EMBERS (after)for chamber ensemble

H GREISMAN // 2012

FLUTE // BASS FLUTEBASS CLARINET

BASSOONHORN

TROMBONEPERCUSSION

VIOLINVIOLACELLO

CONTRABASS

PERFORMANCE NOTES GENERAL // ELECTRONICS

Score in C. Parts are transposed. Accidentals carry through bar.Arrows indicate a gradual movement from one playing technique to another.

STRINGS

SP - sul ponticello

ESP - extreme sul ponticello

ST - sul tasto

CLT - col legno tratto

CLB - col legno battuto

Half-harmonic pressure

Crush bow/ extreme pressure (Slash through any symbol indicates return to normal playing)

‘Figure-Eight Crackle’ - Rock bow in a figure-eighth pattern on strings with extreme pressure, creating a strained crackling sound. It is sometimes helpful to use one hand at either end of the bow.

Using harmonic pressure in left hand, quickly gliss up and down (about the distance of a M3) with a quick, biting bow stroke

WINDS

Breathy - Keep a bit of air in the tone -- approximately half pitch, half air

Air - Mostly air in the tone -- only a slight bit of pitch; always accent the onset of the notes

Timbral Trill - alternate fingerings on the same pitch

Whisper given phonemes through instrument in a frenetic rhythm

Bisbigliando/Timbral Trill - alternate fingers on same pitch

Split Tone - Aim for a range of partials

Teeth on Reed - pitches will be variableBASSOON

Produce a percussive sound by removing the reed and playing staccato. The effect can also be produced with the reed as long as the player uses very slight air pressure to avoid vibrating the reed.

Wind sounds -- created by using a lot of air noise on the reed. Pronounce consonant ‘F’ in direction of the reed, which will be placed approximately 1cm from the lips.

Wind sounds -- created by using a lot of air noise on the reed. Pronounce consonant ‘SHA’ in direction of the reed, which will be placed approximately 1cm from the lips.

BRASS

Inhale through the instrument with exaggeration

Exhale through instrument, placing a sharp accent on the beginning of each note

Fluttertongue or growl without pitch

Trill using tongue or vowels

‘Rip’. Sweep though the natural harmonics. The sweep should sound as a rapid and continuous gesture.

PERCUSSION

MARIMBA

LARGE TIMPANI

CHINA CYMBAL

SPRING DRUM (preferably large)

BRAKE DRUM (hard mallets)

TIN COFFEE CAN

MEDIUM-LARGE METAL MIXING BOWL

TIN FOIL

STONES OF VARIOUS SIZES

DRY LEAVES IN PAPER BAG (if unavailable, a collection of plastic grocery bags will work)

SUPERBALL MALLET

GRILL BRUSH

TRIANGLE BEATER

Pour stone mix from one vessel to another, creating as much clatter as possible. In this example, stones are going from the tin can to the metal mixing bowl

Rake and swirl fingers through stone mix in metal bowl, creating a metallic rustling. Allow the bowl to resonate by keeping it on a trap table with a thin towel underneath

Swirl a triangle beater through the rock mixture in the tin coffee can

Drag superball mallet across skin of timpani, creating a dynamic groan

Swirl the bristles around the cymbal with various speed to produce flickering partials

NOTES

All Flute fingerings are found in Flutes Au Present - Traite Des Techniques Contemporaines (Present Day Flutes)

by Pierre-Yves Artaud

All Bass Clarinet multiphonic fingerings are found in New Directions for Clarinet by Phillip Rehfedlt

All Bassoon Techniques are found in The Technique of Bassoon Playing by Pascal Gallois

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