A circular illustration of a day of creation from Hartmann Schedel's 'Nuremberg Chronicle' (1493)

Drones, Variations, Ornaments (2011)

for the Crash Ensemble
Small Ensemble, 15'

Drones, Variations, Ornaments is music in constant transformation. What begins as a simple, cloud-like sequence of string chords with a trombone melody slowly transforms into an agitated perpetual motion machine of winds, guitar, percussion, and piano. The machine spits out an incessant syncopated drone on middle-C, over which a fragment of a melody in the violin and trombone slowly turns into something more dangerous. The sound of breaking glass and assorted violent string pluckings slowly ushers in a decadent, syrupy melting texture in the strings, who accompany an alto flute solo. The piece ends in a suspended crystalline structure with a cello & trombone duet. -NM 11/11

Instrumentation Piccolo (doubles Alto Flute), Clarinet in Bb (double Bass Clarinet), Trombone Percussion (1 player), Vibraphone (with box), tubular bells, bass drum, suspended cymbal (overturned on a towel, assorted metal objects. When struck, the effect should be of glass shattering), large tam-tam (suspended normally on a rack, with lengths of chain, coins, metal beads etc. suspended in front of it. When struck, the effect should e a long tam-tam stroke shimmering with a metallic halo. Think Jacob Marley’s ghost in China. It may help, particularly in the last section, to affix the beater to the instuments’ rack as well. Electric Guitar, Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass
Premiere November 25, 2011
Liberty Hall, Dublin

Crash Ensemble

 

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