S P H E R E S (December 2010)

S P H E R E S (December 2010) for percussion quartet and optional prepared piano

Published by Kreating SounD Duration: 12:25

Notes

S P H E R E S for 16 tam tams and prepared piano was composed in December 2010 in Carbondale, IL. The work is scored for sixteen tam tams (commonly recognized as gongs) ranging from 12” to 36” in diameter and prepared piano. The variety of timbres from the tam tams and piano are created by the various implements used to activate them, including: a violin bow, 12” bolt, wood drumstick, soft yarn mallet, hard vibraphone mallet, hard plastic mallet, plastic hotel key cards, superball mallets, marbles, clam shells, triangle beater, wire, rosined fishing line, and wire brushes. Additionally, small tam tams are dipped into water while sounding to create pitch glissandi, and the piano is prepared with aluminum pot lids, small cymbals, Japanese rin, paper, and a CD on the strings. The work was intended for realization in three possible ways: 1. Acoustically in real time using five performers (one pianist and four percussionists playing four tam tams each); 2. Electroacoustically in real time using 1-4 performers with 1-4 prerecorded parts being played back during performance; 3. Acousmatically where the work has been prerecorded and is then played back in real time, preferably as a 5.1 surround-sound mix but stereo is also acceptable. The present acousmatic realization was recorded by Brian Wagner and performed by Ron Coulter (percussion) and Jay Needham (piano) on January 4, 2011; it was spatialized into a 5.1 surround sound mix version by Kelly Caringer, Ron Coulter, and Jay Needham on January 5, 2011. As of November 2025 the work has not been performed live in its acoustic version.

Recordings

Outsider In : chamber works for percussion https://roncoulter.bandcamp.com/album/outsider-in-chamber-works-for-percussion