ELEMENTAL HOMUNCULI for Tenor Saxophone and Piano
Carl Schimmel performance notes o Dynamics and other performance indications should be followed carefully, but notice that there is not an abundance of such markings; this is to allow for the musician to bring his or her own musicality to the performance. If a phrase is simply marked piano, this does not indicate that the phrase should be played at a constant volume but rather with musical dynamic shading at an approximate piano dynamic level. o In the first movement, starting in measure 12, the three-note clusters in the piano part should be played using the fists. o In the third movement, the squeaky toy part should be played by the pianist’s mouth. An actual stuffed animal squeaky toy may be used (this would add to the humorous nature of the movement), although a squeaky toy “refill” part would be easier to play. A “+” above the squeaky toy note indicates that the pianist should bite down on the squeaky toy, while a “o” indicates that the squeaky toy should be released. After biting down on the squeaky toy, the pianist should keep his or her teeth clamped until the next “o” note. In both cases, the action should be quick in order to maximize volume. An alternative to this approach is to depress the squeaky toy with the right foot, which would of course be more comfortable. o In the fifth movement, the saxophone’s bell should be directed into the piano, creating resonance.
program note This work is one in a series of works which delve into the nature of diatonicism. It is also my fourth work to employ the expressive subtleties of the squeaky toy. Each Elemental Homunculus features one of the six basic intervals as a constantly recurring pair of notes (for example, E and F in the first movement) and explores its diatonic possibilities. While the earlier movements are centered around pairs of notes which exist in only a few diatonic scales (e.g., only the C major and F major collections in the first movement), the later movements use recurring dyads that have a wider range of diatonic possibilities. The idea that a work of music (in particular a short work of music) can represent a persona or personality has been of particular interest to me recently, and these character pieces constitute a part of this stylistic trend. Music is essentially wordless communication; it is accordingly analogous to (and a complex version of) emotional expression – cries, shouts, laughter, etc. So mood and personality, which are nearly indistinguishable from emotional states, lend themselves to musical exploration. These Homunculi each have their own individual attitudes and hang-ups, and yet they have been cut from the same theoretical mold, and drawn from my own personality by some obscure and elusive process.
I.
As Fast as Possible ( = ca. 120) Tenor Sax
(senza crescendo)
Piano
6
6
subito subito
6
(at least every eighth note)
2
9
9
subito 9
( = ca. 90)
13
13
13
! ! ! ! ! !
"
3
subito
3
subito 3
"
(A Tempo)
( = ca. 90)
#
18
! !
#
18
! !
#
18
23
! !
"
!
subito
3
!
subito 3
!
#
$
#
$
(senza crescendo) 23
subito
(senza crescendo) 23
#
$
(A Tempo)
3
4
#
27
subito
subito
(senza crescendo)
%
subito
#
27
(senza crescendo)
subito
subito
(senza crescendo)
subito
subito(senza diminuendo)
#
27
%
(at least every eighth note) (at least every eighth note)
II. Grave ( = ca. 60) Tenor Sax
n
Piano sempre
(Hold pedal almost throughout, using half pedal to thin the sound)
9
9
9
9
5
6 15
5
3
3
3
3
3 15
15
3
15
flutt.
(or just raunchy)
18
5
(slow gliss.)
3 5
5
18
!
3
18
3
$#
3
3
3
! " #
"
3
3
18
(release pedal)
7
21
% n
21
sempre 21
sempre 21
(pedal)
(release pedal)
8
III.
As Fast as Possible ( = ca. 160) Tenor Sax sempre
Piano
sempre
Squeaky Toy sempre
7
3
3
3
3
3 3
7
these F's can be played with left hand if preferred use left forearm to play white-note cluster (notes are approximate)
7
7
3
3
3 3
3
9
15
3
3
3
3
3 3
15
15
15
22
22
22
22
3
10
30
30
(white note glissando)
( )
30
30
37
37
37
37
11
IV. Molto Allegro ( = ca. 120) 5
Tenor Sax 7:8
5
5
piu
5
Piano
depress silently
piu
NO PEDAL (use middle pedal to hold long notes)
7:8
5
5
7
5
5
3
3
3
5 5
3
7 3 5 7
3
5 5
3
12
13
&
3
3
&'
& 5
5
3
3
5
& &
3
13
5
13
%
&'
17
&& %
5 3
&
& # " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "$" "
&' 5
17
&'
3
5
5
&
& (
) & &' (
) &' & (
5 ! " " " " " " "$" " # " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "$" "
5
3
5
3
3
&'
&
5
&'
3
! 17
5
5
3
5
3
5 3
&'
&
3
& & # " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "$" "
&& "# """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" '
&
5
3
5
3
3 5
) '
5
5
5
& & && "# " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "$" "
)
3 5 5
(if possible)
3
& & # " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "$" "
'
& & # " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "$" " 3
13
22
3
3
,
,
22
*
++ ,
5 5
22
5
3
5
*
,
++ depress silently
% ++
*
3
(change middle pedal)
NO PEDAL (use middle pedal to hold long notes)
5
28
,
5
3
-
,
,
28
(
(
(
,
28
5
5
(
3
14
&
'
5
36
5
5
5
3
3
& &
36
&'
&
5
&'
5 3
40
&'
" " " " " " "$" "
& # " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "$" " &'
5
&'
3
&'
&'
.
5
5
40
3
5
5
3
36
40
3 5
5
&& 5 3
%
&'
&'
5 && " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "$" " "# " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "$" " "#
& ) &
5
& & # """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ' &
5
5
3
5
3
(non ritard.)
'
5
)
3
5
(non ritard.)
5 3
5
3
& '
& & && & & "# " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "$" "
V. Largo, quasi una cadenza ( = ca. 80)
15
3
3
Tenor Sax
n
(into the piano, throughout this movement)
Piano
(hold down throughout)
accel.
a tempo 3 3
n
16
5
n
secco
(lift pedal slowly when piano is nearly silent)
VI. Presto ( = ca. 120) Tenor Sax
Piano
5
5
5
17
18
9
9
9
13
13
13
19
16
16
16
fluttertongue
20
slap tongue
6
fluttertongue slap tongue
! 5:3 20
20
20
fluttertongue
24
fluttertongue
fluttertongue
fluttertongue
! 24
!
24
Slightly Relaxed
$
27
molto legato " 27
27
molto legato "
# #
" # #
$
$
# #
$
21
As Before 32
crescendo
32
crescendo 32
# #
36
crescendo poco a poco
36
crescendo poco a poco 36
22 gliss. if possible
$
40
% 40
%
40
45
%
3
3
3
45
3
45
3
3
$
$