Sensations of Metals

For Mark Fewer and Aiyun Huang

Percussion requirements:

– 6 tuned metal pipes (in ascending order: F#, G#, B, C, Db, E)
– Db crotale, preferably from the lower octave
– 7 objects to be struck, of one or more types, ordered by duration of resonance when played at an equal dynamic level. The range of difference in durations may be subtle or drastic. In order to maintain clarity between the two parts of the setup, the 7 objects should not include any metal pipes or crotales.

This composition is inspired in part by a 1915 drawing by Kazimir Malevich in which he sought to capture the dynamic sesnation of metallic sounds in a suprematist visual composition. This work completes the circle by taking inspiration from the visual image to realize a composition with actual metallic sounds — of the violin strings and the selection of percussion objects. The composition proceeds in three parts, a mechanistic fantasy with complex interlocking rhythms, a fantasia superimposed against a percussive toccata, and finally a bright perpetuum mobile.

8.5×11 PDF score and parts set
$20

All scores are published by 

(ASCAP) and © Christopher Adler (ASCAP)