Equilibrium Press: Chamber Music

CHAMBER MUSIC WITH PERCUSSION BY MICHAEL UDOW

BARN BURNER (1976)		Difficulty: IV
(with bass trombone & optional piano) [2 1/2 minutes] 2 tomtoms and footpedal bass drum or foot-pedal woodblock. This high energy fortissimo work focuses on cross-rhythmic hemiola 3/4 - 6/8 metrics within each solo part and between the parts if performed as an ensemble. Premiered by the Barton Workshop - James Fulkerson, Stephen Montague, Michael Udow.
DUET (1974)		Difficulty: IV
(percussionist & dancer) [4 minutes] The percussion part is written for 2 maracas and a bass drum foot pedal with a wood beater playing a wood block; the choreography (by Nancy Udow) for the dancer is in instructional text form, both performers must be able to read simple shifting meter changes, and memorization is required of the dancer.
CONCERTO FOR A PERCUSSIONIST with STRING QUARTET (1971)		Difficulty: IV
[11 minutes] Mvt. I: chimes, glock., 3 dobacis (rin), 2 brake drums, large tam tam, Mvt. II: marimba, bass drum, bamboo wind chimes, Mvt. III: Vibraphone, pair of finger cymblas, "d3" crotale, snare drum, Appropriate for a junior recital. Premiered by Michael Udow.
DREAMS FROM A BAYOU ~ LONG AGO BUT NOT FORGOTTEN	NEW!	Difficulty: V
(for flute and vibraphone) [18 minutes] This work was commissioned by Payton MacDonald and Jessica Johnson who have released a superb recording of it on their CD, Verederos, on the Equilibrium label (EQ5). The work is lyrical and often highly contrapuntal and utilizes melodic materials in unique ways based on Michael Udow's second opera, Twelve Years a Slave. In one 12/8-6/4 cross-rhyhmic section the flutist and percussionist each wearing ankle rattles tap their feet while playing. Flute and percussion duos should not miss this major new addition to this long established instrumental combination. Check out the fabulous recording by Payton and Jessica as well!
THE ENCHANTED LAND	NEW!	Difficulty: III
(for oboe and 2 percussionists) [12 minutes] Commissioned by by Bill Banovitz, principal oboist of the San Francisco Ballet. This work will be premiered by Mr. Banovitz with the San Francisco Chamber Players on October 2, 1997. Percussion instruments include, 4 1/3 octave marimba, vibraphone, 1 timpano with 3 rin (Japanese cup bells) placed on the head, hanging non-pitched metals and woods (log drums and piccolo woodblocks). The work is composed in four lyrical sections with percussion interludes between each section. Though the oboist is the featured soloist, the percussion parts are very well integrated into the work thus making it a potential recital work for a percussionist interested in demonstrating chamber music skills.
HOUSEKEEPING DANCE FOR TABLE, CHAIRS AND GERANIUM (1973)		Difficulty: III
[8 minutes] This work for dancer and percussionist would now, in 1991, be called performance art; specific directives are given to both the dancer and musician (who cross roles at times) yet there is much room for individual performer interpretation.
LIMITS (1977)		Difficulty: V
(Trio: Unspecified Instrumentation) [8 minutes] This time/space score for a trio of actors, dancers, mimes, and/or musicians gives explicit instructions for interpreting a series of Pictograms which constantly mutate related, yet distinct, materials selected and/or created by the interpreter/performers. Premiered by The New Verbal Workshop.
OLD NEWS (1977)		Difficulty: V
(FOR Bb TRUMPET & OPTIONAL PERCUSSION - 1 PLAYER) [3 minutes] Originally composed for piccolo trumpet, this work has its historical roots in the military traditions of the "Ruffles & Flourishes" from the American Revolutionary War 201 years earlier; the work juxtaposes traditional march-like rhythms with twelve tone lyrical melodies; the optional percussion part calls for: low med. & high pitched sn. drs. & chimes; ideal for a percussionist or trumpeter who, in recital, wishes to put together repertory showing the "demilitarization of the trumpet and drum". Commissioned by Chandler Goetting, the work was premiered by Ken Anderson and Michael Udow in Santa Fe, N.M.
SANDSTEPS II (1989)		Difficulty: V
[ca.12 minutes] Composed for the Tone Road Ramblers, this work is for fl & alto fl., cl. & bass cl., flugelhorn, tromb., bass tromb. and one percussionist (vibraphone & 5 toms, wood block); free and tonal improvisation skills are required; melodic material is adapted from Sandsteps I. and includes an additional Eastern European, folk-like melody.
SHADOW SONGS III (1988)		Difficulty: IV
[ca. 8 minutes] Composed for the Tone Road Ramblers, this work is for fl & alto fl., cl. & bass cl., flugelhorn, tromb., bass tromb. and one percussionist (vibraphone & cloud gongs, saw); Free and tonal improvisation skills are required; melodic material is adapted from Shadow Songs I.
THRENODY II (1983)		Difficulty: V
[ca. 12 minutes] Composed for the Tone Road Ramblers, this work is for fl., cl. & bass cl., Bb tpt., tromb., bass tromb., and one percussionist (chimes, vibe, timbrepad, plate gongs, bass drum, two wood blocks and amplified susp. cym.) and sound playback; free and tonal improvisation skills within an 11/8 time feel form the underlying fabric for this work which has a pen-ultimate 4/8 melody; the final 11/8 coda includes live MIDI or taped electronic sounds which the ensemble prepares in advance (instructions given).
VISTAS (1979)		Difficulty: V
[10 minutes] Composed for bass clarinet & 1 perc., the multiple percussion part includes 4 octave marimba, 5 toms, a cym.... placed on a timpano, bowed susp. cym. a timbrepad consisting of 3 of the following: almglocken, cowbells, temple blocks, woodcocks; the work fluctuates between slow lyrical and fast, mixed metered rhythmic counterpoint.