Celestial Dances (1993)
Charles Argersinger
PUBLISHER: Music for Percussion
RECORDINGS: None
RANGE: 4.3 octaves
DURATION: 5:40
MOVEMENTS: Single movement
TYPE OF ACCOMPANIMENT: Fixed
MUSICAL OVERVIEW: The composition utilizes contrasting approaches to musical concepts throughout. Some sections of the work are highly structured while others contain minimal rhythmic and harmonic language. Rhythmic passages vary between standard subdivisions and tuplet or syncopated figures that obscure the beat. Several passages involve a melodic line quickly trading between the two parts. The performer must be rhythmically accurate. The sound of the marimba and tape should be equally balanced; the marimba occasionally rises out of the texture.
ACCOMPANIMENT OVERVIEW: Synthesized sounds. The tape contains rhythmic sounds written within the time signatures, but it also departs from the constraints of the time signatures within certain sections. The sounds may provide a groove for the marimba in one moment and then suddenly be free of any association with the beat. Some free sections occur congruently with the marimba, others occur while the marimba must stay in time. The accompaniment is supplied on an audiocassette. The audiocassette is comprised of two tracks, one containing a click for the performer and the other with the accompaniment. The performer must use headphones for the click track.
TECHNIQUE OVERVIEW: SI, SIA, DV, and DL. The use of DL strokes are limited. Hand-to-hand single-line writing and double-vertical strokes dominate the technical requirements. There are no large leaps and the hands remain close together. Two brief roll sections are included in the work. The performer is also required to bend pitches on the marimba and bow a high D crotale.