of his life
16 BLUME 101
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/
D
ich
R
e
C
T
.
M
ich
T
.
e
D
u
P
A
/
J
J
/
l
A
R
T
ich
C
e
–
P
D
F
/
/
3
4
2
(
1
0
1
)
/
1
2
1
7
9
5
5
2
8
P
A
/
/
J
J
_
A
_
0
0
0
8
9
P
D
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F
B
j
G
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T
T
Ö
N
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P
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M
B
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2
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2
3
He campaigned
Up and down
The region of
Eastern Spain
Known as the Levant.
Sometimes he fought Christians
Like the count of Barcelona,
Sometimes the rulers of
The taifa states.
He was his own man
And went his own way.
He pillaged the countryside,
He exacted tributes
And he ended up
By besieging
And taking
The town of Valencia —
Somewhat as
Ibn ’Ammar
Had taken
The nearby city
Of Curcia.
Rodrigo ruled there
For the last
Five years of his life,
Prince of a little
Taifa statelet
All his own.
He died there.
[C]
(The Cid in Benicadell)
When the Cid Campeador
Had taken Benicadell,
They are grieved in Jativa
And in Cullera
As for Valencia
Its dismay is boundless.
[Db]
(The conquest of the entire
Region of Valencia)
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:
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ich
R
e
C
T
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M
ich
T
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e
D
u
P
A
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J
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A
R
T
ich
C
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–
P
D
F
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4
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(
1
0
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1
2
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5
5
2
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A
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J
J
_
A
_
0
0
0
8
9
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D
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B
j
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T
T
Ö
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P
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B
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2
0
2
3
ASHLEY / World War III Just the Highlights 17
Seizing and despoiling,
Riding at night,
Sleeping in the day time,
Taking those towns,
My Cid spent three years
In the lands of the Moors.
[Eb]
(The Cid lays siege to Valencia.
He sends heralds announcing the war.)
And he has chastised severely
Those of Valencia.
They do not dare to leave the city
Or meet him in battle;
He has laid waste to their farmlands
And brought havoc among them;
Every year of those three
My Cid deprived them of bread.
They grieve in Valencia,
Not knowing what to do.
They cannot obtain
Bread from anywhere;
The father cannot help his son
Nor the son his father,
Friend and friend
Cannot console each other.
Great hardship it is, sirs,
To be without bread,
To see children and women
Dying of hunger.
And they see their affliction growing,
That there is no remedy,
And they have sent word
To the King of Morocco;
He was so deep in war
With the King of the Atlas,
That he neither sent to advise them
Nor came to their rescue.
My Cid learned of this;
It gladdened his heart.
He went out from Murviedo
One night, and rode all night;
18 BLUME 101
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F
R
Ö
M
H
T
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P
:
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/
D
ich
R
e
C
T
.
M
ich
T
.
e
D
u
P
A
/
J
J
/
l
A
R
T
ich
C
e
–
P
D
F
/
/
3
4
2
(
1
0
1
)
/
1
2
1
7
9
5
5
2
8
P
A
/
/
J
J
_
A
_
0
0
0
8
9
P
D
.
F
B
j
G
u
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S
T
T
Ö
N
0
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P
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B
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2
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2
3
He appeared at daybreak
In the lands of Monreal.
He sent forth a herald
To Aragon and Navarre;
He sent his messages
To the lands of Castile:
“Whoever would leave
His toil and grow rich,
Let him come to My Cid,
Whose taste is for battle.
He would now lay siege to Valencia
To give it to the Christians.”
[Ab]
(Repetition of the announcement)
“Whoever will come with me
To besiege Valencia —
Let all come freely
And no one against his will —
I shall wait three days for him
By the Canal of Celfa.”
[Gb]
How different the real man was
From the legendary one.
The Cid of reality was a condottiere.
He was neither humane
Nor loyal nor patriotic.
Andererseits
He was a harsh man,
A breaker of promises,
A pillager of churches,
Only interested in pay and plunder.
[F]
/
/
/
In-
pose
Op-
/
A
würde
kommen
/
er-
/
guid
Sei
/
/
A
/
Hrsg
A
Und
Der
Zu
/
op-
source
/
San
Die
/
er-
/
würde
Fran-
wrath
/
A
/
nicht
cis-
/
/
tour
von
ex-
co
von
ASHLEY / World War III Just the Highlights 19
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Ö
w
N
Ö
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D
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D
F
R
Ö
M
H
T
T
P
:
/
/
D
ich
R
e
C
T
.
M
ich
T
.
e
D
u
P
A
/
J
J
/
l
A
R
T
ich
C
e
–
P
D
F
/
/
3
4
2
(
1
0
1
)
/
1
2
1
7
9
5
5
2
8
P
A
/
/
J
J
_
A
_
0
0
0
8
9
P
D
.
F
B
j
G
u
e
S
T
T
Ö
N
0
7
S
e
P
e
M
B
e
R
2
0
2
3
/
au-
ize
/
/
In-
/
/
/
im-
di-
Das
/
A
Zu
Aber
bei
/
por-
enz
go-
Ist
blood
/
/
In-
/
tant
WHO
ing
/
/
A
mit
ter-
/
mem-
did-
Zu
wie
clot
Par-
drinks
mis-
/
bers
n’t
hören
/
oder
A-
/
sion
/
l
D
Ö
w
N
Ö
A
D
e
D
F
R
Ö
M
H
T
T
P
:
/
/
D
ich
R
e
C
T
.
M
ich
T
.
e
D
u
P
A
/
J
J
/
l
A
R
T
ich
C
e
–
P
D
F
/
/
3
4
2
(
1
0
1
)
/
1
2
1
7
9
5
5
2
8
P
A
/
/
J
J
_
A
_
0
0
0
8
9
P
D
.
F
B
j
G
u
e
S
T
T
Ö
N
0
7
S
e
P
e
M
B
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2
0
2
3
/
Die
al-
ner
ing
ing
/
/
ly.
those
von
Re-
Wag-
hav-
check-
dore.
/
An-
[E]
But in this place
with its
besondere
patch of sky
In diesem
desert
facing west
the particular
patch of sky
disappearing
westward
into the horizon
In diesem
desert
you can feel
the Earth
turning eastward
[F]
Two thousand steps
between home
and the grocery store
(one way)
at thirty inches per stride
equals
sixty thousand inches
which divided by
twelve inches per foot
equals
five thousand feet
or almost a mile
20 BLUME 101
to get beer
non-alcoholic
for reasons of health
and tequila
for other reasons.
© Robert Ashley, 2010
END
ROBERT ASHLEY is known for his work in new forms of opera. In
the 1960s, Ashley organized Ann Arbor’s legendary ONCE Festival and
directed the ONCE Group. During the 1970s, he directed the Center for
Contemporary Music at Mills College, toured with the Sonic Arts Union,
and produced and directed Music with Roots in the Aether, a fourteen-hour
television opera/documentary about the work and ideas of seven American
Komponisten. Ashley wrote and produced Perfect Lives, an opera for television
widely considered the precursor of “music-television.” Staged versions of
Perfect Lives and Atalanta (Acts of God) and the monumental opera tetralogy,
Now Eleanor’s Idea, have toured throughout Europe, Asien, and the United
Zustände. He wrote and directed Balseros for Florida Grand Opera, Dust for
premiere at the Kanagawa Arts Foundation in Yokohama, and Celestial
Excursions for the Berlin Festival and Hebbel Theater Berlin. Made Out of
Concrete was premiered at La MaMa E.T.C. in New York in 2009. Ashley
is working on his latest opera, Quicksand. Kyle Gann’s biography of Robert
Ashley is forthcoming from the University of Illinois Press. www.lovely.com,
www.robertashley.org
ASHLEY / World War III Just the Highlights 21
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