For oboe, alto saxophone, trombone and vibraphone by Thomas Albert. Thomas Albert's Sound Frames uses graphic notation that allows the quartet members, oboe, alto saxophone, trombone and vibraphone, to explore various instrumental colors and extended techniques.
Print size: Legal (8.5 x 11)
Review from Percussive Notes:
Sound Frames
Thomas Albert
This work for mixed ensemble is aleatoric and achieves this through the use of graphic notation. Each instrument has a line in the middle of its “box,” and that line indicates the middle range of the instrument. Noteheads are placed above, below, or on the line to indicate the range of the instrument that the notes are to be played, while the vertical distance between the notes indicates the approximate intervallic relationship.
There are three section to the piece, with each one lasting two minutes. A conductor is to be used to indicate specific time markings in the work and help keep the ensemble together and in sync. The saxophone and trombone player will be required to use flutter tonguing, and the oboe player must occasionally use forked fingerings.
As this piece is almost completely improvisatory the players must listen and react to each other. Some sections require the players to “follow” another player, requiring excellent musicianship. This work would go well on concert of 20th-century music, and would work well with a group of graduate-level musicians.
—Josh Armstrong
