Reflecting Instruments

Comissioned by Psappha. Resonating Instruments is written for cimbalom and five instruments, lasting almost twenty minutes. Among the unique properties of the cimbalom is its unorthodox layout, which segregates the pitches idiosyncratically. In composing the work I wished to embrace this aspect of the instrument and also have it influence the music for the whole ensemble. As an example the work begins by limiting all notes to the lowest octave and a fifth of the cimbalom for over four minutes, resulting in an exploration of the ensemble’s darker timbres. The cimbalom from the outset is the musical protagonist and, as the title implies, its resonance is a crucial factor throughout. I was also keen to embrace its inherently virtuosic character and particularly idiomatic physical gestures, such as rapid repeated notes and figurations, dominate its musical material. The other instruments frequently reflect and expand the ideas heard in the cimbalom and while they are initially subservient to the soloist increasingly assume more assertive, melodic and soloistic roles. While the actual beat speed remains the same throughout the musical energy undulates constantly, pitting violent outbursts against more becalmed reposes, with the end of the work fizzling out nervously.