Andrew McKenna Lee

Five Refractions
of a Prelude by Bach

(2004, 2008)

for solo guitar

 Five Refractions
of a Prelude by Bach
Andrew McKenna Lee
(2004, 2008)

Performance duration- 23 minutes

Performance notes

During the Fixation, three distinct types of “tambora” technique are used:

1. Measure 2: When normal noteheads are indicated, the right hand thumb is placed perpendicular to the
strings and lightly strikes them over the sound hole. The result should be a soft percussive effect,
somewhat reminiscent of the col legno battuto technique occasionally used in works for bowed string
instruments.

2. Measure 3: When 'X' noteheads are indicated, the thumb (still perpendicular to the strings) strikes the
strings directly in front of the bridge. The resulting sound should have a slightly more wooden “thump”
to it than the technique described above, and sounds somewhat more “drum-like” with more bass
resonance.

3. Measures 4-5: When empty, square noteheads are indicated under a tremolo, the right hand should be
slightly “fanned out” and placed perpendicular to the strings. In a quick oscillating motion at the wrist,
the thumb strikes the tailpiece of the bridge directly behind the saddle, and the “pinky” finger strikes the
top of the guitar where the top joins the back side of the instrument. Care should be taken to ensure that
this effect is always rendered relatively quietly and that the oscillating motion is executed as evenly as
possible.

In all cases, the left hand fingers should remain depressed in the formation of the relevant chord, allowing it
to resonate freely throughout the tambora passages.

When dashed left hand slurs appear, such as in the example below, the finger remains depressed on the
indicated string until one arrives at the note which is connected by the slur. At this point, the finger is released,
causing the new note to sound. Consequently, the dashed slur affects only the two notes that it connects. All
other slurs retain their usual significance.
 Five Refractions
of a Prelude by Bach
Andrew McKenna Lee
(2004, 2008)
Prelude in D minor, BWV 999
q = 100-108 (edited AML)

                                   
1



         
1 1
3
2

  
2

 
3


Guitar 4
4
4
1


                          
             
4

    
1

 
3

  

1


2
4 4

CI5

                       
7

          

1

   
4


2


3
3 1

                                
10

       
1

  
2

  

4 2 2
1
0
3

CV3 CI

                             
13

 

  
1




   
  
  1 4

 
2 2


4 2 3
3 3
0
1

                          
16

 
              
2
3

    
2 4

 
1

 
3


1
4

CV3 C VII 3
19
                              

          
2

 
4

     
3


3


 
   
3 2 1
4

Original work © 2005 by the composer

All Rights Reserved: ASCAP, New York
unauthorized reproduction is prohibited
2

C IX C VIII 5
22
                                    
2

      
3
2 4

  
 
3 4 3

  
2
1

CV3

                             
25

         

   4

  
4


3
2 2

  
3 1 3


4 1 1

       
                              
28

          
3
2
1

  
2 3
1 4 0
4

 
         
31

                               
  
  
1 1 1

 
 
2 2 3 3
1 3 0 4 0
2

C VII 3
C II 4

                                 
34

    
      
4 3

   

2
3 1 2
0 0
3

  
CV3
            
               
37

          
 
1


3

  
 
1 1

  
 
2 3 4 4 2 4
4 2 3
0

CI3
let vibrate poco rit.


                                
40
q=q


               

 
1 4

    attacca
4 1 2
2 0
3


 3
I. Variation: (q = 100-108)

 
CX3

                                 




   3

1


 3

mf sempre let vibrate

CX3
                                    

 
3

 



3


3

      i m i m
      
   
           

  
 
    

3 4 4
5 i p i 3
3
1

2

 



  
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7 m a





m


 
1 3 m



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2




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poco a poco cresc.

   
   
9    
      
   


  
3 4

     
2 1 2 1
3 2


2 1



1

   

  
i   
    
  
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11
   

m

 

m a 4 a i p i p


i 1


4

 
1 1


1 4


3 3 3
4 1

f poco a poco dim.

     
     
   
13

  
       

4           
 
4

 
1 2
3 1
2 2 1

p darker
  
4

 




2

15




4

4 2

2 1 1 2

1 3


3


  


2

f brighter

   
    3
 3

17


2 4 4

 
1
3


1

 
2 1

  sub. p
3 2 1

3 3

   

CV3 C VII 3

 

   


4
19




2

3 4
1 1

  3 3

poco a poco cresc.

           i p i m i m i  m
C VIII 3

 

 i 


4 4

4
21



3 1 3
4 1
3 4

2
2


 
3 


mp


mf


    


3
23
4

4






3 4 2 4 1 3
3 1 1 2


4





2 4 4
1
3


 

1

    
    
CV3 C VII 3



 a i a p a i p
 

25

4

1 2 3 2
3 1 2
1 4 2
4 1 1

 
poco a poco dim.

   
    
CI 4



 
27

 
4
1 4 1
4 2 2 3


1


1 3 2
3 1

p dark
 5

        p
  
CI 4

   



29

p p i

  


p m i i
  4
2
1 2
2

 
3 1
3
1
3

31 p i m a m i m  
   
p p m i p




i p m i p p p m i p i



2
3 4

 
1 1 1 2
2 3
1
2 2
2

  p       p  
  


 


33 m i p i i m



3


4 4

 
2
1


2
3 1 1

ff bright f

 

    

C VII 3
5
35
 




4

4 3

1
1 1

 
3 1

mf

 
      
   
p m a m a




37


4 4 1


 
1 3
3 3
4
2 2
3 4

           
poco rit.








39



 

2

4 1 1 3 2 4




4 1
2 3

 
2
3 2 3 1 2 1
3
1 3

      
Meno mosso rall.

   
 
  
41

   
1



1
3 4


3
4 1 4
1

p dolce, let all notes vibrate when possible mf

attacca
 6

     
II. Fixation: q = 54
   
 







Tambora T





  

T

 




 




 
1

             
1

  


   



4


1



4 4

  
1 3


3 4 2
1 2

  
mp espressivo, liberamente sf pp (quasi col legno)




C V6









      











  


4

      
   





3 4 1
1 2
2

  
mp

pp

   
C V4


  


 












T

      
T

  

 




7
    

 

         
1


 



4

 
 






4 3

  

3 1

      
2

 
4
1

 
1 2

p
3 
mp mp


C VIII 4



  3
  


T T

 








   
    
  






      
        
4


10 1 4



1



3

    
3






1 3 3






4 2
3 1

       
1
2
3

3

mf  
mf f

3      

           
                  
13
 

1 4

     
3 1 4



3

        
2 1

 
sf f harsher

* The RH strikes the chords in the lower voice while the top voice is sounded by LH slurs.

T 
              
  
         
                  
        
4 3
15


2
1

            
 
6 6
sf poco a poco cresc. ff
 7

T

              
                            
16

  


            
            
 6
 6
f poco a poco cresc. ff





 T
i i i etc.

           





                      


17

 







          




           

 6  3
f non tambora, cresc. sf p

  
 
  
rall.

 
 

art. harms.

  
    
 




18

4 4 4




1


4 0

 
 
3

 

4




p dolce

mf


 



C XXIV
a tempo art. harms.






T




  
      


1
21


0

              


3


 
    
2
4

p mf p


poco a poco dim.







    
  
     5 T

 


4

1 3

      
3



24

2 
  
         
1

f
3

 

p mf p



  
 
       

 
3 
     
28

  



      
     3
pp attacca
ppp f
 8


III. Fantasy (Perpetuum Mobile): q = 58
 
                          

1

 
        
 

2 3 2


3 4


4 3

  
1 1 3

  
1 0 4 3


3 4 3 1 2


0
0 0 1 1

mp tranquilo, sempre espressivo

         
            
4

          
5

               
2 1


      
2 2


1
42


4 4


 p fragilely, poco rubato
1 1
3 3




       
          
             
  
4 3
9 3 4
4

  
1 1

             
1

 
2 2 3

  
1 1 4


0 2 2 1

1 2 2 1
1

mp senza rubato

  poco rall.  a tempo 


CVI4
       
13
    
    
               
     
      
4
3 1
4 4
0 3

 
4

 
3 2 3

 
1 3 3 4
4 0 2


1 1

1
p

      3 
                 
                  
16 4 2 4


3

       
1

 
2 1 4 2 1


f 

4 2 3 1
4 0

  4
1
0 4
0 2
0


2



mf

 

           

   

    
 
4

 
          


  

19 0 3 4 1

  
1 4 1


1 3

 
0 3 3 3
3 2 2 1 2

 
0 2


0


2 0
2 1 0 0 2
2

mf

 

 

   
    
C III4
 




4


 
4
21

           
4

      


        
                            
3 4 3
2


3 3 3 0 2


1 3

   
2 1 0


2 4


0 0

2 0 30 0 0
1 1 1 2
1
mf
1
0
f 1
f mf f
 9
     

24









4

0 3


0 0 3 2 1 1
2 2

2 3 1 1

1 1
1

sf sf p


sim.

 

C VII 6

  

26

   

1



4



3


4


4 1 3

4 4 3



3 1 0 0 0
1 3


3 2 1 1
3 2 2 2

1 1 3 0
1 2 0 2

mp
mf

  
poco a poco dim.

 
  

4 4


28 3


4 3 4



1 3

   
4 1 1
1 2 0
3 1 0 2
2

p delicately

  
31

  
3 2
4 3 2 4
0 0
1 3

f p f p



2
2 1



3

C III3

 
C III6

34

     
1
4 0 3 4


3 1
3 3 0
2
1

p dark p

f mf

  

  


2
2 4

 
poco rit.

 

 
CI

    
C II

37

    


4 4


4 1 2 4
4 1
3 3

4 4 1 4
0 1 1 2 0 0
4 2 3 0 0 3
1 4 2 1 0
1

 
mf

  




2

2 
1
1
1
2
  
10 a tempo
 

                               
40 4 
     
   
4 3 1
3 4 4


1 0 4 0 3 4 2 1
2 4 4 3 3
0 0
0 1


p dolce

        

  
1 1 1
2 0 0

                
           
    
43

 
     


4 1 4 4 1


3 3 1


1 1 4 4 0 3 4
3 1 0 1 1
4 0 2 0
0 3
1 2
mp cresc.






1  0  
3      3 2  

  
2 3

   
     
            
         
46
 
3 3


1

   
4 2 3
4 3

f
2 1 4 2 1 3
1 0
0
0

mf

      

    
2
2 3 4
2

   

                            


        
49 2


       
1 1 4
1 3


 
23 1 0
3 0 3 2
1 2 0 1


0

mp p
 
    mf
3

   
art.

       

 
    nat. harm.
          
harm.

    
   


 


52 4

 
4


4
4

  
3 1 2
3

    
3
1 2 01
2 1


with growing urgency
 3
   
3

     
3 3

       


 
55

        
1 3
4 4
3


1
2 2
2


1 0
3

 
1

poco a poco cresc. f

  3 
11
3


3

 

  
3


      


  
 


4
3 3
   

4
57

    
    

3 1 3
1

 
2 2 2
1 2 3
1

  
2 1

ff

    
a tempo


      
                 
 
  
  

 
rall.
3

1 2 3

       


2 3 2

 
59 4


1

    
1

    
f mf p delicately

 

   
 

  

 
  
 
 

      
   
4
62 1 4 1 4 2

 
1 1

   
3 1 4

 

4

 
3 2

   
1 2 1 1 4

 
3 3 4 3

3
3 1 3

2
mf

art.
3

harm.

            

65

  
  

    
                  
4

 
 
1

 
1 1


3 3 3
4 4
3
2
mp p hesitant... moving forward

 3  6  
  
C VII- Slap harmonics

 
68
             

 
 

     
1






 
2
3 
sf

f
mf
    
  
       
  
2 2
1 1
1 3


  (ord. harm.)
   

Slap


 


  
   
70

      
3


1





  
3 0 0 3
1


0


0
0 0

f sim.

      
   
 
     

 
         
1


3 4 2


2
1
0
2
  
12
C XV 3

     

 
3

3 4


4


3 3

3 1

72 3

3 4 2
3 4 1 1 1

  
1 2


4



0 2



2 0
0

 
 f

  i

   


m 

etc.

Rasg.

 

(Bartók pizz.)


 a m

74 



 
1


 
2 1


2


1

2

sfff sfff 1
sfff
6 6 sfff
fff quasi gliss.



poco a poco rit.


   
3
4

76 3 3 3 3 2


 
 

4 1 4 1


1 2
4 0


4 1

3 2
1

2
6 3

1
6
mf
ff

    
Poco meno mosso: q = 50
    
      
 
4 4


78 4


2 4
4

4

 

2 1 4

 
1 1
1 1
0

p tristemente, molto espressivo

     
  
 

   

83


port. port.

    
1 2



1



4 3 2
3 1 1

    
   
87

       
  





 


1 2


2




2 2 2


4 2 1 3 3 1
1 1

f mf

   
 




92 5
 


 
 





 

4

 
3
2

        
1

pp ppp attacca
 13

IV. Nocturne: e = 80
   C XII 3
3 3


3


3

3 3 2 2
1

1 2 2 1 1

1 23
1 2

2 1


1

 



f molto rubato, cantabile

   3 
 
    




4
4

(2) 3

2 3 1 4




1 3 4
1 3


1

1 1 3
2 1

  
4



3 1 2

mp

      
       



































  

2 4 2
1 2 1


2
3 1 3



0 1 1 3 1


2 1 0 4
3 3 3
1

p
2

f arpeggiando


  




    

      








(5) 4















4

 

4 1 3

 
1 1 4
1 4 1 2
4 4
1 4


2 1 3 1
3
1
2
2
p p mf mf be insistent...

 

     


CV3

 
CI5




(7)


4 4
6

3 3 1




 







1 4













1
3 1 1 4
3 4


3 1 4 1
3 4 3


2 3
2 1
1 2

f sub. p


     

rit. a tempo

 
3

 






3 1 1 2 poco gliss.

2 1 2

(9)


1

 

3 4


2 4

 

4 3
1
2

pp p brittlely
      
14

 
   
      
3

                      
3
 
11

  
3 1
3 2

     


3 1 1
3

 (arpegiando)
3 4 3 1 1
3

1
1 4
2 3
4

sub. p

 
  







  


  
4

     
(12)

 

        



1

       




2

 
4 1



3


3 1






3

1

4 3 1


1 2 3
1

f

3 3


1

 etc.
  etc.

 3


3

 
etc.
         

    
14

               


      

    
4


4

   

3
1
1 1


etc.
1

etc. 


1 1 1
4 4

ff f mp f mp dark, intense




3



3




       
    
3

      
         
       
4


     



 


(15) 4


 
1



1



2 3

 
4



1

3
f bright












 ord. 
sul pont. molto pont.

3

3


        
   
     
 
                
    


   


2 4

   

3
17 4 3



  
3


 
1 1






1
2 1




1 1

 fff

  
  
             
3

   
3



           
 
3 1 3


4 4

   
20

3 4

4 1

   

3



2 2

3 3


2
3
1

ff strained, intense as possible

        
  
15

  
    
                 
            
1 3 1
(21) 6 4

  
3

   

3 1
1 1

2 3 2

  
2 3 1
2
2 4 4
1

 etc.
 3

   
      
23 3

         
    
             
 
2

   
4


1

  etc.
3
2 1


1 4
4

3
p f mp dolce

 
C V6 poco rit. a tempo

   
26
 



  
   
3
        
              


1
2




2


1 4
0 1

 
2 4
3 3 1 3
2

p like a cello 3







 3
 3
 
(30)

3
        
 
                  
     

        

    
4 1



4

   

1 3 4


3


2 3

 etc.
2
4
1

p f poco a poco cresc. f

 

 3
 3
     

 3 
         3

 
32

             
       
1

  




1


1 3

  



4 4


 
4


1 4


3 4 2
1 2 1
3 3 2 4 1

sf sf mf sf mp
sf p

 sempre
molto rit.
36  3  3  3 
      
1      
  
     
   
  
3


2
4 1

pp ppp attacca
16
V. Toccata: e = 184

       
 m i
m
i

  
Rasg. rasg. sempre sim.
a 6 a

1


 
 
4

3
3 1
1 0
0


2 2

fff sempre


 
 






        




5


gliss.




  


 
1


4 1
2
3

sfff
  6


rasg. sempre sim. mf sff mf sff
a m i a m i

   
   



 



11

    

   
2 4

             
1

4 2
2 1 1
4

mf sff sempre sim.

  i


     
Rasg.












    



am

17
4
4

4 


m 
1
2 3 
3


3  
2
2

pi
2
3 3
 1 
2
1  
4 1 1

sff sff
2
p p
f


f pesante sim. f

  










  



23
4



4  
4
0 4
3


0 1

1 2

0

2 2
3 2

1
sub. p
mp sff

         6
    
28

             
       
4 1 0

sfff
sffp fff sempre

                  
32

                   
   
17


poco rall. Poco meno mosso: e = 138

 







  

3 3


6



4

38

2

   
1 3


1 1


1 3
2 2



3 2 3
0

mf delicate and Baroque-like, liberamente

let strings vibrate freely

 
3 6


3



44


4





1 1 3 1 3 1

3 4 4



4 2 1 3
0 2 0 3 0


4 0
1 0
3
0
2



  























49

 









4





 
2
1
gliss.
(let strings vibrate) p dark mf p mf
(observe hairpins on second repeats only)

sul pont., moving to ord. sul pont., moving to ord.










54




 


3 4 4 4
4 0
2 0
1 1 3 3
0
2

 
mf p like an echo mf p

58

3

3 1



4 4
2 2

4 3 3 0 3 3
1 1 0 0 1
0 2 1
3 0 4
2
1

A tempo primo: e =184

         



  
C III4
a m i6 a
m
i


62



 



4
 

4 1 4



sff
subito sff ff sempre

     




   






 




   




68



3 
   4 0
2 

2 3
3 
2
2
4 
1


3


4 4 4 4

     
1

sff sff sff
mp







    




  




18

 



  
  
75
1 
  2     
4 
      
   1  
     0 
     3
2      
    
               
         
        

mp poco a poco cresc.

    3

3 3 3

3 3
 3

      
80 3 3


            
2 3

 
2
4

  

1 0 3 0 1 0 0


3 0 0 0 0

  
mf poco a poco cresc.

    3
      
3
3

              
83 4 4

  2
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1 3

 
  
f poco a poco cresc.

   

  

    
      



  
 

    


4


86 4

       
  

 
3 ami

   
  
1 1

         
2
  
0
4
  

         
  
1

ff mf fff sempre, ferociously



Tempo II: e = 138


 


   
  
    










 
92 4

  
 



4 4

            
3




1

     
4 1 0
4 3

ff
fff



CV3


5 5

   
  

5 5
      
97

   
        

 1 3

    
0


1 3 3 1
4 2 0 2 2 4
3 3 2
0 1 1 0 0
2
1 3
mf arpeggiando sempre f

i

CI 4

           
A tempo primo: e = 184

  


 



 



   

a m

   

99

  
 

 

             

   
1 4 
0

ff
 19
Tempo II, quasi-recitativo: e = 138
 


3

 


         



 
C V6

 



        

 
 


    
 
       
106   

  


 
 




3



 
 





 

 
 
          
      
 
 
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 sff sff sff sff f warmer


  

C III6

        
 




4

 port.  
 
113

  
 





  
    
3 3

 

4 3


3 4



1 1 0


0 0 2 0
2
0
1

mf arpeggio
p playfully

 



always C X X IV

  

art. 


 

   
sweetly ord.

 



sul pont.

   





 

118
 
4 3 4

 




harm.

 
    
2



0 1


2 4


1
4 2
0 3
1
1
f ff p sub. f p

 








m
p m
Meno mosso: e = 96

 
















                     



123 4 p i p m p i m p i m sim.

 
 








3
41


1 0
3
2
2

mf p mp

 
p pensively and with great emotion

3 


p i p m p i m p i m sim.
art.
harms. 

     


 






                         
2
127
 


 







0 1

3 02
4
4 3
1


p



i 
  art.







  

     

 







 

131 3
 

    

harm.







3
2

sub. ff p

 
p mp molto espressivo

 
art.

(  )



  

harms.
6

  



    



     

       








135

( )

 





4




1 2 1
4



2 40
3 3
p 1 2
3
*parentheses indicate
mp left hand fingering mf p
 
  

20 3
 

3
  

      
139

 
4 4


4 3 4




  
3 3
2 1
2 1 2
1
f
mp mp mf poco ad lib. sempre


 
3
 
   
3 as fast as possible

  

4
142 4



3

 f 
1 1
3 2
0


f
ff
mf




 

144




mp f
 ff

   

 m i p m i  
p


147


 
 6
mp

fff fff


   
  p m i p m i 





150 4




4
3 3


1 0


2



0
0
1 0
6 1
f mp fff
fff 
2

  
Poco a poco accel.

 
 

 

  


 



153 4 3 4
3 2 3 3



1 1 2
2 1 2 2 3 2

   
1
4 2 1
0
3
2 3
ff sempre 3 3

  
154
as fast as possible
3 3

 
   
2


1
2

 
1
2

heavy,
(left hand only) rude
vibrato
 21
A tempo e = 96
   

                 etc.      
p p p p p p p p

155
 


   
 3

sempre

fff insistently hammering

 3 3
Subito a tempo e = 138

    6         sempre sim.

      
  
        
 6 6 6


      
4 3 1
157

  
1

      
2

 
1 2


0 2 2

 
0 1
3 0 3 1
0 4

 
4 4 3


3
3
 f mf arpeggiando sempre

 5
 
 
6 6 6 6
6
          
160


4

                     3

 
    
0
2
1

f 

 5  5  5

         

6 6 6

  
163

4
4

                   
3 3

  
0 0 1
2
1

  
 
C VIII 4
 6 6
6
6
6
   
6
       
166

      
3


4

 
4 3

   
1
2

    6
 6


6
 
6 6 6
169  
        

3

  
           
2

 
3


3 4

 
4 1
1 2
4

   
0 1 1
2
   i


22 A tempo primo: e = 184
  
 
           
a m




etc.
 

       
                 
171

                  
gliss.
   


fff
   6



Rasg. a m i a m i sim.
ff sempre





C III4

  

 
           

173
 
 

 
           
4        
 
                 
4


  
    



 


 

   
  



179
 
3  
   
     
 
       
3  
2
4  
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4  
 3
  

1     
 
2 

   
2

                
4 1
    
2

  
 

   

  
 
  
    
  

 

   




 2   

   





 


185

 
4   
      


4 3

  

1   
  
  


  2

  
   
       
3 0 2

   
 
 
    

2 0 1
  
 
0 1
(gliss. to approximate
pitches)

mf with some abandon fff mf fff mf fff mf


 
 
 
 
 m m
m

        
m
 
 

   



   

   
     

3 4 4
189

 
 


1  



   
2

  
10

      
1
2

      
          
    
   
1

fff mf fff mf fff mf fff mf fff f


 p
 p

     
      
i m m
m m
  i  i  i



p i p

 
         
     
4
194
   
gliss. 
     

    
 
 

  
          
1
2
    
       
0


     
0

          
fff f sfff sfff sfff sfff fff
  



23
 sempre let vibrate



 




 



 


   



198

 




  
 

 
   
 

     
       
  
 p
fff

 

C VII 6





    



202
   






  
  


 
 
p poco vib. p pp
f mf warmly

Postlude: e = 96, but very freely




C IX

       


207


mf p
p let all notes
vibrate freely sempre

3 

   


211


mf p 








 
214
  

mp p pp ppp morendo niente