Located in the UK
Located in the USA
Located in Europe
- Thea Musgrave
Wood, Metal and Skin (2004)
- Novello & Co Ltd (World)
Percussion instruments needed:
SOLO: Marimba, metal wind chimes [mark tree], Chinese Bell tree, Vibraphone, Tubular bells, 4 conga drums, 4 tom toms, 4 bongos
PERC A 1o: Tubular bells, cymbal [medium], wood blocks, crotales
PERC A 2o: Metal wind chimes [mark tree], Side drum, temple blocks, tam tam
PERC B 1o: xylophone, glockenspiel, side drum, cymbal [high], tomtoms
PERC B 2o: Chinese bell tree, Bass drum, maracas, triangle, sleigh bells
Programme Note
This work is intended to feature the extraordinary variety of percussion instruments in a dramatic way. The interplay of the solo percussion player with his colleagues in the orchestra plays a vital role. This can be seen in the layout. The solo percussion player is set downstage RIGHT: the timp player upstage RIGHT: two orchestral percussion players "A" upstage LEFT, and two others "B" downstage LEFT. The timp and percussion are therefore set at the 4 comers of the platform.
PROLOGUE: dramatic
A dramatic opening as the timp player "summons" first the orchestral percussion players [upstage "A" players on metal, downstage "B" players on skin] and finally the soloist [on wood...marimba]. The main musical elements are four "anchor" chords [D flat minor, A major, E flat major and C major triads] followed by a series of rising triads. These are the harmonic foundation for the section, and they reappear in the interludes.
WOOD: lyrical
Soloist on marimba is accompanied by percussion A [xylophone and maracas], and percussion B [temple blocks and wood blocks]. Here the mood is lighthearted and lyrical. A violin melody appears and also a short motive for muted trumpets. Soon the timp player gets restive, effecting a change of colour and mood.
INTERLUDE: mysterious
The "anchor" chords now reappear very softly, alternating on three solo violins and three solo celli. The soloist sets the colour of the movement on tubular bells and vibraphone, the orchestral percussion play cymbals and tam tam with wire brushes, and also introduce two more unusual instruments: metal wind chimes and Chinese bell tree. The timp player has a cymbal placed upside down on the drum and thus is also playing on metal!
METAL: capricious
The capricious mood is set by the soloist on vibraphone accompanied by the instruments from the interlude, later adding glockenspiel and crotales. The mood eventually clouds over and, incited by the timp player, all is ready for the stormy movement to come.
INTERLUDE: excitedly
The anchor chords reappear now on muted brass, but the interlude is mostly carried by the percussion. The soloist plays congas, tum toms and bongos, the other percussion a variety of drums.
SKIN: stormy
Now that the percussion is all on loud drums, the orchestra lets loose in a very fast stormy movement which leads to a "wild" climax! Eventually the mood cairns down and leads to
EPILOGUE: peaceful
... a peaceful ending. The soloist plays vibraphone and tubular bells, and later marimba: the other percussion play a variety of instruments so that the colours of wood, metal and skin are all present at the same time!
PROLOGUE: dramatic
A dramatic opening as the timp player "summons" first the orchestral percussion players [upstage "A" players on metal, downstage "B" players on skin] and finally the soloist [on wood...marimba]. The main musical elements are four "anchor" chords [D flat minor, A major, E flat major and C major triads] followed by a series of rising triads. These are the harmonic foundation for the section, and they reappear in the interludes.
WOOD: lyrical
Soloist on marimba is accompanied by percussion A [xylophone and maracas], and percussion B [temple blocks and wood blocks]. Here the mood is lighthearted and lyrical. A violin melody appears and also a short motive for muted trumpets. Soon the timp player gets restive, effecting a change of colour and mood.
INTERLUDE: mysterious
The "anchor" chords now reappear very softly, alternating on three solo violins and three solo celli. The soloist sets the colour of the movement on tubular bells and vibraphone, the orchestral percussion play cymbals and tam tam with wire brushes, and also introduce two more unusual instruments: metal wind chimes and Chinese bell tree. The timp player has a cymbal placed upside down on the drum and thus is also playing on metal!
METAL: capricious
The capricious mood is set by the soloist on vibraphone accompanied by the instruments from the interlude, later adding glockenspiel and crotales. The mood eventually clouds over and, incited by the timp player, all is ready for the stormy movement to come.
INTERLUDE: excitedly
The anchor chords reappear now on muted brass, but the interlude is mostly carried by the percussion. The soloist plays congas, tum toms and bongos, the other percussion a variety of drums.
SKIN: stormy
Now that the percussion is all on loud drums, the orchestra lets loose in a very fast stormy movement which leads to a "wild" climax! Eventually the mood cairns down and leads to
EPILOGUE: peaceful
... a peaceful ending. The soloist plays vibraphone and tubular bells, and later marimba: the other percussion play a variety of instruments so that the colours of wood, metal and skin are all present at the same time!