Prometheus

Meyer Kupferman

General Info

Year: 1975
Duration: c. 20:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Soundspells
Cost: Score and Parts - $0.00   |   Score Only - $0.00

Instrumentation

Player I: Xylophone, Suspended Cymbals (3), Bell Tree, Snare Drum,Bass Drum
Player II: Vibraphone, Tam Tams (3), Temple Blocks, Tambourine, Cymbal Tree, Snare Drum, Bass Drum
Player III: Glockenspiel, 5 Graduated Toms, Cymbal Tree, Snare Drum, Bass Drum
Player IV: Chimes, Tenor Drum, Snare Drum, Bass Drum
Player V: Celeste, Tam Tam, Guiro, Claves, Slide Whistle, Snare Drum, Bass Drum,
Player VI:Timpani

Program Notes

Prometheus is an abstract, expressionist tone poem for percussion chamber orchestra written by Meyer Kupferman under a grant from the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation in 1975. It is scored for 63 percussion instruments played by six masterful multi-percussionists. The timpanist represents Prometheus. Frank Zappa would say this piece has “no commercial potential.” It is abstract, setting the music apart from practical conditions, sounding theoretical. It celebrates Kupferman’s style and free expression and the music finds a means of acquiring Kupfermans individuality. His music uses his “Infinities Tone Row” in free variation. The story:

“Prometheus was a Titan who stole fire from heaven and gave it to man. Zeus dooomed him to be bound to Mt. Caucasus and to have a vulture daily consume his liver. And to continue this torment until some immortal should consent to die in Prometheus’s stead. This Chiron did, and Hercules slew the vulture.”

Recent Performances

To submit a performance please join the TEK Percussion Database

Works for Percussion by this Composer

A Crucible for the Moon - Percussion Sextet; Voice; Saxophone
Flavors of the Stars - Percussion (2)
Moonjazz, Babyface - Drum Set; Cello
Moonsticks - Marimba
Percussion Symphony: On Tibet and Tienanmen Square - Percussion Sextet
Poetics - Vibraphone; Amplified Guitar
Prometheus - Percussion Sextet
Sitting Bull - Vibraphone; Trumpet
Sound Phantoms #5 - Percussion (8)
Sound Phantoms #7 - Percussion; Saxophpne
Sound Phantoms #9 - Percussion Quartet; Flute; String Bass
The Stone Tears of Ixtaccihuatl - Timpani