D. J. Sparr PERCUSSION QUARTET: COMPASS CHROME
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D. J. Sparr PERCUSSION QUARTET: COMPASS CHROME Commissioned by the Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Music and Dr. Peter Martin with a consortium of sixteen universities, conservatories, organizations, and educators: Chapman University Conservatory of Music and Nick Terry Colorado State University and Erik Hollenbeck Eastman School of Music and Michael Burritt George Mason University and John Kilkenny Iowa State University and Matthew Coley Kansas State University Student Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society Lindenwood University and Jeffrey Barudin McMaster University and Michael Shutz McMurry University and Keith Lloyd Northwestern University Bienen School of Music and She-e Wu Tennessee Technological University and Eric Willie Towson University and Patrick Roulet University of Central Florida and Thad Anderson University of North Florida and Charlotte Mabrey University of Virginia and I-Jen Fang University of Windsor and Nicholas Papador
Program Notes Percussion Qurtet: Compass Chrome uses mallet-based instruments set up as a compass—North (tuned metal plates), East (vibraphone), South (tuned metal pipes), and West (marimba). In addition, each area of the compass has auxiliary instruments including bells, glass bottles, dry metal, tuned wooden planks, crotales, cymbals, and wind gongs. The work begins with each player using very soft mallets which creates a sustained humming sound. As the work unfolds, each area of the compass gradually changes to harder and more articulate mallets, performing themes and counterpoint as the texture becomes clearer. The cymbals and auxiliary percussion are added over the course of the work as the melodies unfold in a style reminiscent of baroque counterpoint. Compass Chrome was commissioned by the Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Music and Dr. Peter Martin along with a consortium of sixteen universities, conservatories, organizations, and educators across North America. Compass Chrome was premiered on November 20, 2012 by the VCU Percussion Ensemble.
(score for consortium members only)
PERCUSSION QUARTET: COMPASS CHROME duration- c. 10’
Instrumentation:
Player 1 – Percussion East • Vibraphone • Metal Sound (dry) • Large Suspended Cymbal • Resonant Bell Player 2 – Percussion West • Marimba (5.0 Octave) • 3 Glass Bottles (can be placed on the Marimba on a towel on lowest Gb,Ab,&Bb) • Large Cymbal, China, or Wind Gong • Resonant Bell Player 3 – Percussion South • *Tuned Metal Pipes [A5, B5, C5, D5, E5, F5, G#5, A6, B6, C#6, D#6, E6, F6 (labeled E#), F#6] • Crotales • Large Cymbal, China, or Wind Gong • Resonant Bell Player 4 – Percussion North • **Tuned Metal Plates [A5, B5, C5, D5, E5, F5, F#5, G#5] • ***Tuned Wooden Planks [A6, B6, C#6, D#6, F6] • Large Suspended Cymbal • Resonant Bell *Tuned Metal Pipes can be constructed from 3/4” steel piping, cut to the specific pitches. The lengths of the pipes for the premiere performance were as follows: A5 – 23 7/8” B5 – 22 1/4” C5 – 21 3/4” D5 – 20 1/4” E5 – 19 1/8” F5 – 18 1/2” G#5 – 17” A6 – 16 1/4” B6 – 15 1/4” C#6 – 14 5/8” D#6 – 13 5/8” E6 – 13 1/4” F6 – 13” F#6 – 12 1/2” **Tuned Metal Plates (fig. 2) can be constructed from 3/16x3” flat steel bar, cut to the specific pitches. The lengths of the plates for the premiere performance were as follows: A5 – 9 1/2” B5 – 8 7/8” C5 – 8 5/8” D5 – 8 1/4” E5 – 7 5/8” F5 – 7 1/2” F#5 – 7 1/4” G#5 – 6 3/4” C6 – 6” ***Tuned Wooden Planks can be constructed from 1x4” poplar wood, cut to the specific pitches. The lengths of the planks for the premiere performance were as follows: A6 – 13” B6 – 12 3/8” C#6 – 11 5/8” D#6 – 11” F6 – 10”
All of the above sizes above are for reference only and may need to be adjusted according to specific materials used.
Percussion Quartet: Compass Chrome D. J. Sparr
q=c. 69-76 (or e=c. 138-152), perpetual humming...
Vibraphone (East) softest mallets possible
resonant bell
Vibraphone
f
ppp
f
Tuned Metal Plates and Wood (North)
3
Vib.
Pipes
tuned pipes
ppp
ppp
f
Plates Wood
ppp
subtle crescendo...(only on cymbal) ppp
ppp
Large Cymbal, China, or Wind Gong
metal plates
softest mallets possible
large suspended cymbal
Mar.
softest mallets possible
resonant bell
marimba
f
softest mallets possible
resonant bell
Marimba (West)
(hold pedal down until markings in mm 21.)
resonant bell
Tuned Metal Pipes (South)
5
p Vib. 5
ppp
switch to slightly harder mallets
Pipes
subtle crescendo...(only on cymbal)
ppp
p
ppp
ppp
subtle crescendo...(only on cymbal)
ppp
ppp
Large Cymbal, China, or Wind Gong
Plates Wood
p
(coming out of the textue)
ppp
Mar.
p
©2012 D. J Sparr version 12/10/2012
ppp
2 Vib.
7
Mar.
Plates Wood
Plates Wood
11
Plates Wood
p
mp
mf
f
ppp
ppp
mf
f
p
subtle crescendo...
(only on gong) Cymbal, Large China, or Wind Gong ppp
p
Mar.
with crotale (diamond note-heads)
mp
Pipes
Mar.
Vib.
9
Pipes
Pipes
Vib.
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mp
mf
f
ppp
13
p Vib. 13
Pipes
ppp
p
Plates Wood
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
sf
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
sf
ppp
p
sf
pp
with bell
sf
sf
sf
sf
pp
ppp
sf
countermelody
p
(main-melody: coming out of the textue)
17
Vib.
ppp
p
ppp switch to slightly harder mallets
ppp
15
Vib.
ppp Mar.
3
p
mp
mf
f
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4 Vib.
Pipes
19
Plates Wood
p
mp
Plates Wood
ppp
Vib.
sf
Pipes Mar.
Plates Wood
p
p
ppp
mp
mf
f
ppp
p
ppp
p
ppp
sf
sf
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countermelody
sf
ppp
23
ppp
f
p
ppp
ppp
(main-melody: coming out of the textue)
sf
mf
21
ppp
Mar.
Vib.
sf
Pipes
Mar.
21
switch to slightly harder mallets
sf
sf
shaft on cymbal bell
25
sf p mp Pipes Vib.
Mar.
Plates Wood
p
Pipes
Plates Wood
p
Plates Wood
mf
f
ppp
ppp ppp
ppp
sf
ppp
ppp
pp
ppp
p
p
switch to slightly harder mallets
ppp
p Pipes
sf
mf
sf
Vib.
Mar.
mp
29
29
sf
f
Mar.
mf f p mp
27
Vib.
5
pp
ppp
ppp
p
mp
ppp
ppp
sf
pp
pp
p
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6 Vib.
Pipes
Mar.
31
p
pp
mp Plates Wood
ppp
ppp
pp
pp
ppp
pp
p
Mar.
Plates Wood
35
Vib. p
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
ppp
p
ppp
sf
pp
p
p
ppp
pp
sf
pp
pp
ppp
ppp
ppp sempre
shaft on cymbal bell
pp
p
ppp
p
p
sf
pp
ppp
p
p
Pipes
pp
33
Vib.
pp
p
mp
ppp
pp
p
f
pp
p
mp
ppp
p
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pp
f
pp
ppp
p
molto crescendo!
ppp
switch to slightly harder mallets p
mp
ppp
pp
p
f
37 37
Vib.
Pipes
Mar.
f
39
Vib.
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
Mar.
Plates Wood
molto crescendo!
ppp
sf
sf
sf
wood plank (square note heads)
sf
sf
p
sf
7
ppp
ppp
sf
f
sf
sf
p
ppp
ppp
molto crescendo!
with bell
Pipes
ppp (hold pedal down until markings in mm 53.) (coming out of the textue)
41
Vib.
ppp f
ppp Plates Wood
mp
mf
f
p
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8 Vib.
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
43
sf
mp
f
mf
p Vib. 45
p
mp
Vib.
sf
Plates Wood
countermelody pp
p
sf sf
p
sf
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sf
sf
sf
resonant bell with shaft
(coming out of the textue)
subtle crescendo...
ppp
ppp
sf Pipes Mar.
f
ppp
switch to slightly harder mallets
47
mf
p
ppp
ppp
subtle crescendo...
ppp
ppp Plates Wood
ppp
p
ppp
Mar.
45
Pipes
subtle crescendo...
ppp
sf
sf
49
Vib.
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
sf
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
sf
sf
p
p
sf f
p
mp
mp
mf
mf
sf
f
sf
f
53
ppp
ppp
f
p
ppp
ppp
ppp p
9
mf
switch to slightly harder mallets
mp
with cymbal bell
sf
sf
f
with wood
sf
52
Vib.
sf
51
Vib.
ppp
p
subtle crescendo... ppp
ppp
p
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10 Vib.
Pipes
54
Mar.
sf
ppp
Vib.
Mar.
Plates Wood
p
mp
mf
f
p
sf
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sf
sf
sf
f
Pipes
with cymbal bell
58
Vib.
sf
Mar.
Plates Wood
with wood
with metal sound
sf
sf
countermelody
56
Pipes
ppp
Plates Wood
with metal sound
with cymbal bell
p
mf
sf
mp
mp
mf
sf
60
Vib. f
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
f
p
Pipes
mf
pp
p
mf
ppp
64
Vib.
sf
ppp
p
Pipes
pp
mf
pp
p
mf
p
mf
sf
ppp
pp
p
pp
ppp
p
ppp
p mf
ppp pp
p
mf
crotale
sf
ppp
p mf
pp
mf
11
ppp
pp
sf
p
p
mf
ppp sempre
ppp
crotale
sf Plates Wood Mar.
ppp
ppp
pp
ppp pp
with glass bottle (diamond note heads)
(coming out of the textue)
sf
ppp pp crotale
p
switch to slightly harder mallets right hand, 2 mallets (for glass bottle)
ppp mp sf Plates Wood Mar.
ppp
61
ppp p
ppp
62
Vib.
ppp
mf
crotale
sf
ppp sempre
sf ppp
pp
p
mf
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12 Vib.
Pipes
Mar.
66
crotale
ppp sempre
crotale Pipes
Vib.
f
Pipes
70
f
molto crescendo!
ppp
molto crescendo!
ppp
p
f
sticks end of mallets
f
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molto crescendo!
ppp
sticks end of mallets
f
pp p mp f
pp p mp f Plates Wood
69
molto crescendo!
ppp
sf
Plates Wood
p mp f
Vib.
Mar.
67
Mar.
sf
pp
Plates Wood
f
f
p
f
metal sound
71
Vib.
Pipes
Plates Wood
73
Vib.
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
sticks end of mallets
Pipes
Plates Wood
f
f
with crotales
ppp
with bottles
ppp
p
f
f
f
f
p
p
f
f
withwood ppp
crotales
f
pipes
p
crotales
f
75
ppp
Vib.
Mar.
with metal sound
75
pipes
3 glass bottles
p
crotales
p
sticks end of mallets
Mar.
13
3 glass bottles
f
f
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14 Vib.
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
77
Pipes
Mar.
ff
ff
ff
ppp
ff
Plates Wood
sfz
ppp
sfz
82 aggressive!
f
sfz
f
sfz
with crotale heads of hard mallets
heads of hardmallets
f
sfz
heads of hard mallets
ff
f
sfz
ff
sfz
ff
Vib.
Mar.
ppp
heads of hard mallets
ff
83
Pipes
ppp
Plates Wood
79
Vib.
f
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sfz
sfz
sfz sfz
86
stick ends of mallets 85 Vib. sfz
Pipes
p
sfz
p
mf
f
p
mf
f
f
p
mf
f
15
stick ends of mallets
mf
stick ends of mallets
Mar.
sfz
p
Plates Wood
mf
f
mf
f
stick ends of mallets
sfz
88
Vib.
p
Pipes
Mar.
p
Plates Wood
mf
f
mf
mf
f
mf
f
Vib. 90
sf
Pipes
sf
sf
Mar.
Plates Wood
with crotale
sf
mf
f
p
mf
f
89
f
p
p
p
p
heads of mallets
sf
with bell ff
heads of mallets
ff
sf
heads of mallets
with glass
ff sf
with wood heads of mallets
ff
sf
sf
sf
with bell
with crotale
sf
sf sf
sf
sf sf
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16 Vib.
Pipes
93 93
stick ends of mallets
f
fff
Mar.
Plates Wood
Mar.
Plates Wood
f
p
mf
fff
f
f
p
mp
p
mf
f
p
pp
f
pp
p
p
mf
f
This score was created for consortium members only. Do not distribute. www.billholabmusic.com
mf
Glass bottles
fff
mf
fff
fff
p
fff
f
fff
fff
p
Pipes
fff
fff
f
97
Vib.
fff
f
f
Pipes
fff
stick ends of mallets
95
Vib.
f
f
Plates Wood
f
fff
stick ends of mallets
Mar.
stick ends of mallets
f
f
99
Vib.
Pipes
Mar.
mp
mf
f
p
mf
f
mf
f
p
mf
sf
pp
103
Vib.
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
sf
pp
pp
sf
sf
pp
pp
p
mp
pp
p
sf
pp
pp
sf
heads of mallets
heads of mallets
sf
sf
pp
pp
ppp
ppp
Right hand. 2 mallets. (shaft on outside mallet.)
17
sf
sf
mp
Plates Wood
heads of mallets
pp
pp
f
Vib.
Mar.
heads of mallets
101
Pipes
p Plates Wood
100 "Baroque Stretto"
sf
f
mp
f
pp
pp
p
mp
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18 Vib.
105
pp
Pipes
Pipes
p
mp
pp
p
mp
f
pp
p
mp
pp
p
pp
pp
p
mp
p
mp
f
pp
p
p
with crotale p
fff
p
fff
p
p
f
p
with crotale
p fff p
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p
with bell
f
f
glass bottle
f
pp
p
bell of cymbal with shaft
fff
Mar.
f
p
Vib.
with wood
f
f
fff
mp
p
fff
f
f
mp
p
mp
with bell
109
Plates Wood
f
p
Pipes
mp
Big Crescendos!
Mar.
Plates Wood
p
f
107
f
107
Vib.
Mar.
Plates Wood
p
fff
fff fff
p
111
Vib.
Pipes
Mar.
fff
mp
mf
Plates Wood
fff
112
mf
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
Vib.
f
fff
mp
mf
f
mf
f
fff
mp
stick ends of mallets
mp
mf
fff
mf
fff
mp
mf
f
f
fff
mf
f
fff
mf
f
fff
fff
mp
and building... 115 Building
mp
fff
mf
f
stick ends of mallets
Pipes
fff
mp
114
mp
f
f
mf
Vib.
mp
19
f
mp mf f fff Plates Wood Mar.
mp
f
(heads of mallets)
f cresc.
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Vib.
20
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
117
take triangle beaters
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
ff
f
ff
121
Vib.
with stick ends
wind gong medium bell
f
f
f
f cresc.
scrape
f
back to stick ends of mallets
f cresc.
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f
p
f
f
f
metal sound resonant bell
f
bottles + bell of cymbal
f
119
Vib.
123
Vib.
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
Pipes
Mar.
ff
ff
fff
f
heads of mallets
fff
heads of mallets
f
f
f
ff
128
Vib.
f
Plates Wood
with crotale
sfz
heads of mallets
p
p
f
fff
p
f
fff
ff
fff
Plates Wood
Mar.
Loudest of them all, then drop back... 127
f
fff
f
f
Pipes
fff
126
Vib.
21
f
with shafts
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22 Vib.
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
129
with bell sfz
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
Plates Wood
sfz
sfz
132
crotale f
sfz
f
f
f
sfz
f
sfz
This score was created for consortium members only. Do not distribute. www.billholabmusic.com
sf
with wood
f
f
f
Vib.
Mar.
sfz
133
Pipes
131
Vib.
f
sfz
135
Vib.
Pipes
Plates Wood
f
Vib. 137
139
Mar.
f
sfz
f
f
f
sfz
f
resonant bell with shaft
sfz
f
p
sfz
sfz
f
crotales
sfz
f
f
Plates Wood
f
p
Pipes
Pipes
sfz
sfz
Vib.
23
sf
Plates Wood
f
sfz
Mar.
Mar.
sfz
p
sfz
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24 Vib.
Pipes
Mar.
141
143
Pipes
Mar.
sfz
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
sfz
f
sfz
sfz
f
f
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f
sfz
p
f
145
Vib.
f
Plates Wood
143 Vib.
f
Plates Wood
sfz
f
f
sfz
147
Vib.
Pipes sfz
Mar.
p
Plates Wood
Vib.
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
Vib.
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
sfz
f
f
f
25
sfz
f
f
p
sfz
sfz
sfz
f
sfz
f
sfz
f
sfz
151 151
f
sfz
f
149
f
f
sfz
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26 Vib.
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
153
sfz
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
Vib.
Pipes
sfz
f
sf
sticks end of softer mallets
sf
sf
This score was created for consortium members only. Do not distribute. www.billholabmusic.com
sfz
sticks end of mallets
Wood
f
mp
sf Plates Mar.
mf
f
sfz
157
f
155
Vib.
sticks end of mallets
sticks end of softer mallets
sticks end of mallets
159
Vib.
Pipes
Mar.
Plates Wood
heads of mallets ppp
p
Mar.
Plates Wood
p
p
p
p
p
take softer mallets
take softest mallets
p
p
p
p
ppp
p
...humming again...
ppp
take softer mallets
heads of mallets ppp
163
p
Pipes
Pipes
Vib.
Vib.
161
Plates Wood
161
Mar.
27
heads of mallets
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28
165
165
Vib.
Mar.
Plates Wood
Plates Wood
Mar.
Plates Wood
p
p
ppp
p
pp
take softest mallets
p
p
ppp
p
p
heads of mallets ppp
pp
Vib.
169
Pipes
take softest mallets
Pipes Mar.
167
Vib.
heads of mallets
p
take softest mallets
Pipes
ppp
pp
pp
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ppp
ppp
take scraping tool
ppp
ppp
29
scrape...with wire brushes. Right hand: left to right on metal pipes leading to gong. Left hand: right to left on white notes of crotales.
p
take wire brushes
p scrape...(bell or cymbal)
take scraping tool
p
scrape...
Plates Wood
scrape...(bell or cymbal)
Mar.
take scraping tool
Pipes
Vib.
171
p
November, 2012. Richmond, VA
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