Lampi

Lampi

_{A chamber concerto for piano, ensemble and the Low Tone Orchestra.}

_{Dedicated to Daniel Thorpe
Commissioned by the Forest Collective}

_{Piano, low strings, low winds, low brass, percussion, harp, accordian, electronics (fixed) and a.m. radios.}

_{The Decibel ScorePlayer is required to perform this work (see below)}

_{PROGRAM NOTE}

_{This piece is based on a 1929 poem by Antonia Pozzi:}

_Lampi

_{Stannotte un sussultante cielo}

_{malato di nuvole nere}

_{acuisce a sprazzi vividi}

_{Il mio desiderio insonne}

_{e lo fa duro e lucente}

_{come una lama d’acciaio}

_{The work examines the contrasts of sharp and blunt, light and dark, dream and wake, sickness and wellness, action and stasis, which form cornerstones in the poem. Sharp moments of action, attack and volume contrast with the sensual sub tones of the Low Tone Orchestra, a fixed media part of multiple low frequency sine tones.}

_INSTRUCTIONS

_{The score is proportional, with the highest point of the screen being the highest pitch reference, the bottom being the lowest pitch reference. Line thickness indicates dynamic (should be very soft as a starting point). The piano part should be performed in a more soloistic way, so can have an increased dynamic range. Round dots = soft pizz, tongue ram; crosses= Bartok pizz/key click. Groupings of instruments: Each colour represents an instrument or instrument group. Do not all play the same note: microtonal clusters encouraged. The electronic play back part is fixed and embedded in the score file. It is notated as an indication only.The score should be read in the Decibel ScorePlayer application on an iPad, or as a movie file, available on the composers’ website.}

_{Piano: Length of line notations is total time fingers rest on keys. Try to limit the hammer start sound. Opaque lines indicate soft pedal applied for duration of that note. Dashed lines indicate a tight tremelo effect, over one or several notes.}

_{Percussion [vibraphone, bass drum, tam tam, 2 large cymbals on stands]: line = long sounds (bowed/superball on bass drum), dashed line = large soft mallet roll. Percussion should play a.m. radio parts. Filled in circle is a single hit with a very large mallet, open circle means draw that shape on the instrument. a.m. radio: tuned to static: operate volume only. Line length indicates duration, width is volume.}

_{Strings dashed line=tremelo (keep relative pitch position if possible). Opaque line – sul ponte/bow sound. Make bow changes as inaudible as possible.}

_{Winds and brass: opaque line= air only (keep relative pitch position if possible). Make breath changes as inaudible as possible, arrange staggered breathing where possible. Play all glissandi without steps (ie lip gliss or valve).}

_{Harp: dashed line is tremelo effect.}

_{Accordian: opaque line means only air.}

_{NOTE TO PERFORMERS
The majority of my compositions use scores that are read on an iPad tablet computer, using the Decibel ScorePlayer, an application available on the App Store . Any fixed media is embedded in the score, and some feature automated functions. In the case of ensemble works, multiple iPads can be networked on a LAN or over the Internet so parts can be read in a synchronised way. You should upload the score file (ending with.dsz) to your iPad from your computer via AirDrop on an Apple, or cable from a PC. Instructions on how to do this and using the Decibel ScorePlayer, more generally are included in the Application, which ships with five other scores.}

_{Thus my works have different versions of the score, as you may see above. A PDF/PNG file of the score ‘image’, a DSZ file to upload onto the iPad for performance, and for some less complex scores, a video version. Hardcopies are also available from my publisher. You can find out more about the Decibel ScorePlayer, and how to make your own scores for it, here.}

_PERFORMANCES

_{As part of 'Emo Phase', Midsomma Festival Abbotsford Convent, April 2021.}