Pulses

Programme / performance note

With a title such as Pulses, one might expect the pulses to be provided by instruments with low, resonant registers. The composer instead subverts these expectations by using glockenspiels to produce much lighter, more delicate vibrations. These vibrations contract and expand mostly independently, allowing them to exist in pockets of both localised and non-localised time. They progressively become infused with bouts of frantic polyphony provided by the vibraphone and marimba. Many of these polyphonic runs are punctuated by attacks which occur at different vantage points in the texture.

The decision not to provide a master score is purposeful: the work’s concept is communicated through separate player parts coordinated by a shared timecode. The musicians may shape relationships as tightly or freely as they choose, provided the timecode is observed. One player should lead this coordination so that the overall interpretation and presentation remain unified. The notation therefore makes strong inferences about the elasticity between metric rigidity and metric freedom.

All players should study, or at least glance at, the complete set of parts. The two glockenspielists may rehearse together, as may the marimba and vibraphone players; the final section should ideally be rehearsed by the full ensemble.