Duration: ca. 10'
Program Notes:
Zoom was conceived during a time when I was discovering the joy of setting text. It started as a compositional exercise in order expose myself to percussion and voice–two instruments I felt I had underutilized in my previous compositions. Zoom is a staged piece that, when performed correctly, should be a comedic experience for the audience. The vocalist assumes the character of an overly confident salesperson for the Zoom H4N Pro recording device (the type of recorder can be substituted, but the object on display must be a recording device). The recording device sits idly by while the percussionists and the vocalist take part in a comical exchange in which the vocalist reviews the features of the Zoom before the percussionists respond. Each of the five short movements of the piece is started by the vocalist who reads a portion of the user manual. The role of the percussionists are is defined and are constantly changing. At times the percussionists seem to take the place of a user who is either confused or overwhelmed by a malfunction with the device. At other times they take the role of inanimate objects interfering with the operations of the recorder or even the recorder itself giving off electromagnetic interference. There is no question the salesperson’s (vocalist’s) job would be much easier without the troublesome percussionists getting in their way.
Premiered May 2nd, 2018, Buckley Recital Hall, Amherst College
Instrumentation: 2 percussionists, 1 vocalist
Percussionist 1
-marimba
-floor tom
-a handful of coins
-suspended cymbal
-broom
Percussionist 2
-high and low woodblock
-high and low bongos
-floor tom
-bass drum
Vocalist
-zoom recorder
-stool (any flat surface to place the recorded will do)
-dust buster (the louder the better)
Program Notes:
Zoom was conceived during a time when I was discovering the joy of setting text. It started as a compositional exercise in order expose myself to percussion and voice–two instruments I felt I had underutilized in my previous compositions. Zoom is a staged piece that, when performed correctly, should be a comedic experience for the audience. The vocalist assumes the character of an overly confident salesperson for the Zoom H4N Pro recording device (the type of recorder can be substituted, but the object on display must be a recording device). The recording device sits idly by while the percussionists and the vocalist take part in a comical exchange in which the vocalist reviews the features of the Zoom before the percussionists respond. Each of the five short movements of the piece is started by the vocalist who reads a portion of the user manual. The role of the percussionists are is defined and are constantly changing. At times the percussionists seem to take the place of a user who is either confused or overwhelmed by a malfunction with the device. At other times they take the role of inanimate objects interfering with the operations of the recorder or even the recorder itself giving off electromagnetic interference. There is no question the salesperson’s (vocalist’s) job would be much easier without the troublesome percussionists getting in their way.
Premiered May 2nd, 2018, Buckley Recital Hall, Amherst College
Instrumentation: 2 percussionists, 1 vocalist
Percussionist 1
-marimba
-floor tom
-a handful of coins
-suspended cymbal
-broom
Percussionist 2
-high and low woodblock
-high and low bongos
-floor tom
-bass drum
Vocalist
-zoom recorder
-stool (any flat surface to place the recorded will do)
-dust buster (the louder the better)
– Score and recording available. Please contact Dan with all inquires. –