ScoresOnDemand
Muhly, Nico Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
Score for sale (North America): https://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.action?itemid=14048307 Score for sale (UK, Europe and other territories): http://www.musicroom.com/se/id_no/01126725/details.html Information about the work and materials for hire: http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/composer/work/56857
Chester Music Limited Part of the Music Sales Group
Instrumentation 2 Glockenspiel
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds is a piece for large mixed percussion ensemble written for the 50th anniversary of the Boston University Tanglewood Institute.
Crotales: 2 octaves, with bow, shared with xylophone player
At its core is a group of four marimbas, surrounded by various bells and other mallet instruments; unpitched instruments here are primarily played by an ensemble of amateur percussionists.
Xylophone (dbl. crotale, with bow)
The piece obsesses over a cycle of eleven chords, introduced slowly through the beginning of the piece. Each chord is announced by a large vertical moment with bells, vibraphone, and a sudden shift in tonality. The four marimbas then relax into a series of soft interlocking patterns, over which an ensemble of glockenspiels and crotales plays a simple rhythm in a complex relationship to the other instruments. Eventually, the pulse disintegrates entirely, into a vision of a night sky: insects, unexpected interruptions — a walk around a quiet landscape. Eventually, the pulse returns, but nocturnally subdued.
Vibraphone (with bow) 4 Marimbas: Marimba 1: 4.5 oct. Marimbas 2 – 4: 5 oct. Timpani (dbl. Bass Drum) Ensemble of Amateur Percussionists (originally written for student composers) playing three different “stations” of instruments: Resonant Metals triangles, finger cymbals, tin cans, etc.— the governing idea is delicacy rather than force; all intruments need to be able to be dampened quickly when needed. Pieces of Wood Ideally, as many graduated woodblocks as your closet has, but this could also be knuckles on a desk, two rulers struck together. Here, as with the metal instruments, delicacy is at a premium. Articulate Clicks Dog training clickers, knitting needles struck together, one tine’s-worth of a ratchet. Think: busted-up metronome with a heart of gold.
The piece is meant to echo, in its way, the thrill of community musicmaking, the joy of sharing a pulse, and the various connections both rhythmic and interpersonal I made at BUTI two decades ago. Duration: 6 minutes
for the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, on their 50th Anniversary
PULSES, CYCLES, CLOUDS NICO MUHLY (2016)
q = 116
Glockenspiel 1
3 4
mp
Glockenspiel 2
3 4 mp
Crotales 1
3 4
3
mp
Xylophone (doubles Crotales 2)
3 4
Vibraphone
3 4
3
pp
mp, steady
Marimba 1
3 4 p
Marimba 2
mp
3 4 p
Marimba 3
f
3 4 p
Marimba 4
f
3 4 p
3 4
Resonant Metal
3 4
Pieces of Wood
3 4
Articulate Clicks
3 4
Ensemble of Amateurs
Timpani (doubles Bass Drum)
Copyright Š 2016 St Rose Music Publishing Co. and Chester Music Limited.
2016-08-18
2
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
6
Glsp. 1
Glsp. 2 3
Crot. 1 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Xyl.
Vib.
Mar. 1
Mar. 2 p
f
Mar. 3 p
Mar. 4 f
Timp. p
f
10
Glsp. 1
Glsp. 2 3
3
Crot. 1 3
3
3
3
3
3
Xyl.
Vib.
Mar. 1
Mar. 2 p
Mar. 3 f
Mar. 4 p
f
Timp. p 2016-08-18
mf
3
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
14
Glsp. 1
Glsp. 2 3
3
Crot. 1 3
3
3
3 5
Xyl. mp
5
5
5
5
5
f
p
Vib.
Mar. 1
Mar. 2 f
Mar. 3
Mar. 4
Timp.
18
very short, damp with fingers
Glsp. 1 sf
mp, agitated very short, damp with fingers
Glsp. 2 sf
mp, agitated
Crot. 1 sf
Crot. 2
Xyl. sf (precise durations)
Vib. f
Mar. 1 f
mf
Mar. 2 p
f
Mar. 3 p
f
Mar. 4 p
Timp. pp Resonant Metal dampen all notes
Res. Met. p, precise 2016-08-18
4
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
23
Glsp. 1
Glsp. 2
Crot. 1
Xyl. p
sffz
mf
mp
Vib. mp
Mar. 1 mp
Mar. 2
Mar. 3 p
f
Mar. 4 f
mp
Timp. mf
p
Res. Met.
29 Glsp. 1 sfz
f
Glsp. 2 sfz
f
Crot. 1 sfz
f
Xyl. sfz
f
Vib. mp
f
Mar. 1 f
mp
Mar. 2 sfz
p
f
Mar. 3 p sfz
Mar. 4 sf
p
Timp. p
Res. Met. 2016-08-18
5
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
34
Glsp. 1
5 8
3 4
Glsp. 2
5 8
3 4
Crot. 1
5 8
3 4
Xyl.
5 8
3 4
Vib.
5 8
3 4
Mar. 1
5 8
3 4
Mar. 2
5 8
3 4
Mar. 3
5 8
3 4
5 8
3 4
f
mp
f
Mar. 4
5 8
Timp. pp
Glsp. 1
f
p
3 4
molto
38 3 4 sf
Glsp. 2
3 4 sf
Crot. 1
3 4
Crot. 2
3 4
Xyl.
3 4
Vib.
3 4
sf
f
Mar. 1
3 4 f
Mar. 2
mf
3 4
Mar. 3
3 4
Mar. 4
3 4
Timp.
3 4
f
p
f
f
mf
p
n 2016-08-18
6
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
42
Glsp. 1
Glsp. 2
Crot. 1
Xyl. mp
Vib.
Mar. 1
Mar. 2
Mar. 3
Mar. 4 p
mf
p
Timp. pp
46 Glsp. 1 sf
Glsp. 2 sf
Crot. 1 sf
Xyl. sf
Vib. f
Mar. 1 f
mf
Mar. 2 p
Mar. 3 p
Mar. 4 f
p
p
Timp. n 2016-08-18
pp
7
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
51
Glsp. 1
Glsp. 2
Crot. 1
Xyl.
Vib.
Mar. 1
Mar. 2 mf
p
f sub.
p
Mar. 3 f
p
Mar. 4 mf, steady
Timp.
56
2+3
5 8
Glsp. 1 sf
5
5 8
Glsp. 2
5
3 4 3 4
sf
Crot. 1 sf
Xyl. 5
f
Vib. 5
f
f
Mar. 1
5 8
3 4
5 8
3 4
5 8
3 4
5 8
3 4
mf
f
mp
5 8
Mar. 2 f
sf
p
Mar. 4 f
mp
5 8
3 4
5 8
3 4
f
p
mf
5
f
p
f
p
5 8
Timp.
p
3 4
p
Mar. 3
f
3 4
p 2016-08-18
8
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
63 Glsp. 1 sf
p
sf
Glsp. 2 sf
sf
Crot. 1 sf
sf
p
Xyl. mp
Vib. mf
Mar. 1 f
mf
f
mp
Mar. 2
Mar. 3 mf
mp mf
Mar. 4 f
p
mf, steady
Timp. ppp
67
Glsp. 1
5 8
3 4
Glsp. 2
5 8
3 4
Crot. 1
5 8
3 4
Xyl.
5 8
3 4
Vib.
5 8
3 4
Mar. 1
5 8
3 4
Mar. 2
5 8
3 4
Mar. 3
5 8
3 4
mf
mp
Mar. 4 (non dim.)
Timp.
2016-08-18
5 8 5 8
f
mf f
3 4 3 4
p
9
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
71 Glsp. 1 sf
Glsp. 2 sf
Crot. 1 sf
Xyl. 5
5
5
5
5
Vib. sf, secco
mf
Mar. 1 f
mf
Mar. 2 f
p
Mar. 3 mf
f
mf
Mar. 4 mf
f
Timp. p, precise & crisp
75
soli
5
5
3
mp soli
5
5
3
5
3
Glsp. 1
Glsp. 2 mp
Crot. 1 soli
Xyl. 5
mp
5
Vib.
Mar. 1
Mar. 2 mf
p
mf
p
Mar. 3 sf
p
Mar. 4 sf
mf
f
Timp.
2016-08-18
10
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
80
Glsp. 1 sf
Glsp. 2 sf
Crot. 1 sf
Xyl.
Vib. f mp, steady
Mar. 1 f
mf
Mar. 2 f
p
Mar. 3 f
p
mp, steady
Mar. 4 p
Timp. p
84
Glsp. 1
Glsp. 2
Crot. 1
Xyl.
Vib.
Mar. 1 mp
Mar. 2 p
Mar. 3
Mar. 4 f
Timp.
2016-08-18
mf
p
mf
p
mf
p
mf
11
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
89
4 4
Glsp. 1 sf
5
mp espress.
4 4
Glsp. 2
5
mp espress.
sf
4 4
Crot. 1 sf
4 4
Xyl. f
p
Vib.
4 4
p
f
5
mp espress. 5
mp espress.
f
4 4
Mar. 1 mf
f
Mar. 2 p
f
4 4
mf
p (non cresc.)
f sempre
Mar. 3 sf
4 4 4 4
Mar. 4 p
f
mp
4 4
Timp. pp
94
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
3 4
5
3 4
5
Glsp. 2
Crot. 1
3 4
Glsp. 1
5
5
5
Xyl.
3 4
Vib.
3 4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
3 4
Mar. 1 p
Mar. 2
3 4
Mar. 3
3 4
f
p
mf, steady
3 4
Mar. 4 sf
Timp.
mp
mf, steady
3 4 2016-08-18
12
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
99
Glsp. 1 sf
Glsp. 2 sf
Crot. 1 sf
Xyl.
Vib. within mp
Mar. 1 f
mf
Mar. 2 f
sf
mf
sf
mf
sf
mf
Mar. 3 sf
Mar. 4 sim.
Timp. p
104
Glsp. 1
4 4
Glsp. 2
4 4
Crot. 1
4 4
Xyl.
4 4
Vib.
4 4
Mar. 1
4 4
Mar. 2
4 4 sf
mf
sf
Mar. 3
4 4
Mar. 4
4 4 non dim.
Timp.
4 4
solo
fff
Res. Met. 2016-08-18
4 4
5
5
5
f
ff
Resonant Metal chaos; aggressive thrashing, but always under control
f
3
ff
13
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
109
(always 2+3)
Glsp. 1
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
Glsp. 2
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
Crot. 1
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
Xyl.
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
Vib.
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
Mar. 1
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
mp, steady
Mar. 2 mp, steady
Mar. 3 mp, steady
Loose, abstract roll. Constantly vary speed, sometimes as slow as x
Mar. 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
pp
Timp. p
hard cut-off
5 8
Res. Met. n
5 8
Clicks
5 8
4 4
4 4
5 8
4 4
2 4
Articulate Clicks half the group
4 4
5 8
p, metronomic
118
Glsp. 1
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
Glsp. 2
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
Crot. 1
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
Xyl.
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
Vib.
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
Mar. 1
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
Mar. 2
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
Mar. 3
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
Mar. 4
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
B. D.
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
Clicks
5 8
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
4 4
5 8
4 4
the other half
2016-08-18
14
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
125
Glsp. 1
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
2 4
5 8
2 4
7 4
Glsp. 2
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
2 4
5 8
2 4
7 4
Crot. 1
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
2 4
5 8
2 4
7 4
Xyl.
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
2 4
5 8
2 4
7 4
Vib.
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
2 4
5 8
2 4
7 4
Mar. 1
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
2 4
5 8
2 4
7 4
Mar. 2
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
2 4
5 8
2 4
7 4
Mar. 3
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
2 4
5 8
2 4
7 4
Mar. 4
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
2 4
5 8
2 4
7 4
B. D.
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
2 4
5 8
2 4
7 4
Clicks
4 4
2 4
4 4
5 8
2 4
5 8
2 4
7 4
Glsp. 1
132 7 4
8
mf
Glsp. 2
7 4
Crot. 1
7 4
Xyl.
7 4
8
mp 8
8
mp
mf
8
Vib.
8
7 4 mp
mf
Mar. 1
8
7 4
Mar. 2
7 4
Mar. 3
7 4
Mar. 4
7 4
mf
mp, steady
mp, steady
p
B. D.
7 4
Bass Drum
p
Clicks 2016-08-18
7 4
mp
8
mp
15
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
135
8
Glsp. 1 3
mp
mf
sfz
3
f
sfz
f
sfz
8
Glsp. 2 mp
mf
sfz
Crot. 1 sfz
Xyl. sfz
8
Vib. 3
mp
f
mp
sfz
sfz
8
3
Mar. 1 sfz
mp
sfz
f
mp
Mar. 2
Mar. 3
Mar. 4
B. D. pp
mp
pp
8
139
mp
pp
8
3 4
Glsp. 1 f
8
p
pp 8
8
sfz
sfz
8
3 4
Glsp. 2 f
p
pp
sfz
sfz
Crot. 1
3 4
Xyl.
3 4 mf 8
8
8
3 4
Vib. p
f
pp
8
8
sfz
mf
8
3 4
Mar. 1 f
p
pp
sfz
p
Mar. 2
3 4
Mar. 3
3 4
Mar. 4
3 4
B. D.
3 4 mp
pp
p 2016-08-18
16
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
Glsp. 1
143 3 4
light sticks (triangle beaters)
light sticks (triangle beaters)
3 4
Glsp. 2
3 4
Crot. 1
3 4
Xyl.
n
light sticks (triangle beaters)
n
n
pp
pp
pp
n
pp
p sub.
3 4
Vib.
3 4
Mar. 1
p sub.
each note between q and h, avoid beats pp
Mar. 2
3 4
Mar. 3
3 4
always slight swells
each note between q and h, avoid beats
avoid beats
pp
3 4
Mar. 4
pp
3 4
Timp.
Resonant Metal Gently play random single notes. Given rhythm is just a guide.
3 4
Res. Met.
ppp - pp
150
Glsp. 1
Glsp. 2 n
pp
Crot. 1
Crot. 2
Vib.
Mar. 1
Mar. 2
Mar. 3 sempre sim.
Mar. 4
Timp.
Res. Met. 2016-08-18
p
each note between q. and h., avoid beats
always slight swells
17
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
156
4 4
Glsp. 1 n
pp
4 4
Glsp. 2
4 4
Crot. 1
Vib.
4 4
Mar. 1
4 4
Mar. 2
4 4
Mar. 3
4 4
Mar. 4
4 4
Timp.
4 4
Res. Met.
4 4
161
n
5
p
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
Glsp. 1 n
pp
Glsp. 2 pp 3
3
Crot. 1 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Vib.
Mar. 1
Mar. 2
Mar. 3
Mar. 4
Timp.
Res. Met. 2016-08-18
18
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
167
165
Glsp. 1
Glsp. 2
Crot. 1 3
bowed; l.v. sempre
Crot. 2 bowed; l.v. sempre
Vib.
Mar. 1
Mar. 2
Mar. 3
Mar. 4
Timp.
Res. Met. slowly fade
173
5
5
Glsp. 1 5
p
5
3 8
4 4 pp
3
3 8
4 4
3 8
4 4
Crot. 2
3 8
4 4
Vib.
3 8
4 4
Mar. 1
3 8
4 4
3 8
4 4
Mar. 3
3 8
4 4
Mar. 4
3 8
4 4
Timp.
3 8
4 4
3
Glsp. 2 3
p (light sticks)
3
Crot. 1 p
pp
Mar. 2 pp
2016-08-18
pp
19
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
181 Coda Glsp. 1 p
solo
Glsp. 2 mp, cantabile
Crot. 1 mp
Vib.
Mar. 1
Mar. 2
Mar. 3 ppp
p
ppp
p
p, dolciss.
Mar. 4 3
5
5
ppp, a halo around glsp.
5
quintuplets always slightly stressed
Timp.
186
Glsp. 1
Glsp. 2
Crot. 1
Crot. 2
Vib.
Mar. 1 pp
Mar. 2 pp
Mar. 3
Mar. 4 5
5
5
3
Timpani
Timp. pp Pieces of Wood
Wood p poss. 2016-08-18
20
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
190 Glsp. 1
Glsp. 2 mf
Crot. 1
Crot. 2 mp
Vib.
Mar. 1
Mar. 2
Mar. 3
Mar. 4 5
3
3
5
Timp. approximate this shape, as an ensemble
Wood 5
5
5
ppp
5
196
194
Glsp. 1
Glsp. 2 p
mf
Crot. 1
Crot. 2 soft sticks
Vib. ppp, a halo around glsp.
Mar. 1
Mar. 2 lazily re-attack notes randomly not a roll, but more of a constant, gentle stirring
Mar. 3 pp
Mar. 4 as before 5
5
5
5
5
Timp.
Wood 2016-08-18
p
5
ppp
5
5
21
Pulses, Cycles, Clouds
198
Glsp. 1
Glsp. 2
Crot. 1
Crot. 2
Vib.
Mar. 1 pp
Mar. 2 pp
Mar. 3
Mar. 4 5
5
5
3
Timp.
Wood p
p
5
202
Glsp. 1
Glsp. 2
Crot. 1
Crot. 2
Vib.
Mar. 1
Mar. 2
Mar. 3
Mar. 4 5
3
3
5
Timp. 5
Wood mp
p
p 2016-08-18