Christopher Coleman
Scampata #3: Fantasia and Bolero (1984)
duration ca. 13:00
Instrumentation:
bass trombone
percussion (one player):
Percussion required: The two movements have different percussion set-ups. The first movement calls for Chimes, high G chime, Vibraphone, Glockenspiel, 3 Temple Cup Gongs (or Crotales in C, Eb, B) Large and Small Suspended Cymbals, Tam-tam, Foot Pedal operated Bass Drum. The second movement utilises 4 Timbales, 5 Temple Blocks, 2 Log Drums (4 pitches), Large and Small Suspended Cymbals, and Tam-tam.
Program Note
This virtuoso 13 minute duet was commissioned by Steve Norell, bass trombonist of the NY Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, to perform on a joint recital with percussionist Christopher Lamb. The first movement Fantasia presents a musical puzzle on Steve Norell's "signature tune" with which he won the Met audition, the Sarabande from J.S. Bach's Fifth Suite for Unaccompanied Cello. In this movement the trombonist plays five contrasting phrases (notated linearly but without barlines to indicate a certain flexibility of tempo) while the percussionist chooses fragments from a circle with which to accompany the trombonist. Each performance will be somewhat different in the alignment of the parts. The concluding phrase of the movement solves the puzzle with an explicit statement of the first phrase of the Sarabande. The second movement, Bolero, is a rondo with the bolero rhythm of the Spanish dance characterizing the first theme. A dramatic recitative for bass trombone, tam-tam and cymbals marks the middle of the rondo. The piece accelerates through a series of metric modulations to a blazing finale featuring triple tonguing against the percussionist's bolero rhythm. The virtuoso nature of the end is a real crowd pleaser.
Scampata #3: Fantasia and Bolero was premiered by Mark L. Lusk, bass trombone and Douglas Waddell, percussion on February 24, 1985, Northwestern University.
Technical Note
Difficulty: professional
Range: bass trombone: C three octaves below middle C (ossia 8va--if taken, then low note is Eb a third above that) to A a sixth above middle C.
Score: Composer's manuscript. Both players read from the score. Page turns okay.
Extended Techniques: Percussionist has non-linear notation. Vibraphone harmonics, percussion improvised fill in last measure. Extreme low range of bass trombone.