Rei MUNAKATA: Buckle in the Air II (2012) for ensemble

Rei Munakata Buckle in the Air II (2012) for alto flute, clarinet (Bb), 3 percussion players, piano, guitar, violin, and cello

Instrumentation Alto flute in G

4 Beer cans, Fan, and Bamboo Chime

Clarinet in Bb

Pipe, Suitcase, and 5 to 9 Wine Bottles

Percussion I

High Tom, Glockenspiel, Prepared Mallets, 2 Wine Glasses, Waldteufel, 2 pieces of Paper, 2 Belts, Cornflake, Musical Pipe, Ping Pong Balls in basket or box

Percussion II

Vibraphone, Prepared Mallets, Low Tom, Glass Balls with Wooden Dish, 2 pieces of Paper, 2 Belts, Cornflake, Megaphone

Percussion III

Dobaci with wooden stick, 2 Belts, Kalimba, 2 pieces of Paper, Beer can with wooden stick, Coins, Cornflake, Musical Pipe

Piano

Ca 40 - 50 Beer Cans, a lot of Water Bottles, and Cornflakes

Guitar

Slide, Cornflakes

Violin Cello

Stage Disposition

(Beer cans fall of when the lid opens)

Perc II Perc I

Vibr X 50

Glsp Pno

(Push the suitcase towards the wine bottles)

Guit Cl

Perc III

Vln

Afl.

Vlc X4 Cond

Audience

Performance Notes

General Notes Transposed score:

Alto flute sounds perfect fourth lower than written.

Clarinet sounds major second lower than written.

Glockenspiel sounds two octaves higher than written.

Guitar sounds one octave lower than written.

All accidentals only refer to the notes within the beam, the bar and/or tied from the previous note.

All glissandi are continuous without staying on given pitches.

[Eat Cornflakes] Guitarist, 3 percussionists, and pianist are asked to eat almonds in bar 62 and 63. Eat and chew violently as fast as possible without any break, and constantly keep feeding yourself with new cornflakes during the indicated duration. Eat intensively and energetically without being over-theatrical.

Alto Flute [Beer Cans]

[Fan] [Preparation before the performance] Place the fan (rather small desk fan) where the flutist can easily push the on/off button without disturbing the view of the flutist from the audience. Place the Bamboo Chimes in front of the fan so when the fan is turned on, the Bamboo Chimes gently start to rattle.

[Preparation before the performance] Prepare 4 empty aluminium beer cans of any brand cleaned and dried. Place them on the music stand or a small table.

[During performance] The flutist is asked to throw a beer can in bar 3, 16, 50, and 129. Throw towards the down stage center (behind the conductor).

[Bamboo Chimes]

[During performance] The flutist is asked to turn on the fan in bar 118. The fan should be placed so that the flutist does not have to stand up to reach the on/off button. Make sure the Bamboo Chimes start to rattle. Turn the fan switch off when the clarinettist finishes singing and the guitarist making noise with cornflakes. Let the Bamboo Chimes ring until it dies out by its own.

Air/tone (Square note head): Half air and half tone in eighth, quarter, and half note value. !"!"!"

(Arrows up and down): Exhale and inhale air. As fast as possible if accompanied by tremolo sign. Otherwise as irregular as possible.

Discontinuous air tone with embouchure bending. Quiet and calm but nervous and intense.

Harmonics/whistle tone All harmonics notes are notated with diamond note head indicating the fundamental (fingering) and normal note head indicating the particular harmonic partial (sounding pitch desired).

In case of whistle tone, “whistle tone” is indicated (otherwise it is a normal harmonic tone).

Overblown harmonics with undetermined pitch(es). The diamond notehead indicates the fingering. Blow as hard as possible to achieve a cluster of high harmonic partials.

Other (Cross note head) Key click or key percussive effect in eighth, quarter, and half note value: Violently slap the key mechanism without blowing any air.

(Triangle note head): Tongue ram. Closed embouchure. Percussive thrusting of tongue into breathe aperture as if pronouncing “HT”. The triangle note head indicates the fingering and the normal tone the sounding pitch.

(“bisb.”): Bisbigliando. Timbral trill with microtones around the indicated pitch.

“Smorzato”: Rapid and violent lip vibrato.

Clarinet [Suitcase]

[Wine Bottles] [Preparation before the performance] Prepare 5 to 9 empty wine bottles of any brand cleaned and dried. Place them to the stage right.

Place a small 4-wheel suitcase next to the clarinettist.

No objects should be placed between the wine bottles and the suitcase.

[During Performance] The clarinettist is sometimes asked to shake the suitcase (ex. Bar 12). Shake the suitcase nervously in small zigzag motion without lifting as if the suitcase in the aircraft is shaking from a minor turbulence.

In bar 131, the clarinettist is asked to push the suitcase and let it roll towards the wine bottles like bowling. Let the suitcase aggressively hit the wine glasses.

Air/tone (Square note head): Air noise in eighth, quarter, and half note value. Only air noise sound without any tone otherwise indicated as “1/2 air” (half air and half tone). !"!"!"

(Arrows up and down): Exhale and inhale air.

Other (Cross note head) Key click or key percussive effect in eighth, quarter, and half note value: Violently slap the key mechanism without blowing any air.

(Heart sign): Kiss sound. Percussive noise created by lips as if one kisses the mouthpiece of the clarinet.

(“bisb.”): Bisbigliando. Timbral trill with microtones around the indicated pitch.

Growling Growl nonsense text in the lowest voice disgustingly, discontinuously, and irregularly into the clarinet. The voice should not be a clear speaking voice but rather an unclear muffled struggle of vocal cord. The written pitch indicates the fingering and the glissando lines indicates a rapid fingering movement up and down (open and close the clarinet).

Taking away the mouth piece The performer is asked to perform without the mouthpiece after bar 131.

Sing into the clarinet from bar 81a Cover the opening of barrel joint with mouth. Singing should not be sung with a professionally trained voice. Sing gently and quietly but with a touch of groaning and growling with a lot of wide vibrato. Do not hurry but take a lot of time as if the singing has been going on for a long time already and you are slightly drunk and enjoying singing in the enormous resonance in a big bathhouse.

[Pipe]

A plastic pipe with zigzag surface such as a musical twirling pipe or a vacuum cleaner pipe.

Speak nonsense text disgustingly, discontinuously, and irregularly into one end of the pipe while spinning the other side with the hand intensively. Use the lowest voice possible like growling but still with voice.

Percussion I [High Tom]

Extremely damped high tom. Place on the right side of the glockenspiel.

[Glockenspiel] [Prepared Mallets] Put normal Glockenspiel mallet and wooden stick together with tape.

Normal notehead = normal mallet, Cross notehead = Wooden stick. Arrow between two different noteheads indicates a gradual transition between normal mallet and wooden stick.

[2 Wine Glasses] [Waldteufel]

Good sounding large wine glasses. Create a percussive sound by hitting each other.

A small skin drum and a small wooden stick tied with a rope. Twist the small stick and create friction against the rope.

[Paper]

Two pieces of paper cut in small pieces (around 10 x 10 cm).

[Cornflakes]

Place a lot of crunchy cornflakes of any brand in a bowl.

[Pipe]

A plastic pipe with zigzag surface such as a musical twirling pipe or a vacuum cleaner pipe.

Speak nonsense text disgustingly, discontinuously, and irregularly into one end of the pipe while spinning the other side with the hand intensively. Use the lowest voice possible like growling but still with voice.

[Ping Pong Balls]

Approximately 150 – 200 Ping Pong Balls in a box. From bar 105 onwards, Percussionist I is asked to throw ping pong ball one by one in the air. Throw high enough without hitting the ceiling or stage light. Let it hit the floor without disturbing its course. In bar 131, dramatically spill all the remaining Ping Pong Balls to the floor.

[2 Belts]

Leather made belt with metal buckle that rattles noisily.

Arrow up (Lift up):

Suddenly lift up the buckle to the air from the floor by pulling the belt upwards.

Arrow down (Drop):

Aggressively lower the belt and let the buckle hit the floor without any hesitation.

Dotted line (Scrape):

Scrape the belt buckle against the floor with a nervous and jerky discontinuous movement.

Zigzag line (Shake):

If after “arrow up” – Shake the belt in the air to let the buckle rattle. If after “arrow down” – Shake the belt on the floor.

[Megaphone]

Roll an A3 paper into a megaphone. From bar 131, percussion I player is asked speak into a megaphone as if you are an airplane pilot and making an announcement before landing. Speak clearly without hesitation in a cheerful manner.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the *)…….. International Airport. Please remain seated until the Seat Belt Sign is turned off. We have landed on schedule and the local time is **) ………… Please check if you have all your personal belongings before you leave the aircraft, and please take care when you open the overhead compartment as heavy articles may have shifted during the flight. On behalf of the entire crew, I’d like to thank you for choosing ***) ……… Airlines. We look forward to having you on board again in the near future. Have a nice day/evening/night (choose one), and good bye!” *) Insert the name of the concert venue where the piece is performed at the moment. **) Insert the current time of the performance. ***) Insert the name of the ensemble that is playing this work at the moment.

Percussion II [Low Tom]

Extremely damped low tom or bass drum. Place on the left side of the vibraphone.

[Vibraphone] [Prepared Mallets]

Put normal vibraphone yarn mallet and wooden stick together with tape.

Normal notehead = yarn mallet, Cross notehead = Wooden stick. Arrow between two different noteheads indicates a gradual transition between yarn mallet and wooden stick.

[Glass Balls]

Many small and round glass balls often sold in toy store.

[Wooden Dish]

The bottom of the dish should be well curved enough in order to let the glass balls go around and around for a while.

Gently throw a Glass Ball from and along the inner rim of the Wooden Dish. Let the ball go around and around the dish until it gradually descends and stops on its own.

Example: HULTET (IKEA) Diameter 30 cm Height: 5 cm [Paper]

Two pieces of paper cut in small pieces (around 10 x 10 cm).

[Cornflake]

Place a lot of crunchy cornflakes of any brand in a bowl.

[Megaphone]

Roll an A 3 paper to a corn shaped megaphone.

[2 Belts]

Leather made belt with metal buckle that rattles noisily.

Arrow up (Lift up):

Suddenly lift up the buckle to the air from the floor by pulling the belt upwards.

Arrow down (Drop):

Aggressively lower the belt and let the buckle hit the floor without any hesitation.

Dotted line (Scrape):

Scrape the belt buckle against the floor with a nervous and jerky discontinuous movement.

Zigzag line (Shake):

If after “arrow up” – Shake the belt in the air to let the buckle rattle. If after “arrow down” – Shake the belt on the floor.

Percussion III [Dobaci]

Medium size Dobaci. Strike or scrape with a wooden stick.

[2 Belts]

Leather made belt with metal buckle that rattles noisily.

Arrow up (Lift up):

Suddenly lift up the buckle to the air from the floor by pulling the belt upwards.

Arrow down (Drop):

Aggressively lower the belt and let the buckle hit the floor without any hesitation.

Dotted line (Scrape):

Scrape the belt buckle against the floor with a nervous and jerky discontinuous movement.

Zigzag line (Shake):

If after “arrow up” – Shake the belt in the air to let the buckle rattle. If after “arrow down” – Shake the belt on the floor.

[Kalimba]

Transpose in octaves if the notated scores do not exist in your kalimba.

Cross notehead: Damp the tone with one hand and pluck with the other.

Arrow between normal and cross notehead: Gradual transition between normal tone and damped note.

[Paper]

Two pieces of paper cut in small pieces (around 10 x 10 cm).

[Beer Can]

Clean empty aluminium beer can of any brand.

[Coins]

2 or 3 coins to put inside of the empty aluminium can during the piece.

[Cornflakes]

Place a lot of crunchy cornflakes of any brand in a bowl.

[Pipe]

Bar 48: Hit the side of the beer can with a wooden stick while the other hand hold the can. “o” = Not damped, “+” = damped.

A plastic pipe with zigzag surface such as a musical twirling pipe or a vacuum cleaner pipe.

Speak nonsense text disgustingly, discontinuously, and irregularly into one end of the pipe while spinning the other side with the hand intensively. Use the lowest voice possible like growling but still with voice.

Piano Before the performance 1) The piano should be prepared as followings before the performance starts: High register (E – C): Damped with rubber (a tiny bit of pitch left)

Low register (F to B): Damped with rubber (a tiny bit of pitch left) Lowest register (A to E): Place about 10 empty aluminium beer cans on top of the lowest strings.

2) Close the piano lid (it will be opened during the performance by percussion III player).

3) Place beer cans on top of the piano lid.

[Beer Can] 40 – 50 clean empty aluminium beer can of any brand.

Place as many empty aluminium beer cans (and water bottles for variations) as possible on top of the piano lid.

4) Place a lot of crunchy cornflakes of any brand in a bowl.

Notehead (Cross note head): Tap the indicated keys percussively without letting the hammers hit the strings. Use finger nails if possible to achieve a distinct tapping noise. The indicated specific pitch only refers to where on the keyboard to tap, and the audible noise is not related to the actual sounding pitch.

Glissando All glissando passages are “white note” glissando (C major scale).

Ordinary glissando

(Glissando between cross to cross notehead): Scrape the indicated glissando keys without letting the hammers hit the strings.

(Arrow glissando between normal to cross or cross to normal notehead): Gradual change between ordinary glissando and cross notehead glissando by gradually adding/reducing the amount of key pressure along the glissando.

Guitar Staff Only one staff is usually used for normal guitar playing. Where a second system is carried out, the upper staff shows the left hand and the lower staff the right hand activities.

Normal note heads: Ordinary method of playing the guitar (the left hand fingers hold one or more notes and the right hand pluck the strings to let ring). In a passage including slurs, pluck only once every slur.

(Triangle note heads): Left hand Hammer-On”. Tap the string strongly and percussively with a left hand finger. The notes indicate where on the string to tap. Let the string hit the fingerboard as hard as possible. Note: Absolutely only left hand!

6 line right hand staff:

Indicate which string(s) to pluck.

3 line right hand staff:

Indicate the register to damp/strike. Top line shows the highest (near the bridge) and bottom line shows the lowest (near the neck). During a rapid and busy passage where it is not possible to reach the two extreme registers, try to reach the nearest register as possible.

Damping symbols Damp all the strings with palm without striking.

(Damp sign with gliss): Damp all the strings with palm without striking, and scrape the strings up and down.

(Damp sign with sfz): Strike the strings percussively from above without letting the hand go.

(Damp sign with gliss and sfz): Strike the strings percussively from above without letting the hand go, and scrape the strings up and down.

Damp only indicated tone(s).

Gradual change from ordinary to damped tone and vice versa.

Release the damping hand with great force to let the strings resonate.

Strings (Cross note head) in case of one staff line: Damped note in eighth, quarter, and half note value. Damp the string firmly with fingers with only a slight sense of pitch is left.

(Triangle note heads): Left hand Hammer-On�. Tap the string strongly and percussively with a left hand finger. The notes indicate where on the string to tap. Let the string hit the fingerboard as hard as possible. Note: Absolutely only left hand!

Bow position s.p. sul ponticello; near the bridge m.s.p. molto sul ponticello; Right next to the bridge. Often used for distorted noise effect s.t. sul tasto; at the edge of the fingerboard. m.s.t. molto sul tasto; Extremely ON the fingerboard (around middle of the strings).

Bow angle (arco and legno) c.l. col legno c.l.t. col legno tratto c.l.b. col legno battuto 1/2 c.l. half legno and half arco arco with the bow but not legno Bow direction Vertical bowing.

Scrape the string(s) in vertical motion (towards the bridge vs. towards the fingerboard) back and forth. The irregular timings of bow changes are indicated graphically. When the line is discontinuous, make occasional breaks during one bowing.

Specifically in bar 11 and any similar passage, add extra bow pressure to create tension and hardness.

Note: Absolutely no ordinary side way bowing movement!

Circular bowing.

Scrape the string(s) in circular motion. Let all sorts of noise and complex overtones to come out. Rather light bow pressure when the dynamics is low (mostly only noise is audible and very little pitch), and heavy bow pressure when the dynamics is high (a lot of pitches and overtones but still with a lot of noise).

Two Staff Line (for cello only) Only one staff is usually used for normal cello playing. When a second system is carried out: Upper staff: The right hand activity (with bow or palm). The four line staff indicates the four strings of the cello (highest line being the highest string).

Lower staff: The left hand activities in ordinary clef.

(r.h.)

(Cross note head on the upper staff line): Slam the bow against indicated strings. Try to stiffly slam without letting the bow bounce even though the bow naturally bounce back.

Damp all the strings with palm without striking.

(Damp sign with gliss): Damp all the strings with palm without striking, and scrape the strings up and down.

(Damp sign with sfz): Strike the strings percussively from above without letting the hand go.

(Damp sign with gliss and sfz): Strike the strings percussively from above without letting the hand go, and scrape the strings up and down.