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Suite for Prepared Vibraphone is a series of pieces composed for a vibraphone with various objects affixed to or placed between the bars.
The preparations include:
Coins taped to the top of the keys to create a sizzle effect.
Tambourine jingles placed on top of each other make an articulate “chick” accompanying the natural bar sound.
Guitar strings affixed to the bottom of several keys almost sound electronically altered.
Foil packets filled with rice develop a soft resonant fuzz.
Erasers placed between the low notes allow these notes to be dampened while the rest of the notes resonate.
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ABOUT THE PIECE:
This composition was inspired by John Cage’s Sonatas and Interludes for prepared piano (1946-1948). Similar to Cage’s work I strived to make a multi-moment work in which the feel of each movement is a drastically different. The idea of creating angular, articulate music, introspective resonant music and intensely aggressive music from the same set of preparations was an exciting challenge.
I. Oblique is an introduction into the sound world of the preparations keeping the textures isolated within in each gesture.
II. Transcendent begins to combine the prepared sounds with the natural sound of the vibraphone using a constantly reoccurring 5 note row.
III. Incessant blends all of the preparations together in an intense, aggressive and persistent finale.
-Von Hansen
Suite for Prepared Vibraphone is available through C. Alan Publications http://www.c-alanpublications.com/sui...
Audio