Quints

COMPOSER: Jason Baskin

MEDIUM: open instrumentation

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: 3

DURATION: varies

PROGRAM NOTES:

Quints is a percussion etude that challenges the performer in several areas. The technical challenge is simple: a pair of five eighth notes are rhythmically juxtaposed in different ways across the development of the piece, initially through a phasing pattern and then through a variety of time signatures. Much of the technical challenge can be mediated by the tempo, which is chosen by the performer and expected to stay consistent throughout the piece.

 In addition to this, the performer also determines the instrumentation, pitches, and dynamics, which may change as desired. By putting control over these elements in the hands of the performer, the etude becomes a challenge of creativity and shared composition, of extracting cohesion and development, nuance and interest from what is otherwise a rhythmic exercise.

 The etude encourages questions and interpretation. Do the two voices refer to high and low? What about right and left hand, or maybe left and right? Then why not invert the sounds to low and high? Should a particular melodic, harmonic, or dynamic pattern recur with every five notes or should it change and develop across the piece? Even restricting the piece to one performer or strictly percussion instruments is worth questioning. The openness of the piece is part of its challenge, and it rewards multiple interpretations.

INSTRUMENTATION:

Open instrumentation, determined by performer