by Cliff Crego
From the Set of Percussion Ensemble Studies:
STUDY NO. 4 in 5 voices—a rhythmical invention
based on the ratio 3 : 2, both as counter-rhythm & as tempo shift;
for any number of players & any combination of instruments . . .
[ this score is only available as 12-page performance version pdf or as commercial print (see below) ]
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study no. 4. pdf
[13 A3 (11" x 17" Pages 276 K]
study no. 4 PARTS.pdf
[13 A3 (11" x 14") Pages 276 K]
preview the performance score of STUDY NO. 4
[ opens in a new window ]
A new addition to THE MAGIC BOX—
Timeline—for vibraphone & marimba
dedicated to my former teacher, mentor & friend,
the late American composer, Donald Erb
Timeline is based on two modes of temporal movement—
one linear (slow) and one curved (fast)—that are woven together
in a kind of complex composite.
The three main voices—the vibraphone music, the marimba music,
as well as an inner slow music of 80 regular pulses or steps for both
vibes and marimba—may be played in conjunction with the duo
as separate pieces.
| Intro: music as movement |
| NOTE :simply click on one page of score to go to the next |
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Timeline. pdf
[20 A3 (11 x 17) Pages 322 K]
Timeline-parts.pdf
[7 short A3 (11 x 14) Pages 436 K]
preview the study score of TIMELINE
[ opens in a new window ]
A new CD from DUO
VERTIGO
NIELS MELIEFSTE &
CLAIRE EDWARDS play
The Magic Box, An Invention
in two voices, The Little Triangle,
Dance of the Blue Castanets,
and 4-Square
| view / download scores |
STUDY NO. 2 in 5 voices for any number of players & any combination
of instruments; recording featured below ( Study No.2 mp3 ) is of an electronic ensemble
of 9 players on African instruments with one lead drummer center stage
| NOTE :simply click on one page of score to go to the next |
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Study No. 2 starts with what I think of as basic 'one hand'
percussion, like playing a cowbell by holding it in the
left hand and striking it with a drumstick in the right,
or playing even a large skindrum with but a single mallet.
This means that all of the musics of the five voices of
the study are simple, single phrase, beat patterns; it also
means that the maximum speed of a repeated stroke is limited
(This corresponds to single as opposed to 'double' or 'triple'
tonguing when singing.)
The real complexity—that is, the striking or interesting part
of the music, is I hope the resulting five-part polyphony.
Each voice is independent, is equally important, and
plays its own special role within the composite texture.
In a way, I suppose one could say that polyphony is the real
theme of the study. There are two kinds of many-voiced
movements to work on:
(1) spatial: all the voices play at the same time, like
in a Baroque fugue, or in much African music;
(2) temporal: the voices alternate in a dynamic
back-and-forth.
How to work on the Study:
FIRST: Without instruments:
(1) Conduct the meter patterns, individually and collectively,
and count out loud the beats. Do this section by section.
(2) Conduct meter patterns as before, sing with percussion
solfege (first just rhythm, then add dynamics and articulation
(sound);
(3) Conduct as above, but now with the right hand
play the rhythm of your part, phrase by phrase. Use a pencil
on a table top, for example.
(4) Now put the meter, like a dancer, in your feet & lower body,
while first singing the part, and then clapping. The Study can
be performed this way too, either singing or clapping.
Study No. 2 pdf
[10 A3 (11 x 17) Pages 148 K]
Study No. 2 parts pdf
preview the performance score of STUDY NO. 2
[ opens in a new window ]
Study No. 1 in 5 voices a rthythmical invention exploring the ratio
4 in the time of 5, both as counter-rhythm & tempo shift;
for any number of players & any combination of instruments;
| NOTE :simply click on one page of score to go to the next |
Study No. 1 pdf
[8 A3 (11 x 17) Pages 168 K]
Study No. 1_parts pdf
[15 short A3 (11 x 14) Pages 238 K]
preview the performance score of STUDY NO. 1
[ opens in a new window ]
4 Songs for mezzo-soprano, vibraphone (glockenspiel),
marimba (bass drum) & harp
| NOTE :simply click on one page of score to go to the next |
(1) Long Live the Weeds
[text Theodore Roetke]
(2) No More
[text Cliff Crego]
(3) 1000 Moons
[text Cliff Crego]
(4) Spanish Dancer
[text Rilke: tr. Crego]
| Listen to MP3 of 4 texts {2.4 Mb] |
4 Songs: pdf
[score 23 A3 (11 x 17) pages: 592 K]
parts. pdf
[movements I, 2, 3 & 4
36 A4 8 1/2 x 11 ) pages: 576 K]
preview the performance score of 4 SONGS
[ opens in a new window ]
jim-jam—for percussion orchestra First in a new set of percussion pieces,
with two antiphonal groups of 2 to 20 players—EAST & WEST—
and one solo master drummer center stage.
dedicated to Wim Vos & Marc Zoutendijk
Each player has a set of four basic sounds played on one drum (+- sabar, or djembes,
or any other available large skin drum): (1) high hand on skin (left); (2) low hand
center skin; (3) low thin stick on skin (right hand—solo also with sometimes
with two sticks); (4) high stick on side of drum
| NOTE :simply click on one page of score to go to the next |
jim-jam: pdf
[score 17 A3 (11 x 17) pages: 314 K]
parts. pdf
[score 34 A4 8 1/2 x 11 ) pages: 560 K]
SEE ALSO: solo sabar part with color dynamics PDF
[blue = p >>> red = ff]
You will be very surprised what a difference this makes. One becomes
very much more aware of the ups and downs of dynamic structure,
both from phrase to phrase, as well as over the piece as a whole.
[6 A4 pages 1.5 Mb] [Windows: r click; Mac: opt + click]
preview the performance score of JIM-JAM
[ opens in a new window ]
MOV—Move Over Variations—for MALLET QUARTET
2 vibraphones & 2 marimbas
A new little concert piece based
on the Janis Joplin classic. May be
played with 4 or 8 instruments . . .
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MOVE OVER. pdf
[score 9 A4 (9.5 X 12.5") pages: 228 K]
PARTS: MOV Quartet.pdf
[12 A4 pages 380 K]
the performance model of
MOVE OVER—
vibes & marimba mp3
[c. 4' 1.6 Mb]"
preview the performance score of MOVE OVER Variations
[ opens in a new window ]
Mintaka—for percussion solo A new StarCycle / Dance Project for
two double circles of seven drums (medium bass to timbali) /one performer:
pages [large format A2 or 17" x 22"] of score: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Mintaka was written for, and dedicated to, the Dutch
percussionist extraordinaire, Niels Meliefste
preview the study score of MINTAKA
[ opens in a new window ]
Intro: spica—for percussion solo (large 11 x 17 format (A3); 24 pages) A *StarCycle*
piece with introduction: movements I 1 | 2 | II 1 | 2 | III 1 | IV 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | V 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
VI 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | VII 1 | 2 | 3 | VIII 1 | 2 | 3 |
The name 'Spica' comes from the Latin and means "ear of wheat".
It is by far the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, The Maiden.
The ancients thought of the goddess Virgo (or Demeter) as holding
a culm of wheat in her left hand. Here's a rough sketch:
The eight instrumental 'stations' or ensembles
The entire cycle of pieces—nine altogether—is performed while
moving clockwise through a circle of eight ritual-like 'stations'
or groups or ensembles of instruments. The groups always feature,
with the exception of movement V for drum set, one homogeneous
sound family. Here's a sketch of the ensembles and their spatial
layout. (Note: the drum set in V is up on a slightly raised podium; ALSO:
it might work better to have the marimba & vibes facing the audience.):
[fragment of score from V see study score below ]
preview the study score of SPICA: V—fold-center-fold,
for drumset
[ opens in a new window ]
Intro for movement VIII for hand percussion:
Spica: complete circle pdf
(twenty-four 11" x 17" pages: 344 K)
the performance model of
Spica complete circle mp3
[c. 25' 10 Mb]"
preview the study score of SPICA—complete cycle I-IX
[ opens in a new window ]
NEW: Ridge Crossing—for choir of 12 female voices & small orchestra
[FIRST THREE PARTS: 8 of 15 movements] |
INTRO: version for piano & mezzo-soprano |
the performance model of
Ridge Crossing—orchestra mp3
[c. 9' 30" | 3.8 Mb]
The Magic Box: thirteen pieces for mallet instruments
(1) The Magic Box for vibraphone and marimba; (2) An Invention in Two Voices
for vibraphone and marimba; (3) Moonstone for viberaphone solo; (4) Nightphantom
for marimba solo, etc.
[fragment from An Invention in TwoVoices]
preview the study score of THE MAGIC BOX—for
vibraphone & marimba [ opens in a new window ]
The Magic Box: Encores...for vibraphones & marimba
BLUE MONK Variations
Composed for Duo Vertigo
a
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Variations: pdf
(8 A3 pages 216 K)
preview the study score of BLUE MONK Variations—for
vibraphone & marimba [ opens in a new window ]
SEE ALSO: Soundpoems Six electronic compositions for voice
& percussion orchestra: (1) The Pass; (2) The Bell; (3) Stone Song:
(4) The Voicesl (5) Borea Mix; (6) State of the Union
[texts, translations,
& recordings by
CLIFF CREGO]
Recordings of interest to the percussionist . . .
INTEGRALES
Cliff Crego conducts
the ASKO Ensemble,
in collaboration
with Circle Ensemble &
Slagwerkgroep Den Haag,
in the 1923 masterpiece
by Edgar Varèse.
| download mp3 [4.1 Mb]
[to download: Windows:
r click; Mac: opt + click]
IONISATION
| download.mp3 [6.5 Mb]
Copyright © 1999 - 2011 Cliff Crego All Rights Reserved
| About Cliff Crego | go to Circle/Square: Download |
Look for new additions every week.
Created and maintained in Northwest Ohio, USA.
(Last update: I.12.2011)
You can write Cliff Crego directly at crego@picture-poems.com
Questions regarding performance materials
to score-info@cs-music.com
