Lifeline EllisLudwig-Leone
forpercussionquartet
forSandboxPercussion
Programnote:
IntalkingwiththemembersofSandboxPercussion,Ibecameinterestedinwritingaworkthatwouldshowcaseadifferentside oftheirmusicianship,withanemphasisonpolyphonyandharmonicdevelopmentItwouldhavethekindofextended melodiclines–sooftenafeatureofstringquartets,butlesssoinpercussionrepertoire–thatlendthemselvestointerpretive phrasinginperformance
Thepiecebeginsinawhirlwind:fastnotesonmalletinstruments,withexpansionsandcontractionsinthemetricgridproviding burstsofenergythatpropelthequartetthroughquickharmonicchanges.Thisprocessspinsitselfout,exhaustingitsenergyasit giveswaytoquiet,sustainedharmonyprimarilyplayedonbowedinstrumentsThejourneyfromexplosive,energeticmusictoa moreserene,internallandscapebringsafeelingofritual–asharedunderstandingthatgrowthandlifeeventuallygiveswayto decay
AsIwaswriting,IthoughtaboutanexperienceIhadonenightwatchingaschoolofsquidastheysurroundedminnowsbeneath adockThesquidformedaghostlycircle,andonebyone,theytookturnsventuringintotheringtonabafishTherewasan ordertothesystemthatwasmoving–andspooky–towatchInmywriting,Iliketosetupprocessesthatfeelorganicand inevitable,highlightingtheephemeralnatureofourexperienceonthisearthThepiececoncludeswithahauntedfugue,drifting inasonthetide,allfourplayersgatheredaroundtwovibraphonesGradually,themusicfadesaseachplayerretreatsinto darkness,likethoseghostlysquid,leavingjustashimmerofscalesinthedocklight
Instrumentation
glockenspiel circlebells(pitchedpipesoralmglocken)* whirlytube(pitchedtoC) woodblocks(highandlow) triangle anvil floortom
.
vibraphone(withfourbows) whirlytubes(pitchedtoA&B) woodblocks(highandlow) floortom
vibraphone(withfourbows) whirlytube(pitchedtoA) orchestralbassdrum
marimba whirlytubes(pitchedtoG&A) woodblocks(ofdifferentpitch)
*Perc circlebellspitches:G#F#EbC#BA#AAbGFED#CB
(WhirlyTube)
(Vibraphone) verysoftmallets adlibmalletdampening+pedal resonantbutclearsound
(WhirlyTube)
Vibraphone (sharingw/Perc3) verysoftmallets adlibmalletdampening+pedal resonantbutclearsound
Vibraphone verysoftmallets adlibmalletdampening+pedal resonantbutclearsound flipmalletstowood > (gestural,notprecise)
fasternotesstruckw/mallet slowernotesarco
startingwithunpitchedgrumbles,graduallytendingtowardsmorepitch
repeat3xandgraduallyfadeout allplayersslowlylayerinquietlyaudiblebreaths evokingthesoundofthetide
(Vibraphone) arco