The Gradual Slowing of the Earth
for Organ and Symphonic Winds (2014)
Wise Music G. Schirmer Australia Pty Ltd
Sydney, NSW
Full Score
Instrumentation:
3 flutes (3rd doubling piccolo)
2 oboes
2 bassoons
Eb clarinet
1st Bb clarinet (2 players)
2nd Bb clarinet (2 players)
3rd Bb clarinet (2 players)
bass clarinet
2 alto saxophones
tenor saxophone baritone saxophone
4 French horns in F
2 trumpets in C (balcony position)
2 tenor trombones
bass trombone euphonium
2 tubas
double bass
solo organ electric piano timpani
3 percussion: crotales, glockenspiel, vibraphone
3 thin crash cymbals (suspended), triangle, large orchestral bass drum, wind chimes
The Full Score is notated in Transposed Pitch
Duration: circa 15 minutes
If this work is to be performed publicly as a live concert, permission must be secured from the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) Locked Bag 5000 Strawberry Hills NSW 2012
Tel: +61 2 9935 7900
Email: apra@apra.com.au
If this work is to be streamed, synchronised or performed publicly as an opera, ballet or theatrical dramatico-musical performance, a grand rights and/or synchronisation licence must be secured from Wise Music G. Schirmer Australia Pty Ltd.
Tel: +61 2 8252 6200
Email: classical@wisemusic.com
Enquiries about hire of orchestral materials should be directed to Kim Ransley, Managing Director, Origin Theatrical
Tel: +61 2 8514 5201
Email: enquiries@originmusic.com.au
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Performance notes:
The gradual slowing of the Earth (2014)
The Earth’s rotation has been gradually slowing for over 4 billion years. This has had a lasting impact on geophysical activity that shapes mountains, oceans, the interior of the planet and its crust. The slow-down is so microscopic (milliseconds per century) that we are unable to physically sense the phenomenon.
This concerto for organ and symphonic winds is written in contemplation of a ‘global slow-down’. It’s an unsettling idea – but apparently it also allows gravity to pull the planet’s shape into an ever more perfect sphere.
The gradual slowing of the Earth is cast in one continuous movement of around 15 minutes duration and was commissioned by the Melbourne City Council for the Royal Australian Airforce Band conducted by Mathew Shelley and featuring Brendon Lukin as organ soloist. The premiere performance was given on 16 December 2014 at Melbourne Town Hall
Stuart Greenbaum
Performance directions:
This work is scored entirely in 6/8 and 3/4. The durational tempo of a quaver remains constant throughout and the work is to be played without any noticeable rubato. Single grace notes are to be played fast on the beat. Multiple grace notes are to be played fast before the beat.
Brass will require mutes (cup / straight). The two trumpets are to be positioned antiphonally (left and right) aside from the main band. For the premiere performance, they were positioned from the side balconies of the Melbourne Town Hall. The double bass may be gently amplified for presence – particularly to bring out the pizz sections, which are conceived like a bass for a rhythm section.
Organ registration is based on the Melbourne Town Hall organ and may be adjusted and interpreted accordingly. A foldback speaker with output from the electric piano is recommended. For the electric piano a grand piano patch is envisaged with a volume pedal to enable crescendos from silence. Two of the percussionists will require bows for the crotales and vibraphone.