Lukas Ligeti
Tangle for Trumpet and Percussion (2006/08) Commissioned by Colin Currie, Håkan Hardenberger and the Borletti-Buitoni Trust
2
TANGLE for Trumpet and Percussion --- Notes for Performance & Legend of Notation Duration: 15 min. Instrumentation: TRUMPET in C (a Harmon mute is used occasionally; when "con sord." is indicated this always means Harmon mute, stick inside.) PERCUSSION (1 player): vibraphone, melodica (32-key model with flex tube), hi-hat, snare drum, floor tom, 2 bongos, 2 temple blocks, xiaoluo (small Chinese opera tamtam). Sticks and mallets: 2 pairs of vibraphone mallets (medium hardness), 1 pair of drumsticks. Recommended setup of percussion instruments:
Notation for Percussion: The percussion is notated on one or two systems, using mainly the treble clef and occasionally the bass clef. When there are two systems, the top system is to be played by one hand (normally the r.h.), and the bottom system by the other hand. Normal noteheads indicate notes to be played on an instrument of definite pitch - mostly the vibraphone; occasionally the melodica. The instruments of indefinite pitch are often played simultanously and/or mixed in with those of definite pitch, and are notated in the same system(s), but are written with non-conventional noteheads, mostly x-shaped. They are notated as follows:
Further notational symbols: Trumpet: ...to air; ...to pitch: go from a normally-played pitch to just the sound of air passing through the trumpet; go from air sound to pitch.
TRUMPET
Insert hand slightly into bell of trumpet
Remove inserted hand to open bell
Indicates pitch material with which a certain thing (specified in score) is done repeatedly until end of arrow
Indicates a pitch which is used repeatedly throughout a passage and used as specified in the score; the specifications change while the pitch is being played.
Sing and play the same note; both notes are held over to the next note and interrupted only when breathing is necessary.
PERCUSSION
(Vibraphone): Initial note is held via pedal and then ended by playing a deadstroke and simultaneously releasing pedal. One-handed "buzz" roll with an undefined number of rebounds, over the rhythmic duration of the note
Indicates part of a "closed roll" with an undefined number of rebounds per hand. The difference between this and the buzz roll is that there the entire buzz roll is carried out by one hand, letting the stick rebound for a certain duration, while in the closed roll is determined by a rhythmic succession of hands giving initial impulses and is spread out over a longer period of time. This rhythmization can be in eighth notes (above) or sixteenth notes (below). Over the duration covered by the arrow, "drag" sticks freely around the percussion setup, producing sounds on the way. Since the instruments are not really struck, but are rather just touched in passing, no strong attack sounds will be heard; rather, one will hear a mixed assortment of timbres in fast succession. Drag sticks freely around, and when the drag is finished, arrive at the indicated instrument and play a one-handed buzz roll.
(Xiaoluo): Muffle instrument by playing a deadstroke with one hand on the front of the instrument while choking off the sound with the other hand on the back.
Tangle q = 100
Trumpet in C
pp
f
Vibraphone,
q = 100 motor on (medium speed)
Percussion
mf
6
Tpt.
Perc.
p
f
Tpt.
f
Perc. f
mf
f mf
mf
f
mf
5
p
5
p
3 6 f
f
f
mf
3
mf
mf
pp 5
mf
p
mf
f
p
pp
mf
mf
p
5
pp
p
3
f
ff
5
pp
mf
f
p
ff
Perc. 16
mf
mp
11
Tpt.
Lukas Ligeti
5
5
p
mp
mf
6
6
mf
2
21
Tpt.
3
mp
p
mf
7
Perc. p
25
Tpt.
6
7
6
mf
Perc.
3
Perc.
Perc.
f
3
3
5
cresc.
non legato
f
mf
f
mf
ff
ff
f mf legato
mf 5 f
mf
f
mf
f
mf
mf
3
3 3
f
3
mf
f
5
3
3 mf 3
mf
pp
non legato
mp
mf senza sordino, non legato
p
p
p
f
6
6
f
mf
mf f
Trumpet poco rubato ad lib., slower than indicated tempo; vibraphone as notated. Coordination is maintained
5
5
via sord.
mf
f
p
p
legato
fff
pp
3
mf
con sordino
p
3
6 5
f
mettere sord.
motor off
mf
mf
p
3
pp
pp
cresc.
f
mf
mf
p
3
34
Tpt.
f
30
Tpt.
7
pp
mf mp5
mp 5
mf
mp
3 38
Tpt.
Perc.
mf mp
42
Tpt.
5
mf
mp 5
5
sempre p Perc.
p3
5
5
5
gradually use more pedal for blurrier sound
sempre p
legato
meno legato
5
non legato sempre
5
5
more pedal - blurrier
very blurry, except accents
omit notes as necessary to breathe
dim.
5
dim. al pp 5
5
5
5
sempre p
5
5
5
5
return to legato
5
legato
mf 5
Perc. less burry
5
5
50
Tpt.
legato
p
5
46
Tpt.
Trumpet in strict time again
non legato 5 5
...to air
5
sf
5
5
clear
5
5
sempre p
5
5
5
5
5
getting blurrier
5
5
less blurry Perc. 5
sf
p
5
...to air
5
very blurry
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
4 54
Tpt.
mf
3
3
3
3
3
nearly clear getting blurry 6 6 Perc. 3 5 3 5 5 6 6 3
3
mp
sub. clear - very little pedal
58
Tpt.
3
Perc.
3
3
dim.
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
62
Tpt.
3
3
3
3
...to air
3
3
3
3
Finger these pitches, legato, back & forth very quickly, but only air sound
mf
Perc. 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
5 66
Tpt.
legato
...to pitch
poco f
3
3 3 3 Perc. 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3
3
3
3
70
Tpt.
cresc.
f, quasi solo, espr.
3 3 3 Perc.
74
Tpt.
3
3
3
3
3
3
3 3 3 3 3 3 Perc. f, quasi solo, espr. 3 3 3 3
6
q = q. ma poco meno mosso
79
Tpt.
Perc.
83
Tpt.
4 4 4 4 4 4 4
mf
q = q. ma poco meno mosso
4
4
4
vary amount of pedal used
mf
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
4
4
4
4
4
4
blurrier
Perc.
87
Tpt.
4
4
4
4
4 4 4 4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
blurrier
less blurry
Perc. 91
Tpt.
4
4
4
less blurry
Perc.
4
4 4
4
very little pedal
7 95
Tpt.
Perc.
poco ritardando
poco ritardando
5
Perc. 103
Tpt.
99
Tpt.
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
q. = q 5 5 3 3 3
q. = q 4 lower keys of vibraphone Perc. let ring (hold pedal until all sound gone)
Tpt.
Perc.
Melodica
fp
poco f
4
113
5
4
5
4
5
5
q. = q
q. = q
put down l.h. mallets; put Melodica on
vibraphone (motor slow) p
8
118
Perc.
put down r.h. mallets ’
slower
Melodica
p
123
3
3
3
3
rit. ad lib 3
3
Perc.
128
a tempo 6
6
Perc.
132
sempre mf
6
6
6
6
p
p
ff
fff
mf
p
p
3 3
f
l.h.: take mallets (rit. if necessary)
p
r.h.: take stick
Perc.
6
mf
mf
9 138
Tpt.
p
Perc.
mettere sord.
con sord.
rit. ad lib Tempo primo q=100
p
rit. ad lib Tempo primo q=100
via sord.
149
Perc.
mp
Perc.
put down Melodica l.h.: mallets
143
Tpt.
p (do not overpower Melodica)
vibraphone (motor medium speed)
both hands p use 2nd l.h. mallet to bend take mallets pitch of f.t. upward slightly after each hit
q =q
10 154
Tpt.
Perc.
157
Tpt.
Perc.
mp
H O H
O
HO H
O H
vibraphone
O
H
O HO
H O H
O
O H
HO H
O
not too loud (perc. dominates, but should not drown out trumpet)
bend pitch slightly upward using lip
cresc. poco a poco
H
OHO H O H
p
Perc.
160 H O
Tpt.
senza sord.
mf
cresc.
f
cresc.
dim.
sempre cresc.
mf
p
11
163
Tpt.
Perc.
O
HOH
O
pp
Tpt.
Perc.
add a little pedal for blurriness
f
(the magnitude of the movements around percussion setup will make f dynamic necessary)
5 5 5 5 5 5 3
5
5
6
6
6
less blurry
6
6
dry
(accents weaker and weaker until they gradually disappear)
accelerate the same rhythmic figure with double-tonguing, evening out rhythm to very fast notes of equal length, as non-legato as possible
Perc.
3 3 3
169
Tpt.
3 3 3 3
f (in dynamic equilibrium w/perc.)
166
12 172 double-tonguing as fast and as non-legato as possible
Tpt.
poco a poco legato
175
Tpt.
f
some pedal
(pause to breathe as necessary)
legato
Perc.
repeat this phrase as fast as possible and as legato as possible with no tongue articulation
blurry
very fast very legato double-tonguing
introduce tongue artic., but molto legato
ppp
mf
mf
Perc.
less pedal
Perc.
poco a poco meno legato double-tonguing
178
Tpt.
dry
gradually slow down tonguing
13 slow down tonguing to merge organically into eighth-notes
180
Tpt.
f
3
meno f
Perc.
183
Tpt.
Perc.
3
3
3
3
3
3
3 ppp
3
3
mf, leggiero
Perc.
186
Tpt.
14
189
Tpt.
Perc.
Perc.
Perc.
fast q = 140
195
Tpt.
192
Tpt.
ff
ff
f, solo
fast q = 140 take drumsticks (both hands)
accel.
200
Tpt.
Perc.
accel.
freely
207
Tpt.
Perc.
5
freely
5
mf
5
5
5
poco meno f
q = 150
q =150
freely between p and mf
3
15
3
5
5
mf
5
5 5 5 5 3
214
Tpt.
Perc. 220
Tpt.
poco f
Tempo primo q = 100
5 5
accents f, other notes p
omit notes as necessary to breathe
Perc. Tempo primo q = 100
accents f, other notes p
16
225
Tpt.
Perc.
228
Tpt.
Perc. continuous buzz (closed) roll
231
Tpt.
accelerando
molto accelerando
Choice of accents is free; play many accents and unpredictably. Coordination with trumpet is gradually lost; accelerando should not be totally in sync. While the trumpet accelerates, the percussion can momentarily even play a ritardando so as accelerando to destroy the feeling of meter in the accents. molto accelerando
Perc.
17 Accelerate, losing control of rhythm; the melody just becomes a succession of these pitches, fingered as fast as possible. Phrasing is messed up. This bar, senza misura, can be terminated early, or can be repeated ad lib. Trumpet and percussion play their parts independently; the "16th notes", unsteady themselves, go out of sync. Eye contact must be maintained, so that the trumpeter can stop instantly when interrupted by the percussionist. Trumpeter can briefly interrupt melody to breathe.
Ø
234
Tpt.
Continue playing until interrupted by percussion (xiaoluo). Then pause; resume playing when percussionist again muffles xiaoluo.
ff While the tendency is an accelerando, the percussion rolls can become faster and slower very freely; choice of accents is free and should be irregular. Play out of sync with trumpet but maintain eye contact so trumpeter is prepared when percussionist cuts off the section.
Perc.
Ø ff
q = 90
237
Tpt.
p
q = 90
put down xiaoluo
Perc. p
242
Tpt.
6
f
3
6
6
5
6
6
f
6
3
3
ff
ff
6
5
3
3
Perc. 6 6
Interrupt trumpet by striking xiaoluo. Then muffle it with the bare hand as a sign for trumpet to resume. The scenario occurs 3 times. When tpt. resumes playing for the first time, pick up xiaoluo and keep holding it until finished, for better resonance.
3
3
6
3
6
18
246
Tpt.
Perc.
251
Tpt.
ff
mf 6
6
6
6
6
6
3
fff
3
3 3 3
mf
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
fff
senza tempo (6-15 sec. per bar) play note and sing in near-unison, producing "beating" phenomena breathe only at ends of bars, and then only if necessary
p
senza tempo (6-15 sec. per bar) vibraphone (motor slow) take 2 bows use 1 or 2 bows as necessary if trumpet breathes, proceed to next bar; otherwise proceed freely to next bar
Perc.
p
256
Tpt.
Perc.
hold as long as breath allows
end with trumpet