Introduction, Word Salad, & Postlud...

By Ramon Castillo

Introduction features percussion at its quietest. A trio of interlocking rhythms goes head to head with a quartet of subtle pitch bends.

Word Salad mixes and matches arrays of short phrases and musical figures in a fairly uncommon way. Performers make musical decisions based on the relative size of each figure on their page. The larger the figure appears, the more often it should occur. A highly structured framework for improvisation, the resulting texture stems from a psychological interpretation of the music [as opposed to a linear interpretation] by every individual in the ensemble.

Postlude requires the massive cooperation of all members of the ensemble to achieve a simple yet prominent theme. This final movement provides a much needed sense of zen to the other movements' textural and timbral complexities.

Duration: 8.5 minutes
Grade Level: 3