Muhly PULSES, CYCLES, CLOUDS

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