Lost Riffs for Found Instruments

From Wind Repertory Project
J.M. Gerraughty

J.M. Gerraughty


Subtitle: Percussion Feature for Flexible Instrumental Ensemble


General Info

Year: 2020
Duration: c. 5:10
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: J.M. Gerraughty
Cost: Score and Parts - Contact composer


Instrumentation (Flexible)

Full Score
Part 1

  • Piccolo (optional)
  • Flute
  • Oboe
  • B-flat Soprano Clarinet
  • Violin

Part 2

  • Flute
  • Oboe
  • B-flat Soprano Clarinet
  • B-flat Trumpet
  • Violin

Part 3

  • B-flat Soprano Clarinet
  • E-flat Alto Saxophone
  • B-flat Trumpet
  • Viola

Part 4

  • B-flat Tenor Saxophone
  • Trombone
  • Horn in F
  • Cello

Part 5

  • Bassoon
  • B-flat Bass Clarinet
  • E-flat Baritone Saxophone
  • Euphonium
  • Tuba
  • String Bass

Piano
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV

  • Found instruments


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

For Kaitlin Bove.

- Program Note from score


Written for Kaitlin Bove and the Pierce College (Puyallup, Wash.) Concert Band, the idea for a percussion feature came from Bove’s indication that she could count on a set of exceptional percussionists to play the piece, but that the rest of the ensemble might be up in the air. As the exact instrumentation would be TBD, it only made sense for the percussion instruments themselves to be TBD to match. The piece is designed with flexibility in mind, and for no two stagings to sound the same.

The idea of “lost riffs” came from my resurrecting a riff-based piece from my student days (my brief foray into the rock-inspired postminimalism fashionable at the time, titled Overbite). The piece is a nonstop upward modulation, first by step, and then intensified by leaps. As this happens, the tempo gradually accelerates, concluding when the tempo literally doubles. Less of a case of warmed leftovers, and more of a rescue of a kernel of a good idea, the repetition of a small, two-note theme writ large serves as a lattice upon which to let the percussion soloists organically curl through.

- Program Note by composer


Performance Notes

Lost Riffs for Found Instruments is written for a flexible instrumentation. There are five parts, roughly corresponding to the different ranges of the ensemble. Within each part are staves for specific instruments -- these are suggestions only. Instruments may be added and substituted as necessary for balance, curation of a specific sound, or for whatever forces are at hand.

The Piano part may be doubled or substituted for another keyboard instrument (as long as the part can be faithfully executed).

All parts must be covered in performance. Attention should be paid to balance all parts, including the Piano -- it is advisable to keep the ensemble forces on the smaller side, if possible.

PERCUSSION: Percussion I - III are for found objects. They should be placed prominently on stage – Percussion IV may remain in the standard stage placement. It is recommended that the found objects have some kind of visual appeal, but it’s not necessary. While there’s no limitation as to what should be used, the found objects should conform to the following rules:

1. Each performer must have a way to generate a high, medium, and low pitch. Percussion I’s pitches should be relatively higher than Percussion II’s, whose should be higher than Percussion III’s.

2. Objects and mallets should coordinate in some fashion. Suggestions: material, timbre, visual similarity, etc. The exact way this is accomplished is left for the performers to decide.

3. Objects and mallets must allow the player to perform double-stroke rolls.

4. Sticking doesn't need to be precisely coordinated across performers, but a similar approach should be employed, especially in imitative and unison passages.


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

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