Childs, Barney- Featuring "Mighty" Joe Nowhere und die Greater Wairopi All-Stars, for seven equal instruments

Includes seven parts.

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Review from Percussive Notes (2021):

Featuring: “Mighty” Joe Nowhere und die Greater Waropi All-Stars

Barney Childs

“Featuring: ‘Mighty’ Joe Nowhere und die Greater Waropi All-Stars” is a fascinating experimental piece that seems to have been overlooked in the avant-garde ensemble repertoire. The instrumentation is for “seven equal instruments” (i.e., groups of violins, trumpets, etc.). Each performer plays a single pitch throughout, and the composite is meant to be consonant. For percussion ensembles each player plays a single instrument (woodblock, tom-tom, cowbell, etc.) and they don’t have to be of the same timbre. Dynamics can either be consistent throughout or left up to the performers. In this way each performance has the potential to be unique and original.

The parts are written in a single line percussion clef, and the rhythms are strings of syncopated eighth notes. Each part is only two pages long, but the performers can start anywhere that they want and repeat the part in a circular fashion. The piece can be any length. The main technical requirement is the ability to keep a steady beat and play together in strict time.

There isn’t a readily available recording of this piece, but it would be an excellent project for an ensemble, and a great introduction to experimental music for less experienced players. Experienced players could likely put together a performance of this piece in a short amount of time, and it would be a wonderful addition to a new music festival looking for a group piece to include on the program.

—Marilyn K. Clark Silva