Composition for two flutes or oboes, two clarinets, two violins, viola, cello, bass, and voice. There are instrumental parts that duplicate the full score in Hemphill’s hand, although the string section has been replaced with four cello parts. The score includes lyrics. The archive includes a live recording.
From Marty Ehrlich: The piece uses blues lyrics: “Lookin’ for my backdoor man, and my rooster not in the yard” (x2) / “He start drinkin’ and gamblin’ last Friday, and Sunday my life is mighty hard.” The work then shifts from 12/8 to 4/4 for a bridge, “Lucy Sweet Lucy, Lord let my rooster go!” There is no indication to date of the source or history of this text. This work was among the five movements Hemphill included in his suite titled Rites (a different work than the composition titled “Rites”), which was performed by the IMP ORK. See the list of Archival Audiovisual Material for more information.