Individual Lemming (2010)
Attila Szilvási
PUBLISHER: Edition Svitzer
RECORDINGS: None
RANGE: 4.3 octaves
DURATION: 8:00
MOVEMENTS: Single movement
TYPE OF ACCOMPANIMENT: Fixed
MUSICAL OVERVIEW: The marimba plays a more important role than the tape. The tape presents background material for the marimba playing a melody line. Accompaniment also serves as a timekeeper for most of the work. Occasionally the tape part is in unison with the marimba. Performance requires the marimba to be in synch with the tape. There is no specific key signature, the work progresses through many tonal centers. The harmony is traditional and the rhythmic elements are straightforward. Much of the work focuses on playing within an established groove.
ACCOMPANIMENT OVERVIEW: Synthesized sounds. The tape contains contemporary sounds using modern processing techniques. The sounds are influenced by non-dance style electronica. The tape fills space and supports the marimba through its use of low frequency and bass sounds. Some moments may be difficult to align with the tape; however, a split track recording with a click in one channel and the tape in the other is provided for performance if needed.
TECHNIQUE OVERVIEW: SI, SIA, DV, and DL. The writing mostly relies upon single-line writing style and hand-to-hand figures. The writing is very idiomatic and presents few sticking challenges. Intervals are mostly a fifth or smaller with no fast changes. Suggested stickings in the score are logical. There are a few large leaps and moderate space between the hands.
COMPOSER'S NOTE: The following text by Attila Szilvási was taken from the score:
The Norwegian Lemming is a rodent mammal, native in North Scandinavia. This small gopher-like creature has the peculiar habit of gathering in groups and looking for new territory every 3 or 4 years when they overpopulate a certain place and there is a lack of food. During this migration they face several natural obstacles, some of them die and sometimes they throw themselves into the sea without sense in large numbers. That gave rise to the legend of lemmings committing mass suicide.
However one of my generation's first associations about the Lemmings is one of the most popular computer games of the 90's, the Lemmings. In this game, different from the original example, some lemmings helped the group to achieve their goals. But still this didn't make them look different from the others. At that time during the game I used to think about whether they really all the same inward? [sic] There might exist among them an Individual Lemming. . .