Trentadue: Raindrops in an endless sea of stars

Description

• Composer: Josh Trentadue
• Instrumentation: Chamber Ensemble
• Work: Raindrops in an endless sea of stars (2020)
• Binding:
• Pages: 15

Description

for 2-5 part flexible ensemble and optional fixed media. Grade 6

Raindrops in an endless sea of stars is intended to create a sense of both meditative, spiritual healing and wonder. This is a fully flexible work, in which any combination of instruments or ensembles can be used for performance. Freely suspended in time and space (for the performers, there is no specific meter that they follow), the piece is mainly driven by a plethora of extended techniques conjuring up sounds such as wind blowing through the air, sparse and twinkling stars, various murmurs and flutters, and so on.

Regarding the meditative aspects, the piece does not specifically seek to create an authentic sound healing session (my symphony will instead do this). However, some of the core ideas of this practice loosely inspired the work’s structure and form. for example, fully resonant chords (created by flowing and improvised arpeggiated patterns) often verge on bitonality between various parts, creating tension and stress, only to find peace and tranquility when resolved to a brilliant, unified tonality.

Instrumentation:

PART I: WINDS

• Aerophones: Flutes (C Flute, Alto, Bass, etc.), Piccolo, Penny Whistle, Recorders (Sopranino, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass), Ocarina
• Reeds: Clarinets (Eb, Bb, A, Bass, Contrabass, etc.), Saxophones (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, etc.)
• Double Reeds: Oboe, English Horn, Bassoon, Contrabassoon

PART II: BRASS

• Group 1: Horns (F), Wagner Tuba (Bb), Trumpets (Bb, C, etc.)
• Group 2: Trombones (Alto, Tenor, Bass, Contrabass, etc.), Euphoniums (T.C., B.C., etc.), Tuba

PART III: STRINGS

• Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass

Solo instruments, or a full section, may be used for this part. Electric string instruments are also suggested for this part if available.

PART IV: KEYS+STRINGS

• Group 1: Piano, Celesta, Toy Piano, Keyboard Synthesizer
• Group 2: Harp, Acoustic and/or Electric Guitar

PART V: PERCUSSION

• METALS: Glockenspiel, Vibraphone, Crotales, Chimes, Bell Lyre
• WOODS: Xylophone, Marimba, Xylorimba
• Other non-wood suggestions: Almglocken/Tuned Cowbells, Steel Pan/Steel Drums
• CYMBALS: High: Suspended, Sizzle, China; Low (superball mallet required): Tam-Tam (any size), Gong (any size)