Freefall

Freefall An Unexpected Skydive in Three Movements

Robin McLaughlin

Instrumentation: Flute Clarinet Violin Cello Piano Percussion 1 Percussion 2

Freefall, for chamber ensemble, is a programmatic work about an unexpected skydive. For the piece, I crafted a story about a plane falling apart, leaving its pilot adrift in the air.

The first movement, “Panic,” is meant to be unnerving. The body of the plane is falling apart, and the engine is failing, which contradicts all expectations for how the flight was supposed to go. The music is meant to convey the experience of despair, at having one’s plans so violently changed.

The second movement, “Freefall,” is about the dive that occurs after the plane falls apart. Our subject, the pilot, drifts in and out of consciousness, which is marked musically with contrasting textures.

Each time he is lucid, he realizes with renewed terror the peril of his situation. This heightened awareness is conveyed with increased intensity. The movement ends with a repeating chord progression, that grows quieter and quieter, as the parachute-less pilot falls further and further.

The third movement, “Sunset,” occurs after the pilot has come to grips with his situation. As he is in his last minutes, he is sole audience to a magnificent sunset above the cloud cover. I tried to paint a picture with my music of the colors dancing and being refracted upon the clouds. As the piece ends, the pilot dips into the clouds, ready at last for the impact.

This piece is about about unmet expectations - when plans are contradicted by reality. But its also about how reality is sometimes more beautiful that we had planned.

I. Panic Robin McLaughlin

A

q=136

Flute

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

5 4

4 4

Clarinet in Bb

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

5 4

4 4

Violin

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

5 4

pizz.

4 4 p

Violoncello

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

5 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

5 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

5 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

5 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

5 4

4 4

solo f

Piano

Sus. Cymbal (Brushes)

Percussion 1: Sus. Cymbal, Ratchet, Cowbell, Bass-Drum, Tom-toms

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

p

Whip Percussion 2: Whip Crack, Marimba, Vibraphone, Tubular Bells

f

7

Fl.

4 4

3 4

4 4

6 8

3 4

6 8

3 4

4 4

4 4

Cl.

4 4

3 4

4 4

6 8

3 4

6 8

3 4

4 4

4 4

Vln.

4 4

3 4

4 4

6 8

3 4

6 8

3 4

4 4

4 4

Vc.

4 4

3 4

4 4

6 8

3 4

6 8

3 4

4 4

4 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

6 8

3 4

6 8

3 4

4 4

4 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

6 8

3 4

6 8

3 4

4 4

4 4

6 8

3 4

6 8

3 4

4 4

6 8

3 4

6 8

3 4

4 4

pizz.

p end solo

Pno.

Tip of Drum Stick

Perc.

4 4

3 4

4 4

Perc.

4 4

3 4

4 4

To Ratchet

Ratchet

f

4 4 mp

(c) Robin McLaughlin 2014

4 4

B

2 15

C

flutter tongue

solo

end solo

4 4

Fl.

12 8

4 4

12 8

4 4

mp

4 4

Cl.

mp arco

4 4

Vln.

4 4

12 8 p arco

gliss.

4 4

Vc.

f scratch tone

gliss.

4 4

12 8

mp

p

f

4 4

12 8

4 4

4 4

12 8

4 4

Perc.

4 4

12 8

4 4

Perc.

4 4

12 8

4 4

Pno.

D

20

Fl.

6 8

3 4

4 4

Cl.

6 8

3 4

4 4

6 8

3 4

4 4

6 8

3 4

4 4

6 8

3 4

4 4

6 8

3 4

4 4

q=148

solo p

arco Vln. mp

f

Vc.

Pno.

Tip of Drum Stick

To Cowbell Perc. p

f

f

6 8

3 4

4 4 p To Marimba

Perc.

6 8

3 4

4 4

f p

3

27

Fl.

12 8

4 4

Cl.

12 8

4 4

p

pizz.

12 8

Vln. arco

4 4 pizz.

Vc.

12 8

4 4

12 8

4 4

12 8

4 4

Pno.

To Sus. Cymbal

Sus. Cymbal

Perc.

12 8

4 4

Perc.

12 8

4 4

12 8

E 4 4

Cl.

12 8

4 4

Vln.

12 8

33

Fl.

end solo

flutter

pizz.

4 4 solo arco

12 8

Vc.

4 4 p

12 8

4 4

12 8

4 4

Pno.

p To Bass Drum

Hit Cowbell on inside with drum stick

Perc.

12 8

4 4

12 8

4 4

Marimba Perc.

p

To Cowbell

4 38

3

Fl. 3

p

solo

Cl. p

f

p

f

mp arco

Vln. end solo Vc.

Pno.

Perc.

Mar.

F

solo

44

Fl. mp

end solo

Cl.

pizz.

Vln. mp arco Vc. mp legato

Pno.

mp

Perc.

Mar. mp

end solo

5

50

Fl.

Cl. solo arco Vln.

Vc.

Pno.

Bass Drum Perc. mf Mar.

56

Fl.

Cl.

gliss.

Vln.

Vc.

Pno.

Perc.

Mar.

6

G 6 4

60

4 4

Fl.

f

solo

4 4

Cl.

6 4 f

3

mp

end solo

4 4

Vln.

6 4 f

scratch

4 4

Vc.

6 4 f

4 4

6 4 mp

f

Pno.

4 4

6 4 To Brake Drum

4 4

Perc.

Brake Drum

6 4 f

4 4

Mar.

6 4 f

mp

64

Fl. mp Cl. mf

Vln. mp Vc.

Pno.

Perc.

Mar.

pizz.

mp

7 67

4 4

Fl. 3

4 4

Cl. mf pizz.

Vln.

4 4

Vc.

4 4 4 4

Pno.

4 4

To Tom-toms Perc.

4 4

Mar.

4 4 H

70

Fl.

4 4

Cl.

4 4

7 8 end solo

mp

7 8 mp

sfz p

mf mp

arco Vln.

4 4

Vc.

4 4

7 8 solo arco

end solo

7 8 mp

sfz p

mf

mp

44

78

4 4

7 8

Pno.

Tom-toms With drum stick All notes marked with an "x" are to be played on the rim

Perc.

4 4

Mar.

4 4

7 8 solo

7 8

8 75

Fl.

7 8

4 4

6 8

7 8

6 8

7 8

4 4

Cl.

7 8

4 4

6 8

7 8

6 8

7 8

4 4

6 8

7 8

6 8

7 8

4 4

sfz p

mf

7 8

Vln.

4 4 sfz p

mf

7 8

4 4

6 8

7 8

6 8

7 8

4 4

7 8

4 4

6 8

7 8

6 8

7 8

4 4

7 8

4 4

6 8

7 8

6 8

7 8

4 4

Perc.

7 8

4 4

6 8

7 8

6 8

7 8

4 4

Mar.

7 8

4 4

6 8

7 8

6 8

7 8

Vc.

Pno.

end solo

To Vibraphone

I 81

Fl.

4 4

Cl.

4 4

Vln.

4 4

p

p Vc.

4 4 4 4 p

Pno.

4 4 Perc.

4 4

Mar.

4 4

4 4

9 84

3 4

Fl. mp

3 4

Cl. mp

3 4

Vln. mp

3 4

Vc. mp

3 4 mp whack low register w/ palm

Pno.

3 4 Perc.

3 4

Mar.

3 4

88

Fl.

J 3 4 f

Cl.

3 4 f

Vln.

3 4

Vc.

3 4

f

f

3 4 f Pno.

3 4 f Cowbell Perc.

3 4

Mar.

3 4

Sus. Cymbal With Drum Stick

10

K 5 4

93

Fl.

mp solo

5 4

Cl.

mp

Vln.

5 4

Vc.

5 4 5 4

Pno.

5 4 Tom-tom

To Bass-Drum

Perc.

5 4

Mar.

5 4

Vibraphone

mp

96

Fl.

Cl.

Vln. mp Vc.

Pno.

Perc.

Mar.

11 99

Fl. end solo Cl.

Vln.

Vc.

Pno.

Perc.

Mar.

102

Fl.

Cl.

Vln.

Vc.

Pno.

Perc.

Mar.

L

12 105

Fl.

Cl.

Vln. scratch tone

Vc.

Pno.

Perc. p To Tubular Bells Mar.

109

M

Fl.

Cl.

Vln. arco Vc.

Pno.

f

Perc. f

Tubular Bells

Mar. f

13 113

Fl.

4 4

Cl.

4 4

Vln.

4 4

Vc.

4 4

scratch tone

4 4 Pno.

4 4

Perc.

4 4

Mar.

4 4

N

flutter tongue

q=136

117

Fl.

7 8

4 4

6 8

4 4

6 8

7 8

4 4

6 8

4 4

6 8

7 8

4 4

6 8

4 4

6 8

7 8

4 4

6 8

4 4

6 8

7 8

4 4

6 8

4 4

6 8

7 8

4 4

6 8

4 4

6 8

7 8

4 4

6 8

4 4

6 8

4 4

6 8

4 4

6 8

f Cl. f

Vln. f arco Vc. f

Pno. f

Perc.

To Whip Mar.

f

f

7 8

14

O

123

Fl.

6 8

7 8

6 8

7 8

9 8

Cl.

6 8

7 8

6 8

7 8

9 8

Vln.

6 8

7 8

6 8

7 8

9 8

Vc.

6 8

7 8

6 8

7 8

9 8

6 8

7 8

6 8

7 8

9 8

6 8

7 8

6 8

7 8

9 8

Perc.

6 8

7 8

6 8

7 8

9 8

Mar.

6 8

7 8

6 8

7 8

9 8

Pno.

cowbell

Fl.

9 8

P 3 4

4 4

Cl.

9 8

3 4

4 4

Vln.

9 8

3 4

Vc.

9 8

3 4

129

pizz.

4 4 pizz.

4 4 black keys

3 4

9 8

3 4

4 4

Perc.

9 8

3 4

4 4

Mar.

9 8

3 4

4 4

4 4

. gliss

Pno.

gliss.

9 8

II. Freefall A

q=138

Robin McLaughlin

3 4

Flute 3

ff 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3 4

Clarinet in Bb ff

3

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3 4

Violin 3

3

ff

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

arco

scratch tone

3 4

Violoncello ff

3 4 Piano

ff

3 4 Bass Drum Percussion 1: Bass Drum, Glockenspiel, Sus. Cymbal

3 4 ff Tom-toms

Percussion 2: Tom-toms, Tubular Bells, Vibraphone ff

pp 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3 4

3

4 4

3 4

4 4

B 4 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

4 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

4 4

5

Fl.

Cl.

3 4

fff

3 4 fff

Vln.

3 4

3

3

fff Vc.

3 4

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

p

4 4

3 4

4 4

4 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

4 4

fff

3 4 Pno.

p

fff

3 4

4 4

3 4

fff

4 4

p

4 4 p

Perc.

3 4

4 4 fff

Perc.

3 4

p

3 4

4 4

f

4 4

4 4 fff

3 4

4 4

4 4 fff

p

3

3

3

3

2 flutter tongue

10

Fl. p

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Cl. p

gliss.

Vln.

Vc. p

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Pno.

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

To Glock.

Perc. p on rim Perc.

3

3

3

3

3

3

16

Fl. mp 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Cl. mp Vln.

Vc. mp

Pno.

mp

Glockenspiel Perc. mp

3

3

3

Perc. mp

3

3

3

3

C

22

Fl. 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Cl. 3

3

Vln. 3

3

3

3

3

Vc.

3

Pno.

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

To Sus. Cymbal Glock.

3

Perc.

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

D 27

Fl. 3

3

3

3

3

3 3

3

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

f 3

3

Cl. f 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Vln. 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

arco

scratch tone

f

Vc. f 3 3

Pno.

3

3

3

3

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Sus. Cymbal Glock. pp Perc. ff

f To Tub. B.

3

4 32

Fl.

Cl.

Vln. 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Vc.

3

Pno.

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Perc. pp

f

Perc.

37

Fl. 3

3

3

3

3

3

Cl.

Vln. 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Vc. 3

3

3

3

3

Pno.

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Perc. pp

f Tubular Bells

Perc. ff

p

E 5 42

3 4

Fl. 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

ff

3

Cl. 3

3

3

3

3

3

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

3

Vln. 3

4 4

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

ff

3

3

3

3 4

Vc.

4 4 ff

3

3

Pno.

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3 4

4 4 ff

3 4

To Bass Drum

4 4

Bass Drum

3 4

Perc. f To Tom-toms

4 4 fff p

3 4

Tub. B.

4 4

48

Fl.

4 4

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

4 4

Cl.

4 4

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

4 4

Vln.

4 4

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

4 4

3

Vc.

3

3

3

3

4 4

3 4

3

3

3

3

3

3

4 4

f

4 4

3 4

4 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

4 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

4 4

Pno.

Perc.

3 4

ff

p

f

ff

4 4 f

ff

4 4 p

f

fff

fff

Tom-toms Tub. B.

4 4

3 4

4 4 f

3 4

4 4 f

4 4 fff

F 6 53

4 4

Fl.

mf

p

solo

4 4

Cl.

p

4 4

Vln.

p

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

4 4

Vc.

p

4 4 p

Pno.

4 4 Glockenspiel

To Glock.

4 4

Perc.

p hit rim

4 4

Tom-t.

p

58

Fl.

Cl.

Vln. 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Vc.

Pno.

Glock.

3

Tom-t.

3

3

7

solo

63

Fl. mp Cl. mp 3

3

Vln. 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

mp

Vc. mp

Pno.

To Bass Drum Glock.

Tom-t.

68

Fl. 3

Cl. 3 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Vln. 3

3

3

3

3

3

Vc.

mp

Pno.

Bass Drum Glock.

Tom-t.

3

3

3

G 8

end solo

72

Fl. mf end solo

mf

mf

mf

Cl.

3

3

3

Vln. mf Vc. mf

mf

Pno.

Perc. mf Sus. Cymbal With Drum Stick

Tom-t. mf

76

Fl.

Cl.

Vln.

Vc.

Pno.

Perc.

Tom-t.

To Tubular Bells

9 80

Fl.

Cl.

Vln.

Vc.

Pno.

Perc.

Tubular Bells Tom-t.

84

Fl.

Cl.

Vln.

Vc.

Pno.

Perc.

To Tom-toms Tub. B.

10

H

88

Fl.

Cl. 3

3

Vln. p

Vc. p

Pno.

p

p

Perc.

Tub. B.

93

2 4

Fl.

3 4

4 4

f

2 4

Cl. 3

Vln.

3

3

3

3

3

3

mf

3 4 3

3

4 4 3

f

2 4

gliss.

3 4 f

Vc.

2 4

4 4

p

3 4

4 4 p

2 4

3 4 p

Pno.

Perc.

4 4

2 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

3 4

4 4 mp Tom-toms

Tub. B.

2 4

3 4

4 4 mp

I q=120

99

4 4

Fl.

3

ff

4 4

Cl.

3

Vln.

4 4

Vc.

4 4

ff

ff

ff

4 4 ff

Pno.

4 4

4 4

Perc.

ff

4 4

Tom-t.

ff

103

Fl.

Cl.

Vln.

Vc.

Pno.

hit rim

Perc.

Tom-t.

11

12 107

Fl.

Cl.

Vln.

Vc.

Pno.

Perc. p

ff

p

ff

p

Tom-t.

111

Fl.

Cl. gliss .

Vln.

gliss.

Vc. 3

Pno.

Perc.

Tom-t.

ff

J

13

115

solo

Fl. mp

mp 3

pp

solo Cl. mp 3 3

Vln. mp

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Vc. mp

Pno.

mp

To Glock.

Perc. mp To Vib.

Vibraphone

Tom-t. mp

120

Fl. 3

3

3

3

Cl. 3 3

3

3

3 3

Vln. 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Vc. 3

3

Pno.

Glockenspiel Perc.

3 3

3

3

3

Vib. 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

14 125

Fl.

Cl.

Vln. 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Vc. 3

Pno.

To Bass Drum

Bass Drum

Glock.

3

3

Vib. 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

K

129

Fl. 3

mp

Cl. 3

3

Vln. 3

3

3

3

3 3

3

Vc.

Pno.

Perc. p Vib. p

pp

15 133

Fl.

Cl.

Vln.

Vc.

Pno.

Perc.

Vib.

L

137

Fl.

Cl. 3

3

3

Vln.

Vc.

solo

Pno.

Perc.

Vib.

16 142

Fl.

Cl.

Vln.

Vc.

Pno.

Perc.

Vib.

149

Fl.

Cl.

Vln.

Vc.

Pno.

Perc.

Vib.

III. Sunset Robin McLaughlin

A

q=72

2 4

’

4 4

3 4

4 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

Percussion 1: Crotales, Sus. Cymbal, Tubular Bells

2 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

Percussion 2: Vibraphone, Bass Drum

2 4

4 4

3 4

4 4

Flute p

2 4

Clarinet in Bb

’

p Violin p Violoncello

Piano

Crotales

p

7

Fl.

4 4

2 4

Cl.

4 4

2 4

Vln.

4 4

Vc.

’

’

B 4 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

2 4

2 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

’

’

A little faster

(q=80)

4 4 Solo

Pno.

Crot.

p

Vib.

4 4

2 4

4 4

2 4

4 4

2 15

’ Fl.

’ Cl. 3

3

Vln.

Vc.

Pno.

3

3

Crot.

Vib.

22

C

Fl. 3

mp solo Cl. 3

mp end solo

3

3

3

3

3

Vln. 3

3

mp

3

3

3

3

3

3

Vc. mp

3

mp Pno.

3

3

3

3

3

3

3 3

3

3

3

3

3 3

3

3

3

3

3 3

3

mp To Sus. Cymbals Crot. mp 3

3

3

Vib. 3

mp

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

D 3

solo

27

Fl. 3

3

f

3

3

Cl. f

3

3

Vln. 3

3

f

Vc. f

3

Pno.

3

f

3 3

Sus. Cymbal

To Tub. B.

Perc.

3

3

Vib. 3

3

f

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

31

Fl. 3

3

3

3

Cl.

Vln.

Vc.

Pno.

Tubular Bells Perc.

Vib. 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

E

4 35

Fl. 3

ff Cl. ff

Vln. ff Vc. ff

ff

Pno.

To Crot.

Tub. B.

Vib. 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

F

40

Fl. p Cl. p Vln. p

Solo Vc. 3

p

3

p

Pno.

Crotales Tub. B.

3

Vib. 3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

To Bass Drum

5

G

46

5 4

4 4

5 4

4 4

5 4

4 4

5 4

4 4

5 4

4 4

5 4

4 4

Crot.

5 4

4 4

Vib.

5 4

Fl. pp

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Cl. pp

p

Vln. pp

p End Solo

Vc. pp

Pno.

Bass Drum

4 4 p

5 4

H 4 4

5 4

4 4

54

Fl.

4 4

Cl.

4 4

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

pp

Vln.

4 4

Vc.

4 4

5 4

4 4

5 4

4 4

pp

4 4

5 4

4 4

4 4

5 4

4 4

Crot.

4 4

5 4

4 4

Perc.

4 4

5 4

4 4

f

pp

f

pp

f

pp

f

pp

Pno.

To Vib. Vibraphone

pp

6 61

f

pp

Fl. p Cl. f

pp

p

f

pp

p

f

pp

p

Vln.

Vc.

Pno.

p

Crot. p Vib. p