Raindrops in an endless sea of stars
(2020)
PUBLISHER: Just A Theory Press | DURATION: ca. 11 minutes | ADVANCED (Grade 6)
© 2020 M.O.T.I.F. (ASCAP)
INSTRUMENTATION
ADAPTABLE ENSEMBLE (2 - 5 PARTS), OPTIONAL FIXED MEDIA
This is a cellular, minimalistic, open-instrumentation work specifically focusing on aleatoric elements and extended techniques. Parts III, IV, and/or V may be omitted if desired. Suggestions on instrumentation for each of these parts is provided below:
PART I: WINDS
Aerophones: Flutes (C Flute, Alto, Bass, etc.), Piccolo, Penny Whistle, Recorders (Sopranino, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass), Ocarina
Reeds: Clarinets (Eb, Bb, A, Bass, Contrabass, etc.), Saxophones (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, etc.)
Double Reeds: Oboe, English Horn, Bassoon, Contrabassoon
PART II: BRASS
Group 1: Horns (F), Wagner Tuba (Bb), Trumpets (Bb, C, etc.)
Group 2: Trombones (Alto, Tenor, Bass, Contrabass, etc.), Euphoniums (T.C., B.C., etc.), Tuba
PART III: STRINGS
Violin, Viola, Violoncello, Double Bass
Solo instruments, or a full section, may be used for this part. Electric string instruments are also suggested for this part if available.
PART IV: KEYS+STRINGS
Group 1: Piano, Celesta, Toy Piano, Keyboard Synthesizer
Group 2: Harp, Acoustic and/or Electric Guitar
PART V: PERCUSSION
METALS: Glockenspiel, Vibraphone, Crotales, Chimes, Bell Lyre
WOODS: Xylophone, Marimba, Xylorimba
Other non-wood suggestions: Almglocken/Tuned Cowbells, Steel Pan/Steel Drums
CYMBALS:
High: Suspended, Sizzle, China
Low (superball mallet required): Tam-Tam (any size), Gong (any size)
Raindrops in an endless sea of stars is a minimalist, experimental piece intended to create a sense of meditative, spiritual healing and wonder. This is a fully flexible work, in which any combination of instruments or ensembles can be used for performance. The structure and form of the piece is loosely inspired by a meditative practice known as sound healing. Freely suspended in time and space (for the performers, there is no specific meter that they follow), the piece is thus mainly driven by a plethora of extended techniques conjuring up sounds such as wind blowing through the air, sparse and twinkling stars, various murmurs and flutters, and so on.