Instrumentation
3Flutes(3rddbl.piccolo)
2Oboes
EnglishHorn
2ClarinetsinBb
BassClarinetinBb b
2Bassoons
Contrabassoon
4HornsinF
3TrumpetsinC
2Trombones
BassTrombone
Tuba
Timpani
3Percussionists
Percussion1:
Vibraphone(mallets+bow),Marimba,Thundersheet, Maracas,Whip,Woodblocks,Bongos(+sticks),1LargeSuspendedCymbal
Percussion2: Xylophone,Djembe,Tam-tam(mallets+metalbeater),1LargeSus.Cym., Whip,Woodblocks,Flexatone,WindChimes,Guiro
Percussion3: BassDrum,Cajón,Agogos,3ConcertTom-toms(low,mid,high),Guiro
*duplicateinstrumentscanbesharedamongstpercussionists
Harp
Piano
Strings
ScoreisTransposed
OfEarth&Sky
Notes
OfEarthandSky:TalesfromtheMotherlandforOrchestraisa20-minuteorchestraljourneycommissionedbythe FortWorthSymphonyOrchestra,RobertSpano,MusicDirectorTheworkiscastin4movements,takingthelistenerinto thedepthsoftheAfricancontinentthrough3distinctlegendsandacelebratoryfinale
Aboutthework:
MovementI:"HuveaneMovesAwayfromtheHumans"
ThepieceopensupwithanepiccreationstoryfromtheBasothoandBavendapeopleofLesotho,SouthernAfricaThe creatorgodHuveanecreatestheheavensandtheearth,plants,livingcreatures-includinghumanbeingsWhenliving thingsdiscoveredreproduction,begantofight,amongstotheractivities,Huveane'screationbecamefortoonoisyfor himtoremainonearthHethenclimbedintotheskybydrivinginpegsthatheputhisfeeton,takingouteachpegfrom behindashesteppedontothenext,sothatpeoplewouldnotbeabletofollowhimHehaslivedintheskyeversince
MovementII:"Anansi"
AnansiisanAkancharacterwhohasbecomefamousthroughoutAfricaandmanycountriesintheCaribbeanregionHe isknownforhisinsight,intelligence,andwisdomAnansicanchangeformandmaybedepictedasahuman,although hisnormalformisaspiderAccordingtotheAsantepeople,Anansicanbeatrickster thatis,apersonalitywhoteaches moral,ethical,political,orsocialvaluesbasedonhisabilitytoleadapersontothetruththroughexample,puzzles,and theleast-expectedturnsandtwistsoffate
MovementIII:"NyamiNyami"
NyamiNyamiisoneoftheTongapeople’smostimportantgods
LivingonthebanksoftheZambeziRiverinZambiaandZimbabwe,theTongapeople(alsoknownastheBatonga)look tothedragon-likecreatureforprotectionandprovisionindifficulttimesReportedsightingsofthemonsterinthe ZambeziRiverarenotunusual,butforthenon-believers,themostconvincingproofthattheNyamiNyamimaybemore thanjustalegendwerethemysteriousdisastersthatoccurredduringtheconstructionofKaribadamwallLegendhasit thatthewallofthedamhasseparatedNyamiNyamifromhiswifeInretaliation,heoftengeneratesseismicactivityin theareaThemelodiesthroughoutthemovementsymbolizethecreature’sgreatlamentforhiswife,whilethechaotic swellsandwailingthatbookendthemovementsignifyNyamiNyami’swrath
MovementIV:"Celebration"
CelebrationisajoyousfinalehonoringthejovialenergyoftheAfricanspiritWithinthiscelebration,Iwasespecially inspiredbythetraditional"Bata"danceoftheYorubapeopleofsouthwesternNigeriaandtheZaoulidancersofthe GuropeopleofCôteD’IvoireIseektoengulfthelistenerinthesesoundsoflife,spirit,andhumanity
PerformanceNotes:
Flute: Beatboxing-
*AirBeatboxing-Essentially"talking"intotheflute,airbeatboxingutilizestheuseof talkingsyllablesintothemouthpiecetoproduceapercussive,breathyseriesof soundsontheindicatedpitchesThereisusuallyexpectedtobemoreairthanpitch "tu"=too "ku"=koo "ka"=kahh "shh"
AirOnly-
*Woodwinds/Brass-Apitchless,steadystreamofairblown throughtheinstrument
Othernotes-
*Accidentalscountfortheentiremeasure
*Crescendo/Decrescendoalniete"fromnothing/tonothing-
(blendwithsurroundingtrumpets overlappingbreathtocreateacontinuousstreamofair)
(blendwithsurroundingtrumpets overlappingbreathtocreateacontinuousstreamofair)
aironly(blowthroughtrumpet) (blendwithsurroundingtrumpets, overlappingbreathtocreateacontinuousstreamofair)
Vibraphone(softmallets)
PercussionI
blendintootherinstruments trynottoletthebeatingofthetremolo beheardtoomuchexceptattheloudestdynamic
(norearticulationatendofgliss)
