Through this ocean glass - Gibson Mahnke

Through this ocean glass

Gibson Mahnke

Instrumentation

Flute

Clarinet in B♭

Performance Notes

Flute

1. Tongue Pizzicato/Slap - more information can be found at https://www.utecolors.com/techniques/pizzicato/ .

2. Lip Gliss. - in ii. ebb, a “slight lip gliss” is asked for. This should create slight imperfections within the tuning of the harmony. However, if this imperfection is imperceivable, feel free to gliss. to a lower pitch than the microtone provided in order to achieve a clear eect.

1. Lip Gliss. - see above bullet in Flute notes.

Viola

Cello

Piano

Clarinet

2. Harmonic Trill - trill to harmonic in parenthesis. See http://www.shakennotstuttered.com/leilehua-lanzilotti for more information.

1. Harmonic Trill - see above bullet in Viola notes.

1. Pedaling - in ii. ebb, the pedal should be held down for the entirety of the section (until the start of iii. return). As the section goes on, the strings should begin to vibrate more and more, creating a subtle textural layer of sound.

Viola

1. Ricochet

Cello

Piano

Program Notes

Through this ocean glass is a musical and philosophical analysis of sea glass. Sea glass is broken glass that has been discarded into the ocean and physically and chemically weathered into smooth, frosted glass “stones.” On the one hand, this is a beautiful process in which an articial product is reintegrated into nature, as opposed to the norm in which we as humans take materials from nature and manufacture them into something articial. On the other hand, this is a process born out of pollution and brings up the question: is “ sea glass” as a concept positive or negative? Is it a beautiful showcase of the power of the natural world, or does it present yet another example of how humanity is ruining the planet we call home?

Through this ocean glass is broken into three sections: i. shatter, ii. ebb, and iii. return. Each of these sections details a part of the process sea glass goes through to reach its nal form. i. shatter seeks to represent the initial act of pollution as the glass is broken and introduced into an unfamiliar natural world. ii. ebb takes one through the process of the glass being weathered by an endless stream of waves. Finally, iii. return presents the glass returning to shore in its new form and asks the question: was it all worth it?

Through this ocean glass, the Earth is a blur

How long until we can no longer see?

Gibson Mahnke 11 May 2024

Duration: ca. 7’

Photo: “White Bird Flying Above Body of Water” - Enrique Hoyos

Cover

gliss slowlytocreateslightrub,exacttimingisnotimportant

slightlipgliss.