What's the strangest piece you've ever played?
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What's the strangest piece you've ever played?
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A few years ago, our brass ensemble played a piece called "Windscape" by Canadian composer David Marlatt. It called for two wine glasses, tuned to E and A, to simulate the sound of the wind. I still have them, for the next time we play it.
"Windscape is in four sections. It opens with The Winds from the North. The driving bass line combined with the punctuated shots represent the bitter winds that blow. This moves into The Winds of Change. This has a shifty but steady pulse that features melody in the trumpet at first and then a counter melody is added the horn. Crystal glasses and a lone horn are the featured sonorities in The Winds of Mystery. The Winds of Change then reappears and, with several sidebar introductions of new rhythmic and melodic material, the piece ends as it should - driving and enthusiastic." -
I played a piece called Sonatina for Trombone for my graduating recital at Western. It was described as a blend of traditional triadic structure and dissonance governed by twelve tone aggregates. Aside from being technically very difficult, the real challenge was making all the odd sounding harmonies and collections of note like listenable music. It was very odd, ultimately rewarding, but I don't think I'd ever go in that direction again!
