Trasumanar (1980)

Composer note
Trasumanar, for twelve percussionists and piano (1980), is scored for 32 different instruments and specifies a spatial arrangement which creates a sense of acoustic motion among the diverse instrumental groupings: drums dominate the back of the stage, woods-stage right, metals-stage left, and the pitched instruments-in front. The piano, which introduces the basic motivic, harmonic, and rhythmic ideas, functions less as a solo instrument than as a means to unify and give motion to a music which varies between being static and highly dynamic. The relationship of the piano to the percussion ensemble was suggested by works for piano and electronic sounds: the percussion functions as an electronic tape — extending, amplifying, and interacting with the sounds of the piano. "Trasumanar" is a word coined by Dante to describe the experience of rising above the human state. At the beginning of the Paradiso, Dante's human nature is transmuted to a higher level. He is left bewildered by the sensual pull of being human and the spiritual aspiration to transcend human experience. The dramatic tension created by this struggle provides the structural framework of Trasumanar.

Trasumanar was written for The New Jersey Percussion Ensemble and its director, Raymond DesRoches, with invaluable assistance from percussionist Joseph Passaro.

— Chester Biscardi

Instrumentation
1 set of 6 graduated cowbells; 1 set of 6 graduated almglocken; 1 set of 6 graduated break drums; 2 sets of 5 graduated temple blocks; 2 sets of 4 graduated wood blocks; 4 sets of maracas (high and low); 4 sets of claves; 4 sets of castanets; 1 Chinese cymbal; 4 sets of finger cymbals; 6 graduated suspended cymbals; 2 sizzle cymbals; 3 graduated triangles; 7 tam-tams (2 large, 3 medium, 2 small; 2 bass bows); 1 set of crotales (one octave - c4-c5) 2 glockenspiels; 10 hi-hats; 1 bell tree; 2 marimbas; 2 vibraphones (1 bass bow); 1 set of chimes; 2 sets of 4 graduated timpani; 1 set of 4 graduated bongs; 2 sets of 2 graduated timbales; 1 set of 6 graduated tom-toms; 1 military drum; 1 piccolo snare drum; 1 string drum; 4 tambourines; 2 graduated bass drums; 1 slapstick; 1 piano

The 1 set of 6 almglocken and the 1 set of 6 break drums make up one complete set as equally graduated as possible.

The 1 set of timbales and the 1 set of bongs make up one complete set as equally graduated as possible.

The lowest 2 tom-toms, the military drum, 1 set of timbales, and the piccolo snare drum make up one complete set as equally graduated as possible.

The 2 bass drums and the upper 4 tom-toms make up one complete set as equally graduated as possible.